Critérium du Dauphiné 2025, June 8 - 15

[Unchained]

Yup, the guy wasnt even pushing on the climb, his body langugage compared to yesterday when he was, he was having a coffe ride. I like the guy not to say I wouldn’t want things to be closer for the sake of entertainment. But that doesn’t change reality just because I wish it was. In reality, the difference is just completely over the top—it is what it is. and he is completely mocking them, he just is.

For me without the ability to superimpose rider's body positions over the top of each other, Pogacar looks the most upright, least aerodynamic of current best, Remco is often in traditional perfect position with flat back bent arm , very quiet upper body, most of guys in top GC spots in Dauphine look flatter more aero than Pog but he is just motoring by people flat and inclines.
And I use a narrow Fizik saddle for years and seeing Pogacar sitting on the front @30% of skinny seat is crazy!! It's like he has a semi levitation position on the bike.. I watch him race like a science class!!
And his body language is telling, when he is semi toasted in races he does a little rodeo cowboy, bucking up and down with his torso..doesn't happen often.
I remember how ugly I always thought Roberto Contador, and a couple others were, looking like bicycle was trying to throw them off..Contador rides a bike like he is making an 1980s music video or auditioning for Guns and Roses..

 

[Rackham]

Paul Seixas amazing. It'll be a shame if he doesn't ride the Tour. There's a potential top10 for him there.

They'd be mad to send Seixas to the Tour if he hasn't prepared for it. FDJ did that to Martinez last year and totally torpedoed his season.

 

[dobrien]

They'd be mad to send Seixas to the Tour if he hasn't prepared for it. FDJ did that to Martinez last year and totally torpedoed his season.

+1000. He is French, and he is 18 years old. The last thing he needs is to go to the Tour this year, for a number of reasons.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

What do you think his time could have been if he went all-out? 38'00" - 38'30"? Faster?

No idea. Except the last kilometer (when he clearly slowed down and lost like 15 seconds) I don't know how much he was holding back.

 

[Red Rick]

No idea. Except the last kilometer (when he clearly slowed down and lost like 15 seconds) I don't know how much he was holding back.

There's always this emphasis on looking easy which is pretty much a style thing, and looking good after the finish, when it's the whole point of being a top athlete that you recover quickly after an effort.

Also, it conveniently ignores that even training is less effective if you don't at least go near max on such efforts.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

There's always this emphasis on looking easy which is pretty much a style thing, and looking good after the finish, when it's the whole point of being a top athlete that you recover quickly after an effort.

Also, it conveniently ignores that even training is less effective if you don't at least go near max on such efforts.

That's why I don't like speculating too much on this. Instead I prefer analysing actual results: the gap was 14'' and probably could've been around 30'' if Pog didn't ease up at the end. Beyond that it's pure speculation, which may be completely false.

 

[Netserk]

There's always this emphasis on looking easy which is pretty much a style thing, and looking good after the finish, when it's the whole point of being a top athlete that you recover quickly after an effort.

Also, it conveniently ignores that even training is less effective if you don't at least go near max on such efforts.

He was already playing with Vingegaard immediately after his attack.

 

[hayneplane]

Carlos Rodriguez had 100 wheelsuckers today

It was like he was leading a ride with a world tour pro fan club ride.

 

[Oldman]

This is all painfully true. Pogacar had enough in the bank, summoned the car , brought provisions, maybe an ice bag to his teammate on the front going 100 meters effortlessly from front to back with half the guys he passed being on the limit. Combination between class and calculation to wait until @10 to go before rolling off, he obviously could have gone earlier, easily if he wanted to.. He did multiple demoralizing moves, guy is flying..
He had some Johnny Rotten, Christopher Walken hair thing going on post race which was just another surprise!!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/johnny-rotten--377246906268035268/

I watched that section in a highlight video, somewhere in the 20km+ zone (my total broadcast hasn't loaded on Peacock). Tadej went back to the car, chatted and picked up ice and a bottle. Looked like the point might have been tactical. When he rode up to the front the group was lined out. The posture of a few might have been hot/tired but Pogacar, indeed rode "effortlessly" to the front as mentioned by others on the thread.
It doesn't take too much attention to detail to note that many of the riders aren't pedalling, including Pogacar at some points. Because they are riding DOWNHILL on a gradual grade. He spoke to Sivakov and gave him a bottle.
He probably had enough residual power to fart in the proximity of guys he hopes to beat, too.

