Evenepoel: ‘Pogacar is the only one coming close to what Merckx once did’

“I feel I’ve been riding at a very high level these past weeks,” he said at the press conference, in quotes collected by HLN. “It’s hard to compare with Tadej, of course. He looked very strong when he won both championships, but I’m happy with my own form. Tomorrow I’ll do everything I can to get as close to the win as possible.”

Earlier this week, Mathieu van der Poel remarked that 'Pogačar must feel a bit like racing in the Merckx era.' Evenepoel smiled when asked about it. “Well, Merckx also used to win his time trials. (laughs) That’s not a criticism of Tadej, to be clear. He’s a special rider, and the boxes he’s ticking are simply impressive. He’s the best rider of the last decades and the only one coming close to what Merckx once did. It motivates me to reach that level too, even if it’s not easy.”

Saturday’s race will also close an era. Crossing the finish line in Bergamo will mark the end of seven seasons with Quick-Step. “I want to give the team a last gift,” he said. “It would be fantastic to finish my time here that way. I have so many good memories and I’m very thankful for everything.”

He does not expect any grand goodbyes. “I haven’t prepared a speech,” he smiled. “Not everyone from the team is here, so I’ll probably send a message in the group chat. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow.”

Looking back, one memory stands out. “The Vuelta victory in 2022 is my best moment. It was unexpected, the team’s first Grand Tour win. We aimed for the top five, but winning in Madrid with only five riders left was something special.”

The crash in 2020, when he plunged off a bridge on the descent of the Sormano, feels far away now. “I don’t really think about it anymore. It doesn’t affect me now. It’s been five years. This being my last race for the team motivates me to give everything once again.”

On Saturday, the focus will be on Tadej Pogačar, winner of the last four editions. “Of course it’s possible to beat him,” Evenepoel said. “Otherwise I wouldn’t be here. It’s a demanding race, but the long flat section near the end could make things interesting. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Evenepoel knows what to expect. “I still feel very good. The key will be to save energy early on. It’s a finale where you can’t give up. But everyone knows the UAE team is flying again.”

He has studied Pogačar closely. “In recent editions from Como to Bergamo he always attacked on the Passo di Ganda. He’s shown how hard it is to follow when he goes. We can guess where he’ll make his move, but a lot depends on how the race unfolds before that.”

For Evenepoel, this is not just the end of a chapter but a test of pride and persistence. “It’s been a beautiful journey,” he said. “The best way to close it is to give everything one more time and try to win the race that changed everything for me.”