Belgium has closed the spring without obtaining victories in Monument Classics. Van Aert, Evenepoel, Benoot and De Lie failed to reach the top podium of any of the 4 Monument Classics, and the dominance was exclusively by Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar. Helping us analyze what happened in the last two months is Axel Merckx, who besides being a good rider, is the son of the great Eddy Merckx and a renowned sports manager. Axel Merckx is also a sports analyst and in his column in the DH newspaper, he wanted to highlight Tadej Pogacar's superiority. The Slovenian has amazed in every race this 2025 and when he didn't manage to reach the top of the podium, he still animated every finale, always climbing onto the podium.

"Tadej Pogacar has left his mark with all his victories. With his supremacy that started at Strade Bianche and reached Liège-Bastogne-Liège through the Tour of Flanders, he demonstrated his superiority," Axel Merckx said. "He won on all fronts and terrains, also showing he could compete for victory at Roubaix".

The world champion's season began at the UAE Tour, where besides two stage wins, he conquered the general classification. He won Strade Bianche and came third at Milan-San Remo, followed by his success at the Tour of Flanders and second places at Paris-Roubaix and Amstel Gold Race. Then two more victories: first at Flèche Wallonne and then at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Merckx also highlighted how in cycling history it is difficult to find champions like Pogacar and that, probably, only his father Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault were capable of winning on all terrains before the Slovenian.

"We must be able to appreciate the true value of such an athlete. I know that his presence at the front of races is not liked by everyone and that some might find it boring, but such a rider is not always present at races. The last person who could win on all fronts was undoubtedly Bernard Hinault. Or my father".

The Belgian then wanted to defend his compatriots, who this spring did not achieve the expected results.

"Regarding the Belgians, there was no victory in a Monument Classic and not even a podium placement, but Wout van Aert was not far off with his two fourth places at Flanders and Roubaix. And in our country, we have promising young riders, as we saw with Thibau Nys, fifth on Sunday at Liège".

According to Axel Merckx, in this spring there was only one rider who could have challenged the supremacy of Van der Poel and Pogacar, namely Mads Pedersen who this spring won Gent-Wevelgem and reached the podium at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

"We had two riders who dominated the spring, Pogacar and Van der Poel. Too bad Mads Pedersen was unlucky. I think he could have competed against them, especially at Roubaix. Then we must remember that for a rider, even a very strong one, it is difficult to repeat himself even the following year".