"The chances are slim" - Vacek on beating Pogacar and potentially forming duo with Mads Pedersen at Tour de France

Mathias Vacek is a rider that over the past year and a half has evolved tremendously and currently, he is one of the best classics riders and time trialists in the world, besides being Mads Pedersen's right-hand man throughout some of the season. The Czech start wants to be in the Tour de France this year, and believes he has shown he is worthy of it in any scenario.

"I'll be Mads's main helper next season. So I'll mainly be completing the spring program with him, and then of course there's the Tour," Vacek said in words to LiveSport. "If everything goes according to plan, my dream of competing in the Tour could become a reality."

The 2024 Tour de Hongrie is where Vacek really began showing his talent uphill, and throughout the closing months of the season, he performed at a very high level on many races. At the Vuelta a España, he almost took the leader's jersey on the opening day's time trial, and then closed off his season finishing second at Paris-Tours, confirming his credentials in the rough classics.

A strong powerhouse all-rounder, he found himself on the podium of the Figueira Champions Classic earlier this year, before showing an impressive display of power at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, one that didn't end up bringing him a result however. In the first week of the Giro d'Italia he was absolutely key in aiding Mads Pedersen to several stage victories, before he himself became a double national champion. Vacek also won a stage and finished second at the Tour de Wallonie, and was seventh at the European Championships' time trial event and Paris-Tours.

After racing the Vuelta and the Giro once, the natural evolution is for him to make his Tour de France debut in 2026. "It depends on several factors: who the team will send as leader, how many riders this leader needs, and what else the team has planned," he says. Mattias Skjelmose is likely to aim for the Giro, which would have Juan Ayuso certainly pointed towards the Tour de France.

Initially, Skjelmose had been promised a full leadership at the 2026 Giro, as understood by CyclingUpToDate during the team's run-up towards the Tour de France, but if Mads Pedersen is selected to race the Tour, then Jonathan Milan could be present at the Giro d'Italia which would mean that his leadout men would certainly also be present, sacrificing Skjelmose's support. A difficult puzzle to fit, as Pedersen has not been selected to this year's Tour already and has expressed clear ambition to be present next year.

"That usually leaves two or three spots open. And yet there might be fifteen riders eligible. That will be a huge battle. Still, I believe it will work out," Vacek adds. "I think this year was decisive. I really took a big step forward. I showed that I can perform over an entire season, that I'm capable of consistently maintaining good form without too many fluctuations. I also demonstrated that I'm very loyal to my teammates and leaders. Who knows, maybe that will pay off in the future."

Asked about the possibility of beating Tadej Pogacar, Vacek is honest: "The chances are slim". Pogacar is likely to start off his season at the Tour Down Under next year, if Italian journalist Beppe Conti is to be believed. The Australian race has already revealed its route and perhaps on these roads it would be possible for some to battle the World Champion, as form varies very differently from rider to rider in January.