“On the road, Tadej Pogacar wins everything" - Toon Aerts claims road cycling has become "a bit boring" but targets Grand Tour debut in 2026

European cyclocross champion Toon Aerts has never been afraid to give an honest assessment of the sport, and in a wide-ranging conversation with Humo he offered one of his frankest verdicts yet — arguing that the current men’s peloton has drifted into predictable patterns under the dominance of Tadej Pogacar.

Aerts was discussing what makes elite sport compelling when he turned to the Slovenian’s stranglehold on the biggest races. “Such figures often have the most supporters. Wout and Mathieu draw the crowds; when they start, there is always more people. Thibau is also such a figure, although he isn’t dominant yet in terms of wins. He makes statements that provoke reactions and has more of an aura than the average rider.”

Then came the line that will resonate with fans who’ve debated whether Pogacar’s supremacy adds or subtracts from the spectacle: “But maybe variety makes it interesting too. On the road, Pogacar wins everything. In my opinion that’s a bit too boring.”

It’s a remarkably direct assessment — especially coming from a rider who has spent much of his own career battling the likes of Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel in the muddy fields of cyclocross.

Ironically, while Aerts believes the top end of road racing has become predictable, his own 2025 road campaign was anything but.

The partnership between his cyclocross organisation and Lotto thrust him onto the WorldTour calendar for the first time, and the Belgian admits the experience completely changed his outlook on what is possible. “This summer I discovered road racing in the WorldTour. That has given my career — especially at my age — new momentum. It may even extend it.”

Despite never seeing himself as a natural climber, Aerts delivered strong performances in stage races such as the Tour of Britain and the Baloise Belgium Tour — results that surprised even him.

“This summer I showed in the Tour of Britain and the Baloise Belgium Tour that I can handle both uphill finishes and climbs of two or three minutes. For a rider with my build and weight, I’d never expected that.”

The shift wasn’t just physical. Aerts embraced the tactical role of guiding faster riders through stressful finales, something that became crucial during Lotto’s Renewi Tour victory with Arnaud De Lie. “The feeling I had within the team then – when you can help guide one of your team-mates to victory – that’s a kick I’d really love to feel again.”

The next milestone is clear. Aerts and the team have already begun mapping out potential options for his first-ever Grand Tour appearance in 2026.

The Belgian sees himself fitting into multiple roles depending on the team’s GC and stage win ambitions. “With Arnaud we have someone we can aim for stage wins with, and with Lennert Van Eetvelt someone for the GC. It’s now about seeing which strategy suits me best.”

Given his ability to shepherd sprinters, his surprising climbing progression, and his increasingly valuable race-reading instincts, Aerts believes he now brings genuine versatility to Lotto’s road programme.

And while he may find Pogacar’s dominance “a bit boring”, Aerts’ own reinvention on the road is anything but. A Grand Tour debut in 2026 would be the latest chapter in one of Belgian cycling’s more unexpected second acts.