Campenaerts’ Bold Claim: “Pogacar Hasn’t Peaked Yet — Only a Perfect Vingegaard Can Beat Him”
In a world where the cycling elite constantly push the boundaries of human performance, the rivalry between Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard has captivated fans, analysts, and competitors alike. Yet, the recent comments made by Belgian cyclist Victor Campenaerts have sparked a fresh wave of controversy. According to Campenaerts, Pogačar, despite his already extraordinary achievements, hasn’t yet reached his peak, and it will take nothing short of a flawless Vingegaard to dethrone him in the battles to come.
This statement, while reverberating through the cycling community, raises a pressing question: has Pogačar truly not shown us his best? And does Campenaerts’ view underestimate the current strength of Vingegaard, who has already proved his mettle by conquering Pogačar in the 2023 Tour de France?
Pogačar’s Dominance
To say that Tadej Pogačar is a cycling prodigy would be an understatement. With two Tour de France titles under his belt by the age of 24, and a second-place finish behind Vingegaard in 2022 and 2023, Pogačar has consistently been the rider to beat. His explosive climbing ability, versatile skillset, and fearless racing style have earned him a near-mythic status in modern cycling.
But Campenaerts’ claim that Pogačar hasn’t yet peaked flies in the face of what we’ve already witnessed. Pogačar has been at the pinnacle of the sport for years, continually racking up victories in major races across the calendar. He’s proven his strength in one-day classics and week-long stage races alike. To suggest that he has another level to reach raises the stakes of his rivalry with Vingegaard to almost unimaginable heights.
The Vingegaard Conundrum
Then there’s the Vingegaard factor. Jonas Vingegaard, the Danish rider who stole Pogačar’s thunder at the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France, demonstrated a mastery of pacing, endurance, and tactics. His performance in the mountains, where he seemingly danced away from Pogačar on the steepest slopes, suggested that he might be the new king of Grand Tours. But Campenaerts’ comments have thrown shade on Vingegaard’s supremacy, implying that only a “perfect form” version of the Dane would have a chance of beating Pogačar at his true peak.
This suggestion not only diminishes Vingegaard’s accomplishments but also plays into a larger narrative: that Pogačar is the future of cycling, while Vingegaard may simply be the current stopgap champion. This is a bitter pill to swallow for Vingegaard fans who have seen their rider outsmart and outlast Pogačar in recent competitions. Was Vingegaard’s 2023 Tour win a fluke, or was it proof that he is the real deal, capable of matching — and surpassing — the Slovenian talent?
A Dangerous Narrative
Campenaerts’ remarks also fuel a dangerous narrative in professional cycling: the obsession with continual improvement. By suggesting that Pogačar hasn’t peaked, we enter a realm where athletes are expected to endlessly outperform themselves, pushing beyond human limits. This mindset can lead to detrimental consequences, where cyclists are compelled to push their bodies to the brink, chasing an ever-elusive “peak.” In a sport that has had a troubled history with doping scandals, this constant pressure for improvement raises concerns about the lengths some might go to in order to stay competitive.
Moreover, this narrative underestimates the current level of competition. Cycling is no longer a two-horse race. Riders like Remco Evenepoel, Primož Roglič, and other emerging talents are constantly evolving, and to suggest that only a flawless Vingegaard stands a chance against Pogačar disregards the depth of talent in the peloton.
Underestimating Vingegaard?
There’s also the issue of respect. Vingegaard’s back-to-back Tour victories were not handed to him on a silver platter; they were the result of meticulous preparation, physical prowess, and superior tactical execution. By suggesting that only a “perfect” Vingegaard can defeat a yet-to-be-fully-formed Pogačar, Campenaerts seems to dismiss the idea that the Danish rider is already cycling at an elite level. Could it be that we are underestimating Vingegaard’s ability to grow, evolve, and adapt? If Pogačar hasn’t peaked, who’s to say Vingegaard has?
The Future of Cycling
Campenaerts’ statement has undoubtedly stirred the pot, but it highlights an undeniable truth: the future of cycling is bound to revolve around this monumental rivalry. If Pogačar truly hasn’t reached his peak, then the cycling world is in for an incredible spectacle. But it would be foolish to write off Vingegaard — or any other elite rider — as simply a foil to Pogačar’s greatness.
As we head toward future Grand Tours, one thing is clear: the rivalry between these two phenomenal cyclists will only intensify. Whether Campenaerts is correct in his assertion or whether Vingegaard will continue to prove his doubters wrong, the coming years will be pivotal in defining not only these two riders’ legacies but the future of the sport itself. Only time will tell whether we’ve truly seen the best of Pogačar — or whether a perfect Vingegaard will continue to stand in his way.
But one thing’s for sure: cycling fans are in for a ride.
