“I can’t put my finger on it” – Michael Boogerd left with mixed feelings despite thrilling Giro d’Italia
Cycling
The 2025 Giro d’Italia came to a dramatic close on Sunday,
as Simon Yates sealed victory in Rome and finally picked up the Maglia rosa he
should have won in 2018. Yates took the pink jersey in a stunning Stage 20
performance, outmanoeuvring Isaac Del Toro and Richard Carapaz in a thrilling
tactical finale.
With the dominant trio of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard,
and Remco Evenepoel absent, this year’s Giro offered an open and unpredictable
battle, something many fans have hailed as the most exciting Grand Tour in
years. But on the Eurosport Kop over Kop podcast, former Dutch pro
Michael Boogerd admitted he was left with a “strange taste” at the end of the
race.
“I really got the feeling that Simon Yates would have won
the Giro if he had ridden backwards,” Boogerd said. “I can't put my finger on
it, but I almost had the idea that Del Toro or Carapaz shouldn't have won the
Giro. I think it's weird.”
Boogerd’s comment highlighted the odd dynamic of the final
mountain stage, where the two main rivals appeared locked in a tactical
standoff while Yates soared ahead to victory.
However, co-host Jeroen Vanbelleghem pushed back against
Boogerd’s assessment, praising the tactical drama on the decisive climb.
“What Boogerd says about that strange aftertaste, I could
really enjoy that,” Vanbelleghem said. “This is tactics, right? On a climb like
this, it all comes together. I really enjoyed it for two hours.”
Boogerd was quick to credit Lidl–Trek for their
contributions to the race, particularly Daan Hoole’s surprising performance
against the clock.
“I thought Lidl–Trek was really cool, especially Daan
Hoole's time trial,” he said. “I can totally imagine it, such a young rider
suddenly taking on the best time trialist in the world. That must be an
incredible feeling.”
He also praised the Dutch impact on the race, with stage
wins for Olav Kooij, Daan Hoole, and Casper van Uden: “For the Netherlands it
was a good Giro anyway,” Boogerd concluded. “We won four stages with Kooij,
Hoole and Van Uden, so we didn't ride like idiots. It was a nice Giro.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
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santiagobenites14-11-2026
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