I also think it's worth remembering that the anglophone cycling media is tiny. It's not particularly influential on people's opinions.
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I would imagine that after the dominant display in Liège, they knew the form and the prep was more than good enough, so maybe they tapered more before the Giro than what would be most optimal if not for the Tour. That would probably have been the plan all along, but I guess they could still adjust it a bit and allow for more rest before the race than initially planned.There is no doubt that hes toying with his rivals and his form his very good. I am just looking at a larger Giro Tour double picture. Has he peaked? I dont think so. Time will tell how he fares in week 3 and at the Tour. Only against Skeletor he needs absolute peak (which may still not be enough), definitely not against Giro competition.
Obviously peaking before the Giro makes no sense but maybe at Liege they realized he is a bit too strong too early.
I thought he lost 2kg's?Like I said prior to the Giro, We must wait for the Tour if we really want to know how good he is. Even his weight looks bigger than other GT's he has done.
I thought he lost 2kg's?
To me he looks less bulky than ever before.Even his weight looks bigger than other GT's he has done.
Doesn’t make sense to lose weight for spring classics but not for a GT. I think he’s leaner and in top form at the moment. You don’t go on altitude to be at your best for Liege, then lose form and build it again for the 3rd week of a GT. I think he’s just in best form for 5-6 weeks straight.Riders weight is a popular topic (see Remco thread), Pog definitely looked leaner at the start of the season (vs early spring in previous years) and now he looks to be close to his standard GT weight (little or no change since March).
He was skinnier last yearTo me he looks less bulky than ever before.
Except with targeting the tour that would be three months of best form. Surely has to have some give in there somewhere.Doesn’t make sense to lose weight for spring classics but not for a GT. I think he’s leaner and in top form at the moment. You don’t go on altitude to be at your best for Liege, then lose form and build it again for the 3rd week of a GT. I think he’s just in best form for 5-6 weeks straight.
In that case it makes more sense to start dropping your form in the 3rd week of the Giro, and some weeks after the Giro, to then build it back up. Instead of building towards the 3rd week of the Giro.Except with targeting the tour that would be three months of best form. Surely has to have some give in there somewhere.
I think realistically everyone loses form over the course of a GT? So that does indeed makes sense.In that case it makes more sense to start dropping your form in the 3rd week of the Giro, and some weeks after the Giro, to then build it back up. Instead of building towards the 3rd week of the Giro.
No. You both get more tired but can go higher in form. The negatove effect of fatigue is a bit delayed after initial supercompensationI think realistically everyone loses form over the course of a GT? So that does indeed makes sense.
I had heard you just get less fatigued than others so perform better relative to them, but given some of the amazing performances in the last week of a GT your explanation makes sense to me, and i don't really know what I'm talking aboutNo. You both get more tired but can go higher in form. The negatove effect of fatigue is a bit delayed after initial supercompensation
Doesn’t make sense to lose weight for spring classics but not for a GT. I think he’s leaner and in top form at the moment. You don’t go on altitude to be at your best for Liege, then lose form and build it again for the 3rd week of a GT. I think he’s just in best form for 5-6 weeks straight.
You are watching a different race and different interview than me then.It's going to happen. He's under a microscope now that he is winning so much. He has to have a thicker skin, be gracious, and smart. The past day or so he hasn't been any of those.
This sort of line could be like the Godwins Law of CN forumWhat fans are irritated? Detractors might be irritated, but if they weren't criticizing him for racing hard, the would be calling him a wheel sucker so...
Well put, I agree with this.As someone already said, Pogacar looks like a kid "in a candy shop" or a kid in a playground.
It's clear he is struggling to hold on in a program and thus race more conservatively or with a view for the future. What he did yesterday, that giant pull in the pink jersey was by all means stupid, absurd but thus beautiful. Because he was having fun and not calculating the worst possible outcome.
He's playful personality is clearly as strong as his ambition and prowess and I would argue that this is why he is ultimately a gift to the sport in decades and why he decided to race both Giro and the Tour.
Doesn't Godwin's Rule assume that all internet conversation end up talking about Hitler?This sort of line could be like the Godwins Law of CN forum
I was thinking that he looked a little more 'chiseled' too.Pog has changed trainer and is apparently now doing a lot more strength work. He definitely looks both leaner and toner kind of a change in overall body tone which is pretty common when you start anyone, even elite athletes on a lot more strength work.
And they're paid to do domestique duty for the GC candidates in a GT. Otherwise they got nothing but one day classics in the Spring and parking lot kermesses.Limited opportunities for sprinters is a laughable claim. They get far more chances than any other type of rider.