The Robin Hood argument
Good morning,
These are today's quotes and interviews worth your time.
Stood out to me today: "I admit it, it's not always easy to work with me"
¡Vamos!
🎤 INTERESTING INTERVIEWS
“It's a bit like Robin Hood”
Alex Carera on the KuCoin sponsorship and where the money goes
Pogačar's agent Alex Carera appeared on the Domestique Hotseat podcast to address the criticism around the World Champion's sponsorship deal with cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin. His response was straightforward: Pogačar doesn't keep the money.
"Many, many crypto companies are sponsoring cycling and sport in general, football teams, in the NBA, in cycling now," Carera said. "Twenty to thirty years ago in the sport, there were many cigarette companies sponsoring, or alcohol brands. Ten years ago, there were many bad companies, and five years ago and now, energy drinks also." The normalisation argument is familiar. What follows it is less so.
Carera revealed that earnings from Pogačar's personal sponsors, including KuCoin, are channelled entirely into two initiatives: the Pogi team, a youth cycling programme in Slovenia with around 200 children that Pogačar funds from his own pocket, and the Tadej Pogačar Foundation, created with partner Urška Žigart following her mother's death, which directs money to cancer treatment.
"I want to also say that we have accepted this sponsorship because, for Tadej's private sponsors, he uses the money not for himself but to help the new generation of athletes and, in general, the people. Because he gave all the money to the Pogi team."
As an illustration of the pace of Pogačar's life, Carera noted that after winning Strade Bianche, Pogačar was on a flight to Ljubljana by 8pm for a charity event that raised 50,000 to 60,000 euros. Carera's explanation of why this hadn't been said publicly before is perhaps the most honest part of the interview: "People don't always know the full story because we don't like to shout, 'I take the money to give to those in need.' Charity should be done quietly. Otherwise, you get criticism anyway; some say you're doing it just to look like a good guy."
On the criticism itself: "People post bad comments or criticism because they see only one part of the story. Okay, I agree if I sign the contracts, take the money, and they spend it to buy a new car. In this case, we accept the critics. But if we receive the money, not for us, but to give to the people in need, it's different. If you don't accept this money, then nothing goes to the people who need it. It's a bit like Robin Hood."
“I admit it, it's not always easy to work with me”
Karlijn Swinkels on winning Trofeo Alfredo Binda and the team around her
Karlijn Swinkels spoke to TuttoBiciWeb after claiming her first World Tour win at Cittiglio, describing a race that UAE ADQ controlled from the front. Anna van der Breggen was the danger on the climb. "She kept accelerating and it was absolutely not easy to follow her. At the first change of pace I understood I could hold her wheel, but I couldn't blow up, so I tried to stay composed." Her teammates managed the bunch behind, and the finish came down to a sprint Swinkels had the speed to win.
After the line she turned to watch her teammates finish, then ran to embrace them. She described a team culture where roles rotate genuinely, with Elisa Longo Borghini as the clearest example. "Elisa Longo Borghini is extraordinary. At Trofeo Oro in Euro I worked for her, while at Binda she spent herself for me. Only a champion of her calibre can do something like that." The confidence from teammates before the race mattered too. "From the start of the race my teammates told me it would be my day. It was very cold and I wasn't very sure, but several times they told me I had to believe in my abilities and make it to the end."
On the Flemish classics ahead, Swinkels is clear-eyed about missed time. A crash at Omloop this year and physical problems that cost her the classics block in 2025 give extra weight to what comes next. "I admit it, it's not always easy to work with me. I'm a very demanding athlete, I want everything perfect, but over time I've learned to accept that things can't always go the right way." She finished sixth at Omloop and describes the team's collective potential for the north as genuine. "There are very strong riders around me who I think can make their mark in the classics. There's Elisa who is our leader, but also Eleonora (Gasparrini) and Silvia (Persico) who are unpredictable. We have what it takes to get excellent results and throw ourselves into the mix."
“Until that specific day I had never heard of Museeuw”
Tom Boonen on the Tour of Flanders, racing hungry, and what he'd tell his younger self
Tom Boonen, three-time winner, sat down with De Zondag ahead of the 110th edition of the Tour of Flanders. Nine years after retiring, he still watches every race and reads the results.
