THEMOVE+ Podcast Summary

Episode: Who Will Win the Pogačar/Evenepoel/Vingegaard Clash at Euros?
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Spencer Martin
Co-host: Johan Bruyneel

Episode Overview

This episode is a deep dive into the late-season cycling calendar, focusing on the upcoming European Road and Time Trial Championships and the fascinating clash between Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, and Jonas Vingegaard. The hosts also cover recent race results, standout performances (notably by rising stars like Paul Magnier and Isaac Del Toro), transfer news, and big-picture questions on team relegations, the value of certain championships, and the ever-shifting dynamics in pro cycling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recent Race Highlights and Analysis

CRO Race & Paul Magnier's Emergence

• Magnier, at just 21, is praised for his sprinting—compared to Tom Boonen, though hosts caution that's a "big ask" ([03:33–04:42]).
  • Johan: "He makes me think a bit about...maybe Tom Boonen, that kind of rider."
• He has already stacked up 13 wins—a massive tally for his age ([08:11]).

Brandon McNulty’s Key Season

• Dominant win in the hardest stage at the Tour of Croatia with a 1:40 margin ([05:00–06:27]).
  • Johan: “Brandon McNulty was the best junior in the world. There was nobody even close to him. And, you know, finally he gets to a point where he has the results that everybody was expecting from him.”

Montreal—A Showcase of UAE Team Unity

• Pogačar and McNulty ride for fun, with Tadej waiting up for his teammate to share the glory—showcasing Pogačar’s leadership ([06:27–08:07]).
  • Johan: "That's one of those things that prove he's the real leader of the team and why everyone is so willing to work for him."
  • Spencer: "Stuff like that goes a long way...with the general public."

Munsterland Giro—The Sprinters’ Classic

• Jasper Philipsen claims victory over Arnaud De Lie, with Milan’s crash affecting the outcome ([09:01–11:46]).
• De Lie’s form resurgence tied to spending time on his family’s farm—a heavy volume (20 hrs/week) that seems restorative ([12:20–13:43]).

Team Points, Relegation, and Wild Cards

• In-depth analysis of team rankings and possible movements between WorldTour and ProTeams, with particular focus on Cofidis’s struggles and potential shakeups for next year’s Tour de France wild cards ([13:31–18:03]).
  • Spencer: “To go from a YouTube team [Tudor/Titama]...pretty impressive.”

2. European Championships — Preview and Critique

Time Trial — Evenepoel’s Total Domination

• Remco puts on a clinic, winning by 43 seconds over Ganna in 28 minutes ([18:46–20:11]).
  • Johan: “He's the best time trialist in the world, bar none. There's no discussion."
• Evenepoel’s position and aerodynamics described as “mind-blowing” and “optimized like no other” ([21:06]).
• Debated possibility of Remco breaking the Hour Record—track experience cited as key challenge ([22:02–24:26]).

Mixed Relay Event — The Problem with Meaningless Races

• Only seven national teams entered; lack of public/participant interest; European Championships’ existence questioned ([25:16–26:58]).
  • Johan: "Why does this thing even exist? Nobody wants to participate."
• Critique of overlapping scheduling with key international events, creating diminished fields ([25:16–28:02]).

Road Race Preview: Pogačar, Evenepoel, Vingegaard Showdown

• Course is described as brutally hard; “has Pogačar written all over it” unless Vingegaard produces a surprise ([31:16–32:07]).
  • Johan: “They do three times a climb of 7km, almost 7%, and then three laps with a 1.6km at 10%. Last time up, 6.5km from the finish. This has again Tadej written all over it.”

Team Strength and Participation

• Many nations not sending full squads; Great Britain not represented ([29:11–29:13]).
• Notable: Skill disparity among some participants; smaller cycling nations field unknown names ([29:13–30:09]).

3. Classic Season Reflections & Upcoming Races

Scheduling Disadvantages for Traditional Classics

• Emilia and other late-season Italian one-days lose prestige and star power due to their placement after Euros and Worlds ([33:06–33:36]).

Del Toro as a Favorite for Emilia

• Rising UAE star Isaac Del Toro is picked to win—"UAE wins anyway, just with another guy" ([33:41–34:33]).

Vingegaard and Lombardia Uncertainty

• Debate over why Vingegaard isn’t doing more one-day classics; question marks over his Lombardia participation ([34:37–35:16]).

