Fisher Black, the man to ride with Pogacar, Vingegaard, Roglic and Evenepoel: 'They're under enormous pressure'

Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel are widely regarded as the ‘big four’ of the Grand Tours. Between them, they have already won no fewer than 14 three-week races. That makes it all the more remarkable that there is one rider who has raced – or will race – alongside all four. That honour belongs to New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black.

Fisher-Black joined the development team of Jumbo-Visma in 2020, before choosing to move to UAE Team Emirates - XRG in 2021. After three and a half seasons with the Emirati squad, he is now in his second year with Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. It has been something of a rollercoaster career so far for the still only 24-year-old puncheur.

Speaking to Siol, he explained what the four superstars have in common. “What they all share is that they are constantly under enormous pressure. Despite the sky-high expectations at their level, they remain completely normal guys,” Fisher-Black said. “They are relaxed, approachable, and they build relationships within the team very easily. I see that as an exceptional quality, and I’m not sure I would have it myself if I were performing at their level.”

Roglic was the first major star of Slovenian cycling, having won the Vuelta a España four times and the Giro d’Italia once. His younger compatriot Pogacar has also won five Grand Tours: one Giro and four Tour de France titles. Fisher-Black raced alongside the two-time world champion between 2021 and 2024.

He highlights the contrasts between the two Slovenians, who at first glance could hardly be more different. “Tadej is a bit younger, has a lot of energy and likes to talk with riders in the bunch. Primoz is also very open and has a strong bond with his teammates,” Fisher-Black explained. "Primoz and I haven’t raced together yet, but I hope that changes this year.”

At Jumbo-Visma, Fisher-Black rode alongside Vingegaard, albeit only sporadically. It was a period he found extremely tough. “Suddenly I was 20,000 kilometres from home, in a country where I didn’t know anyone and didn’t speak the language,” he recalls. " The beginning was really hard. But if you have a dream and know why you are doing it, everything becomes easier. That’s why I’m still here, and why I’m grateful that I can live this life today.”

This year, Fisher-Black hopes to ride the Tour de France for the first time, although he knows competition within Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe is fierce. “There are still a lot of unknowns at the start of the season – unless you’re Remco or Florian (Lipowitz, ed.), because they’re almost certainly going. For the others, it comes down to having the right form at the right moment.”