Week 45 had no shortage of cycling fireworks—from the European Cyclo-cross Championships in Middelkerke to a verbal explosion far from the Belgian coast. The biggest bang of the weekend didn’t come from the racing but from restaurant Mie Katoen in Affligem, where 78-year-old cycling legend Roger De Vlaeminck launched into a blistering tirade during a chat with HLN.
His targets? Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, and Mathieu van der Poel—three of the sport’s biggest modern stars.
A Legend Speaks His Mind
De Vlaeminck hardly needs an introduction in Belgium. The younger brother of seven-time cyclo-cross world champion Erik De Vlaeminck, Roger carved out his own legacy—both on the road and in the mud. He won all five Monuments, stages in all three Grand Tours, a cyclo-cross world title, and even silver at the Road World Championships.
Now 78, De Vlaeminck still speaks with pride—and a fair dose of fire.
“Nature gave me a lot,” he said. “I could sprint, I could time trial, I could climb well enough… don’t forget I won tough mountain stages, eh.”
But in every era, there’s a giant to measure against—and for De Vlaeminck, that man was Eddy Merckx.
“Pogacar as Good as Merckx? Madness! ”
When asked about comparisons between Tadej Pogačar and Merckx, De Vlaeminck didn’t hold back.
“Pogačar as good as Merckx? Madness! Pogačar doesn’t even come close to Merckx! Journalists who make that comparison don’t know a thing — write it down!”
He’s said it before, and he’s doubling down now. In his eyes, Pogačar simply doesn’t measure up.
“Make me 22 again and put me in the bunch with Pogačar — he wouldn’t drop me. Look at Lombardy, when he rode away from Evenepoel. That wasn’t even a difficult climb. As good as Merckx? Come on.”
“Van der Poel Can’t Sprint, Can’t Climb, Can’t Time Trial”
When the conversation turned to Mathieu van der Poel, De Vlaeminck’s “sharp tongue” lived up to its reputation.
“I like him, and he’s a great rider,” he admitted. “But he can’t time trial, he can’t climb, he can’t sprint — there’s not much left, eh. I won mountain stages, I won time trials, I could sprint — for heaven’s sake.”
Despite acknowledging Van der Poel’s cyclo-cross dominance—now equalling Erik De Vlaeminck’s seven world titles—Roger isn’t impressed by the all-round comparisons.
“Evenepoel? A Bit Arrogant.”
And then came Remco Evenepoel. De Vlaeminck’s critique continued, this time with a touch of old-school disdain.
“He’s not my type. A good rider, sure — a superb time trialist. But I sometimes find him a bit arrogant. To cross the line and lift your bike in the air — is that necessary? Just ride over the line and win, eh. Back in my day, I’d give a little wave.”
The Fire Still Burns
Decades after his last race, Roger De Vlaeminck still commands attention with every word — fiery, unfiltered, and unapologetically proud of his era. His message to today’s stars is clear:
You can win all you want—but don’t expect De Vlaeminck to be impressed.
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