"The looks say it all" - Arkéa - B&B Hotels scolded for attack on Tadej Pogacar whilst world champion enjoyed nature break at Tour of Flanders 2025
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar claimed his second Tour of Flanders victory
today, delivering a commanding performance to avenge his recent Milano–Sanremo
defeat to Mathieu van der Poel. But while his ride to glory will dominate the
headlines, the day began with unexpected controversy, and not the kind you'd
expect in a Monument.
The drama unfolded early in the race when Pogacar, wearing
the world champion’s rainbow jersey for UAE Team Emirates–XRG, pulled over
during a lull in the action to take a comfort break. As is customary, a
teammate moved to the front of the bunch to inform the peloton, a standard act
of courtesy in the pro peloton. But not everyone respected the protocol.
Rather than ease up, riders from Arkéa - B&B Hotels and a few others
seized the moment to launch an attack, increasing the pace as Pogacar was
briefly off the bike.
“The world champion's domestique just came up to the front
to explain that Pogacar was about to stop for a comfort break,” said Rob Hatch
on TNT Sports. “Everybody else started to do the same until, very bad
etiquette, Arkea and a couple of other teams en masse [attacked]... that looked
an organised move. It's pretty hard to miss Tadej Pogacar in the brilliant
white and rainbows.”
Reactions came swiftly, with Robbie McEwen summing up the
moment in silence: “Not even words. The looks say it all.”
Adam Blythe offered a more nuanced perspective. “There are
two sides to this. It’s not a stage race, so technically there’s no leader.
Yes, he’s the world champion. But is there a rule, or is it just a gentleman’s
agreement [to stop]? I wouldn’t have attacked…”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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