"Normal tactics will not work against these guys" - Bruyneel and Martin on how to tackle Pogacar and van der Poel; Pedersen and Vingegaard injuries; Evenepoel and Girmay

Over the past week a lot has happened in the world of cycling. Mads Pedersen has gotten injured whilst Jonas Vingegaard has also fell ill. Remco Evenepoel is the only rider in form who is able to battle with Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel; but otherwise the gaps may grow to the best - as Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin discuss.

The Volta a Comunitat Valenciana has given the European calendar its first top stage-race, and over the opening days we've seen Remco Evenepoel win a neutralized time trial, as well as spearheading a battle between Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe and UAE Team Emirates - XRG. Giulio Pellizzari impressed on the first day, and Evenepoel can also count on his Russian teammate who appears to be on great form.

"Alexander Vlasov (second in the time trial, ed.)? You know, it's definitely the Remco effect at Red Bull [...] It's also Remco made it, I think, a big objective to say 'okay I'm I'm getting here, I'm showing straight away that they can have faith in me'. There's a new sheriff in the house at Red Bull and it's called Remco Evenepoel," Bruyneel said in The Move podcast. "And it has an effect on the whole team because if you also, if you see their behaviour in the race, the way they take control with super confidence, the team dynamics have transformed".

At the Challenge Mallorca the team was absolutely dominant with Evenepoel; besides the team time trial win, and Arne Marit's sprint win on the final day. The startlist was modest, but proved to be an ideal and successful start to the Olympic Champion's time with the German team.

Today the riders tackle the queen stage of the race with Evenepoel being the main favourite, however lacking the time differences he would've made in the time trial. Martin argues: "He's going to have to get away solo and which he can do, but I think the neutralization of the TT actually makes it a far more interesting final two stages that I'm excited to watch because now Remco has to make time up versus defend the lead".

The race began with a stage that was attacked quite a lot, but ultimately, after Mads Pedersen crashed out, Biniam Girmay took the opportunity to sprint and take the victory. It was his debut for NSN Cycling Team, and his first win also since 2024.

"Another big signing for a new team and a straight away deliver. His status within the team and the trust and the confidence of the teammates and the whole staff around them.... That's a great start for Binyam Girmay. It's not the biggest race, but it's not nothing," Bruyneel argues.

But indeed the opening day of the race was marked by Pedersen's injury, suffering a fractured collarbone and wrist. "He will probably be able to get to the start of the classics. Maybe not Milano - Sanremo, but probably Flanders and Roubaix we will see. But obviously, you know, the whole preparation is derailed now, it's not good," Bruyneel argues. "Unless it's the same like Wout Van Aert who broke his ankle and a week later, he was already back on the bike after surgery, which is pretty impressive".

"Well, you wouldn't think an ankle injury would be good for cycling, but it seemed to have been 'perfect'," Martin responded. "Like clean enough that the recovery has actually been seamless".

However, it puts in a big obstacle in the Dane's preparation towards a spring where only his very best level would allow him to chase a win in the monuments, his biggest goal. It derails Lidl-Trek's plans slightly as well, who now do not have certainty over the form of their leader into the key races of the spring.

"That's a big bummer because Mads was obviously, you know, the only guy who was getting close to Pogacar, Van der Poel, Van Aert... He was always around there. We all remember his unbelievable victory (at Gent - Wevelgem 2025, ed.) and in which fashion he did it. That was incredible. And then he was up there in Flanders and he would've been up there, I think, with Mathieu and Pogacar if he hadn't have punctured in Roubaix".

With Pedersen sidelined, Wout van Aert recovering from yet another injury; and Jonas Vingegaard skipping his season start at the UAE Tour due to injury and illness which hampered his preparation; the gap to Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel continues to grow as the 'big two' have had spotless winters with quality training once again. Van der Poel has just won an historic eighth world title, whilst Pogacar is using training as preparation towards the four spring classics he will race.

"I've just listed two of Pogacar's biggest rivals. One in classics, one in grand tours, both suffering crashes, one with very intense injury problems," Martin points out. Vingegaard, Evenepoel and Van Aert have continuously been affected by injuries and illnesses over the past few years, whilst Pedersen is now also unable to escape the 'curse'. Remaining healthy, Pogacar and van der Poel are likely to dominate the spring classics and Grand Tours once again this year.

"This is not a normal situation. Like normal tactics will not work against these guys," the American pundit believes. "You've got to start thinking weird. If you want to beat them, in my opinion, like you can't just roll up and say 'yeah we'll try to beat Matthew van der Poel and Pogacar by going to the base of the Kwaremont (at the Tour of Flanders, ed.) and riding faster than them".