"If I were a child, Mathieu would be my idol" - Tadej Pogacar on rival van der Poel

Throughout history there have been massive rivalries in cycling and after having Jonas Vingegaard and the Tour de France duels, Tadej Pogacar has now found himself in a titanic dispute with Mathieu van der Poel on the spring classics. The World Champion has nothing but respect for his main rival, even with the disappointment of him having taken away his Paris-Roubaix and Milano-Sanremo wins.

"It is a flat race, but based on my abilities, this will be one of the toughest races I have ever done," Pogacar said in the post-race press conference, as reported by In de Leiderstrui. "The body has a lot to process on the cobblestones, so I certainly put it among the most difficult races I have raced. But I can use that experience next time, too."

It was a race that opened up with over 100 kilometers to go - the sections before, during and right after the Trouée d'Arenberg were where the selection was made and the strongest showed themselves. Pogacar attacked, but was also forced to respond to Mathieu van der Poel's attacks. As was the case in Sanremo and Flanders, the two were the strongest on the day, although they are so closely matched that it always leaves an exciting question on who will take the win.

In this case, van der Poel. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider did look the strongest, and has the experience and technique riding over the cobblestones like few others in the peloton; and ultimately that net him the win as Pogacar lost the Dutchman's wheel in a crash.

"It's good that you mention it. When you're riding full throttle, you focus on the motorbikes. And when they don't take the corner, you think there is no corner. And then suddenly they were very close because they were standing still... I should have known, so I'm not using it as an excuse," he explains. Although a second place on his debut is a brilliant result, the Slovenian will not be overly happy after seeing van der Poel virtually take away from him both Sanremo and Roubaix titles - the two he is missing to complete the five monuments of cycling.

But between the two there is nothing but respect, and Pogacar was not shy of praising his rival whom he should now only see at the Tour de France: "Mathieu is a great champion. He is one of the world's best riders, and it is a great honor for me to race against him. I have said it before, but if I were a child, Mathieu would be my idol."