Lance Armstrong Stunned: ‘Tadej Pogačar Isn’t Just the Best—He’s Among the Greatest Cyclists of All Time!’

Lance Armstrong Declares Tadej Pogačar ‘One of the Greatest in Cycling History’ After Strade Bianche Masterclass

Lance Armstrong, who has previously critiqued UAE Team Emirates and Tadej Pogačar’s tactics, has now heaped praise on the Slovenian superstar following his dominant solo victory at Strade Bianche. Despite a hard crash during the race, Pogačar showcased his resilience and unmatched talent, leaving Armstrong to declare him not just the best of this generation but potentially one of the greatest cyclists in history.

“This might sound like every other show we’ve done in the past, but it’s not. Beyond the drama, Tadej Pogačar proved once again that he’s not just the best cyclist of this generation—he’s probably one of the best in history,” Armstrong said on his podcast, *The Move*, while analyzing the Italian classic. “He overcame a crash, finished ahead of everyone, and proved he’s the best. This guy is a beast.”

Armstrong also expressed his admiration for Strade Bianche itself, calling it one of the most exciting races to watch and recommending the Tuscan region as a top destination for cycling enthusiasts. “It’s a race that’s always fun to watch. If someone wants to enjoy a few days of cycling with minimal traffic, this is one of the five best places in the world to do it,” he said.

The race’s extreme difficulty was a key talking point among Armstrong and his co-hosts. George Hincapie, Armstrong’s former teammate, highlighted the grueling nature of the event: “It’s a crazy race. The top 10 finishers came in one by one, which shows how incredibly tough it is.” Armstrong added, “There are 4,000 meters of elevation gain, and it’s not just long climbs—it’s constant up and down. Nothing is flat.”

Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong’s former sports director at US Postal, noted how the race has evolved over the years. “They’ve made it much harder. Fabian Cancellara won it three times in the early editions, but I don’t think he could win today with the added climbs and sterrato sectors. You need to be a great climber to win now,” Bruyneel explained.

Hincapie marveled at Pogačar’s fearless attack, which came with nearly 80 kilometers to go. “When he attacked, he didn’t even look back to ask Tom Pidcock for help. He just pulled for 4 or 5 kilometers and stayed in the lead. He’s fearless and full of confidence,” Hincapie said.

Armstrong also praised UAE Team Emirates’ dominance, even if it wasn’t as overwhelming as last year. “It wasn’t the same performance as last year, but it was still dominant. Having 3 or 4 guys pulling at the front of a reduced peloton, with a rider like Tim Wellens, shows their strength. It was a great demonstration,” he said.

Bruyneel echoed the sentiment, expressing amazement at UAE’s confidence and strategy. “They know exactly how much power they can put out and when to make their moves. When Isaac del Toro was pulling, Pogačar looked back, knowing Wellens’ final effort would shred the peloton and set him up for the win.”

Armstrong concluded with a mix of admiration and envy: “I’m really impressed with Pogačar, and even a little envious of how nice it is to be young.” Hincapie added the final punchline: “For anyone who’s had a crash like that and ended up in a ditch with a mangled bike, the normal thing is to get back in the peloton. But Pogačar caught Pidcock and won. It was an incredible performance.”

Pogačar’s Strade Bianche victory not only solidified his status as a generational talent but also left cycling legends like Armstrong in awe of his ability to overcome adversity and dominate the sport.