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He missed that little bit today to be with the front group of 5. Normally he should have been there, considering his form lately. Probably just a bad day. Too bad he didn't win Fleche, he was so close. But it's OK. Now onto the Tour. Pogačar will be the favourite, but Rogla will have his chances. Then Olympics, where he will form a formidable duo with Pogi and the final goal of the year, Il Lombardia.
He missed that little bit today to be with the front group of 5. Normally he should have been there, considering his form lately. Probably just a bad day. Too bad he didn't win Fleche, he was so close. But it's OK. Now onto the Tour. Pogačar will be the favourite, but Rogla will have his chances. Then Olympics, where he will form a formidable duo with Pogi and the final goal of the year, Il Lombardia.
Yes, TJV weren't that strong of a team in the Ardennes. They looked the best in AGR where of course Primož was used as a domestique. Even if you look only at names on paper they aren't that strong. That's why they didn't control the race when things started to get more heated and I also think both in FW and LBL there was nobody to help Primož with positioning in the finale, because simply there was no rider on the team that could have done that job. Vingegaard was there in the end, but his job was to follow the attacks from other strong teams. You could see them talk before Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Probably Primož told him, he isn't feeling the best so no need to up the pace on the climb. They should definitely bring a couple of stronger riders next year. Maybe van Aert should try LBL, Bennett would be an interesting option as well. Having said that, it doesn't change the fact that today Rogla just didn't have the legs to win.All I saw all over the leader's group today were Ineos, UAE & Deceuninck guys whilst JV were nowhere. Roglic meanwhile had one of his A-Typical off days (which happened a couple of times in the Vuelta last year).
No big deal, i.e. it's not like Michael Woods is suddenly better than Primoz, so whatever happened today is by & large purely down to one day race scenarios which won't happen in the Tour.
think it may be simply a matter of endurance (and recovery).
pog is better the longer the race.
pog is also better come the third week.
His UAE teammates are proven commodities in a race like LBL. It's not surprising to see Hirschi and Formolo being much better than any Jumbo Visma domestique yesterday (ie it's not a matter of freshness but of overall level).Pog hadn't raced since Itzulia Basque Country until yesterday. Even his UAE teammates were all over the front of the race (at one point they surrounded Primoz when he was trying to chase the leader group).
Roglic didn't necessarily have that much of an "off" day but, after 150 miles was minorly inattentive. He's used to being able to apply power to overcome minor gaps and went to sleep on that steep ramp at 12+km behind two of Pogi's teammates. He didn't move outside their amateur blocking move and see the gap until the escaping group had 10 seconds. Then he was in the position of immediately closing that gap or hoping for help. The time he took to respond was the Race Moment and he'll probably play that one through his mind a few times, late at night in the future. He spent more energy attempting to bring them back after that than had he responded immediately, for sure. That's racing and he can't win them all. He applied some serious power trying to close to the front and that was admirable.It's all master tactics by Jumbo Visma team guys, this is next level, even more brilliant than that at Basque Country and putting leaders jersey on McNulty shoulders. Now people will think Roglic is also a human and can have an off day. With Pogacar winning and being that dominant, other teams will work with Jumbo in Tour to destroy UAE and Pogacar. They will rather work with Jumbo and Roglic and hope for his off day, than watch the uncrackable robot Pogacar destroy them all.
It looks like he's having fun and enjoying the life. Better than the over analytical sociopathic stars of the past that had no other interests. It's good for a kid to know that you don't always win; even when you're supposed to be the best. Hell, it was Valverde's 60th birthday and he got no gifts!
The way his teammates talk about him he's a great, funny guy to have in the team.It looks like he's having fun and enjoying the life. Better than the over analytical sociopathic stars of the past that had no other interests. It's good for a kid to know that you don't always win; even when you're supposed to be the best. Hell, it was Valverde's 60th birthday and he got no gifts!
He missed that little bit today to be with the front group of 5. Normally he should have been there, considering his form lately. Probably just a bad day. Too bad he didn't win Fleche, he was so close. But it's OK. Now onto the Tour. Pogačar will be the favourite, but Rogla will have his chances. Then Olympics, where he will form a formidable duo with Pogi and the final goal of the year, Il Lombardia.
Can't help but find it funny they decided to put Gesink next to 2 Van Aert and Roglic. Feel like he shouldn't quite be up there with the other two...If he really skips the Slovenian Championship (which he apparently will), then that's the last time we see Primoz in the yellow & blue mountains iconic jersey.
Onto the Tour where he'll be wearing this new black one:
Don't disrespect the Condor of Varsseveld!Can't help but find it funny they decided to put Gesink next to 2 Van Aert and Roglic. Feel like he shouldn't quite be up there with the other two...