Strade Bianche 2025, March 8, one-day classic (men's)

[Pozzovivo]

Matteo is not racing SB because he (and Visma) knows he will race for second.

It almost feels like that sometimes but how do you know?

Podium at Strade and fighting for W at Tirreno is still better than doing lead-out for Jonas at PN. So strange.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He is a world class rider in his prime and the number of previous wins is irrelevant. Clearly top 10 rider imo. Closest rider to Pogacar in terms of versatility. Can conceivably win a GT and RVV. Only one other guy can do that.

Never said he was held back by Visma in terms of level. I said his race schedule is very strange given he can win Tirreno and podium Strade. Riding in support of Jonas in a race he won last year doesen't seem to be a good use of resources for me.

Do you really think he can win RVV?

 

[Pozzovivo]

Do you really think he can win RVV?

I think so. He's 3rd favorite behind MVDP and Pog in my book(!). Came 9th in a group sprinting for 3rd at Movistar in 23. He's so much better now.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It almost feels like that sometimes but how do you know?

Podium at Strade and fighting for W at Tirreno is still better than doing lead-out for Jonas at PN. So strange.

Easy to think that when in the only WT stage race in February, they send literally zero riders for the GC in the UAE Tour. Only WT race in February. Look to their team in the opening weekend and compare with SB. It's night and day. Matteo could do TA and race SB but no, better to be a domestique for Vingegaard there after winning this race last year. It's too obvious they try to avoid in some races to avoid getting spanked by Pogacar and maximize their chsnces of winning where is Vingegaard.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think so. He's 3rd favorite behind MVDP and Pog in my book(!). Came 9th in a group sprinting for 3rd at Movistar in 23. He's so much better now.

So is Pogacar as MVP. There is zero chances he wins RVV (excluding crashes or mechanicals in critical moments).

 

[Pozzovivo]

So is Pogacar as MVP. There is zero chances he wins RVV (excluding crashes or mechanicals in critical moments).

Zero, that's too pessimistic but small chance for sure. He can conceivably win, and if Pog and MVDP don't get a clean run he is my favorite actually. But you may disagree.

 

[YavorD]

They don't want to admit but they are afraid of Pogacar. So they send their top riders to other races. They can't run away all season and one day they will have to face him (monuments and GTs).

If Pogacar doesn't do the Vuelta, can we say that he is afraid of Vingegaard then?
These avoiding things go way out of line nowadays.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Easy to think that when in the only WT stage race in February, they send literally zero riders for the GC in the UAE Tour. Only WT race in February. Look to their team in the opening weekend and compare with SB. It's night and day. Matteo could do TA and race SB but no, better to be a domestique for Vingegaard there after winning this race last year. It's too obvious they try to avoid in some races to get spanked by Pogacar and maximize their chsnces of winning where is Vingegaard.

Yeah, agree.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Zero, that's too pessimistic but small chance for sure. He can conceivably win, and if Pog and MVDP don't get a clean run he is my favorite actually. But you may disagree.

Wout will still be better than him. Matteo already went to altitude, Wout is going now. I know Pogacar only does altitude in May and June. I don't know if MVP did one in February.

 

[Peyroteo94]

If Pogacar doesn't do the Vuelta, can we say that he is afraid of Vingegaard then?
These avoiding things go way out of line nowadays.

I was not talking about Vingegaard. I already made my point so you can read here before this post.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Wout will still be better than him. Matteo already went to altitude, Wout is going now. I know Pogacar only does altitude in May and June. I don't know if MVP did one in February.

Wout is probably the 3rd favorite for most people but I think Jorgenson has a higher chance of winnning. MvDP and Pog won't let Wout get minutes but Jorgenson could conceivably. Also, I think Jorgenson can straight up drop wout on Paterberg etc.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Wout is probably the 3rd favorite for most people but I think Jorgenson has a higher chance of winnning. MvDP and Pog won't let Wout get minutes but Jorgenson could conceivably. Also, I think Jorgenson can straight up drop wout on Paterberg etc.

UAE and Alpecin are too strong to let Matteo going away with a 2 minutes gap.

 

[YavorD]

I was not talking about Vingegaard. I already made my point so you can read here before this post.

In the post I respond to you've made a point that Visma are afraid of Pogacar. And you still support that theory.
And I simply asked you can we apply the same logic if Pogacar doesn't do the Vuelta, especially if Vingegaard beats him in the Tour?
Can we then say "Pogacar is afraid of Vingegaard and that's why he isn't doing the Vuelta" or not?

Because if we can't, then you're applying double standards. If Pogacar skips a race where the others are present, "he is choosing his priorities". If Visma skips a race, they are suddenly "afraid if Pogacar".

