Yeah there is probably a lot of fanatic Slovenians on instagram following Pogacar.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,389
- 46,696
- 28,180
I'd think Pogacar is by far the most popular rider among the very casual cycling fans.
Wout is belgian so the biggest cycling nation is wirh him. For example, italians seem to like Pogacar a lot, mroe than Wout.
- Nov 16, 2013
- 27,286
- 28,579
- 28,180
- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,389
- 46,696
- 28,180
- Nov 16, 2013
- 27,286
- 28,579
- 28,180
Well, you did politely ask Tadej to let Wout win, right?
- Aug 9, 2021
- 6,103
- 6,670
- 17,180
- Jul 8, 2017
- 2,784
- 3,663
- 17,180
Slovenia is only 2 million people though.
Some of them don't care about cycling, some don't like Pogacar (my impression is that Pogacar isn't overly loved there) and others don't use Instagram/randomly follow celebrities.
Overall, I'd say probably 10% of Pog followers are Slovenians. Not "a lot".
- Jan 3, 2019
- 2,022
- 2,941
- 17,180
Haha, he had two Sundays to answer my call, that's true.
Although Wout pulled this one off all by himself. Righteously so.
- May 3, 2010
- 4,589
- 4,911
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This is how I experienced Van Aert's Paris-Roubaix:
- 140 km to go: Well, he's had a flat tire already. Bad luck as usual.
- 130 km: He's better positioned now than 10 km ago.
- 80 km: He's never been in a better position, but Pogacar or Pedersen can beat him.
- 40 km: This could be the chance of a lifetime, but a lot can still go wrong.
- 15 km: He's now objectively the favorite. This could be his greatest win, or another disillusion.
- 1 km: The most important km of his career. Don't screw this up, Wout!
- 200 m: Go, now, don't hesitate!
- 0 m: Hallelujah!
- This morning: I just had one of those naïve wishing dreams again. Let me check the actual result...
- Jul 20, 2017
- 606
- 768
- 12,180
Thanks you Wout.
You do have it.
You gave everything to win. And you did.
Probably his last chance to do it, unless his form goes Valverde style.
You do have it.
You gave everything to win. And you did.
Probably his last chance to do it, unless his form goes Valverde style.
- Sep 12, 2022
- 10,038
- 11,288
- 22,180
- Feb 20, 2012
- 55,389
- 46,696
- 28,180
Not necessarily.
Sagan was the most popular in his day, and Froome was arguably never top 3 in popularity. Vingegaard wasn't either.
Because Froome and Vingegaard are skeletor robots with little charisma. Nobody outside of cycling or athletics cares about characters like that. Many countries a lot people actively dislike road cyclists ‘Lycra idiots’ etc.
Sagan at least had some charisma and seen to be having some fun and had mountain bike crossover
- Sep 2, 2011
- 17,676
- 14,050
- 28,180
Can't get out of my head the chants I've heard over the years at the races
Woutje Van Aert
Woutje Van Aert
WOUTJE WOUTJE WOUTJE VAN AERT
Woutje Van Aert
Woutje Van Aert
WOUTJE WOUTJE WOUTJE VAN AERT
- Sep 12, 2022
- 10,038
- 11,288
- 22,180
- Aug 9, 2021
- 6,103
- 6,670
- 17,180
My partner just now;
"Watching video of Van Aert victory. Everyone is cheering"
"He's just crying
"I was surprised to see how composed he was yesterday during the whole race. Being in front at the right times, attacking at the right time, pulling at the right times, not pulling at the right times and starting his sprint at the right time. An unexpected tactical masterclass.
* Being in front on all cubble stones sections from the first section.
* Staying cool after the first flat tire and waiting for the car to change bikes and using Doull to get back to the group.
* Taking the lead at Wallers-Arenberg where he lost the race last year due to bad positioning.
* Staying cool after the second flat tire and using both Red Bull riders to come back instead of chasing like a mad man.
* Attacking just before the crucial Auchy-les-Orchies section and just before MVDP¨could finalise his comeback.
* Not giving everything on Auchy-les-Orchies once he knew Pogacar and Pedersen where in his wheel so he still could answer Pogacar's counter-attack.
* Taking the lead again on Auchy-les-Orchies again to eliminate Pedersen who could have beaten him in the sprint.
* Staying in Pogacar's wheel from the beginning of section 5 Camphin-en-Pévèle until the end of section 3 Gruson.
