Teams & Riders Everybody needs a little bit of Roglstomp in their lives

[Ilmaestro99]

Primož Roglič won't be defined by comparisons to other riders. I mean this "versus Evenepoel" conversation is like a 2023 version of 2019's Nibali. Nope, Roglič in terms of legacy exists outside rivalries with his peers.

At a "meta level" he's about overcoming adversity, bouncing back from setbacks again, again & again, following one's own dreams & career path no matter how disadvantageous your own background is (with no clear path towards becoming a pro-cyclist in his case) & maximizing his own potential. As a cyclist, he's an all-rounder ITT specialist with a wicked uphill kick & a total never say die attitude (I mean he literally rode the TdF last year with a broken back).

It's why IMO his Tirreno win is one of the sweetest wins of his career considering where was on the operating table 5 months ago. His season is already a success in that regard. Evenepoel? He could become the greatest cyclist of all time & crush the Giro like it's nothing, yet Roglič would lose absolutely nothing of his own "mythos" as a rider. Nothing would ever be worse than losing the TdF 2020 in those circumstances (in sporting terms when we look back at his career), so whatever happens against Evenepoel or anyone else from here on is just something to look forward to really & not stress over.

Let those wins & defeats come, i.e. it's the Rogla way. Just no bad crashes please.

This kind of avant-garde philosophical legacy posting should be reserve for the Landa thread . Thanks

 

[Extinction]

What always despairs me (talking in general not this forum specifically, in fact he is much more underrated in others) is that Roglic, despite his record, always has to prove how good he is due to factors such as age or setbacks, people assume that his level is not as impressive as this rider or that one even though many times we have not. seen what would have happened due to falls and varios problems.
The only empirical reality since 2019 is that he has only lost one stage race on the road without crashes, illnesses or various injuries and that is the 2020 Tour, and he actually got there after a horrible crash in the Dauphiné who had him without training the last weeks of the final preparation.
And by the way, his performance in the 2021 Vuelta is similar as any of Pogacar GT dominant perfomances and only surpassed in the last years by Vingegaard's thermonuclear Tour, but even so we don't know what he would have done without problems in the last two Tours, what we do know It is that all his teammates gave their best versions to date but it is assumed that Roglic would not have also increased his level, especially in 2021, that year in which he was flying, being equal to Pogi in Itzulia but beating im in the TT and also being almost equal in the first two Tour de France stages before his crash, being that the only stage races where they clashed.

On the other hand, perhaps his best level was in 2021, fall aside, and that the significantly younger Pog and then Vingo raised it? We simply don't know and can only go on what actually took place and what the future may hold. The point is that anything else is mere speculation. Crashes and other setbacks are part of the sport, which have caused many a rider to achieve less than what "might have been" otherwise. Hinault's knee, Fignon's tendon, Lemond's gunshot wounds. So it's pointless to argue "if it weren't for"...blah, blah, blah.

Chance is often the dominant factor, all the other variables in ability being more or less exceptional, in the performance outcomes of a top athlete's career. In the end, it's only those performances that can be assessed with any objective criteria. So one can only hope they all stay healthy and incident free to enjoy the spectacle of the big battles amongst them.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Its hilarious to see how triggered some people get just for saying Roglič is a clear top5 rider in the world but not the second best.

Just out of interest. Who do you reckon the other four ahead of Roglič are?

 

[acm]

Just out of interest. Who do you reckon the other four ahead of Roglič are?

1. Remco
2. Remco
3. Remco
4. Remco

 

[Gargamel35]

1. Remco
2. Remco
3. Remco
4. Remco

You forgot Remco!

 

[KZD]

Just out of interest. Who do you reckon the other four ahead of Roglič are?

Pogačar is the clear number 1

Vingegård, Remco, Roglič and Van Aert complete the top5 under no specific order though Remco and Vingegård were the best last year out of these, so they can round out the podium.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Winning three Vueltas, being in a podium in the other two GTs, being cast aside for falls is now in the same league with winning a taylor-made Vuelta against a weak field bar the very same guy who keeps coming back no matter what the universe throws at him. OK.


EDIT: I hope Remco and Roglic don't have any trouble with crashes or health issues until the end of Il Giro. For us fans they have a score to settle.

 

[Lequack]

"We have won both the Tour and La Vuelta, but never the Giro. So it's a very important goal. Roglic won't make the Tour, Zeeman explains in statements to NOS. "

 

[Red Rick]

"We have won both the Tour and La Vuelta, but never the Giro. So it's a very important goal. Roglic won't make the Tour, Zeeman explains in statements to NOS. "

The Giro is before the Tour, so that doesn't really explain the no Tour decision.

I think it's most likely that Jumbo believe that if Roglic completes the Giro he won't be in good enough shape for the Tour.

 

[Andy schleck]

"We have won both the Tour and La Vuelta, but never the Giro. So it's a very important goal. Roglic won't make the Tour, Zeeman explains in statements to NOS. "

I bet roglic will do the tour after the giro. Kruijswijk and Kuss is not enough to make the race hard in the mountains.

 

[Rackham]

The Giro is before the Tour, so that doesn't really explain the no Tour decision.

I think it's most likely that Jumbo believe that if Roglic completes the Giro he won't be in good enough shape for the Tour.

Only someone in the room during their December camp knows what was said about the TdF 2023.

Based on interviews before the schedules were announced, we knew Rog had suggested he might not be ready for the Giro after his operation (hinting he'd be more ready at the TdF). We also heard some talk about Roglič wanting leadership & he couldn't get that in the TdF, so he goes to the Giro instead.

