"A rider like Pogacar is born once every fifty years": Belgian coach hails Slovenian’s dominance

Belgian football coach and former player Hein Vanhaezebrouck is also passionate about cycling, something that comes as no surprise given Belgium's deep-rooted cycling heritage. That is why he wanted to weigh in the current state of the sport in a recent interview.

Pogacar has millions of fans around the world, and Vanhaezebrouck seems to be one of them. “I am a big fan,” he said in quotes collected by Wieler Krant. “A rider like Pogacar is born once every fifty years. But it can’t always be Pogacar attacking from fifty kilometres out. There has to be a battle.”

Pogacar is the best rider in the world, and he is almost unbeatable in every race he starts in, Tour de France included. “We have to be honest: as long as he takes part in the Tour – and is ready to compete for the GC – I don’t think anyone else can win,” he said bluntly.

Remco Evenepoel recently stated that he is very motivated to improve his level in 2026 with his new team Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and wants to reach Pogacar's level to be a real contender at the Tour de France this year.

"I want to be better than him. That’s very difficult, we all know that. But that’s the reason I came here. To take those steps. To go over it, on it and over it. That will take a lot of strength, but I’m very motivated and I really needed this new step to open up a kind of ceiling. I hope I can really break through this year,” Evenepoel said a couple of weeks ago.

Jean-Marie Dedecker, mayor of Middelkerke, shared his opinion. “The injury of Pogacar does show that he can also drop out once,” Dedecker said. “In any case, I wonder whether he can keep this up for another seven years.”

Dedecker sees a clear strategy for Evenepoel. “Then I look at Evenepoel. Make sure you’re ready. Make sure you’re better than Vingegaard at the moment when Pogacar is not there,” he concluded.