Here’s a bold statement: beating Tadej Pogacar in his prime is becoming the cycling world’s ultimate puzzle—one that even the brightest minds in the sport are struggling to solve. But here’s where it gets controversial: is it even possible to outsmart a rider who seems to have no weaknesses? Team Visma | Lease a Bike certainly thinks so, and their efforts at last year’s Tour de France were nothing short of extraordinary. Despite their best attempts to push Pogacar to his limits, the Slovenian champion emerged victorious once again. Victor Campenaerts, a key member of the team, recently shed light on their intricate strategies, revealing just how deep they dug to find Pogacar’s breaking point—if one even exists.
On the surface, the plan seemed straightforward: use the team’s depth to position Jonas Vingegaard optimally and strategically place riders in breakaways. And this is the part most people miss: Visma’s approach went far beyond basic tactics. Their performance team meticulously analyzed Pogacar’s data throughout the race, calculating everything from his power output to his carbohydrate expenditure. Campenaerts told Het Nieuwsblad, “Last year, we tried to make the race brutally hard, and yet, Pogacar still won.” But don’t think for a second they didn’t fight tooth and nail. In the mountains, Pogacar’s dominance was undeniable—his watts per kilogram, endurance, and recovery were unmatched, not to mention the unwavering support of his team.
Visma’s data analysts left no stone unturned. They compared Vingegaard’s and Pogacar’s Functional Threshold Power (FTP) metrics, asking questions like: How much time did each rider spend above their FTP? How many carbs did they burn? Could we have pushed Vingegaard harder than Pogacar? The team deployed aggressive tactics across hilly and flat stages, aiming to create a moment of weakness for Vingegaard to exploit. Yet, Pogacar never cracked, delivering one stellar performance after another. Visma settled for second place, but their efforts were far from a failure.
Campenaerts himself delivered the ride of a lifetime, excelling in every terrain and posting his best-ever climbing numbers. Beyond his physical contributions, he played a crucial role in boosting team morale with his daily vlogs. “If you’d shown me last year’s numbers early in my career, I wouldn’t have believed I could compete for a Grand Tour win,” he admitted. “But the challenge is that riders like Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel, and Van der Poel keep raising the bar year after year.”
Looking ahead, Campenaerts will once again support Vingegaard in the 2026 Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, a role he’s embraced with remarkable skill. “In Grand Tours, it’s not just about watts per kilo,” he explained. “It’s about executing when the team tells you to lead the peloton until no other riders are left.” Visma’s rider selection process is equally fascinating. While raw numbers matter, the team prioritizes race performance and mental toughness. “Some riders dominate in training but crumble under pressure,” Campenaerts noted. “Our performance team is exceptional at identifying who thrives in the heat of the moment and who might disrupt team dynamics.”
Here’s the thought-provoking question: With Pogacar showing no signs of slowing down, is it time for teams like Visma to rethink their entire approach? Or is the Slovenian simply unbeatable in his current form? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over.
