“Thank goodness someone like Seixas can put Pogacar under pressure... the races can become a bit boring” – Former INEOS ace welcomes new challengers to the world champion

The growing sense that races involving Tadej Pogacar risk becoming predictable under his dominance has been sharpened by comments from a former INEOS Grenadiers rider, who believes the emergence of Paul Seixas could be exactly what Liège-Bastogne-Liège needs.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Jonathan Castroviejo pointed directly to the impact Pogacar’s racing style has had on the sport’s biggest events. “Thank goodness someone like Seixas is coming through who can put Pogacar under pressure,” he said. “Hopefully it becomes a rivalry that creates real battles, because the races we’ve seen lately can become a bit boring.”

Liège-Bastogne-Liège has often been defined by decisive solo moves in recent seasons, with Pogacar repeatedly proving capable of riding clear long before the finish.

Castroviejo’s view is that such displays, while impressive, risk removing the uncertainty that defines the sport. “When someone attacks from 80 kilometres out and puts on a show, it becomes a monologue and the result feels predictable,” he explained.

That dynamic is particularly relevant heading into Liège, where the Slovenian once again starts as the clear favourite following a spring that has already seen him dominate across multiple terrains.

Into that landscape steps Seixas, whose rapid rise has shifted the pre-race narrative ahead of Sunday’s Monument. For Castroviejo, the significance of that emergence lies not just in results, but in the potential to change how races unfold. “I’m surprised by how young Seixas is. He’s only 19,” he said.

The Frenchman’s ability to follow, and potentially challenge, Pogacar on the decisive climbs could force a different kind of race, one less defined by a single long-range move and more by direct confrontation.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with its length and accumulation of climbing, remains one of the few races where even the strongest riders can be pushed to their limits. That is where Castroviejo sees the opportunity for a shift in the current pattern.

If Seixas, or others, can remain in contention deep into the race, the decisive moments on climbs such as La Redoute or Roche-aux-Faucons may no longer be one-man showcases. Instead, they could become the battlegrounds that define the Monument.

While Seixas represents the most eye-catching new threat, the broader point raised is about depth.

Pogacar’s dominance has extended beyond individual rivals, shaping how entire races are ridden. “Such overwhelming dominance is not good for cycling,” Castroviejo said. “It leads to boredom for the fans. It’s also not good for the other teams. They have sponsors behind them and a lot of money at stake. They don’t get exposure because everything is taken by one rider or one team.”

Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège therefore carries a narrative beyond the result itself. It is not just about whether Pogacar wins again, but about whether the race begins to shift back towards a more open and contested dynamic.

With Seixas arriving in exceptional form and others also targeting the decisive climbs, the conditions may finally be in place for that change.

For Castroviejo, that is exactly what the sport needs. A race where Pogacar is not simply riding away, but being forced to fight for it.