Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[CyclistAbi]

Pogacar pushes back against pressure to target Giro-Tour double

'I've never raced two Grand Tours in one year, so it's a bit risky to try next year'

www.cyclingnews.com

Yeah. What will likely happen in the future is. Basically each year to try to win the Tour. In case you win it then likely to not do another GT in that year. Not winning it likely opens up the possibility for two GTs for the next or in the same year. Likely Giro-Vuelta double for the next year. Still for that Pogačar would likely need to put some serious pressure on the team to let him do that. The team will likely always put pressure on him to win the Tour. In addition there will likely be some inner team pressure regarding cyclists like Almeida. If you are Roglič, Pogačar, Bernal ... then basically the team expects you will win the Tour. Bernal got a shot at Giro-Vuelta double as he basically cracked one year before and he needed to heal. If that wouldn't have happened likely Bernal would not ba a Giro winner as of yet. It would be expected of him to win the Tour.

Tour is a golden cage i guess. For cyclists of such caliber.

 

[jmdirt]

I'm conflicted on this, but like that he is 'pushing back'.

 

[Red Rick]

Like him skipping Giro because Vegni wants him to come so desperately

 

[yaco]

I see no reason why Pogacar ever has to ride two GT's in a season - He's talented enough to go close in any GT but more importantly he's a versatile rider who can win other races outside of GT's.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I see no reason why Pogacar ever has to ride two GT's in a season - He's talented enough to go close in any GT but more importantly he's a versatile rider who can win other races outside of GT's.

If he keeps on winning he may even have a shot at a GT record (or at joining Mercx and Hinault in exclusive double digit club). Riding two GTs per season will be worth trying then.

 

[BigCoward]

If he keeps on winning he may even have a shot at a GT record (or at joining Mercx and Hinault in exclusive double digit club). Riding two GTs per season will be worth trying then.

He could get to double digits quite easily with only TdF wins at this rate. If I were him I wouldn't even think about doubling in either 22, 23 or 24.

 

[RedheadDane]

Look who got into a very heated round in a popularity contest!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1460727859635490820

It didn't work.

 

[Jspear]

He could get to double digits quite easily with only TdF wins at this rate. If I were him I wouldn't even think about doubling in either 22, 23 or 24.

I agree. But then I think about how invincible riders can seem for a year, two or three, but then so much can change. Either with your form/level of fitness or with a new stronger rider coming onto the scene. I really Thought that Contador would have more than 2/3 tours.

 

[johnymax]

He could get to double digits quite easily with only TdF wins at this rate. If I were him I wouldn't even think about doubling in either 22, 23 or 24.

Quite easily? He'd need to win like 10 Tours in a row. Nothing easy about that.

 

[BigCoward]

He could win 5, lose one then win another 5 and he would still be younger than lance when he won his last one, doesn't have to be 10 in a row. Anyway, I was being flippant.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He could get to double digits quite easily with only TdF wins at this rate. If I were him I wouldn't even think about doubling in either 22, 23 or 24.

Assuming that Pogacar will still be in his prime when over 30 yo is risky. He reached top level very early and may well leave his prime before 30.
Plus there are other factors i.e. the competition, crashes etc. He has realistic chance at equalling or beating 5 but suggesting he can get 10 TdF is overkill (even next year is far from certain, Roglic has a decent chance to win it).

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Personally I think there's more to cycling that just the Tour. It would look so much better on his palmares if he had all 3. Maybe he needs to get them on there sooner rather than later, as people have said, if there are injuries, illness, crashes or whatever that keeps him out of racing for a while he could miss out. Get all 3 in the bag then go all out to match/beat the records in the Tour, with the odd monument thrown in. I'm not asking for a lot.

 

[YavorD]

I think next year is the perfect time to try and win the Vuelta. No matter what the outcome of to Tour is. WC does not suit him does it?), he has already won Lombardia, no Olympics etc. Nothing after the Tour that should be of any (big) interest for him.
And if he goes and wins the double, I'd think of The Giro 2023, depending of the profile of course...
He is young an it's hard to see someone beating him, but did anyone think that 2009 would be Contador's last TdF stage win?

 

[Salvarani]

I think next year is the perfect time to try and win the Vuelta. No matter what the outcome of to Tour is. WC does not suit him does it?), he has already won Lombardia, no Olympics etc. Nothing after the Tour that should be of any (big) interest for him.
And if he goes and wins the double, I'd think of The Giro 2023, depending of the profile of course...
He is young an it's hard to see someone beating him, but did anyone think that 2009 would be Contador's last TdF stage win?