 

[ppanther92]

No , hé did not . Hè won the 1st time trial and was 3rd in final time trial ( MTT ) .

Yes, and Pogacar was 2nd and 1st and gained 1:01 on Evenepoel.

(Also 44.5kmh avg. is a funny MTT…)

 

[ppanther92]

Paul Seixas amazing. It'll be a shame if he doesn't ride the Tour. There's a potential top10 for him there.

I am completely sure he is not going. Its the last chance for Gall as target man at Decathlon. Seixas’ time is going to come anyway.

 

[hayneplane]

I am completely sure he is not going. Its the last chance for Gall as target man at Decathlon. Seixas’ time is going to come anyway.

There has to be a good chance they look at sending Seixas to the Vuelta but it would be irresponsible to take him to the Tour now without it having been a plan for a few months.

 

[HashRouge]

I can't tell how dominant a performance we're actually watching. Online, I'm seeing a lot of comments about Pog ruining cycling or alluding to Clinic related stuff. But the gap to Vingegaard is only 61 seconds, which doesn't seem that high really.

 

[DJO]

Good climb by Pogacar. He seemed very in control and holding back.
Good effort for Vingegaard, but still not at his TDF level. His TDF 24's numbers were on par with today's Pogacar numbers, which means Vingegaard will probably improve... but so will Pogacar.

Remco is still very far from his peak. Yes, this is only the Dauphiné, but still, something is not right with Remco's form. I hope he improves massively for the Tour.

Lipowitz looking great. He must compete in the Tour at the very least as a co-leader. He should not be just a domestique to Roglic.
Paul Seixas amazing. It'll be a shame if he doesn't ride the Tour. There's a potential top10 for him there.
Enric Mas, C. Rodriguez, Jorgenson, Kuss, Buitrago, Lenny Martinez are not looking good. The'll have to improve massively to have any hope of a top5-10 finish at the Tour.

After this race is over for Seixas his next race is due to be at the Tour de l'Ain. Which is the right move for his career. This young man, still only 18, needs to be nurtured, and the TDF is a race too much at this moment. Him being a young, exciting and French rider would add too much pressure at the TDF. He will have a great career across the road, just let it develop naturally.

​

 

[Tim Cahill]

I can't tell how dominant a performance we're actually watching. Online, I'm seeing a lot of comments about Pog ruining cycling or alluding to Clinic related stuff. But the gap to Vingegaard is only 61 seconds, which doesn't seem that high really.

Look at the faces and mannerisms, it wasn't close. Clinic-aside, their PR guy should probably tell him to look a bit tired next time or something, because people who I wouldn't usually associate with this type of comment outside this forum seem to have taken exception to this in particular;

 

[CyclistAbi]

But the gap to Vingegaard is only 61 seconds, which doesn't seem that high really.

Visma is doing the usual grinding and fatiguing routine, apparently even pushed hard on the descend today, borderline dangerous, anyway, after Pogi takes off and Jonas can't really follow, day in day out, this is sort of new reality. So the difference is IMHO and ATM rather substantial.

 

[greyclouds]

After this race is over for Seixas his next race is due to be at the Tour de l'Ain. Which is the right move for his career. This young man, still only 18, needs to be nurtured, and the TDF is a race too much at this moment. Him being a young, exciting and French rider would add too much pressure at the TDF. He will have a great career across the road, just let it develop naturally.