On the race itself, Boonen places his three Ronde wins at the very top of his palmares, alongside Roubaix, the 2005 World Championship and Harelbeke. He is precise about what makes it different from other monuments. "Of the 180 riders at the start, 90 genuinely think they can win. Or at least want to win. The nervousness in the air, the tension on the faces of the riders."
He traces his first real understanding of what the race meant to 1995, when Johan Museeuw won for the second time. His admission about that moment is candid: "May I confess something? Until that specific day I had never heard of Museeuw." A few years later he was being described as Museeuw's natural successor.
On the crowds on the climbs, he recalls riding the Koppenberg alongside Ludo Dierckxsens during his debut edition. "That crowd cheering him on. Ludo, Ludo, Ludo, like we were entering a football arena. I can assure you: the adrenaline rush you get then shoots you up the climb like a rocket. You won't find that anywhere else."
He admits he would prefer to be a pro cyclist today, where race schedules are managed more carefully and nutrition plans are far more balanced. He is honest about what the race cost him physically over the years, including a detail that lands with some weight: "You don't want to know how many times I have stood at the start like a starving dog."
He could have won four, five, perhaps six times he says, but other factors always play a role: mechanicals, crashes, luck. What he would tell his younger self is simpler than any of that. "Enjoy it. And fully realise what you are experiencing, because it all goes much too fast. Before you know it, your racing years are behind you."
For the 2026 edition he will be in the team car with Soudal Quick-Step CEO Jurgen Foré. His prediction for the winner: Van der Poel and Pogačar are the logic. His preference: "You know who I really want it to be? Wout van Aert. Let him win his first Ronde at last. He really deserves it."
“My girlfriend just goes along with it”
Victor Campenaerts on the sacrifices building toward the Giro
Victor Campenaerts spoke to Sporza after Paris-Nice, where he finished 17th overall while contributing throughout for Jonas Vingegaard. The satisfaction was specific: "It is a wonderful feeling when you sense that the competition realises there is nothing to be done about it."
Campenaerts had not peaked for Paris-Nice. The Giro is the target, and the block ahead of it is thorough. He has been based in Spain with his family since November 1, not once returning to Belgium. Bedtime is 8pm every evening. "My girlfriend just goes along with it. Taking care of yourself, that always pays off sooner or later."
From Spain he moves to Font Romeu to acclimatise to altitude, then to Teide for three weeks of team training. Four weeks at altitude in total. "I should be in great form then. But the realist in me says I should also be satisfied if I can maintain my current level. The team and Jonas will also be happy with that."
🏆 THE SERGE BAGUET AWARD
Not awarded today
Wonder what The Serge Baguet Award is all about? Check it out here.
💬 QUICK QUOTES
“Ten years ago, it was 70 percent work and 30 percent fun. Now it is 100 per cent work. It is only work. I no longer find any playful elements in it. It gets harder and harder every year, but I do not know if you can avoid burning out at some point.” — Damiano Caruso in TV2 on how cycling has changed in recent years.
“Now almost a week without the bike being a tourist around Italy. If someone has some tips for Bologna, Firenze or Venice, let us know! Not thinking about the bike for a few days, ciao 👋🏻” — Thymen Arensman on Instagram after Tirreno Adriatico.
“We hope to race in Belgium.” — Kim Andersen on Domestique, confirming Mads Pedersen is targeting a return for the Flemish Classics and will miss Milano-San Remo.
“He's someone who is very calm and very focused. He's a leader who can speak up during a team briefing and bring the whole group together to try to win.” — Benoît Cosnefroy in CyclismActu on Isaac del Toro's leadership qualities within the team.
“I saw up close that his teammates were calling for him to stop and slow down. That was purely and solely bringing out the 'Cipressa legs' for once. His effort was pure self- interest. He really, really wanted to hurt us. That was truly impressive." — Oliver Naesen in the HLN Wielerpodcast on Van der Poel's all-out effort on one of the climbs in the final stage of Tirreno Adriatico.
“Milano-San Remo is a very iconic race, certainly with that distance of 298 kilometres. After the finish I'll add another two kilometres for Strava I think. Just to complete the three hundred." — Wout Poels in the In Koers podcast on his first-ever participation at Milano-San Remo.
That's it for today. See you tomorrow 👋
Jay