An epic undertaking that will remain in the history not only of cycling but of sport in general. And now we can no longer say in a low voice: Tadej Pogacar is the new Merckx, the “Cannibal” of cycling of the new millennium, while there are those who go so far as to compare the phenomenal Slovenian to what Michael Jordan and Roger Federer were for tennis. In Zurich Pogacar enchanted everyone, taking his 23rd success of the season, and winning the World Championship after having won the Giro and Tour in the same year, in both cases also taking home six first places in the stage. So not only does it equal the trio of Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) but it even does better. But that’s not all, because the cycling Martian, who also won a classic like the Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2024, went to get the rainbow jersey by sprinting when there were still one hundred kilometers to go. Yes, that’s right: 100.
At that moment he left the peloton of the best together with the Italian Bagioli, who almost immediately lost contact, setting off in pursuit of a small group of sixteen outsiders who, at that moment, were in front of him. He subsequently caught them again, pedaled with them for just over twenty kilometers and at that point he greeted the company with another sprint when the road began to climb: at that moment there were 76 kilometers left until the end of the world championship race. In short, a legendary ride, things never seen before, even if Pogacar had already done something like this, last March 2nd at the Strade Bianche, when on the dirt road near Siena he had placed the decisive blow 81 km from the end. Everyone’s eyes widened, but it was an eloquent sign of what would happen during the season. Pogacar started so early in Zurich that he caught his opponents off guard, and in the end Remco Evenepoel had the honesty to admit it (“he surprised me, I didn’t think he would start so early”, said the Belgian, in the end 5 .). The Olympian gave it his all in the final to get at least a medal, but first he was surprised by a burning sprint from Ben O’Connor, who went to get the silver one, then didn’t have the legs to sprint of the bronze, won by the defending champion Mathieu Van der Poel. The Dutchman was the other protagonist of the final phase of the race, when Pogacar, who had a moment of decline, saw his advantage over the men in pursuit reduced to 38”.
In the end he gave Slovenia its first world title in history with a 34” lead over O’Connor and 58” over VdP. And the Italians? simply non-existent, as happens too often in the races that count, both the classics and the grand tours. The best was Giulio Ciccone, 25th, 6’36” behind the new world champion. A result in line with the current situation of the professional sector, or Elite if you prefer, hoping for the future and that some very young people grow well: today Lorenzo Finn, who won the Junior world race in Zurich three days ago, was also imposed in the Olgiate Molgora-Madonna del Ghisallo giving another demonstration of class, which however will have to be confirmed at a high level, that is, with the passing of the years.
Meanwhile, despite the dismay over the death of 18-year-old Muriel Furrer, the awards ceremony took place, and Pogacar was able to wear that rainbow jersey that he cared so much about. «I can’t believe what happened – his words after the triumph -. After a season like that I had put a lot of pressure on myself, I felt it because I knew it was a day in which I couldn’t make mistakes: we from Slovenia came here for success. There was a dangerous breakaway ahead and the race opened up very early. Maybe I made a stupid attempt, since we had in mind to keep the race under control and this attack was not planned. I don’t know what I was thinking at that moment, I just left. A very tough ride, but it was incredible. I absolutely wanted this title.” And then, the closing in which perhaps Tadej begins to realize what he has done: «After fighting for the Tour and many other races, I had the opportunity to really compete for a World Championship. This was the last big goal of my 2024 after a perfect season. Yes, it was.” One can only agree with him, the Pelé of the bicycle.