Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Fos]

And still he managed to do a strong 300 m sprint where Ganna and Pog never stood a chance. And for MVDP to hang with an all out attack by Pog when almost everyone else lost at least 40s says something about MVDP's shape. I think he is more ready than ever to take on Pog in Flanders. I say it's 50-50, but that's me.

Another way to look at it is that in 2023, MVP won much more comfortably and then clearly gave up in Flanders. So in 2025, he's been on the edge in the race that's easier for him...

 

[scribers]

I recall last year uae asserted themselves better across the capos before disintegrating at the bottleneck at the base of the cipressa.

This year it looked like they were trying a different tactic of hanging back just a bit before disintegrating again. Ineos by comparison looked very strong and it was everything for ganna to stay in contact with pogi.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Mou is still on about e3 so apparently that’s still on regardless of intentions ahead

I would prefer to see him in E3 testing MVP to RVV and give up on AGR and FW in order to compete in PR.

 

[James M]

MSR Recap: Pogacar will eventually win this race (MvdP is 30 and won’t stick around forever), and Pogacar is just getting stronger and stronger. It’s actually ridiculous how strong he is now, with that many attacks on these low gradients and that speed. The drag benefits of sitting behind all of Cipressa and 90% of Poggio when he nuked it like that are insane at that speed vs whom — that many times. It’s getting ridiculous how strong he is. Needless to say, the season is going to be fun. Pog also learned that going at Cipressa can work now with Narvaez prepping an attack. Besides him and Wellens, everyone can do better.

MvdP. Awesome win. He’s a freak, pure greatness, and one of the best classic riders Ive ever seen. This is also his specialty—these efforts and gradients and even though he benefits greatly on these gradients in the drag. It’s still mega impressive, and the guy is in the pantheon of cycling greats. The reality is he will always benefit from the drag as long as he is around because the incentive is on Pogi to go, as he has a better sprint—but MvdP won’t stick around forever pushing 30 now.

If Ganna had earned his first monument, that would also have been a good outcome as well and he too was very impressive, likely never been stronger.

Conclusion: That was an actually awesome edition for once. Grande Pog, Ganna, and MvdP—pure cyclismo and big balls, just the way we like it.

 

[James M]

It would make sense that the one glued to the wheel would benefit more from the tailwind and be dragged by the one in front. Two handicaps for the one in front.

Yes, and the first guy still has to punch through the air, which makes it massively beneficial to sit in the draft on these shallow gradients and at speeds above 40 km/h. When he attacks for sustained periods, even with a tailwind, it's massive. The drag benefits from behind are enormous, especially when repeated for that long. It's almost hard to understate how significant it is.

It's ridiculous to think about, honestly—what he did to a peloton full of strong riders on these xxxx low gradients that are barely challenging. At one point, it almost resembled a mountain stage in a GT and that couldn’t be further from the case.

Things are going to get comical, I fear, now. He's ridiculously strong.

 

[Fos]

MSR Recap: Pogacar will eventually win this race (MvdP is 30 and won’t stick around forever), and Pogacar is just getting stronger and stronger. It’s actually ridiculous how strong he is now, with that many attacks on these low gradients and that speed. The drag benefits of sitting behind all of Cipressa and 90% of Poggio when he nuked it like that are insane at that speed vs whom — that many times. It’s getting ridiculous how strong he is. Needless to say, the season is going to be fun. Pog also learned that going at Cipressa can work now with Narvaez prepping an attack. Besides him and Wellens, everyone can do better.

MvdP. Awesome win. He’s a freak, pure greatness, and one of the best classic riders Ive ever seen. This is also his specialty—these efforts and gradients and even though he benefits greatly on these gradients in the drag. It’s still mega impressive, and the guy is in the pantheon of cycling greats. The reality is he will always benefit from the drag as long as he is around because the incentive is on Pogi to go, as he has a better sprint—but MvdP won’t stick around forever pushing 30 now.

If Ganna had earned his first monument, that would also have been a good outcome as well and he too was very impressive, likely never been stronger.

Conclusion: That was an actually awesome edition for once. Grande Pog, Ganna, and MvdP—pure cyclismo and big balls, just the way we like it.

Cannot recap better

 

[2WpK]

We were privileged to watch an amazing race and 3 superstars at their peak.

 

[scribers]

Pogis greatness will be measured by the strength of his competition. Vingo and MVP and a second tier list of incredible cyclists serve to prop up his achievements

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogis greatness will be measured by the strength of his competition. Vingo and MVP and a second tier list of incredible cyclists serve to prop up his achievements

Yup, this is why if he wins everything, there is a strong case to be made about him being the best ever. In this era, against 2 generational talents like Vingegaard and MVP, what he is doing is legendary!

 

[rafa92]

pog today was at an event organized by beking and he was riding a bike I have never seen before, it might be due to the different paint job and so I might be completely wrong but to me it looks different from v4rs. It's clearly not an y1rs because the handlebars are traditional, not with that y shape. If you want to have a look at the bike check the instagram stories of beking events. I was expecting v5rs to come out in 2026 but pog might be using a protopipo version just like he did in 2022 when v4rs was not officially out yet but pog was already using the bike starting from may 2022. It would be time fo finally have an update for his all around bike, but again I migth be totally wrong, check the photos and tell what you think

 

[scribers]

It’s a whatchama 5

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Good rider but my slobenian son prefers Cristian scaroni and Mathieueu van Der poel xx

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Good rider but my slobenian son prefers Cristian scaroni and Mathieueu van Der poel xx

Is your son's name Primoz Roglic?

