Pogačar & Evenepoel: Merckx Backs Hour Record Attempts
- Cycling legend Eddy Merckx, more than 50 years after his own Hour Record, has called on Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Remco Evenepoel of Soudal-quickstep to...
- The Hour Record, a venerated cycling challenge, currently belongs to Filippo Ganna, who achieved a distance of 56.792 kilometers.
- Before and after Merckx, numerous Tour de France winners have pursued the Hour Record, including Bradley Wiggins, Miguel Indurain, and Jacques Anquetil.
Cycling icon Eddy Merckx, a former Hour Record holder himself, is urging cycling stars Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel to embark on the challenging pursuit of the Hour Record. Merckx, reflecting on his own unbelievable achievement, believes these two modern greats possess the talent needed. News Directory 3 reports on Merckx’s call to action, sparking excitement and debate within the cycling community. Evenepoel’s aerodynamics are noted, while Pogačar’s team isn’t so keen. With the current record held by Filippo Ganna,will Pogačar or Evenepoel take on this role and attempt to break the record? Discover what’s next.
Merckx Challenges Pogačar, Evenepoel to Pursue Hour Record
Cycling legend Eddy Merckx, more than 50 years after his own Hour Record, has called on Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Remco Evenepoel of Soudal-quickstep to challenge the sport’s Hour Record. Merckx floated the idea during interviews commemorating his 80th birthday this June.
The Hour Record, a venerated cycling challenge, currently belongs to Filippo Ganna, who achieved a distance of 56.792 kilometers. Merckx set his own record in October 1972, covering 49.431 kilometers.
Before and after Merckx, numerous Tour de France winners have pursued the Hour Record, including Bradley Wiggins, Miguel Indurain, and Jacques Anquetil.
Merckx reflected on his own experience. “My career would not be complete without the Record,” Merckx said.”At the end of 1972, I felt tired… but after three weeks of specific preparation in Italy, I was recovered. We crossed the Atlantic to Mexico and it all worked out well. But I suffered a lot. After that effort, I could barely walk for a week.”
When asked about who might be better suited for the Hour Record, Merckx remained uncertain. “The Slovenian is the best, the most versatile rider out there. But Remco has unbelievable aerodynamics. It would be wonderful if they tried this challenge,” he said.
While Evenepoel has not commented on the possibility, a potential attempt by Pogačar seems unlikely. UAE Team Emirates sports manager Joxean Fernández Matxin dismissed the idea in January. He said there have never been discussions about Pogačar participating in any track event.
“With Pogačar, it’s a very different kind of cycling,” Matxin said. “To tell you the truth, ever as I first met him in 2017, we’ve never once talked about track racing at all. Never.”
Despite this, Merckx maintains that Pogačar remains the one to beat in the Tour de France.He added that he hopes Jonas Vingegaard is improving after his Paris-Nice fall and