Sign up with GoogleOf course you can't compare Merckx with Cavendish, that's just silly. Cavendish is a sprinter, so compare with sprinters from the past and today. Merckx is an all rounder who could do it all, so Pogacar is in his comparision club. Cavendish also had to climb mountains and do time trials the same as any other, endure the hard stages, but to come out of it and perform over such a long career is next level as a sprinter.
So, in terms of a sprinter achieving 35 wins it's legendary. Next best is 22 wins. To still mix it up with the current best sprinters is exceptional, and at his age, cmon, seriously. Just look at the sprinters who have come after him and have since disappeared. And sprinters who burst on the scene after Cavendish (crashed out at 2 Tours at least I can recall as well, where he could've picked up more wins), they had 1 or 2 good Tour de Frances with a few wins, who have since faded, like Gaviria, Ewan, Demare, Bennet, Kittel (shame) to name a few, and many more who are just not on his level like, Jackobsen, Groenewegen.
His level of commitment, longevity and consistency is unprecedented. I would say Jasper Phillipsen is the current best along with Tim Merlier, but they will fade in the next few years, and if they should manage to reach 12 wins each I'll be impressed.
I actually had the same thought that Pogacar can reach 35 wins if he carries on the way he is, but most probably unlikely...but you never know, he could reach the 20s at least and beat Merckx's 18.
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