Eddy Merckx believes Pogacar can complete the full set of Monuments in 2026
Tadej Pogacar’s breakthrough victory in Milan-Sanremo has sparked reactions across the peloton, including from Eddy Merckx. The Belgian icon, who won the race seven times, did not expect the Slovenian to take it in this manner. Not after everything that had happened in the finale. Looking ahead, the 80-year-old sees no reason why Pogacar would not be able to complete the full set of Monuments this year.
For years, Milan-Sanremo was the one race missing from Pogačar’s palmarès. This time, even a crash in the finale did not stop him.
“He made me speechless. Did I expect him to win like that? Honestly, no. I think this can be considered one of his greatest performances,” Merckx said to Eurosport.
It was the sequence of events that stood out. The Slovenian hit the deck, got back on, and still had the clarity and strength to dictate the race on the Cipressa and the Poggio. That, according to Merckx, says everything. “His reaction after that crash was that of a true champion.”
The move on the Poggio changed the race. Pogačar finally managed to distance Mathieu van der Poel, something that had proven impossible in previous editions. Even that surprised Merckx. “That Van der Poel would be dropped on the Poggio surprised me. The fact that Mathieu could not sustain his effort is really Pogačar's merit.”
It was not just the attack. The way Pogačar finished it off left little room for debate. “He started the sprint from the front, with the same strength and conviction as Van der Poel last year. If you sprint like that and nobody can come past you, then there is no doubt who is the strongest.”
For Merckx, there is also a sense of correction in this result. Pogačar had been close before, but never quite found the right moment. “Pogačar deserved a Sanremo and actually it is strange that he had not won this race yet.”
With that box now ticked, the focus shifts almost automatically to what is still missing. Paris-Roubaix remains the obvious target if Pogačar wants to complete the full set of Monuments.
Merckx does not hesitate when asked about that possibility. “It is now clear that he has no limits. What more does he still have to do?” he said.
He points back to last season, when Pogačar was already competitive on the cobbles before crashing. “Last year he crashed on the cobbles, otherwise he would have gone to the velodrome with Van der Poel to fight for the win and who knows how that would have ended.”
Roubaix, more than any other race, demands more than just strength. “Of course luck plays a bigger role on the cobbles than usual, so he will need that on his side,” Merckx concluded.
With his victory in Milan-Sanremo, Pogačar now has 11 Monument wins, while Merckx still holds the record with 19.
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