Tadej Pogacar is a gift for the senses. Inexhaustible generator of emotions. His ability to overwhelm enemies in the high mountains is recognized, but at this beginning of the course he impacts by his ability to dominate in all terrains. A chameleon that adapts to all habitats. He swept through the sterrato of Jaén, struck on the walls of Andalusia and has dislodged his pursuers on the plain and mountain of Paris-Nice with calculated precision exercises, measuring times and distances with cunning.

In the first two days of the French round he challenged the sprinters in the bonus sprints to accumulate seconds ahead of Jonas Vingeggard and reduce damage in the innovative team time trial on Tuesday, because in that specialty the Jumbo surpassed the UAE in strength. In the time trial he finished among the best. On Wednesday he humiliated Vingegaard two kilometers from the finish. Then he scored the last two stages. It ascends, goes down, flattens and sprints like the myths of yesteryear, such as Eddy Merckx or Bernard Hinault, which shone on all stages and throughout the year.

Now, the Slovenian has also set his sights on the toughest classics, the centennial and with the longest journey, with him nothing is utopian. Yesterday he scored the Paris-Nice and his new challenge is the Milan-San Remo next Saturday. Last year, on his debut, he was fifth in the Classicissima.

How is it possible for Pogacar to subdue his rivals in all environments? Pascual Momparler, Spanish coach, provides this explanation: "He wins because he is a super class, capable of winning in all fields, he goes in the way of Eddy Merckx. In races he doesn't stand still, he always goes on the attack, he can't be stopped."

The Spanish coach also highlights his character as an added value: "He has an amazing facility for cycling, he has fun with what he does. It's a physical wonder, it goes like a motorcycle. He's a crack, like Messi."

Some of the keys to its success are provided by Íñigo San Millán, head of performance of the UAE team. "It's one of the best I've ever seen. Physiologically it has good genes and mentally grows in adversity. It differs from the rest at the metabolic level, by its ability to convert proteins, carbohydrates, glucose and fat into energy. He also stands out for his speed of recovery and for knowing how to read the race very well. At the age of 19 I already had the intelligence of a 30-year-old runner," he said in an interview on Radio Marca.

Pogacar is praising rivals and cycling myths. "Hats off to Pogacar because he's a tireless fighter," says Jonas Vingeggard, his most qualified foe at the Tour de France. Miguel Indurain said: "He is brave and has quality. He attacks from afar, he is a good time trialist and knows how to save complicated situations."

The multidisciplinary Pogacar now dares with the classics and the five Monuments. This Saturday he will go to Milan-San Remo. Its planning also includes participating in Through Flanders, Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race, Walloon Arrow, Liège-Bastogne Liège (winner in 2021) and Giro di Lombardia (winner in 2021 and 2022).

RUN WITHOUT COMPLEXES

The ability to adapt and the insatiable thirst for triumphs of this cannibal chameleon are valued by Óscar Freire, who was the best Spanish classicist: "The first time I was surprised by Pogacar was in his debut in the Vuelta a España, in 2019. He won in the toughest stages (finals in Cortals d'Encamp, Los Machucos and Gredos), but nobody paid much attention to him. He runs without complexes. He surpasses everyone by climbing, attacks again and again and doesn't stop. He's fast, but he's not only sprinting, he's also able to get strong to the end. He lost last year's Tour, but he has learned and will not fall the same way again."

Freire, winner of the Milan-San Remo in 2004, 2007 and 2010, points out that Pogacar is a contender for all the classics: "In Milan-San Remo he will be very guarded. In addition, it is a race in which wind and rain influence a lot. For me itis easier to win Paris-Roubaix than Milan-San Remo. The danger of the Roubaix for cyclists like him, a specialist in the big ones, is that many risks are faced by the pavés and possible falls. You have to analyze whether it is worth winning. But yes, I see him winning in the five Monuments and also in other classics. The one that least suits its conditions is the Paris-Tours. I also see Van Aert with possibilities, Van del Poel is more irregular."

For the triple world champion, cycling today is going through a splendid moment thanks to people like Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel, Van del Poel or Van Aert: "They are young, good and brave".

Another specialist in classics was Juan Antonio Flecha (three podiums in Paris-Roubaix), who also highlights the Slovenian: "He is a phenomenon, ambitious and likes to have fun with the bike. He always looks happy, I like his attitude and the way he runs. He is very good in all terrains, but we cannot say that now he also beats the sprinters in the mass arrivals. In Paris-Nice he has scored bonus sprints, but you have to see the context and who, where and how he won. He hasn't defeated pure sprinters. He has won in sprints on the climb, in 'Terreno Pogacar'. He's gone for bonuses as a matter of strategy."

Flecha also sees him adding the five Monuments: "He has already won in Liège and Lombardy and last year he fought for Milan-San Remo. In Flanders he looked very good and is a potential winner. He doesn't go to the Roubaix because of the risks involved, but if he ever bets on that classic he could win it."

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