Although it was his debut, Tadej Pogacar came into the Tour des Flandres as a main favourite for that race, and confirmed that status by attacking the race several times and appearing to be the strongest on the explosive bergs the race had to offer.
Although he's finished fourth, just outside the podium, it was not without having marked the race significantly: “It was a wonderful experience, a wonderful race. The team was perfect in supporting me and all of this contributed to ensuring that I was able to remain alone with Van der Poel leading the race, in an incredible atmosphere. Especially on the Oude Kwaremont, a climb that I really like, I had goosebumps."
He made the first decisive move in the Koppenberg first where he took Mathieu van der Poel and Valentin Madouas with him, and later put in a dig at the Oude Kwaremont which saw him in a winning position alongside Mathieu van der Poel.
"In the moments immediately following the race, I was not happy, because I was not able to make the sprint as I was closed, but I know well that in cycling this can happen: sometimes you have a clear path, other times you do not find the necessary space. I wasn’t mad at anyone, I was just frustrated with myself," he said. After a lull in the pace in the final kilometer, he was slightly blocked in the final sprint which saw van Baarle and Madouas come across to the front, and ended up outside the podium unexpectedly.
He pointed out what his plan was for the finale: "The idea of attacking on the Kwaremont was born from yesterday’s reconnaissance, when we noticed that there was a favorable wind: it is one of the hardest and longest walls and therefore it was a good point for me to give my all. Then I also tried to stretch on the last pass on Paterberg but, despite giving my best, I was unable to pull away from Mathieu: he was really strong today," he said.
Pogacar will now, if his plan remains the same, rest up and make his final preparations for what was expected to be his biggest goal of the spring which will be the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, after Fleche Wallone. As to whether he'll have another go at De Ronde: "Will I be back to race the Tour of Flanders? Simple answer, yes".
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.
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- I bet you photobombed the video since you are his shadow!frieders314-11-2026
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So close. But what a ride @TamauPogi in his first @RondeVlaanderen 😍. #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE #RVV22
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