Comprehensive Climbers Ranking

[Netserk]

It's now wheelsucking to follow an attack? Sigh...

no , not if one uses the term as a negative description that doesnt include bog standard gc riding

so vingegaard following evenepoels attack in the crosswinds was also in this sense not wheelsucking . and likewise when he followed the attacks on him in the gravel stage two years ago

 

[tobydawq]

It is but a neutral term describing a strategy in which one follows another rider without contributing to making the pace. All riders should wheel suck occasionally.

The strange thing that happens is using this description for some riders gets vastly different reaction than other riders.

Wheelsucking isn't a neutral term and whatever the hell you call it certainly isn't either.

I have never heard anyone else say it in a situation where it's a flat-out attack.

 

[tobydawq]

no , not if one uses the term as a negative description that doesnt include bog standard gc riding

so vingegaard following evenepoels attack in the crosswinds was also in this sense not wheelsucking . and likewise when he followed the attacks on him in the gravel stage two years ago

Agreed.

 

[Red Rick]

Wheelsucking isn't a neutral term and whatever the hell you call it certainly isn't either.

I have never heard anyone else say it in a situation where it's a flat-out attack.

1. I consistently say people don't wheelsuck enough. I'm pretty sure you've complained about my complaining about that.
2. When Vingegaard is pacing for 3km straight or whatever it was, it's hardly a flat out attack. Yes there's an initial surge to drop Evenepoel, but after that he just sits on the wheel waiting to see if they catch Carapaz/Mas.

Mostly it's just hilarious how different standards are applied consistently to different riders, and calling occasions where Pogacar is wheelsucking is somehow blasphemy because of *** course it is.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Yes, Vingegaard is a wheelsucker. Consistently does it

 

[tobydawq]

Mostly it's just hilarious how different standards are applied consistently to different riders, and calling occasions where Pogacar is wheelsucking is somehow blasphemy because of *** course it is.

I couldn't care less if it was Pogacar who responded to the attack or not, it's quite obviously an idiotic thing to call it wheelsucking to respond to an attack, and that's that.

 

[Netserk]

Yes, Vingegaard is a wheelsucker. Consistently does it

in the sense of your usage , was pogi a wheelsucker on ventoux ?

 

[canina82]

27 minutes would be quite good (over 1900 m/h of VAM), OTOH low elevation, steep gradient and fresh effort are favorable for fast climbing. I would expect something around it but not much better, he's not in Tour climbing form yet.

Yeah, he is 1.5 kg heavier and he didn't go to altitude yet. He makes massive improvement after his usual Sierra Nevada training camp.

 

[Pozzovivo]

The worst wheelsucking of the year was Crescioli and Pesenti on Madonna della Guardia in Giro dell’Appennino. Four and a half kilometres on the wheel, on an epic record ascent, without giving the good man a single turn. Disgraceful.

And still, Pozzovivo made it one of the best aesthetic climbing performances of the season. At 43 no less.

 

[Peyresourde]

Well, I expected a time just under 27 minutes. Seems like I was slightly off... I have no idea what to think of Pogacar today (and his team that just soft-pulled the first 10 minutes of the climb). But I am certain he must have pushed far more watts this season over this duration already, e.g. after his flat in Paris Roubaix.

Tadej Pogacar | 77 (-4): 6.43 W/kg for 28:30 on Ovronnaz (Romandie 2026)


The other riders in the front group were between 74 and 75, some notes:

- Martinez could have gone even faster, not surprising as his fresh watts are normally great
- Lipowitz on the same level as in Basque Country
- Nordhagen seems to have improved since Gran Camino, but the climb also suited him very well
-Roglic: This is code red for me. Nice that he tried to follow, but the fact that he lost a minute on this climb on a fresh effort means he is really bad, even worse than Tirreno and Basque Country

 

[Netserk]

i think pogi could have gone solo but there was no need for that so he just set a pace that was enough for a selection where he could win the sprint

just how soft was the first 10 minutes ?

 

[Ulle97]

Nice to see this version of Tadej. Kind with his pacing on the climb. Allowing a few to hang with him and be in the action photo for the sprint finish whilst still beating them.

A more benevolent creature emerges from his spring classic feast.

 

[Red Rick]

i think pogi could have gone solo but there was no need for that so he just set a pace that was enough for a selection where he could win the sprint

just how soft was the first 10 minutes ?

Apparently the final 20 minutes were only 6.1 W/kg, so the first 10 minutes must have been really hard.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Apparently the final 20 minutes were only 6.1 W/kg, so the first 10 minutes must have been really hard.

Weird. Was Pogi actually trying to detonate the race but ran out of legs?

 

[Netserk]

Apparently the final 20 minutes were only 6.1 W/kg, so the first 10 minutes must have been really hard.

i doubt very much these numbers are compatible

 

[Rou]

Weird. Was Pogi actually trying to detonate the race but ran out of legs?

His attack at the start of the steep climbing section was that of a person believing he can destroy everyone.
I saw him multiple times check between the legs if Lenny is still there.
It's concerning that this is a weaker performance than his usual Jebel Hafeet training session in February.
This heavy bottom of his must weigh a lot.

 

[Peyresourde]

i think pogi could have gone solo but there was no need for that so he just set a pace that was enough for a selection where he could win the sprint

just how soft was the first 10 minutes ?

They were not that soft, I mainly meant that they did not do a lead-out at all.
Pogacar only did ~6.5 w/kg for 19 minutes after his attack.

 

[Netserk]

They were not that soft, I mainly meant that they did not do a lead-out at all.
Pogacar only did ~6.5 w/kg for 19 minutes after his attack.

so an overall steady well paced effort