"I don't think Pogacar doesn't make a difference to our way of racing" - Tiesj Benoot on Jumbo-Visma's tactics in the cobbled classics
Cycling
Jumbo-Visma have the strongest team for the cobbled classics but they face tough competition. The unleashed offensive style of Tadej Pogacar may put the Dutch team under pressure for example, but Tiesj Benoot argues that his presence at the E3 Saxo Classic - and Tour des Flandres - does not change team tactics.
“The pressure on us will not be too bad. We were also looked at in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, then we were also the only team leading the way," Benoot told In de Leiderstrui in the eve of the E3 Saxo Classic. "I don't think much has changed after the first weekend, especially with Milan-Sanremo now."
Read also
The Dutch team will now have yet another card to play, Wout van Aert who skipped the early-season classics. He will make his debut here at the E3 Saxo Classic as the defending champion. Benoot, winner of Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne, has had perhaps the single best first-hand experience of success at the Opening Weekend from the Dutch team. However van der Poel and Pogacar's recent display of form put question marks on whether they can dominate.
"Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel were also very strong in that, so I assume that those teams will also take control of the race," Benoot continues. "These are also riders who always want to race. UAE and Alpecin-Deceuninck must therefore also lead. I don't expect that from Quick Step, but Pogacar and Van der Poel will also take control of the races as two top favorites."
An attempt to shift pressure away, when it comes to depth Jumbo definitely have the advantage, but on the climbs the race may explode early and with figures such as Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel present, all is possible. They may try to anticipate Jumbo's tactics. "I don't think Pogacar doesn't make a difference to our way of racing," Benoot admits however.
"We try to set the course in a certain situation. If Pogacar is with me then I also know that I shouldn't ride to the line with him. That also applies to Van der Poel. He's a very strong factor anyway. You can't predict what he will do next. I think he already proved in De Ronde last year that he can also ride uphill here very fast," the Belgian, who returned successfully from a serious injury suffered last August, explained.
"In Strade Bianche I already had the feeling that I had the condition to ride in the front, And now I feel ready and good again. Weather? It was greasy during the recon, but I hope they will clean it up a bit. In any case, those weather conditions are not to our disadvantage," he concluded. Some rain and very strong winds are expected in Belgium this afternoon.
Read also
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Pidcock finished 9th place, 29 minutes down. he is a helluva rider, so gutsy. and he is amazing at all disciplines. but this headline is . . .mij09-11-2026
- I know, watch the video. and listen to her competitors. it was a tricky tacky call at best. WTF is this guy talking about??? my original comment was from the picture it didn't look like anything.mij09-11-2026
- I dunno what you're talking about. you make no sense. MS's competitor and the competitors coach said it was BS. she didn't deviate in a way that relegation should be required. revel LOL. you're so cool, in your own mind.mij09-11-2026
- deviation lol, watch the videomij09-11-2026
- the 'No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines' comment was unfortunately a bit off. didn't you just boast about your principles in the comments section of another article?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- Are you MrMauMau 2.0? Nothing you are saying is really relevant. Vaguely connected, but irrelevant. The conversation is whether Schreiber impeded Brand or not.
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment