Why Hirschi left UAE for Tudor and believes he can compete with Alaphilippe against Pogacar

He had undoubtedly been one of the leading men at UAE Team Emirates-XRG this year, but Marc Hirschi decided to take a leap of faith. A move to 'his' Switzerland, where with Tudor Pro Cycling an ambitious team is on the way. What role will Hirschi play in Fabian Cancellara's team? And how difficult was it to leave Tadej Pogacar and co behind? IDLProCycling.com had a conversation with him.

Hirschi as a leader at a Swiss cycling team? It all sounds very logical. It becomes even more so when we know that Tudors CEO Raphael Meyer and owner Cancellara have worked with Hirschi for several years. "I had known Raphael and Fabian for years, so I arrived in a familiar environment. It was a special situation, though, because we were already friends, and they are also managers of mine."

Once the three of them sat down together, things moved quickly. "In the end, we talked candidly, and it wasn't that complicated. The most important thing was the performance; the other things came naturally. I feel I am in a Swiss team, so the focus is probably more on me. But the difference is not that big. Maybe I have more to do with media, but it's mostly about performing on the bike."

And that is precisely what Hirschi plans to do, which he says can be "an ambassador role" for Swiss cycling. He has already won 24 times in his career, including a Tour stage and the Flèche Wallonne (both in 2020), but winning in Swiss service will be a little more special. "I do hope that as a team, we can create something in Switzerland. If I ride well, the commercials will come, haha."

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Hirschi in the black and red of Tudor

Hirschi wants to take ambitious Tudor to grand tours

"I believe that this team, with its approach, can help me achieve my goals," Hirschi says about his transfer. After all, WorldTour teams were lining up last year after he regained himself in 2024 after several years of injury with UAE. He won nine times, and that felt like a confirmation. "I'm 26, so my best years are coming up. So here I want to look for the best rider I can be."

"I have been in contact with other WorldTour teams, but I chose Tudor because they are giving me everything I need," he stressed. What does that mean? "I get freedom here; they work super professionally, the structure is like other WorldTour teams, and they work hard on innovation and aerodynamics. It was an easy decision for me. I don't notice any difference with a WorldTour team; it works the same here. We need wildcards, that's it."

Because Tudor is procontinental and will typically remain so in the 2026-2028 license cycle, the team must look for UCI points in 2025 to finish among the first two procontinental teams in the UCI Team Ranking. Otherwise, it will remain dependent on wildcards. "It is a dream, though, to return to the Tour de France, to win a stage again. The Flemish classics? In the future. Not before 2025 because it's hard to combine it with the Ardennes," Hirschi dreams aloud.

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Hirschi answered all questions about his Tudor transfer in December

Hirschi happy with Alaphilippe as partner in crime

During the winter, Tudor made a big move because, besides Hirschi, it brought another big name to the team, Julian Alaphilippe. The race organizers saw that too, as witnessed by wildcards for Paris-Nice and the Ardennes classics. Hirschi and Alaphilippe hope to perform there together. "I didn't know that Alaphilippe was also coming at the time of my signing, but that's also a different situation from UAE. Julian and I can benefit from each other in the biggest races."

So the fact that they both have the same profile as explosive punchers and good climbers doesn't bother Hirschi. "Staying healthy and getting in good shape so that we're both going to get into the finals is the most important thing. Having two cards to play is always good if that can be achieved. We make each other stronger because we are both smart. Working together can help us both defeat the others. It will be hard to beat guys like Pogacar, so we need each other."

"I haven't really talked to Julian about racing yet, but we've already spent a lot of time together," the Swiss rider said of his relationship with his co-leader. "We were together in America at Oakley, where we got to know each other better. I already had an impression of him, and he was the one I expected. Julian has a lot of energy and is a cheerful person. He loves cycling and is an emotional rider. That's how he is in life, and that's how he comes across in the media. He is a good person."

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Julian Alaphilippe

Hirschi wants to chase success first, bigger dreams are for later

Alaphilippe has already achieved more palmares than Hirschi, although he is also six years older. "I always looked up to him, especially when he rode in yellow at the Tour de France for so long in 2019. He looks like me as a rider, which motivates me to take the same steps on the grand tours if I work hard. I can learn a lot from him," he said, praising the French rider, who moved from Soudal-Quick Step with already two world titles secured.

Hirschi wants that, too, but he is not going to set himself any goals that are unrealistic in the short term. "I would like to ride a grand tour again, even in 2025. That will probably be for stage victories. In the long term, I may go for a GC someday, but that is not currently the plan. That may change if I improve myself, so maybe I'll try a one-week stage race first. For now, I'm focusing on one-day races and stage wins."

Hirschi won in Valencia right away in his first race in 2025. "It is important that I will be on level terms throughout the year because, as one of the leaders, I am going to have a lot of opportunities," he predicted. "I want to continue where I left off last year, become a better rider, and hopefully ride some nice races. I must work on my endurance to handle the long, demanding days better. Furthermore, I also need time to make some progress every year."

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At UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Hirschi did not get enough chances

It all sounds like a fairy tale, but didn't he already live in it as part of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the current best team? Why did he close the door behind him on a team where anything seems possible? "I was very happy in UAE the last four years,' stressed Hirschi, who had faced a lot of physical misfortune in the UAE for five years. 'It was good that after that, I didn't have the pressure of having to perform right away again, given the quality of the team."

"Last year, I chose not to do a grand tour, but with more freedom to choose smaller races and thus look for the winning sensation again," he explained his absence in the grand tours. Hirschi only rode the Tour de France twice after his breakthrough at the 2020 Tour (with a stage win and the prize for combativeness), but never competed in the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, for example.

"I rode big races and had successes in 2024, so I look back on some great years," he says. "I don't regret anything, but it is the right time to look beyond and be a leader again in the biggest races. I don't have to fight internally for leadership anymore. What I will miss in UAE, however, are good friends. There was a good atmosphere, and I was happy off the bike. I liked to race, and the spirit was good."

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Hirschi started at UAE Team Emirates-XRG to win again in 2024

How will Hirschi race against Pogacar?

Hirschi is proud. "I got to be part of one of the strongest cycling teams in the sport's history. I left because of the performance to see how far I could go in my best years. I had nothing to complain about in UAE, but I would never be free to go for stage wins on a grand tour," he explained truthfully. In the 2021 and 2022 Tour, he also went as Pogacar's domestique, although he mainly rode at the back then due to crashes.

"UAE's goal is always to win a grand tour because they have enough good riders. There was no room for me, so I had to get away. I can't say I'll do it later; it has to happen now," Hirschi said therefore, knowing that in addition to Pogacar, UAE also has guys like Juan Ayuso, Adam Yates, João Almeida, and Isaac Del Toro riding around. "I hope to improve myself and compete with the best in the one-day work."

In races like Liège and the Flèche Wallonne, Hirschi may be able to pass on some information regarding UAE to Tudor. "Is it an advantage that I know what UAE's philosophy is? That does help a little, but if Pogacar participates, it is clear to everyone what the tactics will be. Then there are no secrets, and it's all about the legs at the toughest moment in the race. In the smaller races, it can be advantageous that I am the team leader, riders, meetings, and tactics."

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

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