Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Krzysztof_O]

Epic performance by Tadej. He went deep today as it was a long solo effort. He may pay for it during the TT on Monday but no worries - stage 6 is still one week away

 

[CyclistAbi]

There used to be trains formations in front of the race. I feel it is safe to say we now live in times where trains will need to get form in the chasing groups. As using the tactics where you are not maxing out in a chase group. That will always result in the same outcome.

Congratulations for the win.

 

[tobydawq]

There used to be trains formations in front of the race. I feel it is safe to say we now live in times where trains will need to get form in the chasing groups. As using the tactics where you are not maxing out in a chase group. That will always result in the same outcome.

Congratulations for the win.

?

 

[CyclistAbi]

@tobydawq

With Roglič it's if you don't work with me it's at best competing for the second place. With Pogačar it's if you don't work together it's at best competing for the second place.

 

[Eeslliw]

He got the skills not just watts. Today he made the move in downhill on gravel and made quite some gap in 2-3 corners. I hope he takes the saying the best defense is attack for cobblestone stage in TdF and does some carnage.

 

[Lequack]

I was just in awe of his ride today. Amazing, we're still at the start of the season and we may already have the ride of the year. How can you even top that? I guess Remco will have to go solo with 75km to go to win Flanders now.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1500141671958392836

View: https://twitter.com/StradeBianche/status/1500141671958392836?s=20&t=fKu7RTvC5_vq4Q1NOybhEg

 

[IndianCyclist]

Can we move to the next season pls? This season looks done and dusted

 

[Leinster]

Just incredible. I still remember the first time I saw his name where he was 18 years old and finished quite high on an MTF in his home stage race. Sure, it was impressive as people didn't usually do that well at such a tender age. But that he in five years would win two Tours, two monuments and countless other races was not quite something I would have bet on back then.

I remember thinking “I can’t believe EF have just blown their chances of the Tour of California against this 19 year old UAE rider!”

 

[sir fly]

Hopefully he won't be too sore after the tumble and effort.
Would be a pity to drag it into Monuments.

 

[hayneplane]

He got the skills not just watts. Today he made the move in downhill on gravel and made quite some gap in 2-3 corners. I hope he takes the saying the best defense is attack for cobblestone stage in TdF and does some carnage.

That gravel descent where he made the difference was awe inspiring. Power married perfectly to technically elite skills

 

[Finn84]

After today's ride I'm starting to speculate if he's able to win all five monuments.

 

[Big Doopie]

After today's ride I'm starting to speculate if he's able to win all five monuments.

well he’s already won 3 of 6…

;-)

 

[tobydawq]

After today's ride I'm starting to speculate if he's able to win all five monuments.

He is.

But MSR is a lottery.

 

[Red Rick]

He is.

But MSR is a lottery.

Strade is a lot more climber friendly than any of the 3 missing monuments.

 

[hayneplane]

He is.

But MSR is a lottery.

Maybe so but a ticket with Pogacars name on it would feel like good odds right now.

 

[tobydawq]

Maybe so but a ticket with Pogacars name on it would feel like good odds right now.

Certainly. But it's not as good odds as Sagan's ticket from 2012 to 2019, yet he never managed to win it.

 

[hayneplane]

Certainly. But it's not as good odds as Sagan's ticket from 2012 to 2019, yet he never managed to win it.

Yeah for sure as Sagan had about 5 different ways to win MSR yet never managed to get it done. The super cold edition stunningly won by Ciolek in the sprint is the one that most stands out as the one I simply could not comprehend his defeat,

 

[tobydawq]

Yeah for sure as Sagan had about 5 different ways to win MSR yet never managed to get it done. The super cold edition stunningly won by Ciolek in the sprint is the one that most stands out as the one I simply could not comprehend his defeat,

2012 and 2017 were equally bad for me. But the first one was only Nibali's fault because he held a grudge to Sagan after him having snatched a stage win from Nibali in Chieti in T-A a week before, but then helped him to the overall win.

I think maybe that's why I have never come to like Nibali.

 

[hayneplane]

2012 and 2017 were equally bad for me. But the first one was only Nibali's fault because he held a grudge to Sagan after him having snatched a stage win from Nibali in Chieti in T-A a week before, but then helped him to the overall win.

I think maybe that's why I have never come to like Nibali.

Yeah Nibali atttwcking but not managing to go solo screwed him over hugely. Cancellara always had a very underrated sprint at the end of longer races.

 

[tobydawq]

Yeah Nibali atttwcking but not managing to go solo screwed him over hugely. Cancellara always had a very underrated sprint at the end of longer races.

Yeah, but it wasn't Cancellara who won.

The ridiculous part was that Sagan wasn't allowed to ride up to the trio on the descent which would have given Liquigas a certain win.

 

[hayneplane]

Yeah, but it wasn't Cancellara who won.

The ridiculous part was that Sagan wasn't allowed to ride up to the trio on the descent which would have given Liquigas a certain win.

Urgh I am holding you personally responsible for dredging up the nightmarish memories of scanning back to remember who won and realise it was the wheelsucker supreme Simon Gerrans.

 

[Netserk]

Sagan wasn't allowed to ride up to the trio on the descent

???

 

[Barkintheeye]

I ran the stats for the podiums of the 5 Monuments from 2004-2021.

The top 5 names are (# of 1/2/3 podium finishes):

1. Cancellara (7/6/3)
2. Boonen (7/3/1)
3. Gilbert (5/0/6)
4. Valverde (4/5/1)
5. Nibali (3/2/1)

If victories in other notable spring classics (Amstel, Strade Bianche, Gent-Wev, Flèche W, E3, Omloop HN, DBP, DDV) are added the following names would be added:

1. Peter Sagan (7/3/0)
2. Julian Alaphilippe (6/4/1)
3. Wout Van Aert (6/1/1)
4. Niki Terpstra (5/1/3)
5. Mathieu van der Poel (5/1/3)
6. Nibali down to #10

Pogacar has some way still to go but is clearly on an extraordinary path to overall fame. Evenepoel has yet to make the lists. Valverde is just spectacular.

The three big in spring classics in “modern” cycling are still Cancellara, Boonen and Gilbert. The benchmark for all others to beat.

 

[Akuryo]

Yeah Nibali atttwcking but not managing to go solo screwed him over hugely. Cancellara always had a very underrated sprint at the end of longer races.

UNDERrated?! The dude won bunch sprints at the Tour. I'd call him many things but never underrated when it came to sprints.

 

[tobydawq]

???

What's this? He had Nibali in the front and team tactics dictated that was fine even if it was quite evident that he couldn't win and Sagan could - and was strong/technically inclined enough to bridge. But Nibali was too vain. And Sagan was only 22 so he would get plenty of opportunities later.