"It’s like they put him in a juniors race": Pogacar's World Championship performance still baffles Boonen, Armstrong and Bruyneel

100.7 kilometers out from the finish, Pogacar launched his attack. For a while, he had some company, but at 51.7 kilometers to go, he dropped his last companion, Pavel Sivakov. A solo ride of immense proportions, and that at a world championship. "It defies imagination," said Boonen. "He created chaos among his competitors. No organized chase was ever mounted against him." Perhaps the most bizarre thing about Pogacar’s attack? The Slovenian later said it wasn’t even planned. According to Boonen, this wasn't just bravado, as the Belgian believes him. "I don't think he really started with a plan. He just tried something and wanted to see how it went."

Even though Pogacar's lead slightly shrank in the final phase, despite the disorganized cooperation among the chasers, they did get closer to the eventual winner. But according to Boonen, that’s precisely what made Pogacar’s performance even more impressive. "Once he had that lead, he never had to give 100% to sustain that long solo. That makes his victory even more remarkable."

"He's already in the pantheon of the greatest of all time," Armstrong began confidently. During these World Championships, he saw a Pogacar bursting with confidence. "It’s like they put him in a juniors race. If you’d put me in a U23 race during my prime, I wouldn’t have attacked with 100 kilometers to go. You need an incredible amount of self-confidence to do that."

Johan Bruyneel, co-host of the podcast, also spoke of a unique achievement. "In interviews with the other two favorites, Remco Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel, they both said they couldn’t believe what had happened. Evenepoel called it 'suicidal'. They really couldn’t believe it." That’s why the now 60-year-old Belgian finds Pogacar’s display of power so special. "I think Pogacar's performance is the most deserved World Championship title in modern cycling history."

As unique as Pogacar’s achievements are, the Slovenian cannot escape comparisons with another superstar of modern cycling, Jonas Vingegaard. However, according to Bruyneel, the Dane is not on the same level as the newly crowned world champion. "They’re not on the same level. Vingegaard can’t replicate what Pogacar did at the World Championships. He (Pogacar, ed.) has already beaten the great specialists like Wout van Aert and Van der Poel in the Tour of Flanders. He only has one left to win, and that’s Paris-Roubaix. I think he can win that too."