Crystal Clear: Eddy Merckx Declares Mathieu van der Poel the Only True Challenger to Tadej Pogačar
In the world of cycling, when Eddy Merckx speaks, the sport listens.
Widely regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time, Merckx — known as “The Cannibal” — is never one to exaggerate or toss around praise lightly. So when he recently stated that Mathieu van der Poel is the only rider capable of challenging Tadej Pogačar, the comment sent shockwaves through the professional cycling community.
In a recent interview with Belgian media, Merckx was asked about the current landscape of elite men’s cycling and whether anyone could truly match the astonishing dominance of Tadej Pogačar, the Slovenian phenom and two-time Tour de France winner. Merckx didn’t hesitate:
> “Crystal clear — Mathieu van der Poel is the only one who can challenge Pogačar. He has the power, the fearlessness, the instinct to win. The others ride; van der Poel attacks.”
This bold endorsement has reignited debates about the future of men’s road racing and whether cycling’s new golden generation has already found its long-term rivalry.
A Clash of Titans: Pogačar vs. Van der Poel
Tadej Pogačar has, in recent years, become the sport’s most consistent and complete rider. From conquering the Tour de France twice by the age of 23 to winning one-day monuments like Il Lombardia and Liège–Bastogne–Lièg, his résumé is unmatched in this era.
Yet despite his dominance in stage races and climbing-heavy events, there is one rider whose explosive versatility, technical brilliance, and sheer spectacle continue to rival Pogačar’s mythos — Mathieu van der Poel.
From cobblestone classics to cyclocross titles, from Paris-Roubaix to World Championships, van der Poel has demonstrated elite-level dominance across multiple disciplines, something even Pogačar has yet to replicate.
And that’s what Eddy Merckx is getting at.
> “You need someone who doesn’t fear Pogačar,” Merckx continued. “Van der Poel races with emotion and risk — not calculation. That’s what unsettles champions. That’s what makes him dangerous.”
For context, Eddy Merckx’s perspective carries weight not only because of his five Tour de France victories or his 11 Grand Tour wins, but because he’s seen every major rivalry in modern cycling — Hinault vs. Fignon, Armstrong vs. Ullrich, Contador vs. Schleck. His comment that van der Poel is the only one capable of going toe-to-toe with Pogačar is a declaration that elevates the Dutchman into cycling’s elite tier.
Van der Poel, the reigning UCI Road World Champion, has added new dimensions to his racing in recent seasons. Once known solely for aggressive solo breaks and cobbled brute strength, he has matured tactically. His performances in Milan-San Remo (2023 winner, Paris-Roubaix (2023 winner, and the **World Championships (2023 and 2024) have shown a rider who knows when to wait, when to strike, and how to dominate both the terrain and the mental space of his opponents.
Merckx also noted that van der Poel is “more than a Classics man,” pointing to his ability to hold form deep into longer, stage-heavy campaigns. Though van der Poel has yet to commit fully to contending for a Grand Tour general classification, Merckx believes that’s a matter of strategy — not capacity.
> “If Mathieu wanted to win the Tour de France, he would train for it — and he would win it,” Merckx claimed. “It’s only a question of timing and focus.”
Though vastly different in style — Pogačar with his methodical, data-driven endurance, and van der Poel with his emotional, punch-first instinct — the two share immense respect. Following their showdown at the 2023 World Championships, where van der Poel won gold, Pogačar was among the first to embrace him at the finish line.
> “Mathieu’s ride today was special,” Pogačar said after that race. “He never stops attacking. He never stops believing. He deserves this.”
That mutual admiration, coupled with vastly different strengths, is what makes the prospect of a long-term rivalry so exciting. The fans want it. The media is craving it. And now, Merckx has given it his stamp of approval.
The 2025 season is already shaping up as one of the most anticipated in modern cycling history. Van der Poel has hinted at a more targeted calendar that includes a deeper push into Grand Tour stages — possibly eyeing a more complete Tour de France performance. Pogačar, meanwhile, remains focused on a return to the Yellow Jersey after falling short in 2024.
They may not go head-to-head in every race, but when they do, it will be explosive.
With Wout van Aert focusing more on time trials and Evenepoel still refining his long-distance GC form, the window for van der Poel vs. Pogačar to define an era is wide open.
Eddy Merckx’s declaration is more than just a headline — it’s a torch passed from one generational icon to the next. In saying that “van der Poel is the only one who can challenge Pogačar,” Merckx has outlined the sport’s next great rivalry.
Van der Poel isn’t just chasing finish lines anymore — he’s chasing greatness. And with the backing of cycling’s most legendar
y voice, the path ahead couldn’t be clearer.
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