Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Bonimenier]

We could also look at the positive side of him having Omikron now. Chances of him getting it in the upcoming months and missing important races probably have reduced now.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Two examples from kids you coach? I say that because I suffered with pneumonia in 2017, am obviously much older than 16 and yet only last year recorded an excellent VO2 max for my age (according to Garmin). It is a fact that everyone reacts differently to Covid. Pogi may be effected but it is far more likely he won't be.

I think we were talking about time horizons of weeks or months, not years.

 

[armchairclimber]

Two examples from kids you coach? I say that because I suffered with pneumonia in 2017, am obviously much older than 16 and yet only last year recorded an excellent VO2 max for my age (according to Garmin). It is a fact that everyone reacts differently to Covid. Pogi may be effected but it is far more likely he won't be.

Only one is a teenager. The other mid- twenties. He did manage a quick ish 10k despite the fatigue mind.

As you say, I think it depends upon the individual and how it affects their lungs and how they respond to post-viral fatigue. I'm not convinced that age is an entirely reliable pridictor though.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think it depends upon the individual and how it affects their lungs and how they respond to post-viral fatigue.

Not only lungs though. In some cases a sudden drop of aerobic capacity can be associated with heart condition (inflammation).

 

[CyclistAbi]

There is some potential for not being as prepared as he could be at UAE Tour. But lest hope for the best.

Just noticed:

First winner: Primož Roglič (SLO)
First edition: 2019
Most recent: Tadej Pogačar (SLO)
Competition: UCI World Tour

What does that SLO stand for? Recently it's everywhere.

 

[tobydawq]

There is some potential for not being as prepared as he could be at UAE Tour. But lest hope for the best.

Just noticed:



What does that SLO stand for? Recently it's everywhere.

It stands for Slovenia.

 

[RedheadDane]

There is some potential for not being as prepared as he could be at UAE Tour. But lest hope for the best.

Just noticed:



What does that SLO stand for? Recently it's everywhere.

That's a joke, right? You know what it stands for. It's just your way of saying "Look how successful Slovenians are."

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Today, I thought, „How will Primoz be able to beat Pogi in a TdF, ever?“…

Then I searched for weaknesses Pogi has. I only found one single weakness: he doesn‘t tan that well… Regarding his tan, he reminds me of Cadel Evans, Michael Rasmussen or Floyd Landis. They all did not tan too well, and - at first - got rather red instead of brown.

Regarding everything else, Pogi might not be to be beaten by Primoz, I‘m afraid.

 

[CyclistAbi]

It stands for Slovenia.

That's a joke, right? You know what it stands for. It's just your way of saying "Look how successful Slovenians are."

Golly.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Today, I thought, „How will Primoz be able to beat Pogi in a TdF, ever?“…

Then I searched for weaknesses Pogi has. I only found one single weakness: he doesn‘t tan that well… Regarding his tan, he reminds me of Cadel Evans, Michael Rasmussen or Floyd Landis. They all did not tan too well, and - at first - got rather red instead of brown.

Regarding everything else, Pogi might not be to be beaten by Primoz, I‘m afraid.

I remember a week or two back when somebody said only Bernal and Vingegaard can beat Pogačar at the Tour. When Roglič was mentioned that option was quickly dismissed. Something in the lines of Roglič it to stiff on the cobbles. As like we have already seen Roglič, Pogačar, Bernal, Vingegaard racing on cobbles.

My response to such insinuations would be Roglič has already beaten Pogačar on a GT. Hence that is not really such a big deal anymore. Obviously hard thing to do but surely not impossible.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

That's a joke, right? You know what it stands for. It's just your way of saying "Look how successful Slovenians are."

I'm not sure he knows what it stands for. He's quite SLO, you know

 

[hayneplane]

There is some potential for not being as prepared as he could be at UAE Tour. But lest hope for the best.

Just noticed:



What does that SLO stand for? Recently it's everywhere.

