Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[jono]

The circuit wasn't very tough. The course was very hard before the circuit (hardest climb was there). RVV doesn't have a lot of vertical meters because this race before the first Kwaremont is flat. Vertical meters is not everything, we must know where is the difficulty section of the race. Zurich had a mix of climbers with pure classicomanos (Simmons, Healy, Skujins, etc).

Nearly double the total altitude meters of RVV, every rider that finished within 3 minutes of Pogacar (the top 13) is a more talented climber than Mathieu. The climb in the circuit was nearly twice as steep as Poggio or Cipressa. Enric Mas finished top 10. This was a race for climbers.

 

[hayneplane]

Molano is an interesting selection. Presumably they rate his sprinting as an attribute to help the team win or at least hold their own in the positioning battles for the first 5/6 cobbled sectors.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Molano is an interesting selection. Presumably they rate his sprinting as an attribute to help the team win or at least hold their own in the positioning battles for the first 5/6 cobbled sectors.

Rui is perfect for that.

 

[hayneplane]

Rui is perfect for that.

Just looked him up and was a DNS for DDV and not raced since so maybe he is ill.

 

[RedheadDane]

He'll need better timing attacking on the cobbles, than returning to his seats during a tennis match.

Tadej Pogačar off the pace and in trouble the day after his Tour of Flanders dominance

Slovenian and partner Urška Žigart booed by crowd after disturbing Monte Carlo tennis match

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Peyroteo94]

Just looked him up and was a DNS for DDV and not raced since so maybe he is ill.

I didn't see any news about that.

 

[hayneplane]

I didn't see any news about that.

Nor me but realistically how often do you see news about the workhorse domestiques that do much of the unseen work before the cameras start.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Nor me but realistically how often do you see news about the workhorse domestiques that do much of the unseen work before the cameras start.

I'm portuguese and our portuguese commentators on Eurosport talk regularly with our WT riders.

 

[BubbaChuck]

Cant wait to see Vermeersch with Pog on sunday.Florian data looks promising.for all that money team performance is subpar around tadej.hopefully some day del toro/ ayuso can be monsters in tour next to tadej.pogacar is greatest atrition racer in history and his talents are wasted by just going solo all the time.

 

[BubbaChuck]

you watch pog at 17 in rubaix,he was fat,lmao.no wonder uae,when thye saw his power profile were schocked.better than all belgian,french or spanis kids who are pro since 14,lol.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I don't expect a lot from Pablo Torres in the future (early bloomer) but I might regret saying this.

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[Peyroteo94]

Now compare this with Pogacar in that junior PR. These young guys are definitely skinnier.

 

[jono]

Cant wait to see Vermeersch with Pog on sunday.Florian data looks promising.for all that money team performance is subpar around tadej.hopefully some day del toro/ ayuso can be monsters in tour next to tadej.pogacar is greatest atrition racer in history and his talents are wasted by just going solo all the time.

I expect the other Vermeersch will spend more time nearer the front of the race than Florian.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I expect the other Vermeersch will spend more time nearer the front of the race than Florian.

I don't think so. I think UAE will send Vermeersch in a strong break, before Arenberg.

 

[Jan the Man]

Florian looks in good form - he and Pollitt will be the key domestiques albeit of course Gianni is excellent for Alpecin too for this race

 

[hayneplane]

I expect the other Vermeersch will spend more time nearer the front of the race than Florian.

I think both will have a key influence on the shape of the race.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Florian looks in good form - he and Pollitt will be the key domestiques albeit of course Gianni is excellent for Alpecin too for this race

Alpecin, Visma, UAE, Lidl are very good teams to be honest. What will decide the strongest are probably crashes.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I'm intrigued to see Politt and Vermeersch role on Sunday. I expect them to anticipate any move from the main group.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Chances of rain are getting lower. Wind seems moderate. A shame to be honest, I would like a wet Roubaix like 2001!

 

[Panda Claws]

It's often said that in Merckx' heyday the whole peloton rode all the same races to diminish him. Yet, is that actually true?

Even back then there were very few riders that could consistently combine GT wins and classic wins. Let alone combining cobbles with GT's.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It's often said that in Merckx' heyday the whole peloton rode all the same races to diminish him. Yet, is that actually true?

Even back then there were very few riders that could consistently combine GT wins and classic wins. Let alone combining cobbles with GT's.

But competition was weaker (the difference between first and last was massive).

 

[Peyroteo94]

I'm curious to see what UAE will do to mess with Alpecin, specially with threats like Philipsen and MVP.

 

[JoãoRamos]

I'm curious to see what UAE will do to mess with Alpecin, specially with threats like Philipsen and MVP.

They need to threat them with Nils and Florian.
And imho VDP will follow the attack depending on the part of the race.

If UAE can isolate him with Pog and Florian, then attack non-stop in every cobblestone sector.

Let's see the Hunger Games.

 

[Peyroteo94]

They need to threat them with Nils and Florian.
And imho VDP will follow the attack depending on the part of the race.

If UAE can isolate him with Pog and Florian, then attack non-stop in every cobblestone sector.

Let's see the Hunger Games.

Alpecin has a deadly team. Gianni is also very good, I think the only chance of UAE is by being well positioned and a crash happens in front of Alpecin.

 

[JoãoRamos]

Alpecin has a deadly team. Gianni is also very good, I think the only chance of UAE is by being well positioned and a crash happens in front of Alpecin.

In Pog we trust.

P-R is a war of attrition, not a race of sudden moves. The terrain may be flat, but the brutality is relentless. It’s not just the cobbles — it’s the mental and physical erosion, the constant tension, the bike handling under fatigue.

Pog’s endurance, resilience, and race IQ might be his biggest weapons here. He doesn't need a sharp climb to make the difference — he just needs the race to get hard enough, for long enough. And let's be honest, if there's one guy who could turn Roubaix into a battlefield of attrition and still have something left in the tank at Carrefour de l’Arbre, it's him.

MSR is easier and a poker, P-R is a horrible race for the riders, a death by multiple cuts.
If Pog can hang on through the chaos and stay upright, he might just do something historic.

I am confident. Can't wait anymore.