Alex MacQuoid
Pogačar Claims Third Tour of Flanders Title, Eyes Monument Sweep
Tadej Pogačar secured his third Tour of Flanders victory on Sunday, delivering a commanding performance in one of cycling’s most prestigious one-day races. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider crossed the line in Oudenaarde with the composure of a champion who has already mastered this parcours.
In his immediate television flash interview, Pogačar offered little: “I don’t know what to say.” Two hours later, after celebrating and sharing the podium moment with Demi Vollering following the women’s race, his perspective had crystallized. By the time he faced the international cycling media around 6:45 PM local time, the Slovenian was ready to dissect his performance with precision.
When asked to rank the victory, Pogačar emphasized the caliber of opposition and the brutal nature of the course. “It was a very hard race against strong competition. Everyone raced really aggressively and gave everything, so that only makes this win more meaningful. Flanders is simply a super-tough race with a beautiful atmosphere for the fans, and that is why I love it so much.”
The Monument Question
The prospect of winning all five Monuments in a single season hung over the press conference. Pogačar quickly tempered expectations. “I now have two out of five, so let’s not rush things.” When asked specifically about Paris-Roubaix, he delivered a measured response: “Motivation is high, pressure is low. As the tyres will be. I’m first going to enjoy this victory and then we’ll look toward Roubaix, where we will also start with a very strong team.”
The Train Incident
The race featured an unusual disruption when protestors breached the course at a railway crossing. Pogačar had not yet been asked about the incident when a journalist raised it. “I hadn’t had that question yet, nice,” he said with a slight smile, before his tone shifted. “Well, not nice actually.”
He explained the chaos: Mikkel Bjerg had controlled the front of the peloton all day when three men suddenly jumped onto the road. “But how can you stop an entire group in one second? They should have stopped us earlier, not ten metres before the crossing. I thought it was a protest. But the rule they used there was a bit strange. They should have stopped both the breakaway and us, but in the end Mikkel was so strong that he was able to control those extra two minutes.”
Tactical Execution
Asked how he managed the race after the interruption, Pogačar credited his team’s strength. “We have a very strong team and they made sure I could start the hilly section without spending too much energy. In Flanders you need that, but you also need exceptional legs. Fortunately, I had them.”
He identified the decisive moments: “The Kwaremont is the hardest climb and it is the longest real effort in the race, while after that it still keeps going up and down a bit all the way to the Paterberg.”
Teammate Dynamics
When pressed about communications with teammate Mathieu van der Poel during his attack, Pogačar admitted there was limited dialogue. “Not really, because there was no time for that.” On whether van der Poel was fully committed, Pogačar revealed the mental calculus of racing at the highest level: “I had some doubts as well, because you can’t feel what he feels. Maybe he’s bluffing, maybe he isn’t. You think about everything, but in the end he rode, as always, for everything he was worth.”
The Winning Edge
A journalist suggested competitors might become discouraged facing Pogačar‘s dominance. He deflected with perspective: “Some of them maybe do, others maybe don’t. I don’t know.” When told his trajectory mirrors that of van der Poel‘s claimed peak form, Pogačar explained his continued improvement. “I’m lucky that I’m still improving, or that there is still room for improvement. I think that mostly comes because the competition keeps forcing me to the limit, but it won’t go on forever.”
He also humanized his effort: “And be careful: when I do a training session, I suffer just like all of you do on the bike. At a different speed, of course, but I’m just as tired.”
When asked for insight into his Paris-Roubaix preparation, Pogačar grinned and offered nothing. “We have prepared well, but we will see next Sunday.” Even champions know when to stay silent. Follow TipsGG’s coverage for the latest updates on the Monument season.