Teams & Riders The Big 6

[Cycling111]

1: Pogacar
2: VDP - Vingegaard
3: Remco-Roglic

No sepecific level or candidates for level 3: Van Aert, Pedersen, Philipsen, Jorgenson, Almeida, Ayuso, Merlier?

I can't put VDP on the same level as a cyclist who is his rival on "his home", but without the reverse happening (Liège, Lombardy). And considering that VDP can't compete in the Tour or stage races.

A rider who is everyone's rival has to be above him.
Something that not even Remco is. Remco is possibly the second most complete rider, but except in World Championships, he's never faced VDP. That puts Pogacar's ability into context.

First level: Pogacar.
Second level: his greatest rivals. VDP at some classics, Vingegaard at TDF.
Third level: Roglic and Remco. The other highest rivals, but both inferior to Vingegaard.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Guys, for a while now people enter this thread with intention to cut off some fat and end up leaving sore.

 

[kn0s]

Nah, Roglic smashed Volta a Catalunya with a dominant solo display on the last stage. If he falls apart in this Giro without crashing, sure, but if he wins this breathing through his nose, as I think he will, then he still has a big ole seat at the table.

I really liked the Roglic solo in Volta a Catalunya, but I wouldn't really call it dominant. Every time they got to the top, he was within spitting distance. More a just getting it across the line kind of victory in my book.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@kn0s

Please clean your glasses or at least burn that book.

 

[Kwaremonster]

Members of the big 6 should be winning races easily without the other member of the big 6 present. At the moment this does not include Van Aert unfortunately. Its hard to say how much of that is part of the injury. It could play a big role. Hopefully he's fully back next year.

 

[proffate]

Members of the big 6 should be winning races easily without the other member of the big 6 present. At the moment this does not include Van Aert unfortunately.

Never did

 

[Red Rick]

Members of the big 6 should be winning races easily without the other member of the big 6 present. At the moment this does not include Van Aert unfortunately. Its hard to say how much of that is part of the injury. It could play a big role. Hopefully he's fully back next year.

Evenepoel hasn't won without the others there, only with Van Aert there. Vingegaard similarly hasn't won this year without the others there, but he did win with Roglic there in Algarve.

It's really only a Big 3 left.

 

[Berniece]

Evenepoel hasn't won without the others there, only with Van Aert there. Vingegaard similarly hasn't won this year without the others there, but he did win with Roglic there in Algarve.

It's really only a Big 3 left.

Winning when anyone of the others is there also counts of course, right?

 

[CyclistAbi]

As we were saying.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Wout managed and distanced Mads on Finestre.

 

[Red Rick]

Wout managed and distanced Mads on Finestre.

Wout needs Finestre against Van der Poel and Mads, and a flat bunch sprint vs Pog, Rog and Evenepoel. And Vingegaard, obviously

Almost perfectly balanced

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Wout needs Finestre against Van der Poel and Mads, and a flat bunch sprint vs Pog, Rog and Evenepoel.

Almost perfectly balanced

Wout beats Big6 members in varying terrain. Legend.

 

[topcat]

Replace Wout with del Toro. Almost beat him in the strade stage and faster Finestre time doing track stands.

 

[Red Rick]

Replace Wout with del Toro. Almost beat him in the strade stage and faster Finestre time doing track stands.

He did get 2nd.

Worthy replacement

 

[King Of The Wolds]

If you were building a WT team, and we had a 2026 season draft, right now, what would your pick order look like?

1. Pog
2. MvdP
3. Jonas
4. Mads
5. Remco
6. Wout
7. Roglic
8. Philipsen
9. Almeida
10. Brennan

 

[Wyndbrook]

Well I would certainly find a place for Merlier or Milan.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

If you were building a WT team, and we had a 2026 season draft, right now, what would your pick order look like?

1. Pog
2. MvdP
3. Jonas
4. Mads
5. Remco
6. Wout
7. Roglic
8. Philipsen
9. Almeida
10. Brennan

1.Pog
2.MVDP
3.Jonas
4.Remco
5.Wout
6.Mads
7.Philipsen
8.Del Toro
9.Roglic
10.Almeida

 

[RedheadDane]

If you were building a WT team, and we had a 2026 season draft, right now, what would your pick order look like?

That's an interesting question... though, I'm a little confused why both you and JVF have mentioned several guys who already have contracts for next year.

 

[AmRacer]

That's an interesting question... though, I'm a little confused why both you and JVF have mentioned several guys who already have contracts for next year.

Pretend they are free.

 

[CyclistAbi]

That's an interesting question... though, I'm a little confused why both you and JVF have mentioned several guys who already have contracts for next year.

They have the money to buy the contracts out.

 

[CyclistAbi]

So among big 4 and in regards to the upcoming Tour, who are natural allies? Old boys vs young boys, Slovenian duo vs world, each their own biggest enemy ... In a hour of need, who is most likely to mingle the most?

 

[AmRacer]

So, all of them racing the Tour.

 

[Red Rick]

Some absolute takes in this thread this year.

Nobody has ever been more clearly the 5th best rider in the world than Roglic basically is right now, unless people wanna argue a pure sprinter should be ranked above him.

 

[Netserk]

Some absolute takes in this thread this year.

Nobody has ever been more clearly the 5th best rider in the world than Roglic basically is right now, unless people wanna argue a pure sprinter should be ranked above him.

Yeah, Philipsen would have needed a crash-free March (and July!) to move up one spot.

 

[CyclistAbi]

That time of the year again, lets see on how it goes.