"On that day, Mathieu van der Poel cracked Tadej Pogacar’s code" - Jose De Cauwer recalls highlights of 2025's Spring Classics
Cycling
With the Spring Classics concluded for another year, there have been a number of standout performances across the 2025 campaign. The likes of Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel and others have ensured some memorable racing and following the former's Liege-Bastogne-Liege solo last Sunday afternoon, Sporza analyst Jose De Cauwer has reflected on some of the highlights of the Spring.
"You’d think it wasn’t a great season because one rider stood head and shoulders above the rest. But it was a beautiful spring," begins the experienced Belgian cycling expert in conversation with Karl Vannieuwkerke post-Liege-Bastogne-Liege. "Let’s start with Strade Bianche. Tadej Pogacar wins the race despite a heavy crash. We also saw a very strong Tom Pidcock there. Then came Milano-Sanremo, with a brilliant win by Mathieu van der Poel — definitely a highlight."
"The battle in Paris-Roubaix was top-notch too. In that race, Pogacar showed a bit of vulnerability. He crashes, fights his way back to within 12 seconds, but then cracks," De Cauwer recalls. "On that day, Van der Poel cracked Pogacar’s code, so to speak."
It hasn't just been about Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates - XRG though. "Should we give a special mention this spring to Lidl-Trek as a team?" Vannieuwkerke mentions. "There was the emergence of Thibau Nys, Mattias Skjelmose’s victory at the Amstel Gold Race, Mads Pedersen’s win in Gent Wevelgem — and Pedersen also held his own against Pogacar and Van der Poel in Paris-Roubaix."
"Absolutely. Lidl-Trek gets top marks," De Cauwer agrees. "And then there’s Team Visma | Lease a Bike, a team that needs to reset. Is that Wout van Aert’s fault? Not at all. It’s just the way things went — Christophe Laporte dropped out, Dylan van Baarle wasn’t where he needed to be. Other teams are in the same boat. At Soudal – QuickStep, they also need to reassess things. What’s coming down the pipeline for next year? Will Remco Evenepoel stay or not? A few teams have some serious homework to do."
"What I’ve noticed is that the obsession with marginal gains, with finding the ultimate edge, seems to be fading," concludes De Cauwer's analysis. "I get the feeling that the riders who are at peace with themselves, who race from the heart, have the upper hand right now. And I think that’s the direction we need to go in again."
Un 9ème sacre sur un monument 👑
— Liège-Bastogne-Liège (@LiegeBastogneL) April 28, 2025
A 9th crown on a monument 🏅#LBL l @TamauPogi pic.twitter.com/2FbYUKrUJ7
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- lol yeah. this is a good onemij12-11-2026
- Mads is the best: I didn’t even know there were rules in cyclocross. I just thought it was a matter of: ‘Go, three, two, one, ride.’ It’s like a street fight, a kind of underground brawl. It’s the MMA of cycling he gives the best quotes.mij12-11-2026
- he's too young. he's 23, so not really a fair call yet.mij12-11-2026
- and don't forget Pidcock's departure. maybe he will never win a GT, but he knows how to light up a race.mij12-11-2026
- Bingo...I was going to say a 12 year obsessed Pogi fan girlie ! Like she's chasing a teen boy band! All glossy eyed about tadej!frieders312-11-2026
- That stint in the Pink was so good. If memory serves he struggled with the champagne cuz he'd never been on the podium before. I feel like it gave him some self-belief, and yeah - then the move to Visma to be one of their lieutenants has really brought him to the best version of himself.wrsty12-11-2026
- So, you never really compared Paul Seixas with his main rival Isaac Del Toro why jump to Pogačar? They've (Paul & Isaac) raced together here and there, and they've both shared in wins and losses, I think they should be compared to each other, even with Vingegaard and Remco first before even touching Pogačar. From your writing it's like he's better than Vingegaard, Remco and Del Toro already that his main target is now Pogačar 🤔Sadick11-11-2026
- gee i hope its a minor injury. a great rider and ambassador for the sport. get well soon Lucinda.
Davide11-11-2026 - some of lidl-treks retention and recruiting has been puzzling in the mens and womens teams.Davide11-11-2026
- Yeah his ride at World's was unreal. Over 6 W/kg for over an hour and a half...he single handedly destroyed the break.DAS11-11-2026
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