The Mic Drop of Tadej Pogacar at Flèche Wallonne

Tadej with an absolute "mic dropping" performance at Flèche Wallonne

There is lots to digest and break down from today’s race!

Let’s focus on the two key players—Remco and Tadej—and their strategies.

The Strategies:

Remco’s plan was to use his team to make the race really hard and "wear down the really explosive guys." While many of us watching on TV hoped that plan might include a long-range attack, I doubt that was ever in the cards.

In contrast, Tadej’s plan was simple: shadow Remco all day and follow if he attacked. Then, in the final climbs, use his team to make the race hard, stay in position, and unleash his explosive power to win.

When you look at the course and compare it to their strategies, Remco’s approach seems... questionable. There aren’t many climbs, and the ones there are, are short. Sure, you can hurt people on them, but not enough to truly deplete your rivals. Just look at Lenny Martinez and Thibau Nys—both visibly struggling at points, yet still finished in front of Remco thanks to their ability to nail those short, punchy efforts.

It seems like Remco’s better play would’ve been to let Tadej control the race and hope that others launched attacks to isolate him or force him to go long, like at Amstel. Banking on your teammates to wear down Tadej and then beating him up a three-minute climb? That's wishful thinking.

The Mic Drop:

No other way to say it—Tadej dropped the mic on the Mur de Huy. His performance was so incredible I’d bet every jaw watching hit the floor. Whether you were new to cycling or had previously won on that climb, you were impressed.

Two things stood out to me:

Raw power and speed on the steepest part of the Mur. He launched after matching Ben Healy’s move, saw a gap to Remco, and instantly doubled Healy’s speed—on a +20% gradient, at over 90rpm, seated for traction on slick roads. That takes unreal core strength and power.
The duration of the effort. Success on the Mur usually comes down to timing—being in the front at the steepest part but saving energy for a long sprint when the gradient eases. Tadej ripped up the script. He went long and got a ~15-second gap before the final stretch, even had time to celebrate. We’re finally seeing what his Flanders and Roubaix power looks like on a steep climb, and… wow.

Now we’re hearing, “Finally, Tadej rode smart.” Personally? I’ve always thought Tadej was smart—ridiculously smart. His long-range attacks aren’t reckless, they’re masterpieces he’s trained for. He blends his natural explosiveness with the sustained threshold power you need for Grand Tours. Most riders have one or the other. He’s got both.

And let’s not forget—he races because he loves it. He’s not chasing money or records. He’s chasing challenge. He needs to master these aggressive, long-range efforts for races like San Remo, Flanders, and Roubaix. That’s why he’ll keep racing both styles.

Is Remco Cooked?

No. While I don’t think his strategy today set him up for success, he’s still a top contender for Liège—an event that suits him much better.

First, this finish doesn't suit him. A steep uphill sprint sounds ideal for someone light and powerful, but it’s not his forte. He tends to struggle on the really steep stuff. My theory? His saddle is set farther back to maximize aero positioning like on his TT bike, which isn’t ideal when the road tilts up. Tadej, by contrast, rides forward and stays powerful in the saddle even on crazy gradients.

Second, I think the cold affected Remco more. While Tadej stayed bundled up in rain gear, Remco had just arm warmers and a vest. It’s a small thing, but once your core temperature dips, your body starts burning more glycogen just to stay warm. That flat look on the final climb? I bet that played a role.

Third, Remco probably spent a lot of emotional energy "playing" Tadej’s rival all day. That mindset is important if you want to reach the next level—but it’s also draining. When everything you’ve built mentally through the race crashes two minutes from the line, the drop is real. That low after such a high effort is brutal. But I think that reset—being back in underdog mode—might actually benefit him going into Liège.

Does Remco still have hope for Liège?

There’s definitely hope. In 2022, he finished 43rd in Flèche… and then won Liège that Sunday. This time? He’s better than ever. I believe we’ll see his best performance yet.

Will Tadej be the best rider there? Absolutely. But to have a chance, Remco has to let Tadej shoulder the weight of the race and wait for a mistake. Don’t force it. Don’t try to out-muscle him. Let Tadej take the pressure—and be ready to pounce if the opportunity arises.

That’s exactly what MVDP did. Twice.