'Amazing' to be in this era, but chasing cycling’s giants comes at a cost - Fred Wright
ByTNT UK
Updated 21/04/2025 at 18:42 GMT+1
Fred Wright is fascinated by where road cycling is right now. Competing with some of the best riders of all time such as Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu Van Der Poel doesn't come without its difficulties, but the Brit is enjoying riding next to the best- although he admits that when he's suffering on the bike it's not quite so fun. Wright was speaking exclusively on The Gruppetto with Rob Hatch.
‘Amazing to be in this era’ – Wright on racing likes of Pogacar and Van der Poel
Video credit: TNT Sports
Although he's still searching for a maiden major victory, Britain's Fred Wright insists competing in the stacked current era of cycling is "amazing".
Following his ninth-place finish at Paris-Roubaix, Wright joined The Gruppetto with Rob Hatch to talk about how difficult, yet exciting, it is to be competing against the likes of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Mathieu van Der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
With a handful of riders so dominant in the men's peloton, Wright has found himself among the chasing pack.
He won the British national road race title in 2023, but the international success he craves has so far eluded him despite some impressive showings. He boasts four podium finishes on Grand Tour stages and top-10 finishes at Milano-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
"It's amazing to be in this era of cycling and to be to be racing with these guys," Wright said.
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Highlights: Skjelmose pips Pogacar, Evenepoel to Amstel Gold Race triumph in dramatic finale
Video credit: TNT Sports
"They do sort of carry an aura around them in the peloton as well.
"I was gonna say that it’s funny, in Sanremo I'd almost have liked to have been able to watch it on TV.
"Whereas there I am, you know, just desperately hanging on in the second group on the Cipressa and trying to survive and then these two [Pogacar and Van der Poel] are taking chunks out of each other in the front.
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"I didn't actually get to watch very much of that moment, but I did watch plenty of it afterwards and it was pretty special."
In an era featuring several of the best riders ever, riders are having to get creative with race tactics, something that Wright has been trying to do.
He explained: "I think it's fascinating as well for me just trying to work out how to get results and how to do well when these guys are there and so strong.
"You really have to try in the classics to just try get ahead of them and let them come to you, or hope that they don't come to you."
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'It was messy' - Evenepoel laments 'bad luck' after crash in Amstel Gold Race
Video credit: TNT Sports
At Amstel Gold on Sunday, there was proof that Pogacar was human.
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) snatched victory on the line over titans Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Pogacar, having worked with the Belgian to bring the three-time Tour de France champion back.
Meanwhile, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) looked in good form at Paris-Roubaix before a puncture ended his hopes.
"It's good to see someone like Pedersen actually be able to [compete with them]. I think without that puncture he would have been fighting for the win as well," added Wright.
"It's an amazing time for cycling, that's for sure. It's just when you're suffering on the bike, thanks to them, it's maybe not so great."
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