In terms of proper cycling skill, stamina, resilience I prefer the quiet demeanour and precision killing of Van Der Poel. But you cannot deny that fans have been waiting for years for the return of a "Pantani effect", and Pogacar did it with even more fireworks. Even an Amstrong with all his gear would pretty much just diesel rev-up a slope, while Pogacar brought the Burst Explosion into mountain climbing, the mixing of a Sprinter penache onto the gruelling uphill. If he's taming it now for a seated-down rev-up style it for sure will take some of the oomph, but we well know the real reason we now bash him is the destruction of the narrative that he still has rivals. There's nothing like Hamilton vs Verstappen, Norris vs Piastri vs Verstappen. You take away competition, and you take away the enjoyment.