"I was going at 650 watts and I couldn't keep up with him": Van der Poel explains how Pogacar dropped him in Flanders

Mathieu van der Poel encountered the same obstacle again in the 2026 Tour of Flanders. The Dutchman delivered a solid performance, always present in the key moments, but ultimately succumbed to Tadej Pogacar, who once again made a difference in the decisive terrain. In Oudenaarde, the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider had to settle for second place after a race in which, according to him, there was no room for much more.

Van der Poel acknowledges Pogacar's superiority in Flanders, “I had to accept the law of the strongest”

As soon as he crossed the finish line, Van der Poel summarized the situation with a mix of resignation and admiration for his rival. “I have a problem, there is a phenomenon running out there,” he admitted, acknowledging that the difference was not in tactics but in physical ability at the crucial moment. The Dutchman insisted that his performance had been as expected. “I did everything I had to do, but there was someone stronger. There’s nothing to be done.”

The turning point came on the last pass of the Oude Kwaremont, where Pogacar finished breaking the race apart. Van der Poel explained that moment in detail, one of the most decisive of the day. “I was at 650 watts and I couldn’t follow his wheel. Cycling is simple. I had to accept the law of the strongest. Then I got a bit cut off and in the intermediate section of the Kwaremont, I got a bit closer, but he still had another gear. That’s when I broke.”

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Up until that moment, both had collaborated to keep Remco Evenepoel at bay, who was trying to re-enter the fight for victory from behind. Van der Poel acknowledged that the Belgian's position was never entirely clear during the race. “I didn’t look back, I only saw later on television how close he was. I did my turns, but without going crazy. Tadej maintained a very high pace at all times. It was very tough.”

The final podium, with Pogacar, Van der Poel, and Evenepoel, left one of the most powerful images of the spring, although the Dutchman did not hide that the result left him with a bittersweet taste. “It would have been the best podium if I had been at the top,” he commented with a laugh. “But I was realistic. I knew Tadej was the man to beat. I gave it my all and I think I reached the level I was looking for, but he was stronger.”

With Flanders now in the past, the focus begins to shift towards the next big objective on the calendar. Paris-Roubaix appears as a new opportunity to change the recent script, although Van der Poel himself avoided jumping to conclusions. “This opportunity is gone, we’ll see next week. Luck also plays a role in Roubaix. Last year he was also strong and I’m sure there will be more riders in the fight. But first, I need to recover because this has been a race that leaves a mark.”

The Tour of Flanders made clear the form of the big names in the classics, but it also opened a new chapter in their rivalry. And with Roubaix around the corner, the feeling is that this story is still far from over.