In an evening interview published for his 80th anniversary, the legendary Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx challenges Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel to try the hour record, currently held by Filippo Ganna.
This Tuesday, Eddy Merckx celebrated his 80th birthday. The legendary Belgian cyclist has therefore multiplied media operations, and notably confided in an interview with the newspaper The evening. And the runner at the 279 victories spoke of the subject of the hour record. A record he owned from 1972 to 2000, thanks to his 49.431km successful in Mexico City, before being dethroned by Chris Boardman, who ran 10 meters more in Manchester.
Today, it is Filippo Ganna who holds him, with his 56.792km successful in Granges in 2022 (regulations, especially in terms of equipment, has evolved a lot). Eddy Merckx, very proud of his record (“my career would not be complete without the record”), challenges two of the biggest current runners, Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel, also attempting the hour record. “They should try. Slovenian is the best runner, the most versatile. But Remco has incredible aerodynamics. It would be great if they took up this challenge, “said the” cannibal “.
Not in Pogacar’s plans
Specialist in the time trial, of which he is the reigning Olympic champion and twice world champion, Remco Evenepoel could be tempted by this challenge. On the other hand, for Tadej Pogacar, it looks more complicated, if we believe the declarations of the manager of his team UAE Emirates Joxean Fernández Matxin with Bicycle news.
“With Pogacar, it’s a very different cycling. To tell the truth, since I met him in 2017, we have never talked about racing on track. Never. It was never mentioned, neither from him, nor mine, nor that of the team. But Pogacar is only 26 years old and will perhaps change an opinion at the end of his career to try this record which would allow him to enter the legend a little, he who already has four large towers, nine monuments and a world title to his record.
