In particular, images of rivals
Tadej Pogacar and
Michael Matthews driving to
Milano-Sanremo together confused van Hooydonck. "I would never have done carpooling like Pogacar and Matthews did. And then posting photos about it?" he questions in disbelief. "Those guys have to compete against each other in the race. I still wonder about that.”
Countering that argument, Belgian cycling expert,
Michel Wuyts plays devil's advocate. "That is the character of Pogacar and other riders of this generation. They want to share that 'happy feeling'. I find it acceptable, beautiful and sometimes even touching," Wuyts replies. "What I would have a much more difficult time with is the way in which Freddy Maertens and Roger De Vlaeminck interacted during the Tour of Flanders in 1977. Those two had such a big chip against each other that they did not grant each other the victory. They then let themselves down and that's how Walter Planckaert won. Then I prefer the current way of dealing with each other.”