CyclistWhich riders could actually prevent Pogaar and Van der Poel dominating the Classics?With the dawn of spring comes the call of the Classics. While for some this might just seem like a slow march towards another Tadej Pogaar or Mathieu van der Poel solo tirade, but that isnt a guarantee.Weve had a look at some of the riders who have a semi-realistic chance to poop the Pogaar and Van der Poel party over the next few months.Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)Maximilian Fries / Red Bull Content PoolRemco Evenepoel has wasted no time in getting things started with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, winning three one-day races in Spain, two stages and the overall at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana and the time-trial at the UAE Tour. Having started 2025 injured and without a proper off-season of training, he emerged to beat Wout van Aert at Brabantse Pijl and podium at the Amstel Gold Race, though cracked at Lige-Bastogne-Lige. He did end the season strong though, finishing second behind Pogaar at Worlds, the European Championships and Il Lombardia.With a proper off-season and fruitful run-up to the Classics in his legs, Evenepoel will be jumping back in for the Ardennes backed up by his new Red Bull teammates. The Belgian previously won Lige-Bastogne-Lige back in 2023, and when hes the favourite its hard to beat him. The issue is Pogaar, who has consistently proved a level above Evenepoel in one-day races (and stage races but thats a different beast). However, with a new team and good form, its not inconceivable for Remco to finally get one over the Slovenian at Amstel or Lige.Best result in Classics last year: 1st (Brabantse Pijl)Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)A.S.O./Billy CeustersBen Healy is coming off a phenomenal season that saw him race to fifth at La FlcheWallonne, fourth at Strade Bianche and third at Lige-Bastogne-Lige. The Irishman excels in lengthy breakaways, preferably solo, as evidenced by his Grand Tour stage wins, and at just 25 theres every reason to think hes still got room to improve.Healy thrives over hilly parcours, and has Strade and the Ardennes on his schedule for 2026. Its a big ask to overhaul Pogaar and Evenepoel on those terrain, but his strategy will likely be to try to get ahead early and hope group two syndrome holds the big names back.Alongside Healy, EF will also have Neilson Powless as another punch, who deserves a nod for his impressive victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen against three Visma-Lease a Bike riders last season.Best result in Classics last year: 3rd (Lige-Bastogne-Lige) Related Posts Pro Log: Isaac del Toro is a sprinter; Austin Butler is Lance Armstrong; Demi Vollering is inevitable Pro cycling winners and losers in January 2026 UAE Tour Men 2026 preview: Route, favourites, how to watch and start list Cycling Spring Classics 2026: Race dates, Monuments, cobbles and live TV guide Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5)AlUla Tour/Pauline BalletOne-day escapades suit Tom Pidcock to a T. His bike handling combined with explosivity and penchant for thriving on hilly terrain means this is where he really shine, especially if theres cobbles or gravel to contend with. Its no surprise he finished best of the rest behind Tadej Pogaar at Strade Bianche last year after lighting the race up early on and even putting so much pressure on the Slovenian that he overcooked a corner.While last years Vuelta third place and Pinarello-Q36.5s Tour de France invite take his Grand Tour ambitions to the next level, Pidcock is still set to do a big chunk of Classics, with Omloop Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Milano-Torino, Milan-San Remo, Brabantse Pijl and the Ardennes on his list. His Q36.5 team has got stronger this year too, with Fred Wright and Quinten Hermans in particular set to be pivotal for Pidcock this spring. It is slightly disappointing to see no Flanders or Roubaix on his schedule, but you cant have everything.Best result in Classic last year: 2nd (Strade Bianche)Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty ImagesLidl-Trek know how to make their presence felt in the Classics. Theyve had success through Jasper Stuyven, Mads Pedersen and Mattias Skjelmose in big one-day races and a few close shaves elsewhere. Giulio Ciccone is a rider who is getting closer and closer.With the new signings of Juan Ayuso and Derek Gee-West, the Italian is free from the GC reins. In the last couple of seasons hes poked his head above the Classics parapet and shown his talents, finishing third in Il Lombardia in 2024 and second at Lige in 2025 before winning San Sebastian in the summer and finishing sixth in the Worlds road race.Ciccone has a whole slate of Ardennes on his schedule this year before he goes stage hunting at the Giro, and anything less than a podium that week will be a disappointment. Hell also have Skjelmose by his side, who actually did manage to beat Pogaar at Amstel in 2025. With no Pogaar at Flche Wallonne, the pair are more than capable of taking the win on the Mur de Huy. Best result in Classic last year: 2nd (Lige-Bastogne-Lige)Romain Grgoire (Groupama-FDJ United)A.S.O./Billy CeustersSeven was the magic number for Romain Grgoire last year, taking his highest place Classics finishes at both the Amstel Gold Race and La FlcheWallonne. However the 23-year-old puncheur, who went on to win the Tour of Britain in September, really showed his potential at Milan-San Remo. While he ended up finishing 30th, he was one of only a couple of riders capable of matching Pogaars initial burst on the Cipressa. If he can find that extra gas, he will be a real problem.Grgoire has a programme stacked with one-day races this spring, including Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, E3, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, Brabantse Pijl and the Ardennes.Best result in Classic last year: 1st (Faun-ArdcheClassic)Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike)Visma-Lease a BikeMatthew Brennan had a breakout year and then some in 2025. Kicked off in the space between Omloop Nieuwsblad and Paris-Roubaix, the Brit powered away to four consecutive wins before grabbing stages