Belgians react to inability to catch Tadej Pogacar at World Championships: "He said then that he wouldn’t wait until the final lap. I thought he was joking"

Tadej Pogacar stormed to victory in Zurich but that was after a very early attack that didn't have a ready response from the Belgians that had numbers in the peloton. The rival national team did chase on with several riders but was unable to succeed. How did it go wrong? The riders explain.

It was a move with exactly 100 kilometers to go on the main climb of the circuit. Andrea Bagioli followed initially but was then unable to do so after the ascent. Remco Evenepoel called the attack 'suicidal' and many others - both riders and non-riders - wondered if he was taking too many risks and burning off important energy. Evenepoel was hidden in the peloton saving his legs for the final laps, so he was nowhere near responding to the attack.

The team then did organize a chase; with Quinten Hermans, Victor Campenaerts and finally Maxim van Gils doing the bulk of the work to control the gap, but a few others did not have their best legs or managed to contribute much. This meant the catch was never made and Pogacar would go on to win the race. We have collected quotes from Wielerflits and Het Laatste Nieuws regarding the Belgians' commentary following the race:

National coach Sven Vanthourenhout: “When the large group with Tratnik and De Plus rode away and had a lead of more than two minutes, Jasper Stuyven dropped down to ask if they should start riding. I said that it wasn’t necessary, but that they should be alert for Pogacar’s crossing".

Tiesj Benoot (Het Laatste Nieuws): “At the start of the third-to-last lap, I saw Slovenia accelerating at the front of the peloton. I looked back and didn’t see Remco, so I dropped down to go and look for him. That’s why I was too far. We weren’t completely attentive at that moment. A mistake on our part. We halved the difference and closed the gap to within half a minute. Remco was still quite relaxed at that time. But I have to admit that I didn’t have my best legs.”

Quinten Hermans: “[I didn't respond] Because it was my job to surround Remco until we would show our cards for the first time with three laps to go... When Pogacar attacks, you shouldn’t hesitate".

Tim Wellens: “We should have been more up front when Tadej attacked… Just before the World Championships, I went to train with Tadej in Monaco. He said then that he wouldn’t wait until the final lap. I thought he was joking.”

Jasper Stuyven: “On this tough course – in retrospect too difficult for me – that (chasing, ed.) was only possible in the three flat kilometers towards the finish. With my last bit of strength, I managed to reach Remco and told him what Sven had said.”

Maxim Van Gils: “I tried to get Remco as close as possible so that he could jump, but my legs filled up pretty quickly. I didn’t have a super day,”