Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[James M]

So Pogi beat himself. He got overly enthusiastic, along with the wear and tear from a long, intense spring. No one can hold top form that long (especially RVV and particularly PR, where studies say it takes a little time to recover). It is what it is—it's his own fault, he knows his values before going in too. He was very strong; he just rode like a lunatic since he wasn't as strong as needed, from the wear and tear. Can only learn from it.

 

[James M]

Also, perfect race dynamics from the rest vs him meant that Skjelmose and Remco were able to be together, which played a major part, and they deserve all the props, Remco was strong. Funny winner, honestly. Kinda cool for cycling too, it shows that it is possible when everything lines up.

Do people recon he will skip Fleche? Keep in mind he has no chill.

 

[Peyroteo94]

You are being overconfident with your statements, given the circumstances this time, and it could backfire. Hopefully not though. He still seems optimistic, which is good. I would still advice to be cautious and that everything will be fine... but as said, not be overconfident. Have more respect for someone like Remco and not underestimate the efforts Pog has put himself through this spring. Hopefully he bounces back on Wednesday already. We will see.

I'm not underestimating Remco, I'm just saying they are not in the same level when both are at his best. And he clearly is at his best, he didn't go to altitude training in vain. He was absolutely preparing the Ardennes. Pogacar never does altitude training before classics, because he wants to truly maximize his gains and freshness for GTs.

 

[Salvarani]

I'm not underestimating Remco, I'm just saying they are not in the same level when both are at his best. And he clearly is at his best, he didn't go to altitude training in vain. He was absolutely preparing the Ardennes. Pogacar never does altitude training before classics, because he wants to truly maximize his gains and freshness for GTs.

But how are you so confident then that Pog cant be dropped after racing the classics and the cobbles this time? We are only talking about this time.

I dont understand your thinking and will say that you are just being overconfident. Just as you been thinking Vuelta is possible after racing all the classics + Tour.

 

[Peyroteo94]

But how are you so confident then that Pog cant be dropped after racing the classics and the cobbles this time? We are only talking about this time.

I dont understand your thinking and will say that you are just being overconfident. Just as you been thinking Vuelta is possible after racing all the classics + Tour.

Because his ceilling is better. Pogacar vs MVP is not the same as Pogacar vs Remco in hilly classics. Pogacar at 95% (just a random number close to 100%) can't be dropped by a 100% Remco IMHO. A 100% Pogacar drops a 100% Remco in any LBL.

 

[Salvarani]

Because his ceilling is better. Pogacar vs MVP is not the same as Pogacar vs Remco in hilly classics. Pogacar at 95% (just a random number close to 100%) can't be dropped by a 100% Remco IMHO. A 100% Pogacar drops a 100% Remco in any LBL.

You are missing the point and is being overconfident in your statements.

You are disregarding that Pog has gone hard in three monuments vs MVDP. Especially, Ronde + PR. And now facing another very strong opponent in Remco.

We dont know yet if Pog will suffer from the fatigue and if his form is declining. As said, he still seems optimistic but there are reasons to be cautious given the circumstances. You keep ignoring the circumstances.

You are also underestimating Remcos ability and that he is fresh, prepared and form increasing.

That doesnt mean Pog cant win. I just wouldnt make so bold claims, as you are doing at the moment. I think he can still win, hoping for it, but I have more understanding and consideration of how difficult it could be given everything. Just potentially being on the podium for every monument and winning 1-2 of them, would speak a lot about the greatness of this rider. Either way, he is having a remarkable classics season.

 

[Red Rick]

You are missing the point and is being overconfident in your statements.

You are disregarding that Pog has gone hard in three monuments vs MVDP. Especially, Ronde + PR.

We dont know yet if Pog will suffer from the fatigue and if his form is declining. As said, he still seems optimistic but there are reasons to be cautious given the circumstances. You keep ignoring the circumstances.

You are also underestimating Remcos ability and that he is fresh, prepared and form increasing.

That doesnt mean Pog cant win. I just wouldnt make so bold claims, as you are doing at the moment. I think he can still win, hoping for it, but I have more understanding and consideration of how difficult it could be given everything.

Van der Poel did a heavier schedule between Sanremo-Liege last year, racing both E3 and GW and going hard in both. He then proceeded to take a beating in Amstel but recovered and was better in Liege than Amstel. And Van der Poel isn't exactly known for his high floor level.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Van der Poel did a heavier schedule between Sanremo-Liege last year, racing both E3 and GW and going hard in both. He then proceeded to take a beating in Amstel but recovered and was better in Liege than Amstel.

C'mon man. MVP was cruising in every cobbled classic. You take MVP out of classics and Pogacar wouldn't be so fatigued.

 

[Salvarani]

Van der Poel did a heavier schedule between Sanremo-Liege last year, racing both E3 and GW and going hard in both. He then proceeded to take a beating in Amstel but recovered and was better in Liege than Amstel.

MVDP is the best cobbles rider I have ever seen and in Liege he won the sprint from a big group. Thats a great result and not a great performance. He was a non-factor in the actual race.

Last year he also didnt have to face anyone other than Pedersen and Philipsen for Ronde + PR. He was in control the whole time.

Both Ronde and PR have been way harder this season, not to mention MSR as well.

 

[Red Rick]

C'mon man. MVP was cruising in every cobbled classic. You take MVP out of classics and Pogacar wouldn't be so fatigued.

Yes, doing 40-60km solo's is the very definition of taking it easy.

 

[Miha81]

Yes, doing 40-60km solo's is the very definition of taking it easy.

Maybe nowadays when everbody seems like expecting 80km solos in every terrain

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yes, doing 40-60km solo's is the very definition of taking it easy.

