Chris Horner does not hold back when he criticizes Visma's tactics during last year's Flanders campaign, describing them as nothing short of "knucklehead" strategies.
In recent seasons, the Monuments have essentially turned into a playground for cycling stars Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel. This impressive duo has clinched victory in 14 out of the last 16 races, leaving other teams perplexed and scrambling to find a way to unseat these two reigning champions of one-day racing. Despite having strong competitors like Wout Van Aert and Tiesj Benoot on their roster, Visma | Lease a Bike has repeatedly found themselves on the brink of success, yet they have not crossed the finish line first. This consistent near-miss could very well be a contributing factor to Benoot's decision to move to Decathlon CMA GMC in 2026.
In a recent episode of his YouTube podcast, Horner harshly critiques Tiesj Benoot's comments about the Tour of Flanders, particularly regarding the need to avoid riding alongside Pogacar and van der Poel. "Last year, their tactics were pretty much knucklehead-ism throughout that Tour of Flanders," Horner asserts, reminding listeners that he has consistently highlighted how to effectively challenge these exceptional riders.
Horner reflects on Visma's performance last spring, suggesting that while there were notable shortcomings—like their disappointing results at Dwars Door Vlaanderen—there were also moments of brilliance. "It was fantastic the way they were attacking early to try to get up the road," he notes, appreciating their aggressive strategy.
However, he points out that deep into the race, there were critical errors. For instance, at a moment when Wout Van Aert was leading the pack and attacking Pogacar and van der Poel as they approached the final climbs, Horner sees this as a significant misstep. "We're talking about 20 kilometers to go. Meanwhile, you have Jorgensen and Benoot working at full capacity trying to catch up to this front group. That was a knucklehead move," he argues, emphasizing that Van Aert squandered a valuable numerical advantage heading into the finale. The outcome was telling, with the Belgian finishing fourth, trailing behind Pogacar, van der Poel, and even Mads Pedersen.
Yet, Horner insists Van Aert is not the only one to blame. He recalls earlier in the race when Benoot attempted to surge ahead on the challenging climbs alongside Pogacar. "You don’t attack the best rider on steep, hard climbs; you need to strike when the moment is right elsewhere. Attacking on the steep climbs near the end plays to the strengths of the top two riders, which makes it easier for them to respond. Instead, you want to create scenarios where they may hesitate or ease off," Horner explains, underlining the need for tactical thinking against formidable opponents.
As 2026 approaches, Wout Van Aert and Tiesj Benoot will transition from teammates to rivals, adding another layer of intrigue to the upcoming competition.
In closing, Horner offers vital advice for Benoot and his new team at Decathlon CMA GMC as they prepare for the 2026 season. Firstly, he suggests that any rider who manages to join a breakaway should push themselves relentlessly to deplete the resources of UAE's and Alpecin's support riders. Secondly, he advises putting consistent pressure on Pogacar and van der Poel: "You have to ensure that both Pogacar and van der Poel are facing headwinds multiple times and for extended periods while racing in the Classics. If you don’t do this, defeating them is nearly impossible," he concludes.
