Riders who exceed the limits of a polite margin spoil everyone's day with their showboating victories

At what point does a brave show of strength become brazen showboating? The Doc ponders the etiquette of the long solo break

Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates during the match between Liege v Bastogne - Liege 2024 - Men's Elite at the Liege on April 21, 2024 in Liege Belgium (Photo by Pim Waslander/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Pogačar during his long solo break at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Dr Hutch profile
Michael Hutchinson

Michael Hutchinson is a writer, journalist and former professional cyclist. His Dr Hutch columns appears in every issue of Cycling Weekly magazine, this piece was first published in print on 2 May. 

The men’s side of the Classics this season was dominated by two riders and one tactic. The riders were Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel, and the tactic was the boringly long solo break. [Pogačar hasn’t exactly let up at the Giro d’Italia, either - ed].

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