Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel Agree: ‘Pogacar and Vingegaard Aren’t on the Same Level’ After Pogacar’s

Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel Agree: ‘Pogacar and Vingegaard Aren’t on the Same Level’ After Pogacar’s World Championship Victory

Tadej Pogacar delivered a stellar performance at the 2024 World Championships in Zurich, claiming his first-ever rainbow jersey after launching a decisive attack over 100 kilometers from the finish. Among those who were in awe of Pogacar’s achievement is Lance Armstrong, who acknowledged the Slovenian’s extraordinary talent.

Armstrong, a former Tour de France winner, emphasized Pogacar’s dominance in the sport, describing him as one of the greatest riders ever. He remarked on Pogacar’s unmatched physical ability and confidence, saying, “Pogacar is a once-in-a-generation talent. He seems so far ahead of the competition, it’s like he’s racing juniors. I wouldn’t have dreamed of attacking 100 kilometers out, even as an under-23. His confidence is just incredible.”

Johan Bruyneel, co-host of *The Move* podcast, echoed Armstrong’s admiration, highlighting how Pogacar left his key rivals, Remco Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel, stunned. Both riders reportedly considered Pogacar’s tactics “suicidal,” but he proved them wrong with a historic win. Bruyneel went on to call Pogacar’s World Championships victory one of the most well-earned titles in modern cycling.

Bruyneel also weighed in on the comparison between Pogacar and his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, stating that while many consider them equals, Pogacar is clearly a more complete cyclist. He pointed out that Vingegaard cannot replicate Pogacar’s performance in one-day races like the World Championships or the Tour of Flanders, where Pogacar has bested specialists like Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. According to Bruyneel, the only challenge left for Pogacar is to conquer Paris-Roubaix, a feat he believes the Slovenian can achieve as well.