"It was a great year until the Tour": Pundit bored by Tadej Pogacar’s 2025 dominance

In the 2025 season, Tadej Pogacar was once again the best cyclist in the world, by a wide margin. The Slovenian dominated virtually every race he entered. And when he didn’t win, he still left performances to remember, such as Milano–Sanremo or Paris–Roubaix. That’s why the criticism claiming he makes the sport boring is looking increasingly flimsy.

In the Kop over Kop podcast from Eurosport, several experts sat down to debate everything that happened on the road in 2025. Jeroen Vanbelleghem, Bobbie Traksel and Jan Hermsen shared their views on the main results from the calendar’s biggest races. And they all agreed that cycling was boring with Pogacar, at least in the season just finished.

"Spectacular, overwhelming and boring. That last word may be a shocking choice, but I have to mention it. Many races were decided from the start," Traksel began. "The best riders once again stood head and shoulders above the rest. Many races were settled tens of kilometres from the finish. That was mainly down to Tadej Pogacar."

"At times it was boring, mostly because of Pogacar. But luckily, he’s often spectacular in his boredom," added Hermsen, more measured as he pointed to the UAE Team Emirates - XRG superstar for resolving races too early.

"It was monotonous. In fact, it was a great season until midway through the Tour. Then the Slovenian began his absolute dominance. The Vuelta a España, with everything that happened, was hardly a fun Grand Tour. Lombardia was dull afterwards as well, because everyone already knew who was going to win," said Vanbelleghem, with a swipe at Javier Guillén’s race.

While pointing out what they see as the problem in today’s cycling, there was also time to discuss the year’s standout performances:

"Van Aert’s attack on Montmartre was a beautiful moment," said Vanbelleghem. "Even so, I think Pogacar’s move on the Cipressa at Milano–Sanremo was truly impressive. Although Van der Poel ultimately won the race, that attack had everything. It also whets the appetite for next year."

"The public voted for Van Aert in Paris," Traksel noted. "But I personally choose the Tour of Flanders. For me, it’s always the best race day. The stage over the Finestre is also rated very highly."

"For me, Milano–Sanremo tops everything. It really was the best day of racing. An unrivalled day, with the level sky-high and emotions to the limit,L Hermsen concluded.