Can Anyone Stop Pogačar? | Tour of Flanders Preview | THEMOVE+
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In this episode of THEMOVE+, Spencer Martin and Johan Bernil preview the 2026 Tour of Flanders, one of cycling's most prestigious one-day monuments. The discussion begins with a breakdown of Wednesday's Dwarfsdorf-Landeren, where Filippo Gana triumphed in dramatic fashion over Wout Van Aert, despite a mechanical issue that delayed his bike change. The hosts analyze Van Aert's strong form and growing popularity in Belgium, while also highlighting Gana’s long-awaited return to form after a six-year drought without a one-day win. They debate team tactics, race dynamics, and the impact of high-speed racing—averaging 48.5 km/h on a grueling cobbled course—on the outcome of Flanders. The central narrative pivots to the looming showdown between Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel, with Pogačar favored to win solo if no major incidents occur. Van Aert and Remco Evenepoel are seen as key challengers, though Evenepoel’s last-minute entry raises questions about his preparation and fitness for the race’s unique demands. The episode concludes with a spirited discussion on the evolving nature of classic races, the risks of late entries, and the importance of team strength, positioning, and mental resilience in the final kilometers.
Tadej Pogačar is the clear favorite to win Tour of Flanders, with a 50% career win rate at the race and dominant form in recent years.
Wout Van Aert’s strong performance in Dwarfsdorf-Landeren signals peak form, but his inability to win despite a near-perfect ride underscores the difficulty of breaking through against Pogačar.
Filippo Gana’s victory in Dwarfsdorf-Landeren marks a major comeback and proves he can win under pressure, especially with explosive final-kilometer speed.
Remco Evenepoel’s last-minute entry into Flanders is unprecedented and raises concerns about preparation, positioning, and experience on cobbled classics.
Team strength and tactical discipline—especially in managing mechanical issues and positioning during high-speed, crosswind conditions—will be decisive.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
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Dwarfsdorf-Landeren Recap: Gana’s Triumph Over Van Aert
“He made it back on and he was doing quite a bit of work to pull and then he was attacking. They were staying with him out. If you notice this, Visma had... Per Strand Hognes, this guy's been everywhere. He's like the Forrest Gump.”
Van Aert’s Form & Popularity in Belgium
“Man, I can tell you his popularity in Belgium is through the roof. It is crazy how popular Walt Van Aert is and how everybody wants him to win one of those big races.”
Gana’s Comeback & Tactical Shifts
“If he can just routinely ride the last kilometer of a race faster than the Peloton, you can win a lot of races that way.”
Tour of Flanders Race Profile & Historical Context
The episode dives into the course, history, and atmosphere of the Tour of Flanders—278 km, cobbled climbs, and a massive cultural event in Belgium. The hosts compare recent race trends and highlight the unpredictability of the final 100 km.
“I think logically if there's no special, specific incidents, I think Pogacar wins solo. It's a hard race as you said, 278 kilometers. So there's only one guy who could potentially stay with Pogacar and it's Mathieu.”
“I'm skeptical. Honestly, I'm skeptical. Obviously, if he's in front, I'm going to be happy. But I'm also going to be surprised.”
“The thing is, in my opinion for Remco, he's going to struggle in the first few critical points, in my opinion. Because whether you have a good team or not, you need to be able to fight for position.”
Hosts
Johan Bernil
person
Spencer Martin
person
Tour of Flanders
other
Tadej Pogačar
person
Wout Van Aert
person
Mathieu van der Poel
person
Filippo Gana
person
Remco Evenepoel
person
Dwarfsdorf-Landeren
other
UAE Team Emirates
other
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