<\/p>\n
\u201cI would place myself above the WorldTour average, but I wish that I had his legs for just one day,\u201d he said. \u201cI hope he doesn\u2019t take those good legs for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Racing against Pogacar: \u2018Sometimes it feels discouraging\u2019<\/p>\n
Powless was candid about the psychological challenge of competing against riders and teams operating at a higher gear.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn races it can sometimes feel quite discouraging when you see certain teams being so dominant and you think: what can I even do here? Every team puts everything into trying to win, but when only a few actually manage it, that can be difficult for the long-term sustainability of our sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
His comments echo moments earlier in the season, when team-mate Ben Healy<\/a> jokingly asked Pogacar when he planned to retire \u2014 a light-hearted question carrying a hint of exasperation. Powless understands the sentiment. Yet he argues that dominance doesn\u2019t make cycling predictable. Far from it.\u2018A small chance is still a chance\u2019: why the peloton shouldn\u2019t give upThis spring, Powless produced one of the standout victories of the year, outfoxing three riders from Team Visma | Lease a Bike to win Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/a> \u2014 a reminder of what remains possible even when racing looks lopsided on paper.<\/p>\n \u201cMy win at Dwars door Vlaanderen, and Mattias Skjelmose winning the Amstel Gold Race, were reminders of the unpredictability of our sport. Those wins were encouraging for the entire peloton,\u201d Powless said. \u201cIn the spring I didn\u2019t think I would win a Classics race, but I still managed it. Even if the absolute top favourites are there, anything can happen. A small chance is still a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n