The "problem" I see is if he just wants some time to recover after the Tour, if he wins it again. There is a lot of commitments and commercial aspects that comes with winning it. This year it was the Olympics instead straight after.

He still a young guy and Pogacar doesnt seem to only want to focus on riding GTs. He wants to win other races as well and he can win them.

We will just have wait to and I see how the season turns out

 

[KZD]

I think that Pogačar doesn't think about setting a GT wins record but if he wantsthat then it would be better to ride Giro-Vuelta or even Tour+one of the others for a couple of seasons because I doubt that someone that reached the top so young will be as strong as he is now at his 30s.

However I believe that he has his sights on the Tour record and also win the Giro and Vuelta once so for that he should still have plenty time.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Until Pogačar keeps winning the Tour i feel that one GT per season it is. Vuelta likely to happen the first time he won't win the Tour. As a cyclist of his caliber needs to try and secure a GT win per season. First Giro attempt likely to happen when he is a bit older or if his form would drop. But in this case the team would still likely make him ride the Tour first and to try the Giro next year.

 

[YavorD]

The "problem" I see is if he just wants some time to recover after the Tour, if he wins it again. There is a lot of commitments and commercial aspects that comes with winning it. This year it was the Olympics instead straight after.

He still a young guy and Pogacar doesnt seem to only want to focus on riding GTs. He wants to win other races as well and he can win them.

We will just have wait to and I see how the season turns out

Oh, yeah. Certainly don't expect him to ride the Vuelta after the Olympics or before "suitable" WC.
Don't even want him to go to the Vuelta dead tired like Carapaz..
That's why at the moment 2022 looks like a great option. I certainly approve his approach going for different kind of races unlike Mas (maybe down to skillset) but as the things stay, another GT will add more to his legacy than second LBL or Lombardy or any other week long stage race.
Hence why Froome 2017-like build up would be perfect
However, one of the issues with the Vuelta might be the weather.

 

[Escarabajo]

Until Pogačar keeps winning the Tour i feel that one GT per season it is. Vuelta likely to happen the first time he won't win the Tour. As a cyclist of his caliber needs to try and secure a GT win per season. First Giro attempt likely to happen when he is a bit older or if his form would drop. But in this case the team would still likely make him ride the Tour first and to try the Giro next year.

I think there is a chance for the tour - Vuelta double to happen first than the Giro-Tour double. Maybe next year since there are no Olympics. But going to the Giro is a big risk for any rider that has aspirations to win the Tour. If Pogacar decides to do the Giro you could see other teams sending strong teams to the Giro just to exhaust him. It could happen.

 

[Lequack]

He wins the golden bike, the Vélo d’Or 2021

Tadej Pogacar Vélo d’Or 2021, Julian Alaphilippe Vélo d’Or français

CYCLISME - Vélo Magazine a dévoilé les lauréats du Vélo d'Or 2021 : Tadej Pogacar reçoit le prix principal, récompensant le cycliste de l'année. Julian Alaphilippe reçoit quant à lui le Vélo d'Or français, tandis que Romain Grégoire est lui consacré chez les juniors.

dicodusport.fr

 

[Lequack]

Growing his off-season belly

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Growing his off-season belly

Now everything is clear: all in for Giro-Tour double. Pogi will be riding in grupetto during early-season mountain stages (making sheikhs angry during the UAE tour). He will need fat during the Giro as well to avoid an early peak, pretend to be Almeida's domestique and feel comfortable in cold stages. If everything goes well he will surpass the competition in the last Alpine stage or in the TT (when he achieves 80% of his form). At the Tour he will be flying OFC.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He wins the golden bike, the Vélo d’Or 2021

Thanks for translating.

Seriously though, there was only one contender.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Thanks for translating.

Seriously though, there was only one contender.

Yup, well deserved for one of the best seasons in modern cycling. Also Primoz at 2nd and Wout at 3rd are natural podium finishers this year.

 

[Red Rick]

Could find some hot takes for 3rd tbh.

Actually I think it should be Carapaz and it shouldn't be that much of a hot take.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Could find some hot takes for 3rd tbh.

Actually I think it should be Carapaz and it shouldn't be that much of a hot take.

Could be Carapaz or Corbrelli or Alaphilippe as well. WVA had a very strong season nevertheless and accumulated a lot of points/wins.