"We looked at each other too much" - Tiesj Benoot aknowledges tactical errors following third place at Strade Bianche
Cycling
Jumbo-Visma had a spectacular last weekend taking two wins on team strength. At Strade Bianche they couldn't make it work, with lack of coordination eventually preventing both Tiesj Benoot and Attila Valter from fighting for the victory.
“The podium was the goal for the team, with me or Attila Valter. We've got me on the podium now, which isn't too bad, but we made a mistake not being with Pidcock," Benoot said after the finish. "He was a big favorite and he started at 60 kilometers. In the end he was stronger than I expected, so he deserved to win. If you do 60 kilometers solo, chapeau…”
When he counter-attacked at Monte Sante Marie, none of the big favourites looked to join up with the INEOS Grenadiers rider. That was a big mistake for the rest of the peloton which saw itself fighting for minor places. Jumbo-Visma had two options out front, consistently making the right moves and getting themselves in the six-rider chasing group that had Pidcock in sight at times.
“It was a situation where there were six of us, and everyone agreed with that," he continued, however the gap had to be closed, and no-one had the legs and/or the mindset at different points to do it definitely. "And if I close it, I'll kill myself and I can't win anymore. At that moment we looked at each other too much, I think. We could have done better, although I made mistakes myself."
Pidcock's gap grew back and the duo were left fighting for minor places. Benoot eventually climbed to third on the day, a continuation to his good run of form, whilst Valter finished fifth. After winning Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne last weekend, the Belgian continues a successful return to competiton.
“We have to look at the race again together, during the race it is difficult to keep an overview. It was just a mistake on both of our part that no one was with Pidcock. I think we were both among the best riders in the race. We have proven that. Too bad we can't capitalize on that in the end," 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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- He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
- That is a very lazy way of putting it but so far on this website it seems like everyone is happy to look at everything lazily, even things that annoy them intensely. All they want to do is state their feeling and position but ask most to analyse a problem or come up with solutions or improvements and you’re stunned by silence. Nobody even really knows how this all happens. It’s very simple and quick to just say the UCI did it but I bet you they didn’t, I bet you not more than 2 people were involved, more likely just 1. The UCI may be ultimately responsible but it is not their decision, this is about hierarchy, power and delegation. The fact that protest is possible also means it isn’t over and that MORE people could get involved for a thorough review which could throw up anything. It is highly likely it was a sole commissar who decided and has that power in a first round. Therein might lie the problem the UCI has to consider, is it acceptable to give so much authority to one single person when it is quite possible for them to have a natural bias or be too easily susceptible to imposed bias. Who is to say an individual in this position isn’t susceptible to collaboration with outside players with interests in the results, nations, families, teams, betting companies, etc. On the one hand we have sports where these problems have been worked on way more to reduce such problems, on the other hand we have sports with far stricter and more draconian rules not even concerning safety or obstruction that nobody really questions like false starts or stepping out of lane or zones in athletics. If cycling hastowork on itself, it would be good if protagonists (all kinds) would start doing a little more than just moaning over outcomes.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
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🇮🇹 #StradeBianche It’s 3️⃣rd and 5️⃣th for us today.
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