ANALYSIS: What do Pogacar, Kopecky, Sagan and Deignan have in common after the 2025 Tour of Flanders?

There are days in cycling history that feel predestined, where the stars align, the champions rise, and history is written. Sunday at the 2025 Tour of Flanders was one such day, as two reigning World Champions conquered Flanders’ cobbles and climbs: Tadej Pogacar and Lotte Kopecky.

It’s a rare feat for the men’s and women’s rainbow jerseys to triumph at the same Monument, rarer still for it to happen in the same race, on the same day. But that’s exactly what happened in Oudenaarde, and remarkably, it’s not the first time.

According to Cycling Statistics, if you rewind to 2016, the script was strikingly similar. Slovak superstar Peter Sagan, in his first season wearing the rainbow jersey, powered to victory in the men’s edition of De Ronde. Hours earlier, Great Britain’s Lizzie Deignan (then Armitstead), reigning women’s World Champion, had claimed her own win. It was a banner day for cycling, and for the rainbow stripes.

Fast forward nine years, and Flanders delivered another unforgettable double yesterday. Tadej Pogacar, wearing the rainbow jersey for UAE Team Emirates–XRG, produced one of the most impressive rides of his career, dismantling rivals including Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert to win his second Tour of Flanders.

In the women’s race, the home crowd had reason to roar as Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky, also racing in the World Champion’s colours, stormed to victory. Already a national icon, Kopecky added a record third Flanders title to her palmarès in emphatic fashion, this time with the added pressure and prestige of defending the rainbow stripes on home roads.

For both Pogacar and Kopecky, these victories were not just about their incredible talent, though that was clearly on full display. They were about rising to the expectations that come with the rainbow jersey and delivering on the biggest of stages, and defeating other legendary riders.