Van der Poel and Pogacar are intimidating as spring approaches, and the peloton will have to change their strategy if they don't want to "compete for second place"

Spring is approaching, and with it comes the major one-day race season where many teams and specialist cyclists have the opportunity to achieve significant victories. However, this balance has been disrupted by the arrival of decisive cyclists like Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar, who are capable of winning any race they enter. In this new scenario, the peloton will have to reinvent its strategies if they want to continue having opportunities.

Tiesj Benoot calls for a change in mentality in the classics: “We need to stop pulling when Van der Poel and Poga?ar are ahead”

Belgian Tiesj Benoot has once again brought to the table how the peloton faces the hegemony of Tadej Poga?ar and Mathieu van der Poel in the major classics. For Benoot, the problem is not only their enormous sporting level but also the collective attitude of the other teams. “We need to stop pulling when they are in front. If you do, you are helping them, and that is racing directly for second place,” he summarizes emphatically.

With 31 participations in Monuments and a deep understanding of races like the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, or Il Lombardia, Benoot believes that the extreme hardening of the routes has reduced the weight of tactics, especially in Flanders. Still, he insists that there are alternatives: “Something can happen to them too, and besides, they don’t race all the events. The problem is that many times the group starts racing already thinking about the podium, not about winning.”

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Benoot's statements come at a key moment in his career, following his departure from Visma and his incorporation into the Decathlon team. The Belgian explains that his decision is not due to sporting fatigue but to the need to seek new stimuli. “After several years, everything becomes more automatic. Here I work with a lot of new people, and that forces you to push yourself more,” he points out.

Benoot highlights that Decathlon is one of the teams that has grown the most in the last two years, reaching top-6 positions in the UCI ranking without having major superstars. “It’s a project in clear evolution, with ambition and a desire to improve. That was key for me,” he explains, also emphasizing that there is room for the personal contribution of the rider, although the final responsibility still lies with the coaches.

In sporting terms, the Belgian does not expect a total revolution in his spring calendar, although he does admit that he could have a bit more prominence. Although he avoids talking about “dreams,” Benoot does not hide his ambition to win again. He hasn’t raised his arms since the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in 2023, and this year he will again forgo the Strade Bianche, one of the major events in his palmarès, to prioritize a high-altitude training camp. His goal is clear: “I want to reach my best level between the E3 and Liège. And if I win, it will be an important race.”

Returning to the dominance of the big figures, Benoot acknowledges the strength of structures like UAE, capable of imposing a very high pace for hours, but insists that respect should not be confused with resignation. “I understand that seeing riders like Nils Politt pulling at the front is impressive, but if you help them, the result is almost written,” he points out. For the Belgian, examples like the long-range attacks in Lombardia or the offensive attitude of riders like Quinn Simmons or Mads Pedersen set the path.

“If we keep going the same way, everything will remain the same,” concludes Benoot. His message is as simple as it is uncomfortable for the peloton: as long as Van der Poel and Poga?ar find unwitting allies in the group, their dominance in the classics will remain almost uncontested.