"There are more cowboys in the peloton" - One of cycling's most experienced riders calls out young guns
Cycling
One of the peloton's most experienced riders has called out younger riders' apparent lack of respect for the bunch's old guard, labelling exuberant young riders 'cowboys' as he also opened up on safety concerns in the sport.
Wout Poels, who rode with Unibet Rose Rockets this season, hasn't yet confirmed a team for 2027 after turning 39-years-old at the beginning of this month, but has proven in recent seasons that he can still compete with the best.
The 2016 Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner turned professional in 2009, and sees a different culture among young riders when it comes to earning respect and riding styles in this generation.
In a stinging criticism of young riders, he claimed that the current generation 'don't care' about the status of seasoned professionals, comparing it to when he was a young professional - claiming that he wouldn't challenge a top rider of the time such as Tom Boonen.
"There are more cowboys in the peloton. When I turned pro, a rookie knew his place. If I saw Tom Boonen, I stayed neatly behind him. Those young guys care less about who you are," Poels said.
Poels on rider safety
Opening up on safety concerns within cycling, he sees difficulty in managing or enforcement of guidelines in sprints, as he questioned the definition of riding lines when finishes feature corners or road furniture.
"After a mass sprint through bends and narrow sections, riders are told to hold their line. Then I think: what is the straight line here, actually?
"Sometimes you get a yellow card for two centimeters, while at the finish you mainly think: who ever approved this? We will see if SafeR makes a difference."
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Ultimately, Poels hopes that the sport can become safer, pointing to the establishment of SafeR as hope that additional funding can be allocated towards increased measures.
Providing an example, he would like to see additional safety barriers added to mountain climbs and stages to better protect riders from overcrowded sections of fans, road furniture or other hazards.
"So much money is being pumped into cycling; then a few extra kilometers of barriers in a mountain stage shouldn't be an impossible investment. A bit more of that money should definitely go towards safety."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- That ship has sailed years agovappaxbipmv19-10-2026
- He doesn't have to. I'd be perfectly happy if he loses SB if he then wins everything elsevappaxbipmv19-10-2026
- Please don't put Remco in the same sentence as Tadej. It's disrespectful to Tadej. Please make a note of this.KissinKate19-10-2026
- ....and you just described how americans are fleecing american fans as well. We don't even get the eurosport coverage you get. What you see on yurrup HBO is not available in this country. Trust me, being a cycling fan sucks everywhere.KissinKate19-10-2026
- While media outlets point to the loss of Richard Carapaz, Kasper Asgreen, and rising talents like Steinhauser as a sign of trouble, this is actually classic EF Pro Cycling tactical pivot at play. Operating on less than half the budget of state-backed super-teams, Jonathan Vaughters smartly maximized Carapaz’s return on investment by turning high salary and health setbacks into Tour stage wins, Yellow, and the Polka Dot jersey, before freeing up vital capital when his valuation peaked. Let us be completely honest here: Carapaz’s departure to NSN is strictly about securing one final massive payday before calling time on his career, rather than building a lasting sporting legacy. EF built a squad around him and gave him tactical freedom that few teams would offer, but given his ongoing health concerns and age, keeping him at that price point represented an unsustainable risk. It is very unlikely he will match the freedom or success he enjoyed at EF with his new team, making this move a pure business decision for a veteran rider cashing in on his remaining value. In contrast, while signing Tao Geoghegan Hart carries its own physical risk, it comes at a vastly different financial scale that protects EF's bottom line while offering immense upside. Replacing that climbing depth won't happen overnight, but bringing in Tao fits EF’s proven reclamation playbook perfectly by providing a low-pressure, culture-first environment for a proven Grand Tour winner to find his magic legs again. Backed by a secured core in Ben Healy, Neilson Powless, and Sean Quinn through 2029, EF isn't crumbling; they are simply resetting their wage structure, staying nimble, and betting on high-ceiling upside where richer teams only see risk.wambo19-10-2026
- This is classic EF Pro Cycling: where other WorldTour squads see risk and injury recovery as a liability, Jonathan Vaughters sees high-ceiling potential and an opportunity to build a custom runway for a rider's resurgence. While Richard Carapaz's high salary and health setbacks made a traditional Grand Tour victory unlikely against today's dominant talents, EF smartly maximized every ounce of his ability by pivoting toward high-visibility targets like a Tour de France stage win, the Yellow Jersey, and the King of the Mountains title. Now, with Carapaz moving on, Tao Geoghegan Hart’s ceiling when healthy is undeniable, and after a tough couple of years recovering from his Giro crash, EF's patient, culture-first approach might be the exact environment he needs to find his magic legs again. EF has consistently proved that they do not need the largest budget in the peloton to extract elite value and deliver memorable performances. By giving Tao the time and tactical freedom to rebuild without overwhelming pressure, this move could easily pay huge dividends and shock a lot of people in the coming seasons.wambo19-10-2026
- The article makes it sound like a great thing and something to be applauded. The reality is is gives the Americans another 6 years to fleece European cycling fans or force them to hunt around Europe with VPN’s for free feeds. Not something to be celebrated in my book. Before someone points out that coverage of this depth costs money, yes, I agree but not £30+ per month a fee I will wager will gradually increase now this deal has been cemented.Paul53119-10-2026
- Great. Thrilled. (Satire) Oh, how I miss the days of GCN. Still wear my GCN hoodie with pride.anonymouscyclist19-10-2026
- You could also look at it another way. How many riders have had better or more consistent results since the Tour?Jumpyjohn19-10-2026
- Whilst I love Tadej (and Remco, who deserves to be mentioned here, too), @JumpyJohn makes a valid point, and he isn’t wrong @MajorPayne. It is a fact that today’s official broadcasters of cycling struggle to keep our attention once the likes of Tadej (or Remco) attacks at ~80km or so. In the 142nd issue of Rouleur, Ned Boulting reflects on the often stressful paradox of commentating on a race that is effectively over before the broadcast window even hits its stride. In this edition, he centres on Remco’s 1hr solo at the Challenge Mallorca this year, and captures the panic and dread shared by the commentators when a dominant rider kills off the racing tension early. I recommend you read it, it’s a fascinating insight into the world of commentary, and the true viewing figures of today’s cycling. I must add here, I love Tadej and Remco, but I would be lying if my heart rate wasn’t higher when watching the World Championships this year. And I’m sure Rob Hatch would say something akin regarding his commentary!anonymouscyclist19-10-2026
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