THEMOVE Podcast: Ranking 2025’s Best Moments | Season Highlights 2025

Host: Lance Armstrong (absent this episode)
Panel: George Hincapie, Johan Bruyneel, Spencer Martin
Date: November 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of THEMOVE features George Hincapie, Johan Bruyneel, and Spencer Martin ranking and reflecting on the most significant, dramatic, and surprising moments of the 2025 professional cycling season. The conversation centers on the year's classic races, Grand Tours, breakthrough performances, and the remarkable dominance of Tadej Pogačar. The panel shares their favorite races, deep competitive insights, and color commentary, putting the season into context for hardcore fans and newcomers alike.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. 2025 Spring Classics: Milan-San Remo Stands Out

• Top Highlights:
  • Milan-San Remo receives unanimous praise as the best one-day race, characterized by suspense, aggressive tactics, and an uncertain finale.
  • The dynamism between van der Poel, Pogačar, and Ganna; van der Poel’s victorious sprint after initiating attacks over the Poggio.
• George: “San Remo is one of the hardest races in the world to win, but the easiest World Cup to finish.” (12:12)
• Panel agrees San Remo’s unpredictability and tactical complexity made it a “nail biter.”

2. The Giro d’Italia: Drama and Breakthroughs

• Grand Tour Recap:
  • Simon Yates wins after seizing a late opportunity, supported by a key attack and team tactics from Wout van Aert.
  • Isaac del Toro emerges as a star, demonstrating strength and versatility, finishing second but capturing the cycling world’s imagination.
  • Stage 9, the white gravel road day (Strade Bianche stage): Wout van Aert claimed a hard-fought win over del Toro—a pivotal moment for the GC battle.
• Johan: “What a story. On the same climb where [Yates] lost the Giro in 2018, he turns it around and wins in the fall of his career.” (39:52)

3. Paris-Roubaix: Chaos, Aggression, and the Pogačar Experiment

• Key Race Dynamics:
  • Early attacks, relentless pace, and a boxing match between van der Poel and Pogačar.
  • Pogačar’s uncharacteristic mistake (chain drop/crash) opens the door for van der Poel's win; Petersen and team dynamics feature prominently.
• George: “You make those small mistakes that you’re not used to seeing a guy like Pogačar make… but that’s Roubaix.” (20:08)

4. Amstel Gold & the Rise of Unexpected Winners

• Unexpected Turn:
  • Skjelmose snatches victory ahead of Remco Evenepoel and Pogačar in a thrilling finale; panel praises Skjelmose's surprise triumph and Remco’s comeback from injury.
• Johan: “He didn’t even think it himself… ‘I think I won.’ He could not believe it. Man, it was an amazing victory.” (34:16)

5. Tour de France, Stage 21: A New Kind of Finale

• Redesigned Last Stage:
  • Not the typical Champs-Élysées sprint; Wout van Aert solos to victory after dropping an exhausted Pogačar.
  • Team tactics and a select, dystopian-style group of top riders create a memorable scene.
• Johan: “I think for the confidence of Wout van Aert, that stage is a milestone… If you see after the finish, a lot of riders of other teams go and congratulate a rider like Wout van Aert—that speaks volumes.” (25:34)

6. Season-long Narratives: Promotion, Relegation, and Team Tactics

• Astana’s Revival:
  • Panel highlights Astana’s analytical, points-driven approach to team and race selection, leading them from relegation threat to top-four status in the WorldTour.
• UNOX’s Entry: Noted for transparency and execution, boosting fan engagement.
• Johan: “Vinokourov has more lives than a cat… Always, always gets back up.” (37:32)

7. Dominance and Influence of Tadej Pogačar

• Historic Stats:
  • 20 wins in 50 race days—40% win rate, 72% podium rate, 56% win rate in the races he started.
  • Podiums in all five Monuments.
• Panel Debates: Is 2025 more impressive than his 2024 season?
• Johan: “He did whatever he wanted… gave away wins to teammates. It felt like he was more dominant overall.” (48:59)
• George: “He went out there just to show that he is the best of the best in the history of cycling.” (48:37)
• Season Quality Score: Pogačar (53) is double that of the next-best (Vingegaard at 26).

8. Changing Competitive Landscape

• Monopolization of Victories:
  • 2025 saw no first-time Grand Tour winners; established stars (Yates, Pogačar, Vingegaard) dominate major titles.
  • Podiums are increasingly occupied by familiar names—panel discusses the challenge for emerging GC talent.
• Johan: “As long as Tadej and Jonas are there, it’s a level above everybody else.” (53:17)
• Technical Skillset Evolution:
  • Modern GC contenders now excel across all terrains and in technical aspects, closing historical gaps between classic specialists and stage racers.

9. Best Grand Tour & Stage of the Year

• Unanimous Panel Pick: Giro d’Italia, Stage 20 (Colle delle Finestre) as the best Grand Tour and stage of the year—a lesson in tactics, patience, and drama as Yates stayed close and then surged to take pink.
• George: “Seeing Yates pull off the incredible victory, after such a devastating defeat… is really iconic.” (40:48)
• Johan: “Wout van Aert did his best one-hour effort of his life to make it over Colle delle Finestre…” (45:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Milan-San Remo:
  “It was nail biting until the finish… I like also when the strongest guy wins and dominates… but Milan San Remo was a nail biter.” — Johan Bruyneel (08:02)

• On Pogačar’s Unbeatable Aura:
  “He did whatever he wanted…” — Johan Bruyneel (48:59)

• On Surprise Results:
  “He didn’t even think it himself. ‘I think I won. I think I won.’ He could not believe it.” — Johan Bruyneel, on Skjelmose’s Amstel Gold win (34:16)

• On Team Revival:
  “Vinokourov has more lives than a cat… Always, always gets back up.” — Johan (37:32)

• On the Technical Evolution of Riders:
  “They can ride crosswinds, ride flats, do all the technical stuff that typically, back in the day, those guys didn’t have that skill. But they do now.” — George Hincapie (57:15)

Timestamps of Major Segments

• [05:40] – Spring Classics Recap: Milan-San Remo, Flanders, Paris-Roubaix
• [09:00] – Milan-San Remo as Race of the Year: Tactics and suspense
• [17:10] – Giro d’Italia, Stage 9: Strade Bianche drama, Wout van Aert vs. Del Toro
• [19:03] – Paris-Roubaix analysis, Pogačar’s attempt
• [23:42] – Tour de France, Stage 21: New finale, van Aert’s solo win
• [31:45] – George’s highlight: Amstel Gold, Skjelmose’s victory
• [34:50] – Team narratives: Astana and UNOX stories
• [38:20] – Best Grand Tour: Giro d’Italia, Stage 20
• [44:14] – Del Toro’s rise and win tally
• [46:01] – Panel on Pogačar’s dominance and statistics
• [52:36] – Grand Tour winners: Monopolization of victories
• [56:43] – Evolution of climber, GC profiles
• [57:47] – Final reflections and closing thoughts

Closing Reflections

• The 2025 season delivered drama, suspense, standout performances, and paradigm shifts in racing style and team management.
• Tadej Pogačar cemented his status as the preeminent figure in cycling, with versatility and relentless competitiveness.
• The new technical and analytical focus from teams like Astana and UNOX signals a shifting strategic landscape.
• The dynamics of the peloton are evolving, leaving fewer opportunities for outsiders, but raising the intensity and unpredictability for every racing fan.

Next Up:
ThemMove will return with trades and transfers analysis next month and an “Up & Comers” show in January.