Force VS resistance

Tadej Pogačar's dominance is era-defining, but for some it is growing tiresome. James Shrubsall asks: can the sport remain thrilling in his wake?

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As the final Classic of the season, II Lombardia has, despite its Monument status and stunning setting in the foothills of the Italian Alps, tended to slip below the radar.

This year, that changed - all eyes were on the race as fans contemplated a fifth consecutive victory from Tadej Pogačar. He did not disappoint. As if by action replay, he tore away on yet another long-distance breakaway and took the win, matching the record of Italy's Fausto Coppi, five-time winner of the race between 1946 and 1954.

Not everybody was delighted. Amid the cheering 'Pogi' fans, there were dissenting voices - voices that had begun to gain a critical mass over the previous few weeks. "It's the same thing again and again," one fan wrote on CW's Facebook page. Another said the dominance was lessening their interest in the sport. For some, yet another barely contested Pogačar victory was too much to bear. The great entertainer's trademark act was becoming boring.

Of course, the 27-year-old is only doing what he is paid to do, or even what he was born to do, if you want to be romantic about it. There is no question that Pogačar tends to win in dramatic, fan-pleasing fashion. But the same story repeated time and again can become tiresome, and it has started to feel like 'Pogačar fatigue' is setting in.

Questions have already been raised over how long the world champion can continue to tick off prestigious race wins with apparent ease. Many have speculated on when he might retire - even his mother said she would understand if he left the sport in the near future, having seen how tired he was after the Tour de France - when he admitted that he couldn't wait "for it to be over". He remains under contract with UAE Team Emirates-XRG until 2030.

Entertaining dominance