I don't count Sky so only Visma. I think everyone can agree Visma was the best team (by far) between 2020-2023.Sky certainly. Depending on how you project Tao after 2020.
As for Visma, they could win not only GT's but were favourites for the monuments as well (didn't win any between 2021 and 2023 though) which is quite unique and rare.
Forgot about Carapaz! So I count Sky!! Sorry @YavorDIneos won a monument in 2022 and got within 1 Fedaia Harakiri of winning the Giro
I don't count Sky so only Visma. I think everyone can agree Visma was the best team (by far) between 2020-2023.
I said last 3-4 years but I agree with you.But in 2019 they objectively had Thomas, Froome and Bernal (who was seen as a sure GT winner.
Then in 2020 they kinda lost Froome but got Carapaz, so objectively they had more than 1 person capable of winning a GT.
7 tours with 4 riders >>>>>>>>>>> 500 stages in AbruzzoIneos won a monument in 2022 and got within 1 Fedaia Harakiri of winning the Giro
Visma didn't win monuments regularly like UAE. But I agree with you, only Pogacar can win big right now.7 tours with 4 riders >>>>>>>>>>> 500 stages in Abruzzo
3GT and 1-2-3 in la Vuelta >>>>>>>>> 81 stage wins, many of them aren´t WT
In UAE, only Pogacar has won a GT or Monument, even an important classic.
UAE is ridiculously inflating statistics at races like Abruzzo.
This would be fine if they hadn't left their leader alone five days ago.
To me it looks ridiculous when they promote the 80 wins when many are like this and compared to what Jumbo did in 2023.
In 2023, Jumbo didn't win 80 races, but all the ones they won were important. The didn't need to add up 20 like that. 3 GT and la Vuelta they overshadow most of the UAE's victories without Pogacar.
The victories that count are Almeida's Itzulia and Ayuso's Tirreno, although if they aren't able to take a step forward in GT, they'll still be behind what Jumbo did winnig GT with multiple leaders.
But they won in Openning Wekeed with Tratnik or Laporte. In UAE, no one wins classics of that level.Visma didn't win monuments regularly like UAE. But I agree with you, only Pogacar can win big right now.
Narvaez is a wheelsucker. He was strong enough to follow Remco there but was waiting for someone else to do it.We're seeing what's happening in Brabantse against big rivals.
Narvaez isn't even at Blackmore's level.
Narvaez would have won all four stages and the Abruzzo GC
When UAE makes these signings, they expect them to win important classics.
Visma has won the opening weekend in recent years with Jorgenson, Laporte, or Tratnik.
Tratnik has won Omloop, and UAE's big signings win stages in Abruzzo or the TDU Narvaez.
Narvaez needs to win a race in Omloop like Tratnik, not pad his stats in the TDU. And others need to help Pogacar a bit in PR. For what they did on Sunday, Pogacar could have gone with Unibet Rocket; it wouldn't have made a difference.
For some reason, I don't find Torres very strong. I know he is very young though.I think UAE are just good at giving all their riders chances. Cycling is great in that way. There are just so many races around. Something for everybody.
It is good for some of their younger riders as well to be able to develop at their own pace. Like Del Toro, Morgado, Christen and Torres.
I don’t think he is very all-round.For some reason, I don't find Torres very strong. I know he is very young though.
It was just an example.Narvaez is a wheelsucker. He was strong enough to follow Remco there but was waiting for someone else to do it.
Not even an elite climber to be honest but I can be so wrong! For example Del Toro is not looking that good too me too. Maybe it is due to Pogacar's growth as a rider and I expect everyone to follow his growth.I don’t think he is very all-round.
He could improve on that though.
Or just become an elite climber.
But UAE was stronger than Alpecin in RVV.It was just an example.
Narvez was signed to help Pogacar and win races like Omloop. In Abruzzo Narvaez could´ve won every stage and GC.
Tratnik, Laporte, Jorgenson won big classisc.
Omloop >>>>> 3 stages in Abruzzo.
And Alpecin doesn't win a lot, but if we're going to talk about this in the Pogacar thread, then Pogacar doesn't care that his teammates don't win anything, he'll only care that they're with him in PR like Alpecin does with VDP even if they don't win anything in Abruzzo or anywhere else.
Amstel and Liege are almost a 100km longer races and a lot harder of course. He's looking good but Amstel will be more of an indicator of his chances in Liege.He needs to be cautious with Remco. His level seems better than what he has been saying
Remco doesn't have problems with long races.Amstel and Liege are almost a 100km longer races and a lot harder of course. He's looking good but Amstel will be more of an indicator of his chances in Liege.
He was awful in Pais Vasco, maybe s bit more cautious with your comments before facing probably the best hilly classics rider in the world.I'd prefer this over my team just going: "lol no you'll never follow Pogacar omg he the GOAT".
To say Pogacar was in his worst ever form in the fall of 2023 is straight up ludicrous.
He was completely cooked and destroyed after the Tour.Maybe. He was sick with a cold in GdL, I personally don't think the form was there in the Italian classics and the less said about his 2023 WC ITT, the better.