It clearly doesn’t stand for SLOW

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Nine days left until Pogacar starts his season. Maybe his Covid infection makes him a little bit slower at UAE Tour. Normally no problem, because he still is the big favourite. But someone like Vlasov, who seems to be in great shape already, could be quite dangerous.

Could be a final podium of Pogacar, Almeida and Vlasov. We, however, don‘t know how good Almeida already is. So the win could be between Pogi and Vlasov.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I remember a week or two back when somebody said only Bernal and Vingegaard can beat Pogačar at the Tour. When Roglič was mentioned that option was quickly dismissed. Something in the lines of Roglič it to stiff on the cobbles.

IMO this is a rather rare opinion. Many people (me included) think that only Primoz can beat Tadej at the Tour. They are just too good for the rest regarding their general mountain/TT level in a 3 week race. Last year we saw it clearly.

 

[topt]

IMO this is a rather rare opinion. Many people (me included) think that only Primoz can beat Tadej at the Tour. They are just too good for the rest regarding their general mountain/TT level in a 3 week race. Last year we saw it clearly.

a good question is now that Bernal is out, who is the best of the rest

 

[Lequack]

a good question is now that Bernal is out, who is the best of the rest

It's Almeida, but he's on the same team now.

 

[42x16ss]

a good question is now that Bernal is out, who is the best of the rest

Probably Carapaz, but there's also riders like Mas, Lopez, Pinot (if he can get back to 2019 form) Vlasov and possibly Haig. This is ignoring teammates like Almeida and Vingegaard.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

a good question is now that Bernal is out, who is the best of the rest

In terms of peak GT level I would say it's Vingegaard (very strong in mountains and TTs: full GT package) but he basically proved himself only in one GT so the sample is really small. Not sure how consistent he can be in the coming years. Other top guys have a weakness (TT), which makes it almost impossible to topple the Slovenians but peak Vingegaard has no weak point, it seems.

 

[tobydawq]

Remco

 

[Bolder]

IMO this is a rather rare opinion. Many people (me included) think that only Primoz can beat Tadej at the Tour. They are just too good for the rest regarding their general mountain/TT level in a 3 week race. Last year we saw it clearly.

On their top level, I think this is probably true.

I might also add -- again, at their top level -- Dumoulin and, yes, Thomas. It's not clear, of course, that they'll ever get there again. But both Dumo and GT have superior TT skills that are equal or better than both the Slovenians, and can climb with the top group. But I could see 2017 Dumoulin, with a decent team, giving them a run for their money in the Tour.

A healthy Bernal, even though he won a Tour, seems to lack the TT ability, although he's not far off. Carapaz is not quite there, either.

Historically we've seen plenty of dominant riders in the Tour so it's not far-fetched to say it will be 2025 before we see a real threat to Pog/Rog (especially Pog)

 

[Red Rick]

Geraint Thomas a better ITTer than Roglic and Pogacar?

What?

 

[tobydawq]

Geraint Thomas a better ITTer than Roglic and Pogacar?

What?

Better than Pogacar, undeniably. Roglic, hmmm.

At his peak level, that is.

 

[Red Rick]

Better than Pogacar, undeniably. Roglic, hmmm.

At his peak level, that is.

Feels like comparing Pogacars average TTs to Thomas' peak TTs this one. Sure I'll take Thomas in a pan flat ITT but he didn't even win the hilly one in the Tour he so called "dominated"

 

[Netserk]

Feels like comparing Pogacars average TTs to Thomas' peak TTs this one. Sure I'll take Thomas in a pan flat ITT but he didn't even win the hilly one in the Tour he so called "dominated"

You know the intermediate times, so I think a better example is the year after in Pau (and I don't expect that to beat either of the Slovenians).

 

[Eeslliw]

Better than Pogacar, undeniably. Roglic, hmmm.

At his peak level, that is.

Geraint is better TTer everywere but in TdF, where even Ganna may have problems beating Pogacar in flat TT .