* Staying in Pogacar's wheel the last 2K and starting the sprint at the right time.
* Being in front on all cubble stones sections from the first section.
* Staying cool after the first flat tire and waiting for the car to change bikes and using Doull to get back to the group.
* Taking the lead at Wallers-Arenberg where he lost the race last year due to bad positioning.
* Staying cool after the second flat tire and using both Red Bull riders to come back instead of chasing like a mad man.
* Attacking just before the crucial Auchy-les-Orchies section and just before MVDP¨could finalise his comeback.
* Not giving everything on Auchy-les-Orchies once he knew Pogacar and Pedersen where in his wheel so he still could answer Pogacar's counter-attack.
* Taking the lead again on Auchy-les-Orchies again to eliminate Pedersen who could have beaten him in the sprint.
* Staying in Pogacar's wheel from the beginning of section 5 Camphin-en-Pévèle until the end of section 3 Gruson.
* Staying in Pogacar's wheel the last 2K and starting the sprint at the right time.
- Mar 5, 2026
- 53
- 55
- 280
Yesterday Wout was the chosen, he couldn't loose.
Can't imagine that a rider other than Merckx could win both in mont ventoux and roubaix !
I guess Simon and Jonas were very happy for him yesterday.
In less than 1 year this guy beat 2 times the great Pogacar of 2025/26.
Can't imagine that a rider other than Merckx could win both in mont ventoux and roubaix !
I guess Simon and Jonas were very happy for him yesterday.
In less than 1 year this guy beat 2 times the great Pogacar of 2025/26.
- Apr 15, 2014
- 4,264
- 2,356
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This is a very correct observation. Van Aert was extremely composed yesterday. Zen. Didn't do rash things, did basically everything right and had luck by his side for once. Despite two flats, their timing was 'good'. The first was early enough, the second happened a few kms after his team car was able to pass the groups behind, and he found himself with two Bora riders to help bridge. Pogacar's mishap in the corner of Carrefour could have caused him to crash, but luckily Van Aert had built in some safety distance.
Yesterday was his day, the day he had been waiting for - and he was ready for it.
Lance was also very popular by the casual crowd. He had a great marketing personality I am sure UAE has a large marketing budget to make sure that Pog seems to be the most popular.
- Apr 15, 2014
- 4,264
- 2,356
- 18,680
Why were so many people so happy yesterday with his win? Italian commentators with tears in their eyes, English ones celebrating like they'd won themselves, supporters of a Belgian top league football club erupting in celebrations seeing his victory on a big screen right after they lost their football game, etc.
I think it's because everyone who has followed cycling the past years knows how much bad luck Van Aert has had, but also how much of a gentleman he has always remained despite all the adversity. It's not some kind of PR thing (oh, pun not intended) he's doing, I genuinely believe he is kind, honest, caring, modest, and I believe that most people can sense this, which makes him so likeable to so many. On top of that, this win is a FU to all those who have felt the need to belittle him as a modern day Poulidor who lacked the real winner's edge (in spite of all his wins). And thus yesterday felt like a final reward, the ultimate vindication. Like the universe finally put right a wrong.
Finally, something that brought tears to my eyes - the parents of Michael Goolaerts (the rider he dedicated his victory to) received a message from him last night at 4:15: "I cannot sleep, Staf. Too much has happened today. But the flowers <his victory flowers> are on their way to you."
Bravo, Wout - fully deserved, champ.
I think it's because everyone who has followed cycling the past years knows how much bad luck Van Aert has had, but also how much of a gentleman he has always remained despite all the adversity. It's not some kind of PR thing (oh, pun not intended) he's doing, I genuinely believe he is kind, honest, caring, modest, and I believe that most people can sense this, which makes him so likeable to so many. On top of that, this win is a FU to all those who have felt the need to belittle him as a modern day Poulidor who lacked the real winner's edge (in spite of all his wins). And thus yesterday felt like a final reward, the ultimate vindication. Like the universe finally put right a wrong.
Finally, something that brought tears to my eyes - the parents of Michael Goolaerts (the rider he dedicated his victory to) received a message from him last night at 4:15: "I cannot sleep, Staf. Too much has happened today. But the flowers <his victory flowers> are on their way to you."
Bravo, Wout - fully deserved, champ.
Last edited:
- Jun 30, 2022
- 8,020
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