"Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar are really on another level" - Niki Terpsta previews Spring Classics contenders in 2025

We don't have long to wait before the 2025 Spring Classics campaign gets underway in earnest. Ahead of the upcoming battles, multiple-time Monument winner Niki Terpstra has cast an eye over the potential contenders.

When it comes to potential winners, Van Vleuten spots two riders on a different level to all other hopefuls. "I really think it will come down to Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar," previews the Dutchman in conversation with NOS. "Of course, there are other riders who can make it difficult for these two titans. Of course, I’m thinking of Wout van Aert. Behind these three, I also expect a lot from Arnaud De Lie and Jasper Philipsen. Then you have a group of about ten more riders behind them, but Van der Poel and Pogacar are really on another level."

As mentioned, a muliple-time Monument winner, with successes at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix on his palmares, Terpstra knows more than most how to get the job done in the biggest races. In the coming year though, the Dutch star foresees a different method of victory than has become the custom in recent seasons. "I expect fewer solo victories this year, but a lot of early attacks," he explains. "However, in the end, it will probably be the two best riders breaking away together and dominating the race."

Although it may be somewhat obvious, Terpstra also explains exactly what sets the last two world champion's apart from their rivals. "Pogacar is truly a gem for the sport. He doesn’t follow all the tactical plans and just does what he feels like, which is amazing to watch. The way he attacked 90 kilometers from the finish at the World Championships in Zurich was just insane," he recalls. "It’s truly incredible that Van der Poel has already won Flanders Finest three times at his age. It’s an extremely tough race with a long history, and the fact that no one has ever won it four times just says it all."