“Many people no longer understand cycling” - Adrie van der Poel hits back at criticism of Mathieu’s tactics against Tadej Pogacar in Flanders

Mathieu van der Poel’s ride at the 2026 Tour of Flanders did not just end in second place. It reignited a familiar debate about how, or even if, Tadej Pogacar can be beaten when he reaches this level.

In the days since, much of the discussion has centred on whether Van der Poel should have raced differently. Whether following Pogacar’s moves, rather than forcing a more conservative or calculated approach, ultimately played into the Slovenian’s hands. For Adrie van der Poel, that line of thinking misses the point entirely.

While others questioned the tactics, the former Tour of Flanders winner dismissed the idea that his son should have approached the finale differently. “It’s not a race for beginners!” Adrie van der Poel said in conversation with L’Equipe. “These are two very great riders. If they start racing like that, I’ll stop watching cycling. You have to race to win, not try to be the smartest. You don’t do that between great champions.”

That stance directly challenges the suggestion that Van der Poel should have sat on, waited, or tried to turn the race into something more tactical. Instead, it frames the finale as what it was: a direct confrontation between two riders capable of deciding the race on their own terms.

The decisive move came on the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, where Pogacar’s acceleration finally created the gap that had been threatening to open for much of the race.

Van der Poel had followed earlier efforts, staying in contact through repeated accelerations, but this time the response was not there. From that moment, the race was effectively settled.

That sequence has become central to the debate. Could Van der Poel have conserved more? Could he have waited for riders like Remco Evenepoel to return? Could a different approach have changed the outcome? Adrie van der Poel rejects that premise.

Despite his defence of the approach, he was clear in his assessment of the result itself. “Pogacar was above everyone, and you have to accept that.”

It is a simple conclusion, but one that aligns with how the race unfolded. Pogacar did not win through a single moment of hesitation behind him, but through a sustained ability to force separation on terrain that rewards it. Even riders who could follow for long stretches were eventually distanced.

The reaction to the race has also prompted a broader response. “Mathieu rides for the podium every time,” Adrie van der Poel said. “There are many people who no longer understand cycling, who don’t know what it means to fight for victory for seven years in a row.”

For him, the consistency at the top level is being overlooked in favour of hindsight analysis of a single race situation.

Van der Poel has repeatedly placed himself in a position to win the biggest races on the calendar. That, in itself, remains the foundation of success in this kind of racing.

There is no sense of regret in how the race was ridden. “You have to try to find a solution for next year, to see if there is anything we can do better,” Adrie added.

That reflects the reality of racing against Pogacar in his current form. The question is not simply whether to follow or not, but whether any approach would have been enough once the decisive accelerations began.

In Flanders, the answer came on the cobbles of the Kwaremont. And for those closest to Van der Poel, it is not a question of tactics, but of recognising what they were up against.