Racing at a blistering 44.981 kph, the Slovenian sensation dominates Flanders’ cobbles in rainbow stripes and cements his place in Monument history.
In a performance that will be talked about for years to come, Tadej Pogačar cemented his status as one of cycling’s all-time greats with a dominant and record-shattering victory at the 2025 Tour of Flanders, not only winning the prestigious Monument for the first time in the rainbow jersey of World Champion but also smashing several Strava segments and establishing a new average speed record for the 269km course.
The 26-year-old Slovenian sensation, already a two-time Tour de France winner and Monument conqueror, added another glittering accolade to his ever-growing palmarès by attacking with signature style and panache on the cobbled climbs of Flanders. Clocking an astonishing average speed of 44.981 km/h, Pogačar not only left his rivals gasping in his wake but also wrote his name into the history books by setting the fastest-ever Tour of Flanders time on record.
But perhaps what cycling fans will remember most is the manner of his win—attacking on the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, putting in a seismic effort that shattered the peloton and splintered the race while lighting up cycling social media with his sheer dominance. On that iconic climb, Pogačar recorded a Strava time of 2 minutes and 49 seconds, a blistering effort that now stands as one of the fastest ever logged by any rider on the platform. It was a moment that underlined not just raw power but perfect timing and racecraft.
A Rainbow Ride Into History
Winning a monument is always special. Winning it in the rainbow jersey elevates it to mythical. With this victory, Pogačar joins a rarefied group of riders—cycling gods like Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Tom Boonen—who have triumphed in the rainbow stripes in the world’s most hallowed one-day races.
Coming into the 2025 edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the cycling world buzzed with anticipation: could Pogačar, already a winner of Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Il Lombardia, conquer the fearsome cobbles of Flanders once more? After his 2023 win, many thought it was a one-off, a masterstroke of versatility. But Sunday’s performance silenced all doubters.
Clad in his white-and-rainbow World Champion kit and riding with calm confidence, Pogačar was already animated in the first half of the race. But it was on the Koppenberg and subsequent climbs where he truly asserted dominance, pulling away from the lead group with such fluid power that commentators ran out of superlatives. By the time he hit the final ascent of the Paterberg, his victory seemed a formality.
He crossed the line solo in 6 hours, 0 minutes, and 39 seconds, arms aloft and a beaming smile beneath his sunglasses, celebrating not just a win but a performance that redefined excellence in modern cycling.
Shattering the Stats: Strava Records Fall
Pogačar’s ride was not just a victory on paper; it was a digital storm. His uploaded ride to Strava instantly went viral, racking up thousands of kudos within hours and sending the cycling analytics community into a frenzy.
- Oude Kwaremont (2nd ascent): 2:49 — a new benchmark.
- Koppenberg: One of the top 5 all-time times.
- Taaienberg and Paterberg: Top 10 efforts that added further proof of his sustained effort and dominance.
More impressively, despite the harsh cobbles and narrow Belgian roads, Pogačar maintained an overall normalized power output of over 360 watts across the near six-hour race—numbers previously considered near-impossible over such a distance in a Monument classic.
Perhaps most telling of all was his record-breaking average speed of 44.981 kph, a full kilometer faster than the previous high set in 2020 during unusually favorable wind conditions. On a course as challenging and selective as Flanders, with its steep pitches and relentless cobbles, such a speed is not just fast—it’s freakish.
Climbing the Monumental Ladder
With this Tour of Flanders win, Pogačar now has four Monument victories: Liège–Bastogne–Liège (2021), Il Lombardia (2021, 2022), and the Ronde (2023, now 2025). That’s a staggering achievement for a rider still only in his mid-twenties.
It puts him in elite company among riders like Sean Kelly and Paolo Bettini, and draws him even closer to the realm of Merckx and De Vlaeminck—legends who carved their names across all five Monuments.
“It’s a dream,” Pogačar said post-race. “Winning Flanders once was already incredible, but to do it again, in the rainbow jersey… it means everything. I gave everything on the climbs, and when I saw the gap grow, I knew I had to push all the way.”
He also paid tribute to his UAE Team Emirates squad, who rode selflessly throughout the day, sheltering their leader until the decisive moment. “This was a team victory as much as mine,” he added.
A Race of Attrition and Fireworks
The 2025 edition of the Ronde will be remembered for its relentless pace and aggressive racing. Early breakaways were reeled in swiftly, and the constant attacking from teams like Alpecin-Deceuninck, Ineos Grenadiers, and Visma-Lease a Bike kept the peloton on edge.
Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock—Pogačar’s key rivals—tried to respond, but none had the legs to match his decisive acceleration on the Kwaremont. Van der Poel, visibly suffering, was forced to chase from behind, eventually finishing a valiant third, while Pidcock cracked entirely before the final Paterberg.
Speaking after the race, Van der Poel said, “He was untouchable today. I was feeling good, but when he went, it was on another level. Chapeau.”
What’s Next for the Slovenian Superstar?
With Flanders conquered yet again and records in tatters, the question now is: what’s next for Tadej Pogačar?
He’s slated to ride Paris-Roubaix in what could be another historic attempt—something no GC rider has dared since Hinault. A win there would make him only the fourth man in history to win all five Monuments. And let’s not forget: the Giro d’Italia looms large on his calendar, followed by a possible Tour de France return and the Paris 2024 Olympic Road Race in August.
If 2025 continues on this trajectory, we could be witnessing one of the greatest seasons in modern cycling history.
A Champion Beyond Comparison
Tadej Pogačar’s performance at the 2025 Tour of Flanders was not just a win; it was a masterclass. A blend of raw physical power, technical brilliance, and impeccable timing. Pogačar continues to make winning look almost effortless in a sport where the margins are razor-thin.
In an age of data-driven racing and marginal gains, he brings something that transcends numbers: charisma, courage, and the kind of genius that defines eras.
The cobbles of Flanders may be unforgiving, but on Sunday, they bowed to a champion who’s not just riding into history—he’s rewriting it.
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