Sjoerd Bax leaves Pogacar and UAE with mixed feelings: "Sometimes felt I was stronger than my teammates"

Bax forced a transfer to UAE Team Emirates in 2022 by winning the Coppa Agostoni in service of Alpecin-Deceuninck and adding a stage in the Tour de Langkawi. He climbed well and had a final jump, and according to the million-dollar formation from the Emirates, the 1.85-meter tall man from Gorinchem also had a chance in the classic spring.

Therefore, he worked through a complete classics campaign, during which he had to get used to it. Bax has not yet participated in a big tour but has assisted big man Tadej Pogacar several times in one-day events. He won the Trofeo Matteotti but crashed hard in the Tour of Lombardy, breaking his thigh. His recovery took months, even though he began racing at half-strength as early as February. Bax logically fell behind and thus leaves UAE Team Emirates feeling that - if fit - there might have been more things possible.

Read the Q&A with Sjoerd Bax below the photo.

"It has been a great period. Looking back on it now, I will also miss the team. It is a nice group, and I have participated in some great races. A period with ups and downs, but I'm leaving with a good feeling."

I got the maximum out of it, but this season I have to ride up front in races like GranPiemonte, whereas two years ago I was winning or riding in the top ten. Now, I am the first to ride in the lead, so with more freedom, I might have been able to turn it into results. That will come next year then.

"In the biggest races, I think riding at the front with such great leaders is logical and nice. But in smaller races, I sometimes felt I was stronger than my teammates. But especially now that I am leaving, those roles are sometimes slightly switched."

"I could have stayed, yes. Going to another team was just sporting and financially more attractive."

"To win the very biggest races, which is very difficult. But there, I hope for a more free role in the breakaway. In the smaller races, I hope to compete for the results. I got that chance once or twice a year now and maybe thirty times next year. In 2023, I was only given one race (the Trofeo Matteotti, ed.), and I won. It will be a great year if I keep up that percentage in 2025!"

"I got used to it, but it's remarkable when you get off the bus and see how crowded it is with Tadej and his rainbow jersey. The team management also stresses that we must enjoy this because Tadej might be the best rider ever. You think about that sometimes but shouldn't make it too special."

"That didn't surprise me, no. Tadej is a figure who dares to say what's on his mind. If the outfit isn't right, he's one of the first to point that out."

"I don't think so. It's not that UAE Team Emirates has special trainers or methods. I have the same coach as Pogacar, but if I compare it to my coach at Alpecin-Deceuninck, I didn't get better there. It's not higher mathematics, of course. Because of the injury, I missed the build-up to the season this year and mentally had to get over the crash. I have only dared to take a descent properly again for a few months."

"In the last races, a little bit, but I think that also has to do with the end of the season."

"No, not yet! Will he be there in Oosterhout soon for our first team meeting? We just have our service course in the Netherlands, so that's convenient."

Bram van der Ploeg (Twitter: @BvdPloegg | email: [email protected])