Incredible statistic proves it: without Van der Poel and Philipsen, head-to-head between Pogacar and Evenepoel seems inevitable
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Follow us on GoogleFor those who think there will be plenty of challengers for defending champion Tadej Pogacar at the World Championships in Rwanda... think again. The championship in Africa kicks off Sunday, and two of the four riders who have dominated the biggest one-day road races in recent years will be at the start, as TNT Sports observed.
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The outlet counted back through all five Monuments on the cycling calendar, and added the World Championships and the Olympic Games. And that led to a rather incredible conclusion: the last twenty (!) one-day races were won by only four riders. We are talking about Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2022, where we start the count. Remco Evenepoel won La Doyenne that year.
If we then continue counting with the five Monuments Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège, and Il Lombardia, then a quartet of riders has already dominated for four years. And with the World Championship titles from the road races added and Evenepoel’s Olympic title in Paris 2024, we arrive at twenty.
Continue reading below the photo.

Evenepoel won the 2024 Olympic road race in Paris
Evenepoel, Pogacar and Van der Poel dominated
It is unbelievable but true: Evenepoel, after Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2022, also won that year’s Worlds, was again the best in Liège in 2023, and won the Olympic road race in Paris in 2024. Pogacar put his name on Il Lombardia in 2022, 2023 and 2024, won the Tour of Flanders in 2023 and 2025, was the best in Liège in 2024 and 2025, and of course became world champion in 2024.
Van der Poel also wrote the biggest one-day races onto his name one after another in the past years. In 2023 and 2025 he succeeded in Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix was his in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and the Tour of Flanders he grabbed in 2024. In 2023, he added the rainbow jersey to his impressive resume.
Continue reading below the photo.

Van der Poel come out on top in Paris-Roubaix the last three times
Van der Poel and Philipsen not at the Worlds
Besides Evenepoel, Pogacar and Van der Poel, only Jasper Philipsen shared in the festivities in the past years. The Belgian from Alpecin-Deceuninck broke the hegemony of the big three in 2024, by winning Milan-San Remo. That made him, in the last twenty editions of a major cycling race, the last other winner than Evenepoel, Pogacar or Van der Poel.
We are truly speaking about the last twenty editions of the very biggest one-day races, because before Evenepoel’s victory in Liège in 2022, it was Dylan van Baarle who, on behalf of INEOS Grenadiers, triumphed in Paris-Roubaix that year. Van der Poel had still won the Tour of Flanders the week before, but Milan-San Remo also went to someone else, Matej Mohoric.
Now that Van der Poel and Philipsen are not participating at the Worlds in Rwanda, the question is justified: who can do something against Evenepoel and Pogacar? Much is being said again about big challengers, but in recent years hardly anyone has managed to get a foot in the door on the very highest podium, including powerhouse Visma | Lease a Bike... Will we also get a head-to-head battle in Rwanda?
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026

