ANALYSIS | Van der Poel vs Sagan vs Boonen: Which classics King has the best palmares?

Today we are looking at three cycling Kings who each defined a generation. Mathieu van der Poel, Peter Sagan, and Tom Boonen each represent a different era of cycling, with unique strengths, achievements, and rivals throughout their careers. Van der Poel is the modern all-rounder, able to win across multiple disciplines while taking on some of the strongest riders the sport has ever seen. Sagan brought an unmatched level of consistency and ruthless winning streak to the Grand Tours, combined with his own flashes of brilliance in the Monuments. Boonen was the quintessential cobbled classics specialist, building his reputation on a mix of power and precision on the pavé.

So how do we compare them? Who is the overall number 1?

Comparing them is more than counting wins. We have to consider the disciplines, the manner of the wins, and the rivals they came up against to win. That is what we will attempt to accomplish in this article, and then you will have the opportunity to vote and give your opinion in the comments section below.

So, let’s dive straight in.

Van der Poel, who is now 30 years old, stands alone among the three as an active rider with the chance to further expand his palmarès. Born in Belgium but representing the Netherlands, he has, over the past three seasons, reached new heights on the road while also continuing to add victories in other cycling disciplines. In 2023, he claimed the road race world title in Glasgow.

The following year, he added a gravel world title, and his long-standing dominance in cyclocross brought his tally to a record-equalling seven titles in that discipline. In total, that gives Van der Poel nine rainbow jerseys across three cycling formats, a feat that illustrates that he is indeed one of the most talented people to have ever ridden a bike. His ambitions are far from over, as he openly admits his goal is to add a mountain bike world title, which would make him, alongside Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, a world champion in four different disciplines.

His Monuments record is equally impressive. Van der Poel has won Milano–Sanremo twice, a feat neither Sagan nor Boonen managed. He has taken Paris–Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders three times each, giving him a total of eight Monuments. Beyond these, he has claimed victories at the E3 Saxo Classic, Amstel Gold, where he delivered an unforgettable victory in 2019, and Strade Bianche. On the Grand Tour front, he has two Tour de France stage wins and one Giro d’Italia stage win, as well as having worn both the yellow and pink jerseys during those races.

Peter Sagan’s career takes a different shape to Van der Poel’s. While his Monuments tally stands at two, one Tour of Flanders and one Paris–Roubaix, he stands above the rest of history in terms of his unrivalled success in the Tour de France points classification. He has won the green jersey a record seven times, collected 12 Tour stage victories, and also claimed the Giro d’Italia points classification alongside two stage wins. At the Vuelta a España, he added four stages to his tally.

Sagan is also a three-time road world champion, securing consecutive titles from 2015 to 2017, a streak unmatched in the modern era. His early years in cycling included a junior world championship in mountain biking and a cyclocross world championship medal at junior level, but unlike Van der Poel, these disciplines did not remain part of his professional career success in the senior ranks.

Boonen’s record is focused exclusively on the road, but within that arena, he dominated his era. The 2005 road race world champion, he won the Tour of Flanders three times and Paris–Roubaix a record four times, cementing his status as the king of the cobbles. His Grand Tour record includes the Tour de France points classification in 2007, six Tour stage wins in total, and two Vuelta a España stage wins. Boonen’s seven Monuments put him just one behind Van der Poel and well ahead of Sagan, and all came in the two most punishing cobbled races on the calendar

When the numbers are compared, Van der Poel holds the edge in both variety and breadth. His eight Monuments come from three different races, compared to Sagan and Boonen’s focus on two. His nine world titles, though spread across disciplines, far outstrip Sagan’s three and Boonen’s one. Critics might argue that cyclocross world titles do not carry the same prestige as road world championships, given the smaller competitive pool, but Van der Poel’s decade-long battle with Wout van Aert has provided a rivalry of rare intensity. Only in recent years has he consistently pulled ahead of his Belgian counterpart in the cross field.

In Grand Tours, Sagan is unquestionably ahead. His 18 stage wins across the Tour, Giro, and Vuelta, combined with his nine points classification jerseys, make him the standout rider in this area. Boonen’s eight stage wins put him ahead of Van der Poel’s three, but far behind Sagan’s total.

The head-to-head numbers tell part of the story. Sagan finished his career with 121 professional wins, just one behind Boonen’s 122. Van der Poel currently sits a long way back at 55, but given he is still competing, the final number remains to be seen. More importantly, a larger percentage of Van der Poel’s wins have come in major races, reflecting his focus on cycling’s biggest prizes.

The question of rivals is critical to understanding these careers. Van der Poel’s list of opponents is formidable: Tadej Pogacar, Julian Alaphilippe, Wout van Aert, and Mads Pedersen. His ongoing duels with Pogacar have defined the last few seasons, with the Dutchman emerging as the only consistent challenger to the Slovenian in 2025. In Tadej Pogacar, Van der Poel is quite possibly facing the greatest cycling of all time. Not just facing him either, beating him too, as we saw in Roubaix and Sanremo earlier this year.

Boonen’s key rivals during his prime included Fabian Cancellara, Alessandro Ballan, and Thor Hushovd, specialists in the same types of races who made every classics campaign an incredible battle. Boone’s rivalry with Cancellara was the greatest rivalrly of the generation, just before the Van der Poel – Van Aert rivalry began. While these names brought immense competition, the depth of all-round ability seen in Van der Poel’s era, particularly from Pogacar, is arguably greater.

Sagan’s main rivals were found in the sprinters of his generation, including Mark Cavendish, Elia Viviani and Fernando Gaviria. But, part of what made Sagan so special was that he was such a unique rider, and that he did not truly fit the profile of stereotypical sprinter or puncheur.

So, who comes out on top in this head to head?

Van der Poel’s case for first place rests on his eight Monuments from three different races, his nine world titles across multiple disciplines, and his record against some of the most complete riders in history. Sagan’s strength lies in his Grand Tour stage wins and his triple road rainbow jerseys, achievements no other modern rider has matched. Boonen’s position as the undisputed king of the cobbles secures his place in the conversation, but the narrower scope of his palmarès places him just behind the other two.

The ranking, then, is:

1. Mathieu van der Poel

2. Peter Sagan

3. Tom Boonen

Each rider’s greatness is undeniable, but it comes in different forms. And at the end of the argument, we have found Mathieu van der Poel to be the number 1. Whilst his grand tour palmares falls beneath the other two, his success across different races and disciplines is unrivalled in the men’s peloton.

Do you agree with this ranking? Let us know in the poll and comments section below!