We’re now well into December and that means only one thing – it’s time for the cycling world to have its annual collective meltdown over the BBC’s decision to omit Tadej Pogačar from its World Sport Star of the Year shortlist for 2025.
This is the second year in the row Pogačar has been snubbed for the prize, which forms part of the Beeb’s Sports Personality of the Year proceedings, despite in that time dominating his sport and cementing his position as arguably – I said arguably – the greatest male cyclist of all time.
But according to the powers that be at SPOTY, 20 wins from 50 race days, a fourth Tour de France triumph, a second consecutive world road race title, a European championships, the Tour of Flanders, an unprecedented fifth straight Il Lombardia, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Strade Bianche, Flèche Wallonne, the Critérium du Dauphiné, and the UAE Tour isn’t enough to make the six-athlete shortlist for their global award.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Instead, the contenders for the World Sport Star of the Year prize, which this year will be decided for the first time by public vote, include Arsenal’s Champions League winning footballer (and runner-up in the Euros for Spain) Mariona Caldentey, US boxer Terence Crawford, only the second man to be a three-weight undisputed world champion, and Swedish pole vaulting sensation Armand Duplantis.
Also on the shortlist are 400m world champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani, and Liverpool’s Egyptian talisman (recent antics notwithstanding) Mo Salah.
But despite the wide array of talent included on the list (though it must be noted that two-thirds of the contenders come from either football or track and field), it’s fair to say a lot of cycling fans are disgruntled by Pogačar’s glaring omission.
Zac Williams/SWpix.com
“You forgot the best sportsman in the world, BBC,” Lukáš Ronald Lukács wrote on Twitter after the SPOTY shortlist was announced.
“It’s a joke. He couldn’t win more than he did in a hard and extremely competitive sport,” added Daniel.
“In order to be nominated, Pogačar has to win all five monuments and the Giro-Tour double in a single season. Good luck,” said Mihai Simon. And even then, he might still miss out…
“I declare war on the BBC,” joked YouTuber and podcaster Benji Naesen (I’m not surprised, as Benji’s been in a combative mood lately, having spent much of last week locked in a clock-based social media battle with the whole of the UK over whether ‘half ten’ means 10.30 or 9.30 – a debate that even attracted the attention of James May. Look it up).
“I think they just underappreciate cycling there,” wrote Ash. “I don’t think Pogi gets nominated for this even if he wins all five monuments, all 3 GTs, and the worlds in the same season.”
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Of course, as Tim Bonville-Ginn noted, it’s not like SPOTY has been a cycling blackhole in the past, with the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas, Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, the Kennys all being recognised during British cycling’s 2010s golden period, even stretching back to Tom Simpson’s win in 1965.
However, some have pointed out that bike racing’s latest snub – especially when it concerns one of the sport’s greatest ever exports – is indicative of cycling’s fallen stature in the UK in recent years.
“BBC barely seem to recognise cycling as a sport but love darts and snooker, games played in a pub,” said John O’Brien (though anyone besmirching the good name of darts will have me and Ned Boulting to answer to).
“Cav and Wiggins were respected but since then, Froome ignored, while Zoe Bäckstedt and Cat Ferguson were not even considered for the youth award despite multiple world titles.”
“Not a question of personal animus towards him but more a reflection of how cycling is currently perceived in Britain, whether wrong or right, especially since the Freeman affair,” added Tim.
“They will make an exception for some like Cavendish/Thomas of course, Froome never even made a top three.”
Oh well, maybe next year Tadej? I doubt he’s losing too much sleep over the whole thing, of course…