Every pedal stroke by Tadej Pogacar signals another bold step toward the peak moments of cycling history. He has shown repeatedly that the race itself reveals its secrets, its rocky pavements, and the brutal climbs that test every rider. This year, he returns with one aim: to challenge the so-called monument of Flanders and to position himself as the natural heir to Eddy Merckx. Since the Cannibal’s win in 1975, no Tour winner has repeated that feat. Forty-eight years later, the Slovenian star continues to shape the sport with every race he enters.
He is in his mid-twenties, a period when a rider learns to balance power with cadence, speed with patience, and risk with discipline. In this stage of his career, Pogacar already has an extraordinary palmarès and the maturity to push the limits. After the race this Sunday, he might reflect that retirement would still leave him proud, given what he has accomplished at this pace of life on two wheels.
big attack
When the green flag drops, Pogacar eyes the climb on Quaremont, one of Flanders’ most traditional and challenging sections. He shifts gears and tightens the line, watching the bike work through the gap between the rear and front wheels. No one can stay with him. On the day, Mathieu van der Poel finishes second, a reminder of last year’s contest, while Wout van Aert falls back as the cobbles bite and the field fractures. In a memorable edition, Pogacar demonstrates that the Tour of Flanders remains a proving ground where power, strategy, and nerve collide on the cobbles and climbs that define this iconic race.
In the end, Pogacar delivers a display that lingers in memory, taking control of the Flemish classic and marking his first victory in this storied event. The moment is celebrated in the cycling world with a flurry of posts and reflections from fans and analysts alike, underscoring the impact of a rider who continues to captivate audiences around the globe. A prominent sports outlet captured the scene with celebratory coverage, noting the drama and spectacle of the day and the significance of the win for Pogacar’s career. It was a performance that confirmed the young champion’s status among the sport’s greats, a striking reminder that the sport still rewards bold decisions and relentless pace.
He is a rider who already owns two grand tours, major one-day wins, and stage honors across a broad map of races. His record hints at a rare consistency, tempered by the need to avoid tactical slips that can alter a season. The previous year’s moment of hesitation on a decisive move serves as a lesson that even a prodigy must manage margins and timing with care in the high-stakes world of professional cycling.
more difficulties
Yet the journey is far from over. Paris-Roubaix remains a formidable objective for a rider built with both speed and resilience, challenging the body on rough sectors and relentless miles. The Milan-San Remo race also presents its own tests, demanding a blend of endurance, speed, and an edge of brutality in the final kilometers. Pogacar will need to navigate these routes with the same composure and calculated risk that defined his Flemish triumph if he hopes to extend his reign across monuments and classics alike.
The calendar then shifts toward the spring classics that crown the season’s early challengers. The focus will turn to the Walloon Arrow and ultimately the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, a race steeped in history as one of cycling’s oldest formats. In this period, the field will watch closely for Remco Evenepoel, a fellow prodigy in the new era of the sport, as battle lines form for a grand duel that can reshape the year’s narrative. Analysts and fans alike anticipate a vivid contest as Pogacar lines up for the next wave of challenges, aiming to build on the confidence and momentum from recent performances.