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

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So Vlasov and Hindley did not pull for Rog straight away in stage 2, thus leading us to suspect that they think they could go for GC themselves (also Johan Bruyneel said in his podcast that he heard that BORA are with 3 leaders). Where were they today? Unfortunately, it seems like he chose a joke of a team.
Regarding Rog himself, I do not think us, his fans, were expecting him to be more than 1min down after 4 stages, but let us hope that he tuned his form to just go up during this Tour. Many things can change during 21 stages, so there is no reason for desperation. However, it must be said that Pog looks like a guy from an another planet.

If someone had asked, I would have said me.

He's been down in most races he competes in recently after the first stages. Pog was always coming in hot. That's not news. Rog was 44 seconds down on Evenepoel in the Giro last year. He's a bit of a diesel these days.

So no, I clearly didn't imagine Rog hanging out with Pog for 3 weeks straight (or Vinge if he miraculously showed up with top form, which he almost did). That's not his style or history as a rider. But he does have one or two super performances in his legs. That's the part everyone always underestimates, i.e. his ability to go from losing a minute on Bejes to winning Angliru in the space of 24 hours.

So the question is 'where' he'll fire his bullets, rather than 'if', IMO. That's why based on his current GC a podium spot is well within his potential in this TdF.
 
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Guys, you are too optimistic. This guy is completely cooked and he is hanging on for dear life when it matters. He lost 38 seconds to Pogacar in 800m, this is immense!!
I mean it depends on one's expectations going in. If you thought he could win? Yeah, he's not gonna win barring accidents. But if (like me) you thought he was a podium contender? He's right there. Strong ride today, and in the big mountains is where it counts.

Remco showed up stronger than a lot of folks thought he would. Vingegaard for sure as well. Makes Roglič's (IMO) excellent performance to this point look like coming up short.

It's early. He's good in the high mountains. Podium is certainly in play.
 
I mean it depends on one's expectations going in. If you thought he could win? Yeah, he's not gonna win barring accidents. But if (like me) you thought he was a podium contender? He's right there. Strong ride today, and in the big mountains is where it counts.

Remco showed up stronger than a lot of folks thought he would. Vingegaard for sure as well. Makes Roglič's (IMO) excellent performance to this point look like coming up short.

It's early. He's good in the high mountains. Podium is certainly in play.
Can't see him on the podium to be honest
 
Was he on his own? I thought he was with Rodriguez as they caught up to Jonas...
He was on his own and rode through, Rodriguez was caught and collaborated I think. I didn't see the catch but he was the last one over the top from the abbreviated broadcast I saw.
NBC feed was OK, another Euro feed the commentators were foaming at the mouth and the broadcast highlight just showed part of the descent between Pogi and Jonas.
 
He shows up for the first TT or his race for the podium looks done. Riders that keep losing time in the first week rarely magically come to life later in the race especially against this opposition. 1.14 down already is the worst possible start for him and the team doesn't look strong on the climbs so far, then again neither does Visma.
 
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I mean it depends on one's expectations going in. If you thought he could win? Yeah, he's not gonna win barring accidents. But if (like me) you thought he was a podium contender? He's right there. Strong ride today, and in the big mountains is where it counts.

Remco showed up stronger than a lot of folks thought he would. Vingegaard for sure as well. Makes Roglič's (IMO) excellent performance to this point look like coming up short.

It's early. He's good in the high mountains. Podium is certainly in play.
After further consideration, I don’t think we are seeing Roglic on the level of the Vuelta. Or previous top performances. Looking at watts, looking at his performance relative to others in this race, he’s just not where he should be. He hasn’t been terrible, and he’s clearly been better than the last stage of the Dauphine, but he’s not at peak.

Remco seems to be at peak, likely a new peak. And Landa is in many ways a marvel. He was arguably the best climber in the 2015 Giro and here is in 2024 riding with the best…
 
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He shows up for the first TT or his race for the podium looks done. Riders that keep losing time in the first week rarely magically come to life later in the race especially against this opposition. 1.14 down already is the worst possible start for him and the team doesn't look strong on the climbs so far, then again neither does Visma.
I'm sure being down more then 1.14 with a crash already would be much worse?

So being down 1.14 without a crash is actually pretty ok.
 
