Bernard Hinault has praised Tadej Pogčar for deciding to journey Paris-Roubaix, believing he can win the Hell of the North, simply because the Frenchman did again in 1981.
“I raced Paris-Roubaix on the time as a result of I used to be carrying the rainbow jersey and needed to honour it. Who is the world champion now?” Hinault requested in an interview with French newspaper La Parisien.
“If he will get it into his head that he can win Roubaix, then he’ll.”
Hinault was one of many final ‘full’ riders in males’s biking to have received Grand Tours and the Monument Classics. He received the Tour de France 5 occasions, the Giro d’Italia 3 times and received Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia.
“Pogačar is the closest to riders like me and Eddy Merckx have been,” Hinault informed La Parisien.
“He assaults, uphill and on the flat. He rides Grand Tours and Classics. That’s why we love him, he’s a rider who assaults and simply says to himself: we’ll see what occurs.
“I really like Tadej Pogačar as a result of he isn’t afraid of something, he loves the Classics.”
Pogačar is following an analogous profession path and he would be the first reigning Tour de France winner to begin Paris-Roubaix since Greg LeMond in 1991.
“It’s incredible information for biking! It proves that he’s the one who decides, not his group. It will give Paris-Roubaix further curiosity and create a brand new battle with van der Poel,” Hinault informed Ouest France.
“I do not perceive all those that say that it’s important to be highly effective to win Paris-Roubaix. I wasn’t highly effective, and I received. You simply need to be skillful on the bike to be snug on the cobblestones.”
Hinault additionally performed down the chance of Pogačar crashing on the cobbles.
“Is it dangerous to do Paris-Roubaix? No. There’s no extra danger than in another race,” he argued.
“He crashed at Strade Bianche, so crashing just isn’t an actual drawback. As lengthy as he needs to race it, Pogačar has to go there to have enjoyable and to make us pleased.”
