Eddy Merckx remains a lion even at 81 years old. After dominating 525 races, including 5 Tours and 5 Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta, 3 World Championships, 7 Milan-Sanremo, 5 Liège, 3 Roubaix, 2 Flanders and 2 Lombardy, as well as breaking the hour record, the one they called the Cannibal is getting back up after yet another physical setback.
Eddy, how are you?
«Better now, I am recovering from a hip operation. Yet another one. I haven’t gotten back on a bike yet but I will soon».
This is the spirit that made him the most famous cyclist of all time.
«Once my friend Gianpaolo Ormezzano said: Eddy was the strongest of all but the greatest remains Fausto Coppi».
And Pogacar, where do we place him?
«Superb. He drives me crazy, when he starts he looks like a motorcycle and I congratulate him for his recent Tour victory».
Some say: he is better than Merckx.
«Impossible to make such comparisons, this is a different cycling with space-age bikes compared to those of my time, with new training methods and particular strategies».
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The game is always the same: Pelé or Maradona, Sinner or Borg, Agostini or Marquez? But your answer is always the same: impossible to make such comparisons.
«That’s right. I can’t stand these comparisons even though you journalists wallow in them. Pogacar is frightening, his dominance is total. But…».
Please.
«I raced in very difficult years. In the grand tours my rivals were Gimondi in Italy and Fuente or Ocana in the Tour. Pogacar has it easy in terms of opponents».
Even in the classics you challenged some tough competitors.
«They were called De Vlaeminck and Gimondi, Motta and Bitossi, Maertens and the young Moser».
Pogacar’s rivals do not have such pedigree.
«The only one who can bother him is Evenepoel, he can beat him in the time trial. But the strength and progression of the Slovenian on climbs is impressive. I sincerely admire him but don’t ask me anymore if he is stronger than me».
Every era has its champions.
«And every champion has his rivals, exactly».
Do you see possible opponents for Pogacar?
«Paul Seixas promises well, the 19-year-old Frenchman. He is a good all-round climber».
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Italian cycling is in full crisis, instead…
«I like Milan, different from Felice but capable of winning the classics».
Let’s take a dive into the past: which trophies from your illustrious past do you polish most willingly?
«The trophy from the 1st Tour won in ’69, it had been 30 years since a Belgian triumphed in Paris. And then in my office I keep a cobblestone from the Paris-Roubaix, an example of suffering and joy».
The race you will never forget?
«The ’68 Giro stage on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. I won in the snow with the group united against me. As always».
The golden year?
«’74: coming back from a delicate operation I won the Giro, Tour and World Championship».
The saddest day?
«Giro ’67, I was disqualified in Savona because a banned substance was found in the first test, a substance that then disappeared in the second test done immediately after».
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We remember you crying at De Zan’s microphone.
«I was framed, I was in the pink jersey with a great and reassuring lead. What need would I have had to dope?».
The jersey passed to Gimondi.
«A serious rival and true friend: he refused. I miss him».
The impossible mission you made possible?
«The hour record in ’72 in Mexico City. The limit of the Dane Ole Ritter had become my obsession. That year I had won everything and I attempted the record without specific preparation like Moser in ’84. I hit the record with 49.432 km and, exhausted, I shouted: never again!».
From these stories comes a conviction: Pogacar or not Pogacar, the Cannibal was one and only.
«If you say so».
Have a good life, champion.
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