Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Rou]

If he ever wants to win a PR, it's not a waste of time to have done it the first time.
Not even Merckx won it the first time.

The mistakes he made this year are something he needs to keep in mind for the future. Also, you should have seen the fatigue it causes him afterward.
I doubt he'll do the Amstel other year after the PR.

Nothing he's done so far has been a waste of time, except for Amstel and, I think, Flecha. I agree with that. The rest is necessary. If he wants to win San Remo, he has to try every year, and PR should have known him sooner or later and seen the consequences it leaves behind.

If he thought like that, he'd be at home like Vingegaard until the Dauphine. Racing only Tirreno and winning it easily. He already knows he can easily win Paris-Nice, but he likes the classics. It's important to stay motivated in this sport.

If I had Pog's talent I would be doing 2 big one week races every spring + 2 Grand Tours every year and retire with 180+ pro wins. Pogi likes the adrenaline of the classics and winning '' easy'' races is boring for him. I applaud him for that.

 

[rafa92]

Not a huge waste... but maybe learning that if you go for it all, you might end up with little (in terms of wins).

it's exactly what I'm saying, wanting too much he might end up with very little, that's a huge waste

 

[scribers]

Best race was by Skj.

Fair enough by results. But without Remco, he gets swallowed back up by the peloton and Pogi eeks out a win by 1 minute.

 

[Cycling111]

Naw. Rou bro overreacting here. @Cycling111 got this one nailed in. Pogi paid a single and substantial cost for P-R. And all he had to do was stay in until the final circuit for a credible shot at winning.

Vuelta participation depends on the difficulty of July.

In fact, I think the Slovenian coach unwittingly did him a favor by not taking Urska to the Olympics.
If Pogacar had extended his form for two more weeks until Paris, he wouldn't have been in such good shape for the World Championships and Autumn.

Everyone went to the Olympics from the Tour de France, but Pogacar did the Giro-Tour.

Pogacar isn't so clueless, that's why he doesn't confirm Vuelta.
If he doesn't confirm it, it's because he thinks it could complicate for Rwanda.
That's why I'm surprised he's going to FW.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I think he was also the favorite here, if he hadn´t participated in the PR.

I've been saying all week that Pogacar's achievement in the PR has been underestimated.
Not only because of his great result in his debut, also because it must have been especially difficult for him.

All the specialists say that the next week to Paris-Roubaix is the worst because it leaves them very fatigued. VDP said he was exhausted in Amstel last year.

For someone as weight as Pogacar, Paris-Roubaix must have been physically hard; even if he finished second, the effects for him must have been terrible. They are already the same for specialists and heavier cyclists.

This, a lighter rider should take even more of a pounding in Paris-Roubaix and need more time to recover.

 

[Cycling111]

Pogacar has won a Liege in a sprint against Alaphilipe who was word champions at this moment, and is the last rider to have beaten Pedersen twice in a long-distance race (worlds and San Remo)

He isn´t a sprinter but someone who beats Pedersen twice cannot be said to be overrated.

 

[scribers]

In fact, I think the Slovenian coach unwittingly did him a favor by not taking Urska to the Olympics.
If Pogacar had extended his form for two more weeks until Paris, he wouldn't have been in such good shape for the World Championships and Autumn.

Everyone went to the Olympics from the Tour de France, but Pogacar did the Giro-Tour.

Pogacar isn't so clueless, that's why he doesn't confirm Vuelta.
If he doesn't confirm it, it's because he thinks it could complicate for Rwanda.
That's why I'm surprised he's going to FW.

We have to accept Pog said after the tour he was pulling out of the olympics because of energy rather than polemics with the federation. So yes, he does have some awareness of his depth of ability. Today though, attacking that far out was about the least intelligent thing I can recall him doing. Let alaphillip go and stay with the serious attacks from behind him.

The FW could just be something of a respect to race organizers, or some other business arrangement. I would be surprised if he lines up. It's a less important race than the monument days later and he needs energy to win that. Remco will be a big problem.

 

[Cycling111]

We have to accept Pog said after the tour he was pulling out of the olympics because of energy rather than polemics with the federation. So yes, he does have some awareness of his depth of ability. Today though, attacking that far out was about the least intelligent thing I can recall him doing. Let alaphillip go and stay with the serious attacks from behind him.

The FW could just be something of a respect to race organizers, or some other business arrangement. I would be surprised if he lines up. It's a less important race than the monument days later and he needs energy to win that. Remco will be a big problem.

Flanders Classics doesn´t pay to go to FW.
I don't think Pogacar will compromise his fitness for a race he's already won.
Vuelta would be a bigger compromise and he doesn´t confirm it.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Given that the attacks are in the last 300m of a 200km race it wouldn't be a monstrous effort...but the question is psychological and only he knows the truth. Is he in a declining phase? Or is it just a bad day? (like le lioran 2024)? In the first case he has to recover for Liege, in the second he can even try the FW if is well. But he has to be careful, a second defeat in 3 days would give a further boost to the opponents who are already pumped. Pogacar can't afford to lose .

Let him rest 2 days, then go hard for 2 days and rest for LBL

 

[Peyroteo94]

He basically confirmed in an interview after the race that he'll do both Fleche and Liege.

Jesus Christ. He is crazy!

 

[Peyroteo94]

In fact, I think the Slovenian coach unwittingly did him a favor by not taking Urska to the Olympics.
If Pogacar had extended his form for two more weeks until Paris, he wouldn't have been in such good shape for the World Championships and Autumn.

