Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

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Sep 14, 2019
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What do you want him to say? This is an obvious answer. He can't say he will not challenge Pogacar

Of course but I like how confident he sounds.

I dont remember Pogacar having this kind of confident talk in 2023 (before his injury) or 2024 (before vingo injury).
And I dont think Pogi would ever talk this way. Pogi always says stuff like " yea training is going good, feeling good, hopefully we will do great at X "
 
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Longevity of riders is very difficult to predict. Some bloom early but fade younger. Andy Schleck came 2nd in the 2007 Giro aged just 21 but by 2012 aged 27 was past his best.

Others like Valverde are evergreen. We won’t know about Pogacar until it happens but I’d be surprised if he faded before 30. That gives him maybe 4 more years at the top.
 
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Feb 6, 2025
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The problem is they both are (at least) 2 steps above everyone in GTs. They literally can gain 1 and half minutes to everybody else in a climb over 25 minutes.
Only a "problem" if they don't both start. But that's a different discussion.

I don't think that their level can get constantly much higher. Vingegaard should do better this year, if his preparation is not hindered in a severe way. Whether Pogačar can repeat or even better last years form, remains to be seen. Especially with a strong team performance, Visma might again be able to bring a real fight. I sure hope so, albeit I don't think 2024 TdF was especially disappointing. With the question mark above his form, Vingegaards win created (at least for me) some suspense until it became apparent that he can't challenge his rival.
 
Feb 6, 2025
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Van der Poel is better than ever this year at 30, and Pedersen's progress is even more evident; he's also 30.
Not sure their power numbers increased. I don't see vdP significantly better than last year. He races smarter since some time, but is of course a beast of a rider for the classics and seems to have overcome his back problems. Pedersen is 29 and has been there or there about for a long time as well. He might be considerably stronger or profit from a better team. It would be very interesting to have real data.

The numbers are more apparent with stage racing and as I said, I would be surprised if the two aliens still improve significantly beyond 30. But we will see. I hope both can keep up this lifestyle for a few more years.
 
Apr 13, 2025
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Not sure their power numbers increased. I don't see vdP significantly better than last year. He races smarter since some time, but is of course a beast of a rider for the classics and seems to have overcome his back problems. Pedersen is 29 and has been there or there about for a long time as well. He might be considerably stronger or profit from a better team. It would be very interesting to have real data.

The numbers are more apparent with stage racing and as I said, I would be surprised if the two aliens still improve significantly beyond 30. But we will see. I hope both can keep up this lifestyle for a few more years.

Of course he's improved. If Pogacar has improved since 2023 and VDP is the same distance behind in De Ronde, it's because he's improved. If he hadn't improved, he wouldn't be able to keep up with Pogacar in Cipressa. They did Cipressa KOM.
And VDP's gap with other rivals has increased.

Pedersen's performance is even more evident. Pedersen needs a three-minute break in De Ronde 2023; this year, he doesn't need an advantage to finish second.
He also looked stronger than ever in the mountains at Paris-Nice and in this Giro.
 
Mar 19, 2009
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Longevity of riders is very difficult to predict. Some bloom early but fade younger. Andy Schleck came 2nd in the 2007 Giro aged just 21 but by 2012 aged 27 was past his best.

Others like Valverde are evergreen. We won’t know about Pogacar until it happens but I’d be surprised if he faded before 30. That gives him maybe 4 more years at the top.

Wasn't Schlecks problem that he just didn't have the motivation any more, not physical decline?
But yeah, I guess loss of motivation also cuts longevity of a career short.
 
Mar 20, 2022
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Longevity of riders is very difficult to predict. Some bloom early but fade younger. Andy Schleck came 2nd in the 2007 Giro aged just 21 but by 2012 aged 27 was past his best.

Others like Valverde are evergreen. We won’t know about Pogacar until it happens but I’d be surprised if he faded before 30. That gives him maybe 4 more years at the top.
Andy Schleck had a very nasty crash and his mental side was very hurt too.
 
Mar 20, 2022
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Only a "problem" if they don't both start. But that's a different discussion.

I don't think that their level can get constantly much higher. Vingegaard should do better this year, if his preparation is not hindered in a severe way. Whether Pogačar can repeat or even better last years form, remains to be seen. Especially with a strong team performance, Visma might again be able to bring a real fight. I sure hope so, albeit I don't think 2024 TdF was especially disappointing. With the question mark above his form, Vingegaards win created (at least for me) some suspense until it became apparent that he can't challenge his rival.
Pogacar and Vingegaard 2023 are better than any rider we are seeing in the Giro 2025. Miles ahead to be honest. Even if they stop improving, other riders need to improve a lot.
 
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Mar 20, 2022
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Of course he's improved. If Pogacar has improved since 2023 and VDP is the same distance behind in De Ronde, it's because he's improved. If he hadn't improved, he wouldn't be able to keep up with Pogacar in Cipressa. They did Cipressa KOM.
And VDP's gap with other rivals has increased.

Pedersen's performance is even more evident. Pedersen needs a three-minute break in De Ronde 2023; this year, he doesn't need an advantage to finish second.
He also looked stronger than ever in the mountains at Paris-Nice and in this Giro.
Of course Pedersen is better but you take MVP and WVA out of RVV and Pogacar beats Pedersen with a 3 minutes gap.
 
Mar 20, 2022
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prior to 24 season visma hda advanatge in altitude training.not anymore,sola has even the odds.
Inigo San Millan is coaching Ayuso. Let's see how much Ayuso improved in the high mountains and if he is able to win this Giro. Del Toro is coached by Sola (at least he put a story on Instagram when he wore pink for the first time).
 
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Sep 14, 2019
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Guys like Pogacar only come every few decades. I dont understand why people expect every new guy perfoming well to be the next Pogacar.

It is of course possible, but statistically it is very unlikely that we have a new Pogacar within the next 20 years at least.