Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

Its not even that for me. If you ask me about the top U23 GC riders, I would put Ayuso there. He is talented. But he is just annoying. Ego through the roof without big win yet to back it up. Refuses to work for Pogacar while Almeida or Yates with more claim on a TdF podium have no problem at all. Same story with Del Toro, he sacrifices himself in the races he rides with Pogi, Ayuso avoids the races with Pogi in (see last years Ardennes pullout with no good reason). And the chasing down of Del Toro just fits perfectly in the picture.

So in short - I simply don't like Ayuso and think he is a liability to a team that is anyway full of talent.

His fall is starting sooner than later so I'm not worried. This Giro will be his last chance and there isn't a better slap in the face than seeing his teammate winning this Giro. A more loveable (Majka, McNulty and Yates love Del Toro), stronger and younger teammate.

 

[Rou]

I hope Pogi gives some motivation to del Toro tomorrow. Time to send Ayuso to Astana after this Giro.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I hope Pogi gives some motivation to del Toro tomorrow. Time to send Ayuso to Astana after this Giro.

He will. After tomorrow, things will change in UAE.

 

[Cycling111]

He's been distracted in F1 today.
Honestly, the best thing for him is not to be affected by the UAE's internal problems at the Giro.
I don't doubt he'll support Del Toro, but he shouldn't get involved. Starting tomorrow, he should only worry about the Tour.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He's been distracted in F1 today.
Honestly, the best thing for him is not to be affected by the UAE's internal problems at the Giro.
I don't doubt he'll support Del Toro, but he shouldn't get involved. Starting tomorrow, he should only worry about the Tour.

Don't worry mate. He is the real boss in UAE. He wanted to race PR and he raced it. When the alpha dog is racing, no one challenges his position.

 

[2WpK]

UAE still seems committed to Ayuso. Yesterday was a great chance for Del Toro to gain time on Simon Yates and Roglic and UAE blew it.

If Del Toro wins the Giro, UAE will not be able to keep both Ayuso and Del Toro. I hope they choose Del Toro but I am concerned.

 

[rafa92]

pog says on IG he will go back to altitude camp, so basically he did 18 days in sierra, a one week break where he also did the recon of the mountain TT, and now again altitude

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[BubbaChuck]

"He's got amazing numbers, good condition, good shape and is super confident. He's relaxed but hungry for the races coming up," UAE sports manager Joxean Matxin told Cyclingnews and parts of the Slovenian media at the Giro d'Italia.

 

[Mina.S]

I too have been distracted by f1 and then a 22 hour flight but honestly does anyone think Pog cares about UAEs internal politics? He knows Del Toro is happy to work for him and I doubt Ayuso is ever really going to have an opportunity to do it again at the TDF after last year.

In all seriousness but Matxin is protecting Ayuso but he doesn’t have ultimate say in UAE and eventually someone higher up will put their foot down.

To me Pog extending his contract last year was more about making sure he has exactly who he wants in his staff and team plus more autonomy over his training and schedule. His management are just protecting him from the internal team politics.

 

[Cycling111]

UAE without Pogacar is a disaster in GT and great classics. 0 important wins.

Del Toro is the least to blame; he's doing enough.
Adam was never a reliable leader, and Ayuso thought he was better than he was.

They can give it their all for Pogacar in the Tour because without him, it doesn't look like they'll win any GT or monument.

I want to read all those who say Pogacar wins because of the team (and the team's clinical).
Visma won 3 GTs with 3 riders, in the UAE only Pogacar.

That was the case in 2020 when the entire team was a disaster, and now, even though they've made some great signings, Pogaar is still the only one winning the important races.

 

[Rou]

Waiting for the climbing times and data to see the level of Simon Yates and if Visma can cause serious damage to Pogacar in July.

 

[CatchyH]

It's becoming more clear that the talk of UAE having too many cooks in the kitchen was premature. The only cook in this kitchen is Tadej.

 

[Cycling111]

Waiting for the climbing times and data to see the level of Simon Yates and if Visma can cause serious damage to Pogacar in July.

I've been saying this for days, but some were laughing at me. It's worrying because Adam is showing signs of a bit symptoms of decline since Vuelta and las year he was fatigued in his second GT. Meanwhile, his brother Simon seems better than ever.

And Sivakov was performing poorly in the mountains this year.
Meanwhile, Jorgenson was excellent in Paris-Nice,

I think Del Toro would´ve done well as a domestique in July.
One thing It's not winning a Giro, but as a domestique, his efforts are more focused, and this year he seems more reliable than other riders like Narvaez, who isn't even a climber and was terrible in the mountains of Paris-Nice.

Pogacar has to hope Almeida doesn't have any accidents in Switzerland. Right now, he's his reliable domestique in the mountains.

 

[Rou]

I've been saying this for days, but some were laughing at me. It's worrying because Adam is showing signs of a bit symptoms of decline since Vuelta and las year he was fatigued in his second GT. Meanwhile, his brother Simon seems better than ever.

And Sivakov was performing poorly in the mountains this year.
Meanwhile, Jorgenson was excellent in Paris-Nice,

I think Del Toro would´ve done well as a domestique in July.
One thing It's not winning a Giro, but as a domestique, his efforts are more focused, and this year he seems more reliable than other riders like Narvaez, who isn't even a climber and was terrible in the mountains of Paris-Nice.

Pogacar has to hope Almeida doesn't have any accidents in Switzerland. Right now, he's his reliable domestique in the mountains.

One more thing. UAE are completely clueless about tactics. They keep allowing everyone in the breakaways. Today they let van Aert in the break thinking that he is useless. Well on the last climb he drilled super hard for 5-10 mins and killed the legs of del Toro and Yates.
They CANNOT do these stupid mistakes in the Tour.

 

[CatchyH]

One more thing. UAE are completely clueless about tactics. They keep allowing everyone in the breakaways. Today they let van Aert in the break thinking that he is useless. Well on the last climb he drilled super hard for 5-10 mins and killed the legs of del Toro and Yates.
They CANNOT do these stupid mistakes in the Tour.

This is nothing new. UAE need an assertive leader to avoid looking like a headless chicken. Tadej has both the legs and the full trust of his teammates that he will deliver. That makes it a lot easier for them tactically.

 

[pelotonIQ]

Best thing with Ayuso not winning is that he doesn't have any leverage to demand a TdF co-leader role in 2026