"Pogacar really wasn't at his limit at all" - Did Tadej Pogacar 'play' with the competition in Rwanda?
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar's victory in Kigali this weekend saw him carry over a minute of advantage over Remco Evenepoel, his closest competitor. However, the winning difference was made with over 100 kilometers, and it never seemed likely that the Belgian would be able to close the gap. The commentary over the showdown between World and Olympic champion continues, but not everyone argues that Pogacar was at his very limit to net his second consecutive world title.
"Pogacar really wasn't at his limit at all, even though he was riding alone the whole time. I watched in amazement." Jan Hermsen argued in the Kop over Kop podcast. "He plays with the riders' overconfidence. He makes them think they can catch him and then lets them back up a bit."
He argues this mostly based on the time laps over the final circuit in Kigali, which Pogacar consistently rode faster and faster as the race progressed. He believes this was a purposeful maneuver to mentally crack his opponents, specially Remco Evenepoel who is a time-trial specialist as is very well adapted to this sort of effort.
"It's like he senses people coming back and then he gives them a little hope. The moment they get high, he accelerates again," Jan Hermsen said. "I think he understands the race so well and knows what the other riders are capable of. He really plays with them."
How much has Pogacar learnt?
Bobbie Traksel believes the Slovenian won almost solely based on the fact that he had superior power. "It's clear that Pogacar has learned a lot in recent years. At first, he would blast off and go all out. Now Pogacar knows that if he has a gap, he has to ride with his wattage, like Vingegaard does".
However it's hard to argue that anyone on the day would've had the legs to challenge the Slovenian, even with Remco Evenepoel's issues with the bikes. Pogacar rode the last almost 70 kilometers by himself, whilst Evenepoel always had company and collaboration with other riders until the final 20 kilometers. Had Pogacar not broken away from the peloton earlier, he would've likely had the legs to make the difference at any later point in the race.
"We know Del Toro is a fantastic rider, and then you see Pogacar waiting for him and taking him along, as if it were a charity," Jeroen Vanbelleghem argued, making it clear that he truly did believe the Slovenian was riding within himself even when creating the race-winning difference.
"That shows how much stronger he is than the other world-class riders. Pogacar rode twenty kilometers on reserve".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 18visitors 14
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
- I'm picking .... .... Never mind 🫥flyer07-11-2026
Loading
8 Comments