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

[Cookster15]

I sincerely doubt Pog will ever do the Vuelta when it's positioned awkwardly on the calendar for anyone targeting the Worlds - which Pog obviously does.

At what point does a missing Vuelta victory outweigh yet another mere worlds?

IMO It would be good not just for Pog but for the minor grand tours if the Giro and Vuelta scheduling were alternated every year.? But knowing how slow wheels turn this might not happen in time before Pog begins to decline.

 

[Berniece]

But how tired can Pogacar be if he's racing a post Giro Vingegaard?
Obviously it all depends how Vingegaard comes out of the Giro.

I assume Lipowitz/Evenepoel will also challenge him and make it harder

 

[YavorD]

I assume Lipowitz/Evenepoel will also challenge him and make it harder

Both of them need to improve A LOT to challenge him.
Not impossible, but I don't find it likely that both, or even any of them will challenge him. Close the gap a bit, or even cut it in half (5 minutes)? Perhaps.
Realistically challenge him? The gap is way too big.

 

[Cycling111]

At what point does a missing Vuelta victory outweigh yet another mere worlds?

IMO It would be good not just for Pog but for the minor grand tours if the Giro and Vuelta scheduling were alternated every year.? But knowing how slow wheels turn this might not happen in time before Pog begins to decline.

Achieving WC record would be a unique accomplishment.

 

[Cycling111]

I assume Lipowitz/Evenepoel will also challenge him and make it harder

Lipowitz hasn't even close to Vingegaard, second. That would be the first step, still far from first rider.

 

[Berniece]

Lipowitz hasn't even close to Vingegaard, second. That would be the first step, still far from first rider.

True, but he’s young, and getting better each year. It also helps there are two of them

 

[bNator]

Unfortunately years of bad luck kind of does represent Roglic.

Which puts his achievements in different perspective. Even though he is extraordinarily unlucky (or a terrible bike handler, doesn’t really matter now) he is still one of the most successful GC riders of his generation.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Which puts his achievements in different perspective. Even though he is extraordinarily unlucky (or a terrible bike handler, doesn’t really matter now) he is still one of the most successful GC riders of his generation.

Most of his crashes are just being in the wrong place at the wrong time like Omi-Opi and the moving hay bale of death. Just about the only one I really fault him for was the sprint one with (was it?) Fred Wright. There may be others that were his fault but I can't think of any as glaring as that.

 

[CyclistAbi]

he is still one of the most successful GC riders of his generation.

With all due respect but Rogla is not a mere generational talent on when it comes to stage racing.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

True, but he’s young, and getting better each year. It also helps there are two of them

It really depends on the level difference. If it's sufficient no group attacking will do. It payed off at the Tour 2022 because Vingegaard was just too good: he was never troubled by Pogacar in the mountains that year. Obviously Lipo is still young and can improve, Remco too. They would need a substantial leap though and hope Vingegaard doesn't improve.

 

[SHAD0W93]

With all due respect but Rogla is not a mere generational talent on when it comes to stage racing.

You think Roglic is worse than a generational talent? That’s extremely surprising.

 

[Hugh Januss]

You think Roglic is worse than a generational talent? That’s extremely surprising.

I think he's going the other way with it.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I think he's going the other way with it.

Usually it’s Roglic is then best stage racer ever so it’s surprising if he’s not a generational talent.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Usually it’s Roglic is then best stage racer ever so it’s surprising if he’s not a generational talent.

That's what I meant, he is saying that Roglic is beyond just a generational talent and is I have to suppose knocking on the door of GOAT.

 

[Cycling111]

Usually it’s Roglic is then best stage racer ever so it’s surprising if he’s not a generational talent.

TDF is the most demanding stage race because of the shape of the rivals and racing tension, so he couldn't be in a discussion of the best with those who have won several Tours. Rominger either, for the same reason.
He would be the best of the rest, Rominger could be second and then those who have won several stage races like Roberto Heras or winners of multiple Giro d'Italia and then riders who won minor stage races like Sean Kelly.
Sean Kelly won more stage races than LeMond, but it's obvious why Lemmond should be considered better stage racer. Perhaps Kelly won so many Paris-Nice because he couldn't win Tour de France. Roglic has had to compete in more Vuelta than other riders because he hasn't won or finished the Tour may times.

 

[CyclistAbi]

“I was a bit afraid to say it on the podium because Primoz was standing next to us” – Remco Evenepoel points to Roglic blueprint for 2026 Tour de France

Remco Evenepoel has openly pointed to the strategy that finally broke Tadej Pogacar’s dominance at the Tour de France as the model he wants to follow in 2026, admitting he hesitated to reference it pu...

cyclinguptodate.com

So Remco seems to understand on how to tackle Pogi.

"We just can't take six potential stage winners with Remco and Lipo" - Former INEOS DS wants to lead focused BORA for Tour de France GC ambitions

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has signed Remco Evenepoel, and the German team desires to be at the very top. At the 2026 Tour de France it will have the Olympic Champion and Florian Lipowitz aiming for...

cyclinguptodate.com

It seems that the team is still reluctant to send six potential stage winners to the Tour in the 2026 season. I guess they want to be "accountable" and are rather thinking of bringing a sprinter.