Of course now if Vingegaard in the build up towards July continues having undisclosed personal problems which affect his performance (like reportedly before Paris-Nice) & Rog is flying... then Jumbo will have a stronger Giro team than their TdF team.

But this is sport & that sort of unforeseen stuff can happen. I mean just because someone is named leader for the TdF it doesn't mean he'll be stronger. That applies to Jumbo as well. But they'll probably have to live with their pre-season choices.

 

[VeloMaster]

Primož Roglič won't be defined by comparisons to other riders. I mean this "versus Evenepoel" conversation is like a 2023 version of 2019's Nibali. Nope, Roglič in terms of legacy exists outside rivalries with his peers.
[...]

Let those wins & defeats come, i.e. it's the Rogla way. Just no bad crashes please.

This is a great post and captures why some of us rally around Primož Roglič and find him truly inspirational. He wears his emotions on the sleeve of his jersey, never gives up, and has true star quality -- whatever his 'objective' ranking among the cycling greats proves to be down the road. That and his amazing STOMPS.

IOW, he is a unique figure in today's field and must be judged, as @Rackham notes, within the context of his life as both an athlete and a human being. Otherwise, it's all just numbers -- W/kg, VAM, podium places. etc. -- and numbers cannot hold a candle to the true drama of sports.

On a personal level, Roglič is for me a shining example of overcoming physical adversity, injury, and pain. I suffered a life-threatening cycling accident and spent 2 years getting back to regular life and, eventually, to competing again, albeit as an amateur Masters rider. Watching his victory in TA was a great tonic for those occasional days when the trauma of that period returns to haunt me. In my book, he is already a cycling legend, TdF victory or not.

 

[Lequack]

Jumbo says you too can train with Rogla in Tenerife (for 2 days).
PS: I am not a fan of promotions or signing up, just putting it here in case anyone is feeling lucky.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1635659085382135808

View: https://twitter.com/JumboVismaRoad/status/1635659085382135808

 

[rokovski]

"We have won both the Tour and La Vuelta, but never the Giro. So it's a very important goal. Roglic won't make the Tour, Zeeman explains in statements to NOS. "

I think statements like these are psychological games and tactics against other (mostly UAE) teams.

 

[Oldermanish]

I bet roglic will do the tour after the giro. Kruijswijk and Kuss is not enough to make the race hard in the mountains.

As I said before, he'd have a tough decision if the Giro goes well. Another Vuelta makes perfect sense. If he really has it; Tour for whatever he can gain.
The decision will have to consider how the others fare up to the Giro. Plenty of time for drama.

 

[Rackham]

Jumbo says you too can train with Rogla in Tenerife (for 2 days).
PS: I am not a fan of promotions or signing up, just putting it here in case anyone is feeling lucky.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1635659085382135808

View: https://twitter.com/JumboVismaRoad/status/1635659085382135808

It's all giggles with these sorts of sponsor friendly offers until a bored Pogacar who just wants to lolz signs up tonight & randomly wins the draw.

Not so funny or smart then eh.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Pogačar is the clear number 1

Vingegård, Remco, Roglič and Van Aert complete the top5 under no specific order though Remco and Vingegård were the best last year out of these, so they can round out the podium.

The top 5 riders in the world is clear :

1. Pogacar
2. Evenepol
3. Roglic
4. Van der Poel
5. Vingeggard

Alaphilippe on his best form should be 4th but it looks like he's no getting 2019-21 legs back.

 

[Peyroteo94]

This is a great post and captures why some of us rally around Primož Roglič and find him truly inspirational. He wears his emotions on the sleeve of his jersey, never gives up, and has true star quality -- whatever his 'objective' ranking among the cycling greats proves to be down the road. That and his amazing STOMPS.

IOW, he is a unique figure in today's field and must be judged, as @Rackham notes, within the context of his life as both an athlete and a human being. Otherwise, it's all just numbers -- W/kg, VAM, podium places. etc. -- and numbers cannot hold a candle to the true drama of sports.

On a personal level, Roglič is for me a shining example of overcoming physical adversity, injury, and pain. I suffered a life-threatening cycling accident and spent 2 years getting back to regular life and, eventually, to competing again, albeit as an amateur Masters rider. Watching his victory in TA was a great tonic for those occasional days when the trauma of that period returns to haunt me. In my book, he is already a cycling legend, TdF victory or not.

He is not a legend. His palmares is not good enough and his riding style is not attractive. Maybe if he wins the giro and become world champion, I can put him in the category of legend

 

[Lequack]

He is not a legend. His palmares is not good enough and his riding style is not attractive. Maybe if he wins the giro and become world champion, I can put him in the category of legend

 

[noob]

where did you find this amazing pic?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Sorry but we can't vulgarize the word Legend. He isn't yet a guy who will be remember as one of the greats. He never dominated an era, his palmares is not good enough yet.

 

[Lequack]

where did you find this amazing pic?

He posted it himself on Instagrem

 

[acm]

Legend!

 

[proffate]

Pogačar is the clear number 1

Vingegård, Remco, Roglič and Van Aert complete the top5 under no specific order though Remco and Vingegård were the best last year out of these, so they can round out the podium.

Ving is not top 5. You have to be able to do more than one thing to be a top 5 rider. Pidcock is on the list.

 

[Gargamel35]

Sorry but we can't vulgarize the word Legend. He isn't yet a guy who will be remember as one of the greats. He never dominated an era, his palmares is not good enough yet.

Palmares don't defind legends. He's already one of the greats if you like it or not.