Ten Dam backs Seixas’ class with the numbers — but draws a painful Pogačar conclusion

Ten Dam, who first pointed out how unbelievably dull the men’s race felt with a completely dominant Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates–XRG, still couldn’t help but be struck by what Seixas produced at just 19. “This is a champion in the making. He almost rode back to Pogačar on Monte Sante Marie, didn’t he?”

It never quite came to that. Where Pogačar a year earlier was prepared to accept Tom Pidcock coming with him over Monte Sante Marie, Ten Dam felt he saw a different mindset from the Slovenian this time around. “He just didn’t want that guy with him. I think Pogačar is marking out his territory so clearly that others won’t even try anymore.”

“We’re racing for second place,” Ten Dam observed — and in that, he sees Pogačar succeeding in his mission. The UAE leader and two-time world champion wants to intimidate the rest. “He didn’t want to take Seixas over one more climb, because otherwise that kid gets hope for the rest of 2026. Pogačar doesn’t want that, so he simply rode Seixas off his wheel.”

When it came to Seixas, Ten Dam was particularly impressed by how the Frenchman attacked on the final ascent of Colle Pinzuto, taking Isaac del Toro with him. The Mexican — Pogačar’s teammate — stayed glued to Seixas’ wheel all the way to Siena, but Seixas still ended up riding onto Piazza del Campo alone. “Del Toro was absolutely cracked.”

“And if you then hear that Seixas climbed just as fast in the Faun-Ardèche Classic as Pogačar did last season at the European Championships, then he really can ride,” Ten Dam said, before pulling out more figures. “But if Pogačar adds another 40 watts compared to two years ago…” According to Ten Dam, Pogačar would have averaged around 340 watts in the final two hours of Strade Bianche in 2024 and 2025 — whereas this time it was around 380 watts.

“Insane numbers,” Ten Dam concluded, and for him it only points one way: Pogačar has taken another step over the winter. Seixas, then, still has room to grow. “He averaged 330 watts over the final two hours, which is basically the level of Pogačar in 2024 and 2025. Pogi has added another layer again — he’s truly phenomenal.”