Pogačar: "I'm in the best shape ever"

Slovenian flexes his climbing legs in Catalunya, reports Chris Marshall-Bell in Barcelona

Tadej Pogačar delivered a triple warning shot to his rivals by winning four stages and the overall title at the Volta a Catalunya, declaring himself in his best ever shape, and stating that he wants to be regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time.

The Slovenian champion was utterly dominant in northern Spain last week, triumphing in the race’s three mountainous stages and then winning from a sprint in Barcelona to ensure that he won the race by 3:41 from Mikel Landa of Soudal-Quick Step. Ineos Grenadiers’ Egan Bernal finished third (see boxout).

Already a winner of Strade Bianche this March, Pogačar looks in irrepressible form at the start of a season in which he will attempt to become the first man to win the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same campaign since Marco Pantani in 1998.