 

[yaf2]

pog today was at an event organized by beking and he was riding a bike I have never seen before, it might be due to the different paint job and so I might be completely wrong but to me it looks different from v4rs. It's clearly not an y1rs because the handlebars are traditional, not with that y shape. If you want to have a look at the bike check the instagram stories of beking events. I was expecting v5rs to come out in 2026 but pog might be using a protopipo version just like he did in 2022 when v4rs was not officially out yet but pog was already using the bike starting from may 2022. It would be time fo finally have an update for his all around bike, but again I migth be totally wrong, check the photos and tell what you think

https://twitter.com/x/status/1903889433159401926

View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1903889433159401926?t=v6VQI3TMfUwbaCfX7E6Jbw&s=19

Yea it looks a bit different to v4rs but i think he doesn't look comfortable riding y1rs anyway both on uae tour & yesterday so i wouldn't be surprised if he rides the whole year on v4 or this possible v5

 

[Peyroteo94]

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View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHjSg11sNI8/?igsh=ejdvb2FsamFldXJr

 

[Unchained]

Is there a betting site with odds if Pogacar will or won't do Paris Roubaix?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Is there a betting site with odds if Pogacar will or won't do Paris Roubaix?

I don't think so. This is not Politics.

 

[Peyroteo94]

This is what I think. Pogi is not used to contest classics (at least in the last 2 years) in sprints.

"Pogacar is not used to winning races like this" - Thijs Zonneveld suggests Van der Poel is too cunning for the Slovenian champion

It is thanks to Tadej Pogacar that the 2025 Milano-Sanremo will go down in the history books as one of the most entertaining editions in recent history. But despite his stunning efforts, La Primavera...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[Jan the Man]

This is what I think. Pogi is not used to contest classics (at least in the last 2 years) in sprints.

"Pogacar is not used to winning races like this" - Thijs Zonneveld suggests Van der Poel is too cunning for the Slovenian champion

It is thanks to Tadej Pogacar that the 2025 Milano-Sanremo will go down in the history books as one of the most entertaining editions in recent history. But despite his stunning efforts, La Primavera...

cyclinguptodate.com

While true he has not been used to contest in a sprint i just don’t believe he could have beaten MvP yesterday however much experience he has- MvP has a much better sprint so however much experience would not in my view made a difference to whether he could win

 

[Krzysztof_O]

This is what I think. Pogi is not used to contest classics (at least in the last 2 years) in sprints.

"Pogacar is not used to winning races like this" - Thijs Zonneveld suggests Van der Poel is too cunning for the Slovenian champion

It is thanks to Tadej Pogacar that the 2025 Milano-Sanremo will go down in the history books as one of the most entertaining editions in recent history. But despite his stunning efforts, La Primavera...

cyclinguptodate.com

Pogi is very good at sprinting against GC guys (see Lombardy or zillion stages in various races) but against big boys specializing in sprints and flatter classics it's obviously more difficult. His explosivity is awesome for a stage-racer but not at the level of very best.

 

[Jack_89]

"...but don't be fooled, I will be back for more with an amazing team..."

He knows now that the attack on Cipressa works, and with a better team ( and positioning), will have better chances in the next few years.

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View this content on Instagram

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogi is very good at sprinting against GC guys (see Lombardy or zillion stages in various races) but against big boys specializing in sprints and flatter classics it's obviously more difficult. His explosivity is awesome for a stage-racer but not at the level of very best.

I agree but he made an obvious mistake by being too far.

 

[Salvarani]

I agree but he made an obvious mistake by being too far.

He wouldnt have won the sprint either way, with MVDP being so strong in that sprint. He tried to do something different, which could have worked out. The others had slow down quite a bit. I dont think it was a bad idea, but MVDP saw it in time what was about to happen and went for it. Maybe MVDP even got it shouted to him over radio as they were filming from above. Anyway... he was strong and didnt fade one bit, so it is deserved.

 

[Mina.S]

He wouldnt have won the sprint either way, with MVDP being so strong in that sprint. He tried to do something different, which could have worked out. The others had slow down quite a bit. I dont think it was a bad idea, but MVDP saw it in time what was about to happen and went for it. Maybe MVDP even got it shouted to him over radio as they were filming from abovde. He was strong and didnt fade one bit, so it is deserved.

The issue with Pog and sprinting is that to win the tour again he had to give up some of his punch to improve on long climbs. He isn’t a bad sprinter in certain situations and he was losing to Mvdp in sprints before this change but he has definitely had to make some compromises.

 

[Salvarani]

The issue with Pog and sprinting is that to win the tour again he had to give up some of his punch to improve on long climbs. He isn’t a bad sprinter in certain situations and he was losing to Mvdp in sprints before this change but he has definitely had to make some compromises.

I dont think I agree with that. He sprinted well before and during last season. I dont see that.

He just wasnt beating MVDP here, when he showed how strong he was in that sprint. MVDP acceleration was great and he didnt fade at all. It wouldnt have mattered given that. Short or long sprint. Where the others were. They wouldnt have gotten past him.

Pog best tactic and chance might have just been to do what he attempted to do. It wasnt meant to be.