He shows up for the first TT or his race for the podium looks done. Riders that keep losing time in the first week rarely magically come to life later in the race especially against this opposition. 1.14 down already is the worst possible start for him and the team doesn't look strong on the climbs so far, then again neither does Visma.

'Rarely' except always. Like Carlos Rodriguez last year (dropped on Grand-Colombier by even Tom Pidcock, then winner on Joux Plane), or Pog last year (dropped on Marie Blanque, winner on Cauterets). In fact Vingegaard as well (dropped on Cauterets & Puy de Dôme... & you know the rest). I'm sure everyone has plenty of examples but Pog again back in 2020: dropped on Loze, winner on LPDBF.

The level is so insanely high these days, so these guys are dropping each other all the time based on their form on a particular stage & the profile of that stage (small variables in rider physiology & preferred stage profiles can create differences in either direction).

So I think everyone in the top 8 finishers yesterday has very good legs in this TdF & can do good things, even the riders hanging on at the back like Rogla.
 
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He shows up for the first TT or his race for the podium looks done. Riders that keep losing time in the first week rarely magically come to life later in the race especially against this opposition. 1.14 down already is the worst possible start for him and the team doesn't look strong on the climbs so far, then again neither does Visma.
yeah, I mean for podium sake Rogla only needs one of Remco or Vingegaard to fade or crash in terms of having the podium within reach.

His team can't do that much for him anyway if he isn't the third strongest rider he ain't getting on that podium(usually).

If Rogla on the other hand magically finds his legs and is the strongest rider in the race, the team might get extra motivated, alwyas more fun to kill yourself riding for a winner.
 
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'Rarely' except always. Like Carlos Rodriguez last year (dropped on Grand-Colombier by even Tom Pidcock, then winner on Joux Plane), or Pog last year (dropped on Marie Blanque, winner on Cauterets). In fact Vingegaard as well (dropped on Cauterets & Puy de Dôme... & you know the rest). I'm sure everyone has plenty of examples but Pog again back in 2020: dropped on Loze, winner on LPDBF.

The level is so insanely high these days, so these guys are dropping each other all the time based on their form on a particular stage & the profile of that stage (small variables in rider physiology & preferred stage profiles can create differences in either direction).

So I think everyone in the top 8 finishers yesterday has very good legs in this TdF & can do good things, even the riders hanging on at the back like Rogla.
Sure but Roglic was dropped on the first hilly stage and the first mountain stage. It wouldn't matter so much if he had a better TT than Remco, Pogacar and Vingegaard but he doesn't. Simon Yates has lost over 4 minutes already so it could be worse. A really good TT would give me more faith about Roglic currently. Rodriguez looked good yesterday. The UAE team are looking very strong as expected. Early days but he can't afford to keep losing seconds in the first half of the race.
 
Yes he is close to his 2023 Vuelta (not quite there yet). But this is the Tour, he is not facing Vingegaard after coming from holidays. Yes, Vingegaard spent all his time in Danmark after the Tour. Route is not so good for him, he doesn’t have 20 km climbs in Vuelta. Pogacar is here, so his Kryptonite is here. He can still make the podium but needs a scenario like 2014 Nibali to win the race.
 
Agreed, Roglic needs a really good ITT to have some positive indications looking forward. If he falls flat there, the only hope is that he really prepared for week 3. But if he keeps shedding time, unless he completely changes his riding style and starts attacking from further out, he won't have a chance unless rivals fall apart (which isn't impossible). The part I am most surprised by so far is that on the two climbs, he hasn't had the legs to even attempt to follow the attacks, unlike Remco. He's frankly riding a bit like Louis Meintjes so far. But he's limited his losses pretty well and is not out of it.

Edit: And I’m still pulling hard for him!
 
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He shows up for the first TT or his race for the podium looks done. Riders that keep losing time in the first week rarely magically come to life later in the race especially against this opposition. 1.14 down already is the worst possible start for him and the team doesn't look strong on the climbs so far, then again neither does Visma.
Agreed. Half of his time loss is due to not being attentive and then showing controlled effort on Galibier.
Time for Primoz to make a move and statement in the TT or expect others to fold in the last week.
I wouldn't bet on all comers exiting and giving him a clear path.
Arriba Primoz!