​

Completely agree, it would be loony to send Seixas. to TdF this year

 

[Red Rick]

One not on the power calculations for today, the pace was pretty low for the first 11 minute when Decathlon was pacing, so that brings it down a bit. So when Vingegaard is talking about similar numbers to Plateau de Beille, he's talking the 27 minutes he was going full gas.

 

[Oldman]

Look at the faces and mannerisms, it wasn't close. Clinic-aside, their PR guy should probably tell him to look a bit tired next time or something, because people who I wouldn't usually associate with this type of comment outside this forum seem to have taken exception to this in particular;

Seriously! You need to go back and watch the last 2km. Pogacar started using the small ring in the last km because the win was certain. Jonas was settled, in the big ring and some 30+ seconds back and he either decided or was told to sprint the last km. He took back the differential on his finish time.
Very selective information to hint at a point involving the clinic in the same paragraph. ***, knee deep.

Jonas' team threw down hard to distance Tadej in some seriously grinding terrain. They did it in such a poor manner that Pogacar was usually sitting totally protected in the JV train with Jonas behind him. Pogi didn't need to do a lick of work beyond keeping Jonas close and keeping hydrated.

 

[Lorzenz08]

Look at the faces and mannerisms, it wasn't close. Clinic-aside, their PR guy should probably tell him to look a bit tired next time or something, because people who I wouldn't usually associate with this type of comment outside this forum seem to have taken exception to this in particular;

And when he looks like that, he is completely washed and will soon retire ? lol

People are hilarious and honestly the kind of comments you see on the internet reflects today culture. Like on Wednesday evening Pogi was finished and Vingegaard get an easy win at the tour. And on Thursday evening Pogi is an alien again.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Seriously! You need to go back and watch the last 2km. Pogacar started using the small ring in the last km because the win was certain. Jonas was settled, in the big ring and some 30+ seconds back and he either decided or was told to sprint the last km. He took back the differential on his finish time.
Very selective information to hint at a point involving the clinic in the same paragraph. Bullsh*t, knee deep.

Jonas' team threw down hard to distance Tadej in some seriously grinding terrain. They did it in such a poor manner that Pogacar was usually sitting totally protected in the JV train with Jonas behind him. Pogi didn't need to do a lick of work beyond keeping Jonas close and keeping hydrated.

This was not a clinic insinuation, I have no need for that here when I can just post in the clinic itself. I suggested looking pained as a PR strategy to ward off such accusations.

My point was that the physiological gap was not as close as the 15 seconds at the finish or the 60 second GC gap HashRouge mentioned. You said it yourself, he had time to ease up in the last 1k, you can call this selective, but I watched the entire thing, there was not a single moment in the climb where Pogacar looked in any sort of difficulty. I think you've just watched the highlights or the last kilometre and assumed he's unbothered because he's decided to sit up after an intense battle, this is not the case. The picture was taken at the line, but it could've been taken with 100k to go, 10k, 4k, the expression and manner still the same, though he at least got out the saddle for the attack this time. Vingegaard looked in a decent rhythm for a good while then became increasingly laboured as it progressed, the two were playing a different sport today.

 

[dobrien]

My point was that the physiological gap was not as close as the 15 seconds at the finish or the 60 second GC gap HashRouge mentioned. You said it yourself, he had time to ease up in the last 1k, you can call this selective, but I watched the entire thing, there was not a single moment in the climb where Pogacar looked in any sort of difficulty. I think you've just watched the highlights or the last kilometre and assumed he's unbothered because he's decided to sit up after an intense battle, this is not the case. The picture was taken at the line, but it could've been taken with 100k to go, 10k, 4k, the expression and manner still the same, though he at least got out the saddle for the attack this time. Vingegaard looked in a decent rhythm for a good while then became increasingly laboured as it progressed, the two were playing a different sport today.

+1. My take as well.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Before and after shots, skin conditioner? What is the conditioner brand name? GOAT?

 

[Savant12]

Sivakov did a super job for Pog on the stage.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Nobody is dropping time to his primary rivals in a TT on purpose

Nobody in the history of mankind, has been able to read minds.