The debate about the greatest cyclist of all time will never end, of course, but Eddy Merckx seems to have cast his vote for Tadej Pogačar in the aftermath of the Slovenian's victory at the world championships on Sunday.

Since turning pro in 2019, Pogačar is routinely referred to as the greatest rider since Merckx. But on Sunday evening, speaking to L'Équipe, Merckx expressed the view that the Slovenian has now surpassed him.

“It is clear that he is better than me,” Merckx told the French newspaper about Pogachar. Deep down, I already thought so after seeing his performance in the last Tour de France.”

Merckx was speaking after Pogachar became only the third male rider in history to win the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and World Championships in the same season. This feat was first accomplished by Merckx in 1974 and by Stéphane Roche in 1987. Annemiek van Fruten became the first woman to win the Triple Crown in 2022.

Pogachar took the rainbow jersey for the first time in remarkable circumstances after attacking with just over 100 km to go on a demanding course in Zurich. After bridging up to the break, Pogachar eventually completed the final 51 km alone, with the entire race on his wheel. Ben O'Connor (AUS) finished second by 34 seconds, with Mathieu van der Pol (NL) taking the bronze medal.

Merckx's career was marked by tremendous solo victories, including wins in the 1969 and 1975 Tour de Flanders and a stage victory in the 1969 Tour of Moulin. However, Merckx admits that he never had the courage to attack from so far away in the World Championships,

and that he was never able to win a stage in the Tour de Flanders in 1969.

“Of course, you can't compare the times,” he said. 'I would never have attacked from 100 kilometers to go at the World Championships, but what he did is unimaginable. It will be remembered for a long time. He took a lot of risks against (Mathieu) van der Poer and (Remco) Evenpol, but he still wasn't afraid. That's when I realized that Pogachar was a great champion. He is an everyman.”

Pogachar won his first Giro and third Tour this summer in spectacular fashion. Merckx also won the Vuelta a España in 1973, but Pogachar has yet to win a full Grand Tour.

The modern concept of a “monumental” classic did not exist in Merckx's time.

Pogachar's current Monument win count is now six, thanks to victories in Liège-Bastogne-Liège (2021 and 2024), Il Lombardia (2021, 2022, 2023), and the Tour of Flanders (2023). He has not yet competed in Milan-San Remo and has not yet competed in Paris-Roubaix, but has a chance to achieve a new monument at Il Lombardia on October 12.

Like Merckx, Pogachar has come to define his generation in the cycling world. Van der Pol, who himself has won six monuments and a world title, describes the 2020s as “Pogachar's era.”

In 2024, Pogachar achieved the three major championships that Merckx had achieved half a century earlier, underscoring his status.

“I remember that nobody talked about it at the time,” Merckx told L'Équipe. 'Probably because it was new to me and I had nothing to refer to or compare it to. I was not obsessed with historical references. But as for Pogachar, I am obligated to do so today."

”I have no obligation to do so today.