4. Transfer Rumors & Team Dynamics

Kian Uiterbroeks Saga

• Young Belgian leaves Visma for Movistar, third team in as many years, after contract break. Discussed as possibly "hard to work with" but undeniably talented ([40:22–42:29]).
  • Johan: "At 22, already on your third team and having broken your contract twice, it's not a good sign. He’s a talent, that’s for sure."
• Tidbit: Victor Campenaerts reveals Kian is dating new women’s world champion, making for insider gossip ([39:22]).

Israel-PremierTech's Future Uncertain

• Pulled from Giro dell’Emilia amid safety concerns; sponsors Factor and PremierTech issue statements over branding and registration in current political climate ([49:15–51:25]).
  • Johan: “Adams has no chance. He has to change the name and he has to change the country of registration.”
• Broader point: Teams with wealthy patrons can disappear if owners lose interest; rider and agent decisions hinge on this uncertainty ([51:23–53:15]).

5. Listener Questions — Notable Discussions

Is Pogačar’s 2025 Season Better Than 2024? ([54:19–56:39])

• Comparing Pogačar’s different possible combinations of wins, the hosts reflect on how “winning Flanders and second at Roubaix in his first ever attempt” may make this year even more impressive.

Is the End of the Season Too Climb-Heavy — Shutting Out the Classics Stars? ([58:29–59:31])

• Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel have little incentive to push late in the year given race terrain.

9+ Grand Tours on One National Team ([60:04–61:18])

• Slovenia’s Worlds roster lined up with 10 Grand Tour victories—a possibly unprecedented scenario for a national squad.

Could ASO Design a Tour to Give Evenepoel a Shot at Yellow? ([63:16–67:11])

• Hosts agree: "In Grand Tours, after a week of racing, Pogačar is almost at the same level as the best time trialists." The maths doesn’t favor Evenepoel, even with longer or more time trials.

Memorable Quotes

• On Pogačar’s Leadership
  “That was a really nice gesture of Tadej Pogačar…proves he's the real leader and why everybody is so willing to work for him.” — Johan, [07:31]
• On Evenepoel’s Time Trialing
  “He's the best time trialist in the world, bar none.” — Johan, [20:03]
• On Unheralded European Champs
  “Why does this thing even exist?... Fifteen spectators, seven teams. There was nobody there.” — Johan, [25:28]
• On Upcoming Euros Road Race
  “This has again Tadej written all over it, and Jonas probably tries to follow him.” — Johan, [31:58]
• On Pro Cycling’s YouTube Beginnings
  “Pretty impressive launch from a YouTube channel (on Tudor/Titama's rise).” — Spencer, [18:20]
• On the Transfer Market
  “At 22, already on your third team…broken your contract twice…must not be easy to work with him.” — Johan, [42:29]
• On Israel-PremierTech’s Issues
  “Adams has no chance. He has to change the name and he has to change the country of registration. That's the only way…for the team to continue.” — Johan, [51:25]
• On Grand Tour TT Gaps
  “Tour de France, Remco is probably the best climber I've ever seen him, and finishes nine minutes back from Pogačar.” — Spencer, [65:06]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Montreal/UAE Team Tactics: 01:10, 06:27
• CRO Race & Brandon McNulty: 03:33–06:27
• Discussion on Young Winners: 08:11, 09:01
• Munsterland Giro Sprint/De Lie: 09:01–13:43
• Team Relegation Scenarios: 13:31–18:03
• European TT Champs/Remco: 18:46–24:53
• Mixed Relay & European Champs Critique: 25:16–28:02
• Euros Road Race Preview: 31:16–32:07
• Isaac Del Toro / Emilia: 33:41–34:33
• Vingegaard & Classics Schedule: 34:37–35:16
• Kian Uiterbroeks Transfer: 40:22–42:29
• Israel-PremierTech Drama: 49:15–51:25
• Listener Qs on GT Wins, Pogačar’s Season: 54:19–56:39, 60:04–61:18
• Evenepoel at the Tour — Math Doesn’t Work: 63:16–67:11

Notable & Entertaining Moments

• The hosts openly roast unknown riders filling national squads for Euro Champs.
• Discussion of how spending 20+ hours a week on a farm can revive a pro sprinter’s form (Arnaud De Lie).
• Light-hearted banter about suffering up Côte de la Colmiane on a TT bike and the relativity of professional vs. amateur speed.
• Anecdote of Uiterbroeks’s secret relationship with the women’s world champion, revealed via Victor Campenaerts.

Overall Tone

The episode is insightful but relaxed, full of sharp analysis, dry humor, and frank assessments of pro cycling’s quirks—both strategic and structural. It’s a lively, detailed insiders’ conversation that brings both expert knowledge and personality to every topic.