Tadej Pogacar ‘only rider in the world’ who can execute successful 100km attack after World Championships glory - Blythe
Published 29/09/2024 at 18:33 GMT+1
Tadej Pogacar put everything on the line when he launched an ultimately decisive attack to win the 2024 UCI Road World Championships, and Eurosport's Adam Blythe believes the Slovenian is "probably the only rider in the world" who could have successfully executed such a move. Speaking on The Breakaway, Blythe said had the attack failed, it would have been "one of the biggest mistakes".
Pogacar launches attack with 100 kilometres still to go in World Championship road race
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tadej Pogacar is “probably the only rider in the world” who can successfully execute a 100km attack from the finish of a race, believes Adam Blythe.
The Slovenian launched the ambitious and daring attack on the steepest section of the brutal 273km Zurich circuit to claim victory at the 2024 UCI Road World Championships.
His latest amazing triumph completed cycling’s triple crown after his victories at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia earlier this year.
He endured a brief scare when his lead was reduced to below 40 seconds, but he eventually finished 31 seconds ahead of Australia’s Ben O’Connor.
Analysing his win on The Breakaway on discovery+, Blythe believed that nobody else in cycling could have won the race in such a manner.
“I think that was like a softener, just to try and get things rolling a little bit,” Blythe said of Pogacar’s attack with 100km to go.
“There were a few people ill positioned behind, who I think would have been able to follow but they were so far back.
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‘All-round wizard’ Pogacar claims rainbow jersey to complete triple crown of victories
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“He didn’t expect to go at that time, he’s just admitted it, but I don’t think anyone else did.
“The legs that boy has on him are just exceptional. I don’t think even he realised just how good he was actually feeling.
“It paid off for him, luckily, but he’s probably the only rider in the world that can make a move with 100km to go and win the World Championships.
“I just cannot believe he went on the attack with 100km to go in the World Championships. Who does that?”
Blythe praised Pogacar’s bravery, insisting had the move failed it would have been an unforgettable error.
“You have to remember there’s so many riders on top of their game, look at [Mathieu] van der Poel, [Remco] Evenepoel, all these riders are aiming for this one win.
“He did it and if it went wrong, he would have made one of the biggest mistakes within the World Championships.”
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‘An incredible day’ – Pogacar in disbelief after becoming world champion
Video credit: TNT Sports
And at one stage, Pogacar may well have been regretting his early attack, which he called "stupid" in his post-race interview with Eurosport.
The Slovenian looked uncomfortable when his lead was almost halved on the final lap before he managed to steady the ship.
Eurosport’s cycling expert Matt Stephens touched on the wobble Pogacar endured.
“There’s not very often you see Tadej Pogacar looking at the team car, he was in a clear state of distress but found something special at the end,” Stephens said.
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“He’s been making history his whole career but that was some ride. Boy, did he have to work for that, he had to go so, so deep.“
Eurosport’s Dani Rowe added: “It was such a spectacle and it really did keep us on the edge of our seats.
“Tadej Pogacar doing Tadej Pogacar things, going with 100km to go, solo with 51, but he was in so much pain.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Pogacar fight as hard as he did today, he truly turned himself inside out. It was just true class, which we see time and time again from this man.”
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