Cycling legend Eddy Merckx believes that Tadej Pogacar will one day win a record tally of Tour de France titles due to a lack of competition from the rest of the field. 

Indeed, only Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain have won more (five wins).

Sunday’s victory saw Pogacar also become the first reigning world road champion to win the Tour since Greg LeMond in 1990. 

Pogacar’s nearest rival, two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, trailed in the general classification by four minutes and 24 seconds, with Florian Lipowitz third.

“There wasn’t any real tension during this Tour de France,” Merckx told Wielerflits. “Jonas Vingegaard wasn’t a competitor; he could only hang on in three weeks.” 

Indeed, Merckx added that he had faced fiercer competition when winning his 11 Grand Tours in the sixties and seventies than what Pogacar is coming up against today. 

“If there had been more competition, it would have been harder for him to achieve so many victories. 

“But if you ask me if he’ll win more than five Tour de France [titles], I can only answer that with: absolutely!”

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Marshal shoulder bumps Pogacar at finish as Arensman stuns Tour favourites

Video credit: TNT Sports

Merckx added his belief that no rider will be able to compete with the Slovenian in the coming years. 

He said: “Remco Evenepoel? No, definitely not. Remco is more of a time trialist. 

“He’s not strong enough uphill to compete with Pogacar for the Tour de France victory. 

“[Juan Ayuso] is not strong enough in three weeks.”

On Mathieu van der Poel he said: “Fantastic! He rode an incredible Tour, what an athlete. His dedication is unparalleled, and he often does beautiful and unexpected things.

“It’s a shame Mathieu isn’t a Tour rider anymore, because he’s the only one who could really challenge Pogacar.”

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