In a display of sheer athletic dominance on Sunday, Tadej Pogačar pummels Van der Poel to accept third Tour of Flanders title, dismantling the world’s elite in a race that felt less like a contest and more like a coronation. The Slovenian rider, representing UAE Emirates-XRG, didn’t just win; he methodically stripped away his rivals, leaving a trail of exhausted champions in his wake to secure his 12th career Monument victory.
The victory marks a historic milestone, as Pogačar joins a rarefied group of cyclists with three wins at the Tour of Flanders. But the scoreline—a 34-second margin over Mathieu van der Poel—only tells part of the story. It was the manner of the victory, a relentless assault on the cobbled climbs of Belgium, that signaled a shift in the hierarchy of professional road racing. Having already secured a first-time win at Milan-San Remo earlier this season, Pogačar is now operating on a plane of his own.
For those who have followed the sport through the lens of the “Monuments”—the five most prestigious one-day races in cycling—Pogačar is currently chasing a ghost. Should he capture Paris-Roubaix, he would become the first rider in the history of the sport to win all five Monuments in a single calendar season. While the cycling world has seen greats dominate eras, the prospect of a clean sweep in one spring is an ambition that borders on the mythological.
A tactical dismantling on the cobbles
The day began with the typical chaos of the Belgian Classics. A 13-rider breakaway established itself early, featuring Silvan Dillier of Alpecin-Premier Tech, Frederik Frison, Connor Swift, and American Luke Lamperti. While the break fought for visibility, the UAE team played a disciplined game of containment, keeping the gap manageable while preparing for the race’s inevitable fracture.
That fracture occurred on the Molenberg. Under the driving impetus of Florian Vermeersch, the UAE squad blew the race apart, launching a 17-rider selection that included the heavy hitters: Pogačar, Van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert, and Mads Pedersen. By the time this elite group neutralized the early breakaway with 78km remaining, the race had transitioned from a battle of attrition to a high-stakes game of poker.
Pogačar threw the first real punch 57km from the finish. On the Oude Kwaremont, he accelerated with a violence that left most of the group gasping. Wout van Aert initially attempted to match the move but cracked before reaching the summit. While Van der Poel and Evenepoel were momentarily dropped, they managed to claw their way back to Pogačar before the climb ended, setting the stage for a three-way duel.
The psychological blow came on the Patersberg. Evenepoel, making a highly anticipated debut in the race, attempted to follow Pogačar’s wheel but was shelled by the effort. What followed was one of the most courageous, yet futile, chases of the season. The world and Olympic time trial champion spent over 50km riding solo, narrowing the gap to within four seconds several times, only to be repelled by a surge from the leaders.
“I didn’t want Remco back into the group because I know how good his endurance is as a rider,” Pogačar said. “He can always overcome in the end and beat you. So I really tried to build the gap and it was good.”
The final duel with Van der Poel
With Evenepoel relegated to third, Pogačar was left with one final obstacle: Mathieu van der Poel. The two remained locked in a tactical stalemate until they hit the Oude Kwaremont for the final time with 18km to go. Pogačar attacked almost immediately after the start of the climb, opening a gap that he would never relinquish.
Van der Poel, who had judged his efforts more conservatively than in previous years, found himself unable to bridge the divide. Pogačar hit the final ascent of the Paterberg with a 13-second lead and hammered his way up the slope, adding another three seconds to his buffer. On the flat run-in to the finish, Pogačar cruised, backing off slightly in the final meters to savor the moment of victory.
Despite the dominance, Pogačar appeared physically spent after the finish line. He acknowledged the immense pressure that accompanies his current form, noting that because he chooses his races selectively, the expectation to win every time he starts is absolute.
“It was a really crazy race today, I think,” Pogačar said. “I don’t know what to say. It was super hard… Then it was a little bit a waiting game but still it was effort putting on the pedals all the time. I was happy that we kind of cooperated. Then it was in good favor for me.”
Pogačar’s 2026 Monument Quest
| Race | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Milan-San Remo | Winner | Completed |
| Tour of Flanders | Winner | Completed |
| Paris-Roubaix | TBD | Upcoming |
| Liège-Bastogne-Liège | TBD | Upcoming (April 26) |
| Il Lombardia | TBD | Upcoming |
The road to Roubaix
The focus now shifts to Paris-Roubaix, the “Hell of the North.” It is the only Monument Pogačar has yet to win, and the only remaining hurdle between him and a historic season sweep. While his form in Flanders was overwhelming, Roubaix presents a different challenge. The flatter, brutal terrain of the sector cobbles historically favors a rider like Van der Poel, who will be looking for redemption on ground that suits his power profile more than the steep climbs of Flanders.
Pogačar remains undeterred, expressing a desire to simply enjoy the experience of the cobbles. However, the sporting world knows that “enjoyment” for Pogačar usually involves a podium step. After Roubaix, he will turn his attention to Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 26, where he enters as the heavy favorite.
Whether he completes the unprecedented sweep or falls short in the dust of Roubaix, Pogačar has already redefined what is possible in the modern era of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) circuit. For now, he stands as the undisputed king of the spring.
We will see if the “Hell of the North” can stop the Slovenian’s march toward superstardom next week. Share your thoughts on Pogačar’s historic run in the comments below.
