'I love watching him race' - Dumoulin defends Pogacar's dominance in cycling

In an interview with MARCA to promote his new book, the 2017 Giro d’Italia champion reflected on Pogačar’s supremacy, which has seen the Slovenian win the Tour de France, three monuments, the World and European Championships, and 20 races overall in 2025 alone. Dumoulin suggested that while he prefers tense racing that remains undecided until the end, he isn’t tired of seeing the Slovenian at full flight.

“I love watching him race,” Dumoulin said of Pogačar. “He’s perhaps the greatest cyclist of all time, and it’s special to see the best win almost every race. Of course, we’d like to see more battles to the finish, like in the 2017 Giro, when four riders fought for the win. But I admire his level and his mentality. I'm not bored watching him win, although I enjoy it when there's excitement right up to the last day.”

When asked if he thinks Pogačar is better than Merckx, Dumoulin acknowledged the difficulty of comparing the two. “I’ve never seen Eddy Merckx race, so it’s difficult to compare eras. They were very different times,” he said.

The former time-trial World Champion believes that Pogačar’s rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard will continue to define cycling for years to come. “I think we’ll see that rivalry continue for several more seasons. It’s a clash that defines an era,” Dumoulin said.

No two riders had occupied 1st and 2nd place at the Tour de France for five consecutive years until Pogačar and Vingegaard did so following this year’s edition, underlining the longevity of their excellence and rivalry, with the Slovenian currently leading 3–2 at the French Grand Tour.

On Juan Ayuso’s move from UAE Team Emirates-XRG to Lidl-Trek, Dumoulin was positive, highlighting the leadership role he will have and suggesting he could flourish away from Pogačar’s shadow. “I understand that in UAE, with Pogačar as leader, it’s difficult to get opportunities. At Lidl, he’ll be able to go it alone, and I think that’s good for everyone.”

Dumoulin expressed confidence in Ayuso’s Grand Tour-winning potential, stating, “Yes, absolutely. He has the talent and mentality to do so.”

Despite his praise for Ayuso, Dumoulin noted the current lack of depth among top Spanish riders compared to the stars he once raced against.

“Spain will always have great cyclists, but it must be admitted that the overall level is lower than in the era of [Alberto] Contador, [Alejandro] Valverde, or [Joaquim Rodríguez] Purito," said Dumoulin. "In [Miguel] Induráin's time, Spain led the world of cycling, and now it's no longer in that position."

He also reflected on another former rival, Chris Froome, who at 40 is still racing in 2025. The Briton is a rider the Dutchman knows well, having finished second to him at both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in 2018. Asked about Froome’s decision to keep racing despite a drop in level, Dumoulin was respectful yet frank.

“If he enjoys competing, I’m happy for him,” he said. “I would have made a different decision, but he is who he is, and I respect him greatly. He’s a four-time Tour de France champion and deserves all my respect for continuing to do what he loves.”

On the subject of mental health in cycling, Dumoulin spoke about the sport’s ongoing challenges. “In training, you can measure watts, nutrition, rest, etc., but mental health can’t be quantified. And yet, it’s the foundation of performance,” said the Dutchman, who retired in 2021 after taking an earlier break to focus on his mental health and well-being.