Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) has strongly criticized social media and the external pressures placed on professional cyclists while addressing the scrutiny faced by Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) during the Spring Classics.
Speaking at his pre-Tour of Flanders press conference in Waregem, Pogačar was asked about the backlash Van Aert received after his performances in the E3 Saxo Classic and Dwars door Vlaanderen. In the former, Van Aert finished 15th, far from the level of his longtime rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who won solo. In the latter, Visma-Lease a Bike failed to capitalize on a three-against-one advantage in the final sprint, with Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) taking the win. Facing pressure from Belgian media, social media, and his own expectations, Van Aert found himself under intense scrutiny after Wednesday’s race. Fellow riders, including Demi Vollering, publicly supported him, and Pogačar followed suit.
“Every rider experiences pressure, and for someone like Wout, his team counts on him to deliver in big races,” Pogačar said. “Losing in a three-against-one situation is tough, but that’s part of racing. He’ll move on, focus on the next race, and give his best. If it goes well, great. If not, it’s not the end of the world it’s just bike racing.”
Pogačar, no stranger to online criticism, expressed strong opinions on social media’s impact on mental well-being. “Social media is the cancer of our society,” he stated. “While it has positives, negativity always dominates. It can ruin your day, and honestly, it’s not worth following. The best way to avoid it is simply not to engage.”
Although he hadn’t watched Dwars door Vlaanderen, as he was training on the Paris-Roubaix course, Pogačar acknowledged Visma’s tactical misstep. “I heard what happened. They were confident, which isn’t a bad thing, but Powless was in top form for the sprint.”
Despite recent struggles, Pogačar backed Van Aert to rebound at the Tour of Flanders. “Wout looks good. He always finds extra motivation for big races, and I expect him to be in great shape on Sunday.”
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