Is Pogacar's nightmare the missing puzzle piece in UAE's Classics team against Visma and Van der Poel?

When, on May 4, 2024, during the first stage of the Giro d’Italia, he managed to stay with Tadej Pogacar, everyone was stunned. Surely this wasn’t possible? Pogacar at full effort, trailed by a short Ecuadorian. Pogi attacked again and again, but he couldn’t shake off Jhonatan Narváez. After the final climb in Turin, the two, along with the earlier escapee Maximilian Schachmann, sprinted for the win—and Narváez triumphed. No pink jersey for Pogacar, defeated in a head-to-head battle. A nightmare for the Giro organizers and Pogacar, who had staked everything on claiming the first maglia rosa. And now, that very Giro rival is Pogacar's new teammate at UAE Team Emirates...

Narváez has been part of the WorldTour for seven years, yet everyone was surprised when he managed to follow Pogacar’s acceleration on the Bivio di San Vito. The INEOS Grenadiers puncher clung to his wheel and never let go. It was his second Giro stage win, following a victory from a breakaway in 2020. That same year, he claimed both the stage and overall victory at Coppi e Bartali, drawing the attention of UAE Team Emirates. The team approached the versatile rider to explore the possibility of joining them.

"I’ve achieved good results over the past few years and have a good relationship with Joxean Matxin," Narváez said in an interview with IDLProCycling.com, referring to the Spanish team boss at UAE Team Emirates. "He did everything he could to recruit me three years ago (in 2021, ed.) when my contract with INEOS expired. When I became a free agent again, I started talks with him early in the season."

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Why Narváez stayed with INEOS Grenadiers for so long 

It paid off, but with a delay. "Three years ago, I was happy at INEOS. I felt good and had all the support I needed when I brought my wife to Europe. There was no reason to leave—it felt like family. There were many more offers than just UAE’s, but I decided to extend my contract for three years. That extension offer from INEOS also came early."

His new contract tied him to what was then the wealthiest cycling team in the peloton until the end of 2024. For INEOS, Narváez won three stages and the overall classification at the Tour of Austria in 2023, triumphed at the Pan American Games that year, and became the Ecuadorian road champion at the start of 2024. In his champion’s jersey, he was stronger than Pogacar in May during a sprint of exhausted riders.

Narváez’s decision to finally respond to UAE and Matxin’s advances had nothing to do with that one Giro day, of course. "I spent six years with INEOS. It’s a great team, but sometimes you want a new environment, with new teammates, different trainers, and other equipment. As a cyclist, you only have one career, so when the best team in the world comes calling, you only get one chance. I want to discover more about my body here, by doing things differently than at INEOS. It’s a lot of fun to do."

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Jhonatan Narváez

Big difference between UAE Team Emirates and INEOS Grenadiers lies mainly in the payroll

The big question is: what exactly does Narváez’s small frame have to adjust to? His first weeks with UAE were actually quite similar to the previous year in his INEOS outfit. “Everyone wants to win races, but in my first month with the team, I haven’t done much differently. I’m putting in the same hours, not doing many high-intensity efforts... I’m just doing the usual things a cyclist does in winter: riding, running, swimming...”

And yet, things feel different. Not because of dreaded zone 2 training, but due to the overall vibe. Of course, there’s also a new kit, new teammates, a new bike, and so on. “There aren’t major differences because INEOS is also one of the best teams in the world. The nutrition and equipment are top-notch there too, but it’s the approach that’s distinct,” Narváez emphasizes once again.

A big part of the difference lies in the new teammates. INEOS certainly doesn’t lack talent in the spring classics, but UAE is now eager to take on the dominant Visma | Lease a Bike. “Here, there are several riders who can win a classic. Tim Wellens, Nils Politt... That’s a positive for everyone. I’m not going to claim I’m better than they are—we need each other. If we ride together, we can win, no matter who it is.”

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Nils Politt

Narváez wants to win a classic 

It all feeds into the big dream Narváez harbors, one he undoubtedly shared with Matxin during their discussions. “My goal is to improve in one-day races and win a classic. I don’t know if I’ll be at my best every spring, but I’ll keep working until I win one. It doesn’t matter which one—winning is the ultimate goal.”

For that, he needs a strong team, because in a sport filled with superstars, Narváez can’t pull off a Giro-stage-like magic trick every day. “I don’t think I can trump Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) one-on-one, even on my best day. But together with my teammates, it’s definitely possible.”

“The first priority is to stay fit and complete my full race program,” continues Narváez, whose English is excellent. “That’s what I can control: my training and racing. Crashes, you often can’t do anything about those. I just need to work hard and ensure I’m in good shape. Then, a thousand scenarios are possible during a race.”

Including one like that unforgettable Giro day, although Narváez is thrilled that he will now ride with Pogacar instead of against him. “That’s cool. During training, you can see how disciplined he is.”

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