“I cannot accept the wonderful story we’re being told” – Former doper raises questions over Tadej Pogacar dominance after Milano-Sanremo
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar’s breathtaking Milano-Sanremo victory has been widely hailed as one of the most extraordinary performances of his career. But not everyone has been swept up in the wave of admiration that followed.
Erwann Mentheour, a former professional rider who admitted doping during his career, has instead urged caution in how such dominance is received, questioning whether performances of this level should pass without scrutiny.
“In cycling, admiration should never override critical thinking,” Mentheour wrote in a lengthy reaction posted after the race. “The more extraordinary a performance seems, the more it should raise questions. Without insulting or fantasising… just questions.”
That perspective places his comments firmly against the tone of much of the post-race reaction, where Pogacar’s ride was described across Europe as historic, spectacular, and even unprecedented.
“What I’m seeing goes far beyond what I experienced”
Mentheour’s unease centres not on a single moment, but on the broader pattern of Pogacar’s performances, with the Slovenian once again proving capable of shaping a Monument in multiple ways.
From crashing before the Cipressa, to chasing back, attacking relentlessly and still winning the sprint on Via Roma, Pogacar delivered a display that combined resilience, strength and tactical control.
For Mentheour, that level of consistency and versatility is precisely what prompts concern. “Honestly, I’m stunned,” he wrote. “I watch Pogacar race, win, string results together, dominate, recover, and start again, and I cannot accept the wonderful story we’re being told.”
He continued: “A rider who almost never dips, who moves through the seasons with such relentless consistency, who seems able to do everything, everywhere, all the time, should provoke something other than automatic applause.”
The former La Francaise des Jeux rider made clear that his reaction is shaped by his own experience of the sport during a different era. “Personally, I don’t hide my discomfort. What I’m seeing goes far beyond what I’ve known, experienced, and understood about elite sport.”
Tadej Pogacar crosses the line at Milano-Sanremo 2026
Cycling’s past still shapes the present
Mentheour’s argument is rooted in cycling’s history and the belief that past scandals should continue to inform how modern performances are viewed. “Cycling has too dirty a past for us to simply marvel like children,” he wrote. “This sport has lied, cheated, concealed, and destroyed reputations, bodies, and entire generations of riders.”
Within that context, he insists that questioning exceptional performances should not be seen as controversial. “Asking whether such total dominance is plausible is not scandalous. It’s the bare minimum.”
His comments arrive in stark contrast to the overwhelming praise that followed Pogacar’s long-awaited Milano-Sanremo triumph, a victory that finally completed another missing piece of his already remarkable palmares.
But while many have focused on the brilliance of the performance, Mentheour’s intervention ensures that a more uncomfortable conversation continues alongside it.
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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