Hinault compares Pogacar and Evenepoel to other world champion: "Like he doesn't really like racing"

With the approaching World Championship in Zurich, an already fantastic 2024 cycling year may come to a remarkable end. The absolute star of the current year has been Tadej Pogacar. After Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche, he could become the third rider ever to grab the classic hat-trick Giro-Tour- World Championship in one year. If Bernard Hinault, a genuine cycling connoisseur after all, is to be believed, the Slovenian has little to fear in Switzerland.

Speaking to Cyclism'Actu the Frenchman and five-time Tour winner discussed the global cycling scene. "The arrival of new riders has revitalized cycling. Riders like Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and previously Julian Alaphilippe, even if he is not as efficient as before. It's always fun to watch them race," he observes the change in entertainment in the race from, say, 2019.

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Pogacar will easily become world champion, according to Hinault

Pogacar's performance this year has been exceptional. In particular, Hinault sees the man who could possibly smash his Tour victory record becoming increasingly mature. "He is in top form this season and preparing well for his goals. After the Tour, he was not at the Olympics because he had only one thing in mind: to become the world champion in Zurich."

The course there is custom-made for the Slovenian, who doesn't see many other contenders, but then Pogacar has to stay close to himself. "Because the course is tricky, he can give his all and won't have too much trouble becoming world champion. But there are plenty of other good riders; he has to ensure it doesn't stagnate and the rest start looking at him. From that point of view, I have one piece of advice for him: just attack and don't think."

Does Pogacar's dominance sometimes bother Hinault when he follows the sport? Not at all, The Badger explains. Instead, he sees an illustrious figure and a great man in the Slovenian. "It is not unpleasant to see him win so much. It rather makes us dream as followers. Such talent, such dominance. He's such a tremendous fighter. If you ask Eddy Merckx that question, he will say the same thing."

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Striking conclusion after Vingegaard skipped the World Championship? "A difference with the others"

In Pogacar's shadow, Hinault picks out two more names for the World Championship. Alaphilippe is the first. The Frenchman is pleased that his compatriot, recently a force in the Canadian races, seems to be returning to full fitness. "Julian makes me extremely happy. He is back at the highest level, and he deserves it. He is someone who works a lot, and he is being rewarded for that. He doesn't have the physical resources of Pogacar, but when he gets the opportunity, he doesn't think twice and goes full steam ahead for his chances." Hinault is very pessimistic about the chances of a successor and, thus, a new Frenchman in the yellow jersey. "We don't have anyone emerging at all... But anyway, you have to keep hoping."

Evenepoel can also appeal to the legendary Frenchman. "He loves racing, I put him in second place behind Pogacar," Hinault praised. Then he also talked about perhaps the significant absentee at the World Championship: Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane ended his season relatively early, after a bad fall and the birth of his second child. Still, for Hinault, that is remarkable.

"There have often been riders in the past who ended the season after the Tour and enjoyed life," he opined, probably referring to riders like Lance Armstrong, who often only rode the Tour. "Vingegaard gives the impression of liking races less than a Pogacar or an Evenepoel," he continued. "Riders love races, don't they? I wonder if he likes it very much."