at the Tour de Romandie, Tour de Pologne, Lidl Deutschland Tour and Tour of Britain, and dominated the Tour of Norway. All in his debut pro season.It will be interesting to see how he develops this year. Brennan only raced at Omloop and Roubaix in 2025 but shone in the latter despite a late-call up, rubbing shoulders at the head of the race before riding over the line in the velodrome in 44th place. Hes built very much in the Van Aert mould, capable of tearing up the cobbles, flying up hills and winning bunch sprints. Watch this spaceBest result in Classic last year: 1st (GP Denain)Matej Mohori (Bahrain Victorious)A.S.O./Charly LpezMatej Mohori has a race schedule packed with Classics this spring, and is about due another victory after a his stellar solo attack at Milan-San Remo in 2022. The Slovenian holds a plethora of top ten finishes across one-day showings, and consistently finds himself at the head of the race in the gravel and cobble races.He has fallen off the boil slightly these past two seasons with his top result in a Classic being a fifth place at Strade Bianche, but if he rediscovers the form that allowed him to thrive from 2021-2023, theres every chance for him to be somewhat disruptive for Bahrain Victorious.Best result in Classic last year: 21st (Ronde van Vlaanderen)Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)Unipublic/SprintCyclingAgencyThe pure strength and time-trial ability of Filippo Ganna have been key to his best results in the Monuments so far, with two second places at Milan-San Remo in the bag. Despite being dropped by Van der Poel and Pogaar in the last edition, he somehow fought back to power his way ahead of Pogaar in the sprint. He then went on to podium at the E3 Saxo Classic behind Van der Poel and Pedersen before finishing eighth at Flanders and 13th at Roubaix.This season hes scheduled in for Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix so far. The chance of a sprint at Milan-San Remo and the unpredictable cobbles of Roubaix play into his hands, but its about making the right splits when it counts. Ganna tends to avoid the smaller Classics so has never won one before, and is yet to claim victory in a Monument despite a couple of close calls. Hell be hoping his fortunes change this year.Best result in Classic last year: 2nd (Milan-San Remo)Health dependent Dario Belingheri/Getty ImagesMads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)For all his hype in the Classics, Mads Pedersen has never won a Monument, and sadly his 2026 hasnt got off to the best of starts, crashing in his first race of the season at Valenciana, fracturing his wrist and collarbone. He has podiumed in the past two editions of Paris-Roubaix behind Van der Poel, and finished second at the Tour of Flanders in 2025 behind Pogaar. Its tough to beat the two when hes at full fitness, let alone after this less-than-ideal buildup, but hell never stop trying.Best result in Classic last year: 1st (Gent-Wevelgem)Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)Wout van Aert has Classics wins aplenty, but he has also faced struggles when it comes to dethroning the top dogs in the Monuments. His 2020 win at Milan-San Remo remains his only Monument win. He raced to fourth at both Flanders and Roubaix in 2025, but fractured his ankle in a cyclocross race this winter to delay his start to 2026.There is at least some good news though as his recovery has been going smoothly. Hes been hitting plenty of big days in the saddle and travelled to altitude camp with his Visma team this month. His planned season debut against Van der Poel at Omloop Nieuwsblad might still have the green light.Best result in Classic last year: 2nd (Dwars door Vlaanderen, Brabantse Pijl)Young talentsA.S.O./Tony EsnaultPaul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM)Hes only 19 years old but Paul Seixas has been riding with quite the authority already, whether it be his 88km attack for second place at Paris-Camembert, strong performances at the Tour of the Alps and Critrium du Dauphin or his victory at the Tour de lAvenir.Seixas closed his 2025 with seventh place behind Pogaar at his debut Il Lombardia and is currently scheduled to race Strade Bianche. La FlcheWallonne and Lige-Bastogne-Lige. Dont be surprised if he makes a big step up this year.Jarno Widar (Lotto Intermarch)This is the U23 European Champions first taste of the WorldTour level, coming off a season in which he raced to second overall at the Tour de lAvenir, won a stage at the Giro Next Gen and topped the podium at the U23 Lige-Bastogne-Lige and Flche Ardennaise.Widar is tipped for big things, and with riders regularly making a big impression in their debut seasons these days, hes certainly one to watch in 2026.Albert Philipsen (Lidl-Trek)Last year, Albert Philipsen enjoyed a lengthy 80km stint in a breakaway at Strade Bianche and still finished 25th before winning the U23 Paris-Roubaix at 18 years of age, being promoted to the WorldTour squad and going on to finish second at Tre Valli Varesine behind Pogaar. Hes yet to kick off his 2026 and doesnt have much on his official schedule so far, but expect to see him on your screens this spring.Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarch)Arnaud De Lie has been on the rise for a few years now, and is highly touted as both a sprinting and Classics talent. He has had some misfortune over the last few years though, with Lyme disease in 2024 and a pair of injuries in 2025. The 23-year-old podiumed at the Brussels Cycling Classic and won both the GP de Wallonie and Super 8 Classic but the WorldTour Bretagne Classic was the pick of his results.Hes got a big schedule of cobbles this year, including the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, which could really suit him.Milan-San Remo sprintersFinally, theres always the chance that Milan-San Remo comes down to a bunch sprint, in which case the odds would be stacked against Pogaar and Van der Poel, though the last time it ended in a sprint Pogaar still managed to finish third. For more on the Classics, visit our hub page.The post Which riders could actually prevent Pogaar and Van der Poel dominating the Classics? appeared first on Cyclist.

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