 

[Peyroteo94]

In the post I respond to you've made a point that Visma are afraid of Pogacar. And you still support that theory.
And I simply asked you can we apply the same logic if Pogacar doesn't do the Vuelta, especially if Vingegaard beats him in the Tour?
Can we then say "Pogacar is afraid of Vingegaard and that's why he isn't doing the Vuelta" or not?

Because if we can't, then you're applying double standards. If Pogacar skips a race where the others are present, "he is choosing his priorities". If Visma skips a race they are suddenly "afraid if Pogacar".

Pogacar's schedule is so heavy that it is understandable his schedule can be more open due to lack of long periods of rest. Fighting Vingegaard in the Tour is tough and he isn't doing a light program in the spring like Vingegaard so it is possible he feels more fatigue in August.

 

[yaco]

I'll take my chance.

La Samyn today was a good race.

 

[yaco]

I think so. He's 3rd favorite behind MVDP and Pog in my book(!). Came 9th in a group sprinting for 3rd at Movistar in 23. He's so much better now.

I have my query about Jorgensen in a 250km+ race.

 

[YavorD]

Pogacar's schedule is so heavy that it is understandable his schedule can be more open due to lack of long periods of rest. Fighting Vingegaard in the Tour is tough and he isn't doing a light program in the spring like Vingegaard so it is possible he feels more fatigue in August.

So he is doing extra races (like Amstel, FW, E3...) to have an excuse to avoid Vingegaard then?
Because with only UAE Tour and monuments in the spring, his schedule isn't that hard.
That statement sounds ridiculous, right?
So is very likely yours that "Visma are afraid"

Van Aert hasn't done Strade since 2021. Is it because of Pogacar even in 2023?
Van Aert doesn't do MSR second year in a row, despite beating Pogacar in 2023.

Did it occur to you that scheduling MAY have more in common with what teams think would be the best preparation for their biggest goals than looking at Pogacar's schedule?
Yes? No?

 

[Netserk]

Easy to think that when in the only WT stage race in February, they send literally zero riders for the GC in the UAE Tour. Only WT race in February. Look to their team in the opening weekend and compare with SB. It's night and day. Matteo could do TA and race SB but no, better to be a domestique for Vingegaard there after winning this race last year. It's too obvious they try to avoid in some races to avoid getting spanked by Pogacar and maximize their chsnces of winning where is Vingegaard.

They offered Jorgenson leadership in Strade and Tirreno, but it was his choice to race PN.

 

[red_flanders]

In the post I respond to you've made a point that Visma are afraid of Pogacar. And you still support that theory.
And I simply asked you can we apply the same logic if Pogacar doesn't do the Vuelta, especially if Vingegaard beats him in the Tour?
Can we then say "Pogacar is afraid of Vingegaard and that's why he isn't doing the Vuelta" or not?

Because if we can't, then you're applying double standards. If Pogacar skips a race where the others are present, "he is choosing his priorities". If Visma skips a race, they are suddenly "afraid if Pogacar".

I mean we all watch the sport, right? We all get from watching him for about an hour that Pogacar is afraid of exactly…no one, right?

I mean… come on. The dude just wants to pin on a number and race. Every time out.

 

[YavorD]

I mean we all watch the sport, right? We all get from watching him for about an hour that Pogacar is afraid of exactly…no one, right?

I mean… come on. The dude just wants to pin on a number and race. Every time out.

For what's worth, I think he was afraid to go h2h with Vingegaard (not a fan of "afraid" theory. but people love using it, so..) in TdF 2024 after 2 defeats.
Abd that's why he went to the Giro before the Tour. So he can have a GT and an excuse if..

 

[hayneplane]

They offered Jorgenson leadership in Strade and Tirreno, but it was his choice to race PN.

I know it’s an honour to race with the number 1 on their bike as defending champion in a prestigious race but it feels odd to me that he would sacrifice leadership at Tirreno, in an equally important race that he has yet to win, in order to work for Jonas at PN.

 

[Netserk]

I know it’s an honour to race with the number 1 on their bike as defending champion in a prestigious race but it feels odd to me that he would sacrifice leadership at Tirreno, in an equally important race that he has yet to win, in order to work for Jonas at PN.

I don't think he'll work for Vingegaard. Not before Col d'Èze.

 

[red_flanders]

For what's worth, I think he was afraid to go h2h with Vingegaard (not a fan of "afraid" theory. but people love using it, so..) in TdF 2024 after 2 defeats.
Abd that's why he went to the Giro before the Tour. So he can have a GT and an excuse if..

Hard to imagine agreeing less.

 

[yaco]

I know it’s an honour to race with the number 1 on their bike as defending champion in a prestigious race but it feels odd to me that he would sacrifice leadership at Tirreno, in an equally important race that he has yet to win, in order to work for Jonas at PN.

Would he be the leader at TA with S.Yates on the start list?

 

[hayneplane]

Would he be the leader at TA with S.Yates on the start list?

At least co-leader with neither expected to work for the other until one is clearly better placed to win.