This article suggests theory number 2 is probably the correct one. The plan of the team was actually for Roglič to sprint for the stage winOn a more serious note, there are three theories circling around in the cycling world on why Rogla attacked so early today.
The first is, that he thought the bonus sprint at 3km to go was actually the finish line. I don't believe that's true. Primož and the team are usually very careful with every little detail.
The second one... Primož knows CN forum members don't like his 500m uphill sprint, so he decided, with no Pogačar, Bernal, Yates brothers, Carapaz, etc. around, it's an ideal opportunity to attack from further out. With doing so, he'll (maybe, I'm not sure) make CN forum members happy and quite, even if for just a couple of days. And at the same time he gets his attack from afar out of the way early in the season, so you can all but forget another one in the following races. This is probably all you'll get, he is now back to uphill sprinting for 500m max.
The third theory (Libertine's favourite)... At the time when the riders were approaching the final climb, Sepp Kuss was spotted eating a hamburger far away from France.
, but Roglič decided to change the plan:
www.cyclingnews.com
Good call! That is what folks found endearing about Pogachar's attacks and they occur further out for the same reason. PN is more of a free for all in the hills as folks try out their form. Anyone feeling less than ready already know it by now.
Sure, but that doesn't mean we have to like it or find it exciting. It's got nothing to do with it making sense for him or not, but with inspiring people. I was a fan of him when he first made strides as an outsider for GC about 4 years ago. But he's turned into a one trick pony almost. Of course it makes sense, but it's not interesting to watch.
Of course it doesn't mean you have to like it. I don't like how he and his team race at times and I am a fan. But you are doing him a big injustice, by calling him a one trick pony. This is far from the truth. Just in last year's Vuelta he won every stage in a different manner. By attacking downhill with a finisseur move, by attacking uphill and arriving solo to the finish, in a bunch uphill sprint and in a time-trial. Name me all the people in today's peloton that can do that and are as versatile as he is. Not to mention he is doing all these things all year long. By your definition everybody is a one trick pony.
One trick pony? The guy can sprint in a pack, hang in long breakaways, take a classic, win on mountain finishes and manage a 3 week stage race to a win. That's alot of tricks, friend. There have been few riders that can do all of that and condense it in a short career.
Your post is somewhat contradictory, considering you acknowledge the issue i'm addressing and you don't like it either at times. But then you would like an entire peloton of riders doing the same. I also said "almost", meaning i know he does more than one thing, and calling him a one trick pony would indeed be harsch, but the general impression of him, will be that he's more often than not, following his GC train in order to jump away in the final hundreds of meters. Basically, not that different from watching a dominant sprint train drop off their dominant sprinter at 200m from the finish. There is a reason why people don't like to watch 10 sprint stages in a GT, and it's basically the same thing with watching Roglic.
Leave him at his thoughts. He's just a typical hater. Always has been. A one trick pony guy on this forum.
On a more serious note, there are three theories circling around in the cycling world on why Rogla attacked so early today.
The first is, that he thought the bonus sprint at 3km to go was actually the finish line. I don't believe that's true. Primož and the team are usually very careful with every little detail.
The second one... Primož knows CN forum members don't like his 500m uphill sprint, so he decided, with no Pogačar, Bernal, Yates brothers, Carapaz, etc. around, it's an ideal opportunity to attack from further out. With doing so, he'll (maybe, I'm not sure) make CN forum members happy and quite, even if just for a couple of days. And at the same time he gets his attack from afar out of the way early in the season, so you can all but forget another one in the following races. This is probably all you'll get, he is now back to uphill sprinting for 500m max.
The third theory (Libertine's favourite)... At the time when the riders were approaching the final climb, Sepp Kuss was spotted eating a hamburger far away from France.
Who will collect stage wins in all traditional stage races first? Him or De Gendt?
In Slovenia there is like 99.9% of people that prefer Roglic
That's a ridiculous take. The guys who really brought change to the peloton are all these youngsters who dare to attack from far out. And the general public is in love with them.
It's a small country. Even with 100% of Slovenians, i'm sure worldwide the number of people who are more inspired by Pogacar will be much larger.
you would think that Slovenians know them best and there is a reason one if prefered over the other
Quite the opposite. In Belgium, van Avermaet has the same or more supporters than van Aert. Worldwide? Not so much.
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