The Tour de France is cycling’s most prestigious event, a grueling three-week race that challenges riders both physically and mentally. In recent years, Slovenian prodigy Tadej Pogačar has dominated the race, leaving little room for rivals to challenge his supremacy. But as the 2025 edition of the Tour draws near, the Belgian rider Tiesj Benoot, a key member of Team Jumbo-Visma, has outlined an ambitious strategy to dethrone Pogačar. The 29-year-old Benoot, who has enjoyed a steady rise in the professional cycling ranks, spoke candidly about his team’s approach to beating the reigning World Champion at the upcoming Tour de France.
Benoot’s comments have generated significant attention because Jumbo-Visma is widely regarded as one of the most powerful teams in the peloton. With stars like Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič in their ranks, the Dutch outfit has consistently been a formidable force in Grand Tours. However, Pogačar’s dominance, particularly at the Tour, has made him the central figure to target for any team hoping to claim the yellow jersey.
In this article, we will explore Benoot’s remarks, the strategies that Jumbo-Visma could employ, and the challenges they face in attempting to defeat Pogačar at the Tour de France.
The Rise of Tadej Pogačar
Before delving into Team Jumbo-Visma’s strategy, it’s crucial to understand why Pogačar is such a challenging rider to beat. Since bursting onto the scene in 2020, Pogačar has become a dominant force in cycling. His back-to-back victories in the Tour de France, in 2020 and 2021, solidified his status as one of the best Grand Tour riders of his generation. Pogačar’s versatility is his greatest strength; he excels in both the mountains and time trials, and his ability to attack at crucial moments makes him a dangerous competitor.
His prowess was once again on display in 2023 when he finished second in the Tour de France, behind Jonas Vingegaard. Although he was unable to reclaim the yellow jersey, his consistency and ability to dominate stages in the Alps made him the clear favorite in 2024. With a formidable combination of talent, race intelligence, and determination, Pogačar’s reign at the Tour de France has seemed unstoppable.
Team Jumbo-Visma’s Plan to Beat Pogačar
Tiesj Benoot’s statement regarding Team Jumbo-Visma’s plan to beat Pogačar is not just an assertion of confidence but also an indication of the meticulous strategy that the team is likely preparing for the 2025 Tour. Benoot, who joined Jumbo-Visma in 2022, has played a key role as a domestique and a support rider, helping the team’s leaders in their bid for Grand Tour success. His experience in the peloton and understanding of the race dynamics give him unique insights into how Jumbo-Visma could approach Pogačar.
According to Benoot, the team believes that a multifaceted approach is necessary to dethrone Pogačar. While some may think that a single dominant rider is required to challenge Pogačar’s strength, Benoot stresses that a collective effort will be key to success. This is a critical distinction, as it reflects Jumbo-Visma’s philosophy of teamwork and strategy, which has proven successful in recent years. The idea is not to rely on a single rider to challenge Pogačar but to use the depth of their squad to isolate him and reduce his ability to control the race.
Tactics for Dismantling Pogačar’s Defenses
One of the central ideas behind Team Jumbo-Visma’s strategy is to target Pogačar’s ability to respond to attacks in the mountains. Pogačar’s climbing prowess is often the deciding factor in the Tour, but Jumbo-Visma has a number of powerful climbers who can challenge him on the steep gradients of the Pyrenees and the Alps. Riders like Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič, and Sepp Kuss will likely be instrumental in wearing Pogačar down through repeated attacks. By attacking relentlessly and using their collective strength, Jumbo-Visma hopes to force Pogačar into a defensive position, which could wear on his mental and physical resilience.
Another key tactic will be the time trials. Although Pogačar is an exceptional time-trialist, Vingegaard and Roglič are equally skilled in the discipline, and the relatively flat course in the 2025 Tour could play to their strengths. By capitalizing on time trial opportunities, Jumbo-Visma can put Pogačar under pressure and attempt to build up a buffer in the general classification. Every second counts in the Tour, and taking advantage of time trial stages could give the team an edge in the final weeks of the race.
Benoot emphasized the importance of attacking from different angles. “If you wait for Pogačar to make the first move, you’re already at a disadvantage,” he said. “It’s about attacking him before he attacks, making him chase, and putting him on the back foot.
Be the first to comment