"The race against Pogi is a bit nonsense" - Rivals admit relative helplessness in fight for pink jersey
Cycling
Daniel Martínez sits second in the overall classification following the mountains of the first week. BORA - hansgrohe had Max Schachmann race in support of the Colombian up Prati di Tivo but he admits that despite being in second place the team is not realistically thinking of the victory.
Schachmann spent some time in the head of the peloton up the final ascent, and he explains: “That was actually the tactic. Honestly we saw G (Geraint Thomas, ed.) suffering yesterday. We knew that G is usually getting better towards the end and he struggled yesterday, so we thought if he has bad legs, maybe it is the day today to put more time in between Dani and him," Schachmann explains in words to GCN. “He was strong again, but we had to give it a try. Sorry G, I like you!" he joked.
That was the tactic, but ultimately it did not pay off. Two seconds on the road and six in bonifications did see Martínez slightly expand his gap on the INEOS Grenadiers leader however it was nothing meaningful. BORA raced against INEOS and that outlines the current battle behind Tadej Pogacar for the podium and Top10. “The race against Pogi is a bit nonsense," the German rider admits.
"I know that it disappoints people, this attitude. I read sometimes, ‘they don’t want to work, they don’t even try,’ but people change with us, it is next level what he does. It is impressive, people don’t understand, we look sometimes like clowns," Schachmann adds in brutally honest words. "Of course, we have an eye but as long as he doesn’t show any struggle, it doesn’t make sense. If he struggles one day then of course we’re going to go, but I don’t see that coming. We never know.”
By all means, BORA is having a very strong race with Martínez surprising in the first week of the race as he regained his best form. The team lost Florian Lipowitz - a crucial support rider for the mountains - however after 8 days of racing, the balance is positive.
“The maglia rosa is there and it is not written, it is not engraved yet that Tadej is going to bring it to Rome. I think to be successful you have to get up every morning and believe you can take it off him, and I think that’s what we are doing," he concluded.
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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.
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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)...
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- Where Merckx just rode every single race he could and won all the time, Hinault won less often (percentage wise) because he was more judicious in what he raced. His palmares are nuts. He had amazing rivals, one to start his career and another to end it in the grand tours. His classics were solid. What sets him apart from Merckx and Pogačar are that he basically dabbled in the classics while the other two love(d) them. I used to compare Pogačar to Hinault for his grand tour record and occasional classics win, until I realized that the comparison was wrong. Pogačar loves the classics - ah, the memory of his reaction to finishing fourth in a 2 person sprint in Flanders in ‘22: utter domination in any one day race since then, even when he doesn’t win. Hinault lived for the grand tours and I don’t think anyone else will ever reach his record. 10 wins in 13 attempts? Good lord. An amazing rider. Wish there was more footage to watch.RidesHills11-11-2026
- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
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🇮🇹 #giroditalia Dani Martínez takes second behind Pogačar at Prati di Tivo today 💥 Chapeau Dani and team! 👊🏼
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