Fourth last year in the Tour of Flanders, but now back as domestique: "Pogačar isn't afraid of Van der Poel or Van Aert"

UAE Emirates-XRG got off to a good start this season with a final victory for Jhonatan Narváez in the Tour Down Under, but of course, the year begins for that team in the UAE Tour. That is also where Tadej Pogacar will appear; later this spring, he will once again throw himself wholeheartedly into the classics. Mikkel Bjerg will be one of the Slovenian bodyguards in both the United Arab Emirates and Flanders, and he spoke to IDLProCycling.com in AlUla about the upcoming races.

Pogacar did not participate in the classics in 2024 but will return in 2025 as the reigning world champion. The Slovenian has Strade Bianche, Milan-Sanremo, E3 Saxo, Gent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on his program. Last week, he also showed himself on the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix in northern France, but that race is not on his schedule for now.

The second line behind Pogacar is also a force to be reckoned with. Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Dstny) and Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers) have reinforced the core, which was already very strong with Bjerg, Tim Wellens, Nils Politt, Antonio Morgado, and Filippo Baroncini. "We have a powerful team for the classics, with several options. So we can choose from several options. I think it will be delightful to watch. I think we are in a good position for most of the races," Bjerg says with a smile.

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Bjerg: "With Pogacar there, my role is clear"

"However, we may have to participate in a few more races to see how the dynamic plays out," says the Dane, who will be heading to the opening weekend of the season after the UAE Tour, where he will be racing alongside Narváez and Vermeersch, among others. Rune Herregodts, another new addition, is also on the provisional list of participants for that race. "We have also added some new guys. But I am very positive about that, too."

Bjerg himself has been doing very well in the Tour of Flanders for several years. What difference does it make to him whether Pogacar is there or not? "It makes it easier for me," he replies. "My role is clear, and I don't have to do crazy stunts myself. Tadej's presence makes it very simple: if he wants us to ride, we will. I think it's great that he is returning to the classics and will be riding several of them. That makes it easier for us because we have added a significant asset."

Last season, the Dane finished fourth, between teammates Politt and Morgado. UAE Emirates-XRG is potentially very strong even if Pogacar is not there. "That was good, but this year it's different again. We have to learn how to play our winning cards in the final and hopefully we can score some more great victories."

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Bjerg: "If you have Pogacar's legs, you don't have to be nervous"

Other teammates have said that Pogacar was the only rider on the team in 2023 who was not nervous on the bus to Flanders. "If you have his legs, you don't need to be nervous. Then you just have to do your thing on the bike," Bjerg laughs." He's simply on a different level when the race gets tough and long. He, Mathieu van der Poel, and Wout van Aert just have a little extra. If you're talking about guys who can really ride a monument, you might only get to five. And Tadej is one of them."

"He isn't afraid of those other guys," Bjerg says of the previously mentioned Van der Poel and Van Aert. "For him, it's just cycling and having fun on the bike, and if he goes and they can follow him, then they probably more than deserve it. And then there could always be a sprint where Tadej can be beaten." Like in 2023, at his first Tour of Flanders.

Okay, what are Bjerg's ambitions for this spring? "I want to help the team as much as possible, and if an opportunity arises, I will take it with both hands. Of course, there will be opportunities if Tadej does not participate, but do you know what it is? Our entire team is so outstanding, so there are six other guys besides me who want to win," the Dane explains. "Whatever happens, I'm looking forward to it."

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