How the Big Six became the Big Five: While the top suffers or quits, this Slovenian ADHD guy keeps on going joyfully

While heavy rain battered northern Italy unprecedentedly, Tadej Pogacar thought it was enough. We're calling it quits. Or, at least, I'm quitting, and the rest can do the same. Tre Valli Varesine was becoming too dangerous. It's too risky for the king of cycling. With its tail between its legs, the organization admitted that cycling through a sweeping pond was no longer possible. And so Pogacar could gaze merrily ahead. His colleagues were happy with him again. The focus could be on Saturday, which is one more blast in Lombardy. And then look back with nostalgia because his exceptional year will be over.

The moment in Varese was exemplary of Pogacar's unprecedented season. He achieved all his big goals - except for Milan-Sanremo. Everywhere he wanted to win, he won. In ways we had rarely seen. The competition he had for years was suddenly riding at an appropriate distance. The moment he could think of new success in Tre Valli Varesine, the conditions also played into his hands. In the pouring rain, he could play patron, showing he could take on a mature leadership role. "Guys, we're not going to cycle in a pool, are we?" And prove him wrong. What did he care about that little Italian race now? Had the sun been shining, he would have easily attacked fifty kilometers from the finish line. Now, he was the savior of the frightened mob, also an exemplary role. Pogacar is everywhere. 2024 belongs to Pogacar.

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Evenepoel was hugely successful, but clearly yearns for winter break

From start to finish, he oozed an almost boundless energy. He viewed the races as a playground. Strade Bianche was the beginning and Saturday in Italy; the Race of the Falling Leaves will be his final playground. What stood out in those seven months? Not a single drop in energy, little or no saturation among the virtually unstoppable hunger for prizes. You would almost think that Pogacar will soon trade in his race bike tires at home for cross profiles and challenge Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert in the cyclocross winter ahead. Of course, that won't happen. But it's all about that energy. While all the world's top riders are tired and yearning for 2025, that ADHD guy from Slovenia is still going strong.

How different is the trend among his biggest rivals? Starting with Remco Evenepoel. This year's great harvest of the Aerobullet of Schepdaal was the double Olympic title and the world time trial title. These were phenomenal performances, just like his third place in the Tour and the associated, focused, and solid performance. But what is remarkable is that there was no Pogacar in sight during those three titles. Now that Evenepoel also has one more goal - The Tour of Lombardy - the presence of the world road champion seems to fall over the little Belgian like a cold. Evenepoel had an unprecedentedly successful year but is yearning for the winter break.

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The Big Five can go to the drawing board for 2025

Suffering on the bike is what Evenepoel said before the Tre Valli Varesine. The battery is empty, even for the Belgian. He still attacked in the Coppa Bernocchi, but the real grinta, the natural desire to pursue the big goals, seems to have been left behind in Zurich. Primoz Roglic even canceled his Italian races in extremis. Tired, depleted, and empty. All is well. The reflex is apparent after a long, grueling season full of ups and downs. Enough is enough. Beautiful, finished. Jonas Vingegaard felt that way back in August. Italian campaign? It makes no sense. Thus, all world-class athletes with their share of setbacks are burned out and ready for the winter cocoon. This excludes the one rainbow butterfly who sees his success as additional motivation to win much more.

2024 would be the year of The Big Four in the tours and The Big Six in the classics. His minimalist road calendar spared Only Van der Poel from misfortune. He also kindly skipped Lombardia and can enjoy a nice vacation. Meanwhile, Van Aert will also wonder how to hold off Pogacar in his big goals in 2025: The Tour of Flanders, Sanremo, and Paris-Roubaix. Not to mention the group of tour riders. Everyone needs to go back to the drawing board. The Big Six have become the Big Five. Above this elite group, a sole ruler has positioned himself who wants to continue his dominance next year no matter what. The other top leaders can go up for a winter of new ideas for a new, fresh plan in 2025.

Those who like exciting racing might as well skip Saturday. Those who want to see the great victor of 2024 thrive again are welcome to watch.