Has Tadej Pogacar’s kryptonite been found? Van Aert tactic “took the wind out of Tadej’s sails” in Roubaix, says American ex-pro
Cycling
Wout van Aert’s Paris-Roubaix victory was shaped by chaos, resilience and a decisive sprint. But for former American professional Tom Danielson, the key to the race may have come much earlier, in the way the Belgian approached his battle with Tadej Pogacar.
Looking back on the race on X afterwards, Danielson pointed to a tactical shift that he believes disrupted the world champion’s usual rhythm. “WVA repeatedly took his own shots at Tadej,” he wrote, highlighting a willingness to go on the offensive rather than simply react.
That approach, he suggested, had a visible impact.
It “seemed to take the wind out of Tadej’s sails,” according to Danielson, offering a rare glimpse of vulnerability in a rider who so often dictates the terms of racing.
Taking the race away from Pogacar
For Danielson, the significance of those moves lies in how they altered the dynamic between the two riders. “One strategy that we have seen work in the past is to actually attack Tadej,” he explained, framing Van Aert’s approach as something deliberate rather than instinctive.
Instead of allowing Pogacar to control the tempo, Van Aert repeatedly forced the issue, choosing his moments to accelerate and then backing it up with further pressure. “WVA attacked in smart places,” Danielson noted, pointing to narrow cobbled sections and exposed terrain where positioning and bike handling become critical.
The effect was not just physical. “His counterattacks definitely added doubt in Tadej’s mind,” he added, describing a shift in confidence that played out over the course of the race.
A race built on experience
Beyond those headline moments, Danielson’s analysis also focused on how Van Aert managed the broader demands of Paris-Roubaix. “One of the benefits of trying and failing so many times is that you learn exactly how to win,” he said, linking the Belgian’s previous disappointments in the race to the composure he showed this time.
That composure was evident throughout the day. “All day, WVA was in the right place at the right time,” Danielson wrote, before pointing to his response to setbacks. “He came back from his flat tyres with the calmness of a veteran, preserving key energy for the final.”
In a race where small decisions can have outsized consequences, those details added up.
Managing effort, choosing moments
Danielson also highlighted the balance Van Aert struck between cooperation and resistance in his duel with Pogacar. “Cycling is so much mental, and I think WVA played the game well,” he said, describing how the Belgian adapted his effort depending on the situation. At times, he worked with Pogacar, at others, he refused, particularly after being put under pressure himself.
That selective approach helped shape the final outcome, ensuring Van Aert reached the velodrome with the reserves needed to finish the job. As Danielson also pointed out, those gains were built through small but deliberate choices. “He rode in his drops as often as he could to be more aero and save energy,” he noted, while also taking risks in the process. “He took risks riding extremely close to Tadej’s wheel to save key energy.”
“He clearly had fresher legs in the final,” Danielson concluded, pointing to the decisive advantage that showed in the sprint.
Tadej Pogacar and Wout Van Aert at the 2026 Paris-Roubaix
A victory built over time
While the tactics on the road proved decisive, Danielson also placed the win in a broader context. “Wout Van Aert winning Paris-Roubaix is a fantastic example of how you should never give up, never lose hope,” he said, framing the result as the culmination of years of effort rather than a one-off performance. “If you keep working, you will eventually get to where you want.”
That perspective speaks to why this victory carries more weight than most. It was not just about beating Pogacar on the day, but about finally aligning experience, strategy and execution in a race that rarely offers second chances.
And in doing so, Van Aert may also have offered a blueprint, however difficult to replicate, for how to challenge the sport’s most dominant rider.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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