Il Lombardia 2025, monument, October 11

[Red Rick]

Some of the best races this year were exciting because of Pogacar — MSR especially, which in my opinion was the best major race of the season. Paris–Roubaix and Flanders were also pretty good, with Pogi as the main animator, and Strade Bianche too.


Unfortunately, Il Lombardia might end up being pretty dull, just like the Worlds and the European Championships were. But honestly, I can’t blame Pogacar for that — he’s just doing what every pro cyclist (and every pro athlete) is supposed to do: try to win.


If the races are boring, it’s not on him — it’s on the competition for not being strong enough to make it a real fight.

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[Cookster15]

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Pogacar isn't physically suited to PR or MSR compared to others (like MVDP). So absolutely he has made those races more exciting this year. Of course this GdL looks a forgone conclusion but stranger things have happened.

 

[Red Rick]

Pogacar isn't physically suited to PR or MSR compared to others (like MVDP). So absolutely he has made those races more exciting this year. Of course this GdL looks a forgone conclusion but stranger things have happened.

I'm mainly talking about cherry picking the 3 race days where he has a positive effect on the race, and even in RVV/Roubaix, and Amstel I don't think it's the biggest difference compared to the race without him. Every other race he's shown up has been a complete non-contest and the only mitigating factor there is a number of times the #2 easily beat the rest for #2.

 

[Tim Cahill]

For the first time in my 27 years of being a cycling fan, I will not be watching a monument. We all know exactly what's going to happen, and who will win. I'm not wasting anymore of my time watching the same result.

Get where you're coming Ash from with the ennui and as of now the odds seem massively in your favour, but you know now you've posted this it has the potential to become the mother of all backfires.

I shall watch, not just for the scenery but because I still believe the best thing about sport is that the weak can sometimes beat the powerful if the circumstances align, and I'd like to be there when they do. It hasn't happened much recently admittedly, but I watched Roger Hammond bang his head against a wall for 10 years in the classics and am in the middle of Fred Wright doing exactly the same thing so probably developed a bit of resilience to the disappointment.

I'd at least keep an occasional eye on proceedings if I were you.