"Pogacar, Van der Poel or Vingegaard going head-to-head… you’re almost guaranteed a thrilling finale" – Last Italian world champion denies claims Pogacar’s "kills racing"

When the last Italian men’s world champion speaks about the state of modern cycling, people still listen — and Alessandro Ballan believes the narrative around one man “killing races” has been blown well out of proportion. For him, the sport isn’t lacking drama at all. In fact, he argues the opposite.

Reflecting on the 2025 season in conversation with Tutto Bici Web, Ballan insisted that the era of big-name clashes — whether it’s Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel or Jonas Vingegaard — remains box-office viewing.

“When these riders are together,” he said, “you’re almost guaranteed a thrilling finale, even when Pogacar wins in dominant fashion.”

That line alone neatly captures the dilemma of the Pogacar debate. Does the Slovenian’s superiority flatten races, or does it heighten their spectacle? For Ballan, the answer is easy: cycling is still full of edge-of-the-seat moments — you just have to appreciate the level these stars are operating at.

Ballan doesn’t deny that Pogacar’s sheer power can drain suspense if he goes unchallenged. But to him, that’s a symptom of extraordinary talent, not a flaw in the sport.

He pointed to the way Pogacar’s accelerations change the rhythm of a race: “His way of riding, simply stronger than the others, shapes the race and can create less excitement for those trying to chase.”

But the key condition, he stressed, is the absence of rivals capable of following — something that shifts dramatically when the likes of Van der Poel or Vingegaard are present. And when they are present, Ballan says, cycling reaches its peak: “It’s fantastic when you have Pogacar and Van der Poel or Vingegaard clashing. That’s when you always get a spectacular finale.”

Far from lamenting dominance, Ballan frames the era as one defined by generational phenomena — riders who “make the difference the moment they attack”.

Ballan also addressed the inevitable question about Remco Evenepoel and why the Belgian didn’t feature in his list of headline names. It had nothing to do with personal preference, he clarified.

“Evenepoel is without doubt an excellent rider. He’s a bit too brash for my taste and gets nervous easily, but he’s very, very strong — especially in the time trial — and he’ll continue to achieve great things.”

Asked to choose a single image to represent the 2025 season, Ballan didn’t hesitate. “It might sound obvious, but I’d choose an image of Pogacar because he won practically everything.”

But when it comes to individual races, he singled out two: Milano–Sanremo and the “incredible duel” between Pogacar and Van der Poel on the cobbles of Roubaix — a showdown he described as “cycling at the highest level”.

Those battles, he argued, are proof that the sport is far from predictable.

While hugely positive about the global scene, Ballan was candid about Italy’s ongoing struggles. Domestic racing, he said, is recovering thanks to initiatives such as the Coppa Italia delle Regioni, but the nation is still waiting for the next generation of champions. “Italian cycling is still in a difficult period, but giving value back to our races is helping. We hope to soon return to having great Italian champions.”

Ballan remains deeply embedded in the cycling world — as an ambassador, event organiser and director at U.C. Giorgione, where his daughter now rides. Cycling, he said, shaped him not just as an athlete, but as a person. “The bike gave me so much, and now it’s time to give something back.”