Jens Voigt: ‘It’s almost impossible for Pogacar to beat Van der Poel’

Those two Monuments were among the most thrilling races of the year: Sanremo and Roubaix delivered a true spectacle between the leading men. On both occasions, Van der Poel came out on top. That will have stung for the Slovenian world champion, who is openly chasing cycling’s ultimate ‘full set’ of Monuments. Time and again, however, he has run into the same supremely strong Dutchman.

It also works the other way around. Pogacar is the obstacle standing between Van der Poel and his own Monument dream. Van der Poel is still missing Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Il Lombardia from his palmarès—races in which Pogacar, the four-time Tour de France winner, has been dominant in recent years. In other words: they keep getting in each other’s way.

Former rider and analyst Jens Voigt sees it the same way. “For Pogacar, it’s almost impossible to win races like Paris-Roubaix and Milano–Sanremo against Van der Poel when he’s in form—those races simply suit Van der Poel much better,” the German said on the Domestique Hotseat podcast, pointing to recent results.

“Van der Poel has already beaten Pogacar directly twice in Sanremo, and in between he even helped team-mate Jasper Philipsen to victory. In Paris-Roubaix, the Slovenian ultimately had to bow to Van der Poel in a direct duel too.”

Voigt is just as sceptical about Van der Poel’s chances of completing the set himself. “As long as Pogacar is still racing and still wants to win, it’s also almost impossible for Van der Poel to win the hilly Monuments—Il Lombardia and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.”

The two-time Tour stage winner is, above all, enjoying the rivalry. “I enjoy the rivalry between those two in their pursuit of greatness and winning all five Monuments, year after year. They give everything they have and put on a fantastic show.”

This spring, we can expect another clash between two titans. After last year, Pogacar still feels he has unfinished business and is expected to line up again for both Roubaix and Sanremo. It will be up to Van der Poel to deny his Slovenian rival’s dream once more.