"With Remco, it's a difficult proposition" - Belgian sprinter knows being at Tour de France with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe will be hard

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's Tour de France lineup slowly begins to take shape. Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz will lead the team in its pursuit of the yellow jersey, with Mattia Cattaneo joini...

cyclinguptodate.com

On where i guess riders themself do seem realistic and understand that RBH would need to bring a strong climbers stacked team and chances for any other goals are slim.

Interesting conundrum indeed. Anyway i am satisfied with the Rogličes approach, focusing on stage racing and hopefully to win more then in the 2025 season. If wins will come early in the season then who knows on how the season will unfold in terms of the schedule.

 

[Berniece]

It seems that the team is still reluctant to send six potential stage winners to the Tour in the 2026 season. I guess they want to be "accountable" and are rather thinking of bringing a sprinter.

No, they aren’t bringing a sprinter

 

[CyclistAbi]

No, they aren’t bringing a sprinter

Last year you advocated for Jordi, what changed? Why wouldn't it make sense to bring Jordi if Remco and Lipo will mostly need to follow Pogi and the rest of the team will mostly make sure they don't lose the Tour on the flats.

 

[AmRacer]

“I was a bit afraid to say it on the podium because Primoz was standing next to us” – Remco Evenepoel points to Roglic blueprint for 2026 Tour de France

Remco Evenepoel has openly pointed to the strategy that finally broke Tadej Pogacar’s dominance at the Tour de France as the model he wants to follow in 2026, admitting he hesitated to reference it pu...

cyclinguptodate.com

So Remco seems to understand on how to tackle Pogi.

"We just can't take six potential stage winners with Remco and Lipo" - Former INEOS DS wants to lead focused BORA for Tour de France GC ambitions

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has signed Remco Evenepoel, and the German team desires to be at the very top. At the 2026 Tour de France it will have the Olympic Champion and Florian Lipowitz aiming for...

cyclinguptodate.com

It seems that the team is still reluctant to send six potential stage winners to the Tour in the 2026 season. I guess they want to be "accountable" and are rather thinking of bringing a sprinter.

"With Remco, it's a difficult proposition" - Belgian sprinter knows being at Tour de France with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe will be hard

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's Tour de France lineup slowly begins to take shape. Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz will lead the team in its pursuit of the yellow jersey, with Mattia Cattaneo joini...

cyclinguptodate.com

On where i guess riders themself do seem realistic and understand that RBH would need to bring a strong climbers stacked team and chances for any other goals are slim.

Interesting conundrum indeed. Anyway i am satisfied with the Rogličes approach, focusing on stage racing and hopefully to win more then in the 2025 season. If wins will come early in the season then who knows on how the season will unfold in terms of the schedule.

So, they will only help Jonas winning then. Jonas just follow Pogi and the RBH riders waiting for them tiring each other, and then attack for the win.

 

[Berniece]

Last year you advocated for Jordi, what changed? Why wouldn't it make sense to bring Jordi if Remco and Lipo will mostly need to follow Pogi and the rest of the team will mostly make sure they don't lose the Tour on the flats.

I’m saying what RBH is saying. They aren’t bringing a sprinter.

 

[CyclistAbi]

So, they will only help Jonas winning then. Jonas just follow Pogi and the RBH riders waiting for them tiring each other, and then attack for the win.

Accountability is the key here, i guess.

I’m saying what RBH is saying. They aren’t bringing a sprinter.

Should they?

 

[Berniece]

Should they?

Meeus didn’t really show last year he is up to the task, so no

 

[CyclistAbi]

Meeus didn’t really show last year he is up to the task, so no

I see. Well it's a long shot but maybe Jordi will have a stellar pre Tour season in terms of the results, best to wait and see. For now i don't see him listed for Giro. And maybe some, especially younger, riders will be in good form and it will make sense to take them and to go stage hunting at the Tour. We'll see.

Vuelta looks rather hard and i assume Rogla will have strong and dedicated support over there, considering the idea is to win it. Anyway, first things first, lets try to open the season with a couple of wins, then things should get a tad easier.

 

[Berniece]

I see. Well it's a long shot but maybe Jordi will have a stellar pre Tour season in terms of the results, best to wait and see. For now i don't see him listed for Giro. And maybe some, especially younger, riders will be in good form and it will make sense to take them and to go stage hunting at the Tour. We'll see.

Vuelta looks rather hard and i assume Rogla will have strong and dedicated support over there, considering the idea is to win it. Anyway, first things first, lets try to open the season with a couple of wins, then things should get a tad easier.

Stage hunting when they want to win the TDF? The only that could do that was Roglic and he isn’t going

 

[CyclistAbi]

Stage hunting when they want to win the TDF? The only that could do that was Roglic and he isn’t going

I mean that is what a whole lot of people suggested last year, for RBH to bring a sprinter and a bunch of kids that will do stage hunting, to the Tour 2025. To me that always sounded a bit whacked, to put it mildly, but likely i was missing something. Anyway, good then, if the plan for the 2026 attempt is to take it more seriously. I support that.