Zonneveld calls Lidl-Trek "really annoying" in impossible Pogačar dilemma: "Why would a team do that?"

In the podcast In De Waaier, Thijs Zonneveld said it is fair to call Pogačar “a machine.” "He never has a bad day, he never gets sick, and even when he crashes, he rarely breaks anything," Zonneveld listed. The Dutch journalist noted how the competition could not even hold Pogačar’s wheel when he attacked at what looked like 80 percent effort. This leads to the big question: how are other riders supposed to beat Pogačar in the coming months and years?

In trying to find an answer, Zonneveld pointed to Lidl-Trek’s tactics at Liège–Bastogne–Liège as “really annoying.” The team of runner-up Giulio Ciccone, fifth-place Thibau Nys, sixth-place Andrea Bagioli, and Amstel Gold Race winner Mattias Skjelmose fell into the same trap so many teams have over the past few years. “Why are you sending guys to the front to pull? It was like there were three big favorites, with Quick-Step doing the same thing. Why would you help UAE control the race?”

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“Let them figure it out themselves,” Zonneveld said sharply. “And if other teams attack, let them go. If you want to beat Pogačar, you have to be willing to risk losing. I can still understand Quick-Step putting a guy on the front because they were riding for their leader Evenepoel, who has proven he can finish it off. But Lidl-Trek drilling it on the run-in to La Redoute, stacking guys at the front and then not reacting when Pogačar attacks, that is not racing to win, that is racing for the podium. And that is it.”

According to Zonneveld, Lidl-Trek’s approach said it all. “Why would a team ride like that? It is not like they need UCI points like Astana. They finished second, fifth, and sixth. Great results, well done, but it is disappointing that even strong teams are not willing to race for the win. They were probably the strongest team in the race along with UAE, but they only responded after letting Pogačar go and realizing he was not pulling away instantly. By then, it was too late.”

"The cool thing about Skjelmose in the Amstel was that he raced aggressively, getting out in front early and being ready for the first big move," Zonneveld continued. "They did not do that in Liège. There, they raced like teammates of Pogačar. Sure, it is impressive that Ciccone comes second and that is great for him, just like it is great for Nys who comes fifth. But you would think Lidl-Trek could have aimed a little higher.""It felt a bit like when Pogačar attacked, they just said, 'let him go.' After the Amstel, Lidl-Trek had nothing to lose."