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  "description": "Theirs is a unique rivalry, but if Pogačar wins Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, Van der Poel can only step back and applaud – like the rest of us.",
  "path": "/is-van-der-poel-joining-the-rest-of-us-as-extras-in-pogacars-story/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-11T09:47:41.000Z",
  "site": "https://escapecollective.com",
  "tags": [
    "Preview: Pogačar vs. Van der Poel – who will make history at Paris-Roubaix?Everything you need to know about the route and the favorites for the Queen of the Classics.Escape CollectiveDane Cash",
    "Subscribe now"
  ],
  "textContent": "Kristof Ramon\n\n_“D'you ever think your entire life is a play? And that, you know, 99% of the people in it, they got no lines, you know? Just, like, extras. And you? You're just an extra in their play.”_\n\nThis line, delivered brilliantly by Bobby Cannavale’s bartender Eddie in 2025 movie ‘Blue Moon’, has been rolling around my head since I devoured the latest Ethan Hawke-Richard Linklater collaboration. All the more since watching Tadej Pogačar’s latest display of perfection over the Flanders _hellingen_ last weekend.\n\nI have to imagine this is precisely how the peloton feels about starting a Classic behind the wily Slovenian – save only for Mathieu van der Poel, and perhaps Remco Evenepoel on some terrain – even the seasoned Belgian specialists who cut their teeth on the cobbles early in their careers with no expectation of supremacy until they had multiple editions under their wheels. But then Pogačar came along, following close behind multi-terrain superstar Van der Poel, both of them only ever starting a race when they believe they can bloody well win it.\n\n> You’re in the middle of the game as a spectator.”\n\n _– Julius van den Berg said after the Tour of Flanders_\n\nPreview: Pogačar vs. Van der Poel – who will make history at Paris-Roubaix?Everything you need to know about the route and the favorites for the Queen of the Classics.Escape CollectiveDane Cash\n\n“What Tadej is doing actually goes a step further than just being demotivating,” Oliver Naesen told the _Het Laatste Nieuws_ cycling podcast after the Tour of Flanders. “Demotivating would be a rider who is very good – you can’t drop him and he beats you in the sprint.\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "Is Van der Poel joining the rest of us as extras in Pogačar’s story?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-11T09:47:43.624Z"
}