Strong on all terrains, and quick even in the stage finals, the Slovenian has never found an opponent capable of seriously worrying him. It was not the second classified, the surprising Danish Joanas Vingegaard nor the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, third on the podium, and first of the big names that should have opposed the rise of Pogacar. Nothing to say, Carapaz defended himself well without being overwhelmed. But between the two there has never been a match: one, the Slovenian King, came from Mars, the other from the planet of us humans where, once, it is allowed to miss a beat.
This does not happen to the Slovenian for the moment. And if it happened to him, as it seemed on Mont Ventoux, he hid it very well. Probably he went a bit under braking in the last time trial (only eighth) but the impression was that he didn’t care too much about winning. And that he didn’t pull the gas too hard. Both in order not to make too many enemies, and in order not to credit the many unsympathetic rumors about his performance as a bionic man. Unfortunately, when one imposes himself at Merckx, he always ends up in the meat grinder of gossips. One of these whispers and shouts that to the Tour de France there was the shadow of technological doping. Of strange mechanisms in the hubs that would have given a “little help” to the riders of four teams, including that of the yellow jersey, the UAE Emirates. Of course they are anonymous voices and therefore, as such, to be thrown in the trash.
Absolute monarchy?
Now the point is another: but that of Pogacar is now an absolute monarchy or is there still room for some dissent? Difficult to say because the Slovenian currently has no weaknesses. And also in terms of mental strength it shows an enviable solidity. Not even the terrible Merckx at 22 had already won two Tour de France. Someone says it is too early for Tadej to enter the Campionissimi gallery. Maybe. But two consecutive tours are already a lot of stuff. What does the Slovenian king still have to prove?
Speaking of Slovenia, the Ljubljana flag flies higher and higher on the cycling flagpole. A nation of two million inhabitants, more or less like the population of Milan, has dominated the Tour for two years and has been producing continuously growing champions. Behind Roglic and Pogacar, new talents are growing like mushrooms. The last one to hit the news is Matej Mohoric, national champion, and winner of two stages in this edition of the Grande Boucle. The reason for the boom? In schools sports are played seriously. And the results are visible.
Cavendish’s winning sprints
Mark Cavendish also did well, given up for dead and buried, and instead risen with four winning sprints. He was depressed. Nobody wanted him anymore. In the end, almost by grace received, the Deceuninck Step took him in its ranks. But the great old sprinter shouldn’t even have participated in the Tour. Only Sam Bennett’s last-minute forfeit allowed him to take off. Result? Four sprints to frame and Merckx’s record (34 Tour wins) equaled. Reality, when you put it, really surpasses the imagination. But Cavendish was super to seize the moment.