Everyone went to the Olympics from the Tour de France, but Pogacar did the Giro-Tour.

Pogacar isn't so clueless, that's why he doesn't confirm Vuelta.
If he doesn't confirm it, it's because he thinks it could complicate for Rwanda.
That's why I'm surprised he's going to FW.

Going to FW is a huge mistake. It would only make sense if he had won AGR

 

[Rou]

Description of Amstel Gold with one picture.

 

[Salvarani]

it's exactly what I'm saying, wanting too much he might end up with very little, that's a huge waste

Not a waste, but a risky strategy.

I think he should have probably decided between a PR attempt or Ardennes, but it is not what they did. Now they are here and will just have to make the best of it. We will see what happens next week. Uncharted territory for him on how his body reacts to this. Nobody really knows yet. I think he is in disadvantage here, but I am not surprised if he somehow pulls it off either. Obviously I hope for the latter, but I dont have him as the favorite for next Sunday right now.

I hope they will think about this more in the future and that you cant combine everything. He will have to leave some races off the board every year, depending on what he aims to do.

I think last year, they got it right. This year they might have taken on a bit much.

When doing cobbles, especially Ronde + PR combo, he probably should skip Ardennes and take a break to then prepare for Tour. Only do one GT.

When not doing cobbles... he can do MSR + LBL and a Tour + Vuelta attempt, that should probably come next.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Description of Amstel Gold with one picture.

So this was a Mickey Mouse race?

 

[rafa92]

If he ever wants to win a PR, it's not a waste of time to have done it the first time.
Not even Merckx won it the first time.

The mistakes he made this year are something he needs to keep in mind for the future. Also, you should have seen the fatigue it causes him afterward.
I doubt he'll do the Amstel other year after the PR.

Nothing he's done so far has been a waste of time, except for Amstel and, I think, Flecha. I agree with that. The rest is necessary. If he wants to win San Remo, he has to try every year, and PR should have known him sooner or later and seen the consequences it leaves behind.

If he thought like that, he'd be at home like Vingegaard until the Dauphine. Racing only Tirreno and winning it easily. He already knows he can easily win Paris-Nice, but he likes the classics. It's important to stay motivated in this sport.

that's exactly what I'm sayng, of course PR was not a waste of time but doing agr and fleche doesn't make any sense, he might have compromised his chances in liege because he'll arrive there cooked

 

[Peyroteo94]

Not a waste, but a risky strategy.

I think he should have probably decided between a PR attempt or Ardennes, but it is not what they did. Now they are here and will just have to make the best of it. We will see what happens next week. Uncharted territory for him on how his body reacts to this. Nobody really knows yet. I think he is in disadvantage here, but I am not surprised if he somehow pulls it off either. Obviously I hope for the latter, but I dont have him as the favorite for next Sunday right now.

I hope they will think about this more in the future and that you cant combine everything. He will have to leave some races off the board every year, depending on what he aims to do.

I think last year, they got it right. This year they might have taken on a bit much.

When doing cobbles, especially Ronde + PR combo, he probably should skip Ardennes and take a break to then prepare for Tour. Only do one GT.

When not doing cobbles... he can do MSR + LBL and a Tour + Vuelta attempt, that should probably come next.

His schedule should be:
UAE Tour
SB
MSR
RVV
PR
LBL

Now I can see that. With 2 weeks after PR, he would be okay

 

[Salvarani]

that's exactly what I'm sayng, of course PR was not a waste of time but doing agr and fleche doesn't make any sense, he might have compromised his chances in liege because he'll arrive there cooked

It was too much to think about doing an Ardennes treble here after PR. Just as it is that he would race and win the Vuelta later, after racing the whole spring and the Tour.

It would be too much even for him and poor management.

 

[Lorzenz08]

I think next year he could skip SB. He won it enough times. And start with MSR.
That would already lighten his schedule by a couple of weeks.

 

[Lorzenz08]

His schedule should be:
UAE Tour
SB
MSR
RVV
PR
LBL

Now I can see that. With 2 weeks after PR, he would be okay

Yea that would be great.

 

[scribers]

So this was a Mickey Mouse race?

cicaban

 

[Salvarani]

His schedule should be:
UAE Tour
SB
MSR
RVV
PR
LBL

Now I can see that. With 2 weeks after PR, he would be okay

I still think LBL would been hard to win, but he would have had a bigger chance. He wasnt fully recovered today and now you have added on a tough race, that just wasnt necessary.

I think it is too much fatigue to overcome in just a week, but Pog is Pog. If anyone could turn it around it is him but it will be very hard to win now, I think.

 

[scribers]

His schedule should be:
UAE Tour
SB
MSR
RVV
PR
LBL

Now I can see that. With 2 weeks after PR, he would be okay

I prefer no racing in February

 

[Peyroteo94]

I prefer no racing in February

Me too.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I still think LBL would been hard to win, but he would have had a bigger chance. He wasnt fully recovered today and now you have added on a tough race, that just wasnt necessary.

I think it is too much fatigue to overcome in just a week, but Pog is Pog. If anyone could turn it around it is him but it will be very hard to win now, I think.

50/50 against Evenepoel. Probably a sprint finish

 

[Rou]

Let's be real. Pog can still win Liege but he needs to ride more intelligently and not like a lunatic like in San Remo and Flanders. He can't afford it anymore. He needs full commitment from his team.