Of course. Build a gap and then zone 2 until the end. He was cruising in PR, E3 and RVV. Do you really think is the same scenario?
We are living in a different era. Do you really think Pogacar was going hard in LBL 2024? He was cruising.

 

[Salvarani]

C'mon man. MVP was cruising in every cobbled classic. You take MVP out of classics and Pogacar wouldn't be so fatigued.

Exactly, and having already gone against MVDP... definitely matters when going up against Remco shortly afterwards. Remco can benefit from that.

 

[Peyroteo94]

MVDP is the best cobbles rider I have ever seen and in Liege he won the sprint from a big group. Thats a great result and not a great performance. He was a non-factor in the actual race.

Last year he also didnt have to face anyone other than Pedersen and Philipsen for Ronde + PR. He was in control the whole time.

Both Ronde and PR have been way harder this season, not to mention MSR as well.

Of course. I would like to see this classics season without MVP and someone beating Pogacar. Easy win in every race.

 

[Jack_89]

I'm not, this is why I think he will not win solo (and can be beaten by Remco). A fresh Pogacar at 100% is unbeatable IMHO.

We just have to go by facts and statements. I think he knows his body perfectly, so if he doesn't change his program it's obvious that he doesn't feel bad/tired. Because if his form is dropping he would know perfectly well that would have little chance both on Wednesday and Sunday. It's also known that he really doesn't like to lose...so why take the risk of being beaten hard? 3 times in a row?

He has already lost races against better riders , it doesn't mean should retire afterwards

 

[jmdirt]

Pogacar at 95% (just a random number close to 100%) can't be dropped by a 100% Remco IMHO. A 100% Pogacar drops a 100% Remco in any LBL.

Granted you did say 'just a random number', but TP at 95% will get dropped by not only the other freaks, but some of the other top level guys just below the freaks. 1% is massive.

 

[Savant12]

We all know Remco will attack from far out so I hope Pog just sits on his wheel to see all the "wheelsucking" comments unleashed. But Pog will probably ride and unfortunately, I can see Remco dropping Pog before the final time up the Mur.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Granted you did say 'just a random number', but TP at 95% will get dropped by not only the other freaks, but some of the other top level guys just below the freaks. 1% is massive.

If you are looking to raw numbers (e.g. Pogacar was 6-8% better in the Tour 2024 than in the Giro 2024). So I believe a 95% Pogacar is better than everyone else (bar aliens).

 

[2WpK]

Alaphilippe has been doing this crap for 2 seasons now. He loves to make a show for the cameras and then he inevitably fades away.

 

[HashRouge]

This is my first post on the forum, so apologies if I repeat things that have been said before on this thread.

I found yesterday very interesting. I wasn't really expecting Remco to bring Pogacar back, and I think I underestimated the impact of a few things. Remco is so incredibly aero that he was able to make quite a big impact on the long, flat/ downhill sections, then you have to factor in the impact of two riders working together (though Remco did more work) into a headwind, versus one rider. I think Pogacar made a mistake trying to go too early, and burned himself out. I don't know if fatigue from the Flanders/ Roubaix combo had an impact either, I guess maybe it did.

I don't really know what this says about Pogacar v. Remco going forwards though. At the Tour last year, we saw Pogacar consistently out climb Remco. But on undulating, hilly terrain, I'm not sure whether Remco can consistently equal or even beat Pogacar or not. Flèche and LBL will certainly be very interesting! If Pogacar does Flèche, I would assume he's fairly confident in his form/ fatigue levels? It seems to me that it might be wiser to skip it, but we all know he's a bit bonkers.

 

[2WpK]

Everybody calm down.....this is what makes bike racing so interesting.

He has been a bit overconfident in the one day races and he will learn from this and improve (just like he learned from his TDF defeats).

When I saw that he was the only one on the podium to chug his beer, I thought for sure he is skipping FW but I guess he is doing it. Hopefully he will prove everyone wrong again just like he did when everyone said doing the Giro-Tour double was too much.

His classics teammates have been a big disappointment this season.

 

[Medvind]

Tactics in FW will be to control the race and then attack on Huy.
Given Pog's incredible level that might be a relatively "easy" day for Pog, not as fatiguing as for most other riders.'

Guess this is their calculation, FW will not be so energy sapping as to jepordize his form going in to LBL.

We will know if they are right or not after sunday's race.

 

[HashRouge]

Tactics in FW will be to control the race and then attack on Huy.
Given Pog's incredible level that might be a relatively "easy" day for Pog, not as fatiguing as for most other riders.'

Guess this is their calculation, FW will not be so energy sapping as to jepordize his form going in to LBL.

We will know if they are right or not after sunday's race.

It seems like they must be pretty confident he's not overly fatigued if he definitely starts Flèche, otherwise you'd think he'd just skip it given he's won it before and it's not that big of a race in terms of his overall palmares. I hope he wins LBL purely for the fact that I don't want him to be put off doing the Flanders-Roubaix combo in future. Tightly fought battle with Remco would be perfect!

 

[Peyroteo94]

Alaphilippe has been doing this crap for 2 seasons now. He loves to make a show for the cameras and then he inevitably fades away.

His best days are gone. I can't see him racing like this and not considering retirement.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It seems like they must be pretty confident he's not overly fatigued if he definitely starts Flèche, otherwise you'd think he'd just skip it given he's won it before and it's not that big of a race in terms of his overall palmares. I hope he wins LBL purely for the fact that I don't want him to be put off doing the Flanders-Roubaix combo in future. Tightly fought battle with Remco would be perfect!

Maybe he was numb after PR and will be better this week.