European Championship 2025: Men’s RR, October 5

[dobrien]

31 seconds. That's less than a fifth Pogacar lost to him in a 40 km TT.

I'm talking about open road racing here, this minute, not time trialing, And if you're thinking that was Tadej's best effort... yeah, no. Tell you what, I'll use a couple less "O's" ok? So instead of "SOOOO much better", it can be "SOO much better." Ok by me.

edit: I generally think I'm a pretty smart guy, but willingly choosing to wade into this minefield? Maybe I'm dumber than I thought.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Prior to the race, Danish TV 2 asked five of their so-called experts (of whom four are former pro riders) about how the race would go. Three of them expected Vingegaard to be 2nd or 3rd, and the other two had Skjelmose as 3rd. So all five expected a Danish medal.

That's why I have a problem with "experts". They simply don't see things objectively - although I would expect this to be their most important job.

The bookmakers were quite positive regarding Vingegaard's chances, and yet they didn't see him (on average) as one who would get on the podium. Also, we had heard from Visma that Vingegaard hadn't shown impressive form after the Vuelta. In addition, we all know that Vingegaard has a really really bad record at this kind of races.

So while I think it's okay if one of the "experts" or maybe two had expected a medal for Denmark, I regard the answers in their entirety to be more about creating excitement about Denmark's chances than about a realistic assessment based on some kind of analysis. I think that when TV 2 contacted them, they thought "okay, what answer would they be happy to hear?". And gave it to them.

Ultimately, these guys created unfair expectations regarding Vingegaard and made the viewers more disappointed than they had reason to be.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Seixas was still down about 3m40 when crossing the line, the same as a few km earlier, and he was going all in to be 3rd. So Pogacar didn't slow down a lot. Pogacar might have lost 5-10s max during the final km by slowing down. The difference to Remco would have been 35-40s if he continued his efforts. So Remco did gain about 20s as he put out a final effort, adding to the 20s he gained prior. Could Pogacar push harder to keep the gap to 1min? Maybe but I would give the TT champ some credit when he decides to go all in during the last few kms. It was likely insufficient, even if they added 10km flat, but he did everything to keep it close.

He had a 58" after the climb (7 km to the finish). He lost 27" on a 1.5 km descent and 5.5 flat section, do you really think it was just 5-10"? Please, leave the wonderland.

 

[Oldman]

I read an interview where Remco was pleased because he held Pogacar's wheel for longer than he has done before on this sort of climb. Is that the right tactic though? Would he be better off letting the wheel go, climbing at his own tempo, and then seeing what time he could claw back on the downhill/ flatter sections of the course? I know it likely wouldn't change the outcome, but I don't know that cooking yourself trying to hold Pogacar's wheel does any good. It's why his long range attacks are always so successful. Pick a steep hill, absolutely send it, cook the opposition, and then keep the gap because everyone else is blown from trying to hold your wheel on the climb.

There wasn't much available for viewing here except some highlights including the climb that Remco detached from Tadej. I think there was still some 4-5km to the summit. When he dropped off he looked back to gauge how much help was coming. Presumably some of those dropped riders assisted as Ayuso claimed to do.

Your description of how TP controlled his race is spot on; like the WCRR, too.
He rides tactically flawless and doesn't let his ego change the necessary tempo to ride away from a pack with 75km to go. You only go as fast as needed and save something for sudden requirements like mechanicals. Hammering as hard as you can like it's a TT is no way to win. The equivocation of Remco's effort as nearly to Tadej's level are humorous at best. He and everyone got soundly schooled just like in Kingali. No comparison to Remco's TT dominance is relevant.

 

[Unchained]

Did he really say it like that?

No he didn't say that, he said he was trying to help, like he was trying to help Del Toro at Giro, like he was trying to help Almeida at Vuelta, like he was trying to help UAE and his teammates when he held the now famous " dictatorship " media exchange..
Remco who didn't do any of those things said..

"I really believe it was possible to bring Tadej Pogacar back" – Remco Evenepoel frustrated by lack of help in chase at European Championship 2025

Another major one-day race. Another audacious solo move from Tadej Pogacar in the men's elite road race at the 2025 European Championships. And for Remco Evenepoel, another silver medal. Just one week...

cyclinguptodate.com

Remco says people phoning it in, not really working and Juan " dictatorship " Ayuso acting like he was all in..watch last 30-40 kilometers, Juan " what am I doing this for " is looking around how to drop without gapping the riders behind him.. Guy is soft..

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

This might be the first belgian to say Merckx's era was a joke and Pogacar is clearly better.

Well, that's not what i said. Merckx was also much more dominant than Pogacar, he actually won more than 1 TT per year and he also won bunch sprints of over 50 riders. Even full on peloton sprints. He was also successful on the track and also had the world hour record. But yes, you can't compare it because he was racing in a time when riders were smoking and even putting alcohol in their bottles. Merckx even was on cigarette adverts. He did still win so much more than Pog though.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Prior to the race, Danish TV 2 asked five of their so-called experts (of whom four are former pro riders) about how the race would go. Three of them expected Vingegaard to be 2nd or 3rd, and the other two had Skjelmose as 3rd. So all five expected a Danish medal.

That's why I have a problem with "experts". They simply don't see things objectively - although I would expect this to be their most important job.

The bookmakers were quite positive regarding Vingegaard's chances, and yet they didn't see him (on average) as one who would get on the podium. Also, we had heard from Visma that Vingegaard hadn't shown impressive form after the Vuelta. In addition, we all know that Vingegaard has a really really bad record at this kind of races.

So while I think it's okay if one of the "experts" or maybe two had expected a medal for Denmark, I regard the answers in their entirety to be more about creating excitement about Denmark's chances than about a realistic assessment based on some kind of analysis. I think that when TV 2 contacted them, they thought "okay, what answer would they be happy to hear?". And gave it to them.

Ultimately, these guys created unfair expectations regarding Vingegaard and made the viewers more disappointed than they had reason to be.

That's strange. All the Belgian and Slovenian experts also expected medals... and they got them. Hmmm... i wonder...

 

[Rob5091]

It was almost a race!
https://dnlbenson.substack.com/p/euros-i-went-to-a-tadej-pogacar-bike

Euros: I went to a Tadej Pogačar bike ride, and a race almost broke out​