"I know how UAE works" - Could Marc Hirschi's inside knowledge be key to defeating Tadej Pogacar this Spring?

When looking for riders to potentially challenge Tadej Pogacar this Spring, the Slovenian's former UAE Team Emirates - XRG teammate Marc Hirschi is rightly quite high up the list. Now riding for the Tudor Pro Cycling Team and part of a dual-pronged Classics attack with Julian Alaphilippe, could Hirschi's inside knowledge from his time at UAE be key?

"It will be crazy to be Tadej's competitor," previews the 26-year-old Swiss in comments collected by Wieler Revue, admitting it will be difficult to end up getting the better of his former teammate in 2025. "Can he be beaten? He shows few weaknesses, but we will try. It is also difficult for him to always be at such a high level. Everyone expects him to win. It is news if he doesn't."

As mentioned though, the fact Hirschi has spent the last four seasons alongside Pogacar, starring in one-day races for UAE Team Emirates could give the Swiss an inside knowledge not many of the world champion's rivals have. "It can be an advantage that I know how UAE works, but when Tadej is there the tactics are clear to everyone," Hirschi assesses honestly. "In smaller races I can maybe benefit because I know how UAE team leaders think, but in big races with Tadej it's all about him and you just have to hope that you can follow."

With Hirschi and the aforementioned Alaphilippe though, Tudor certainly have two genuine contenders for the big one-day races in 2025. "We are the same type of rider, but to beat someone like Pogacar we will have to make each other better and we need each other. When I signed my contract with Tudor Pro Cycling I didn't know that Julian would come, but the situation is completely different than at UAE," says Hirschi, who saw his opportunities somewhat limited at his former team thanks to the brilliance of Pogacar. "I'm back with my old coach Sebastian Deckert. I worked with him at Team Sunweb. He was my coach when I won a stage in the Tour de France in 2020. And he also supported me when I became world champion among the U23s in 2018. He was an important reason for choosing Tudor. Sebastian knows exactly which training sessions work for me and what my character is like."