In recent seasons, we had grown used to seeing flashes of brilliance from cycling’s top stars, lighting sparks all over the world and whetting our appetite for major showdowns later in the year.
But 2025 has started in completely the opposite way.
Apart from that incredible Hulk named Pogacar, dominating far and wide, the rest of the superhero saga has crumbled miserably at the start of this season. Sure, crashes and setbacks have played a role. But we’re still talking about riders who, until yesterday, seemed on a different planet from everyone else.
Take Van Aert, for example: a rider who once won a time trial, a brutal double ascent of Mont Ventoux, and the final sprint on the Champs-Élysées all in the same Tour de France. A guy who could usually win a “normal” race even with one leg tied up. And yet, so far, he’s been nowhere to be seen. Nor has Van der Poel, despite the monster form he displayed just a few weeks ago when he claimed the cyclocross world title.
Meanwhile in France, Alaphilippe has resurfaced — but in one of his least impressive versions. He’s never been a paragon of elegance, but his attacks were usually electrifying. This week at Paris-Nice, though, his moves were so flat that the peloton didn’t even bother to chase him down.
And then there’s Pogacar’s supposed archrival, who right now seems light-years away from the Slovenian. Team Visma’s tactics looked confused: they were virtually sitting first and second on the final climb, with a solid gap over the chasing group. All they needed to do was stay together to secure the win.
Instead, it was Vingegaard himself who shattered the plan, launching a solo attack and setting himself up for an epic self-defeat. His legs just weren’t there — it was painfully obvious.
Almeida, who in theory is the lieutenant of Pogacar’s greatest rival, played it like a master: he let Vingegaard stew out front and then struck with a perfect move. Chapeau to Almeida.
But honestly, in this hyper-technological cycling world where everything is measured down to the last heartbeat, how could Vingegaard not sense deep down that he didn’t have the golden legs needed to make a difference? He would have been far better off sticking with Jorgenson and working together.
The biggest problem, however, is ours. Because these big names stumbling early on aren’t exactly setting us up for a blockbuster season. To challenge Pogacar, we’re going to need Superman. And for now, there’s no sign of him anywhere.
