Greg LeMond demolishes Lance Armstrong's Pogačar threory: 'Lance didn't have talent'

Tadej Pogacar has won the Tour de France for the fifth time on Sunday. According to most people, he is now a co-record holder. According to some others, and especially Lance Armstrong, that record still stands at seven. The American, whose titles were stripped, had already spoken out about Pogacar during the Tour, but his compatriot Greg LeMond wanted nothing to do with that discussion.

First, let’s hear from Armstrong himself. “He’s going to win this Tour, isn’t he? His fifth. And after the finish, we’re all going to hear—including ourselves—that Tadej Pogačar has tied the all-time record for Tour victories and joined that exclusive club of five. Well, guess what? He doesn’t believe a word of it,” the American said during the Tour.

Because, as Armstrong said: “He doesn’t believe that. He knows full well what the real record is. So don’t count on him taking a year off after that. Tadej Pogačar knows exactly what the record is, so there’s no way he’s going to sit on the sidelines. I really hope he goes for it,” said the American.

Pogačar was confronted with those words, but just shrugged them off. “I don’t know, I can’t say anything about that. I’m not chasing records; I just want to finish this Tour in Paris wearing the yellow jersey—that’s my main goal,” said the eventual Tour winner after Stage 13.

Enter LeMond, who was present on the final podium in Paris. That was 40 years after his very first Tour victory, in 1986. After the ceremony, the American spoke to the French newspaperL'Équipe and made his opinion very clear. “It has nothing to do with that,” he said regarding his compatriot’s remarks.

Because: “Lance didn’t have talent; he ‘discovered’ it at age 28.” Pogačar won his first Tour at age 20. Everyone talks about wattages, but some people are naturally born with a high VO2 max, and that has nothing to do with someone who has a low VO2 max and wins seven Tours de France.'

According to LeMond, there’s no doubt about it: “Pogacar has exceptional talent. Every now and then, among millions of people, you find one who has that extra 3 or 4%. It’s not much, but it changes everything in the Tour.” The three-time Tour winner therefore had nothing but praise for Pogačar.