Michael Boogerd on Tadej Pogacar: "I don't think we'll see such extreme dominance again next year"

Tadej Pogacar has experienced a season like no other in modern cycling, and perhaps the best in the history of the sport. Former pro Michael Boogerd surrendered to the spectacle that is for a rider to deliver such incredible performances but doesn't believe it's repeatable for the 2025 season.

Whilst there certainly is an argument for the Slovenian's dominance becoming draining for some cycling fans, the Dutchman sees it the other way around. "No, I can really enjoy Tadej Pogacar. He can't help it that he is so much better than the rest. I look at it as an expert and can really appreciate such an effort because I can estimate how good you have to be for that. But cycling is more than just the battle for victory," Boogerd said in De Stelling magazine.

Boogerd wrote about how different kinds of performances and rides are entertaining for him to watch, and it doesn't necessarily have to do with the result that the rider has at the end of the day. "When I watch the World Championships, I can also really enjoy Bauke Mollema excelling. Or Vingegaard putting his team in the lead in the Tour on the way to Plateau de Beille and then still losing. I also think it's great to see someone lose in style. There's beauty in that too."

Pogacar this year has won most of his races with dominance. Long solo victories at Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, GP de Montréal, Giro dell'Emilia and many stage wins were won with big gaps and very little tension in the fight for the win. But at the same time, it's something rare to witness, and Boogerd focuses on that aspect of his wins:

"Of course I understand that people like to have excitement until the last kilometer. I think that's great too. But as a cycling fan, you also have to be able to appreciate it when a champion like Pogacar shows his class. It's also been a particularly successful year for him. Everything worked out. I don't think we'll see such extreme dominance again next year."