Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

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I had the same feeling. He looked shocked and confused after MvDP being behind him at Poggio. Also looked really dissapointed after P-R which didn't make sense to me. The guy really is something else. Also about Jonas, if Pogi beats him like he did on Dauphine and than does the same on the Vuelta, Jonas will go to other races next year and will not try to go all in just for TdF. He would easily win 4-5 stages at Giro and Vuelta when Pogi is not around also winning overall. 2 TdF, Giro, Vuelta puts him on another level than having 4or 5 2nd Places at TdF.

Completely agree.

Completely disagree. Of course he could easily win Giro/Vuelta. But he's the only one that beat Pogacar at the Tour.
Two times.
As long as he's still fit, no way Visma would allow him _not_ to ride the Tour.
 
Yates yes, since last year because his level has dropped.
In 2023, he didn't pull anything.

This year, since his level is lower than last year, I have no doubt Yates will work.

The problem with domestiques is when they're young or have options.
Maybe Ayuso, at 32, is a good domestique :sweatsmile: , but now he feels young and strong. That's the problem.
In 2023, Adam looked at his classification. For Pogacar, it was as if he had been a rider for another team.

There will always be conflicts of interest when a rider is young and feels strong.
This isn't a criticism of Almeida; it's a reality that has always been seen in many teams.
If Almeida is third and Pogacar needs him to sacrifice his classification one day, it's natural that he'll not make the sacrifice until the end.

I am one of those who thinks it is better to have several Majka than second leaders acting as domestiques.
Yates did work in 2023. It's just that Pogacar lost the Tour, so people don't remember it so much. And Almeida impressed me last year, I don't see any reason to think he wouldn't ride all out for Pog this year, if needed.
 
The only rider that Pogacar fears is called Mathieu van der Poel in only two races (Milano-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix). In San-Remo I think Pogi was genuinely shocked by Mathieu's performance.
I still remember my own shock and frustration to see MVDP staying with Pogacar on Poggio and even attacking him.
Compare this to the Dauphine and I didn't feel any pressure from Vingegaard.
But those two races are not made for Pogacar (even if he is close to win both). In Pogi's terrain, MVP gets beaten with one leg. But Vingegaard beat Pogacar in the biggest race on earth and this race is Pogi's terrain. Pogacar lost Pais Vasco 2021 to Roglic and after that, only lost stage races to Vingegaard. This is insane and this is why Pogacar fears Vingegaard the most.
 
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But those two races are not made for Pogacar (even if he is close to win both). In Pogi's terrain, MVP gets beaten with one leg. But Vingegaard beat Pogacar in the biggest race on earth and this race is Pogi's terrain. Pogacar lost Pais Vasco 2021 to Roglic and after that, only lost stage races to Vingegaard. This is insane and this is why Pogacar fears Vingegaard the most.
I get your point, and I agree. But I really dislike the usage of the word 'fear'. They're all professional athletes, I don't believe they 'fear' eachother. They just see it as a challenge imo.
Sorry, i know I'm knit-picking here, but describing it as 'fear' seems overly dramatic. We're not writing a Netflix doc here :tongueclosed:
 
Completely disagree. Of course he could easily win Giro/Vuelta. But he's the only one that beat Pogacar at the Tour.
Two times.
As long as he's still fit, no way Visma would allow him _not_ to ride the Tour.
You disagree with what actually? I didn't wrote his schedule should be Giro-Vuelta (if he losses this year TdF and Vuelta at the same way he lost Dauphine) without TdF. I think he should go for Giro and Vuelta when there is no Pogacar but he should still try TdF every year al long he second favorite. He could easily win Giro and Vuelta and all one week stage races when Pogacar is not there and why shouldn't he? But of course i don't know what his motivation is and if he really cares about his palmares outside TdF.
 
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You disagree with what actually? I didn't wrote his schedule should be Giro-Vuelta (if he losses this year TdF and Vuelta at the same way he lost Dauphine) without TdF. I think he should go for Giro and Vuelta when there is no Pogacar but he should still try TdF every year al long he second favorite. He could easily win Giro and Vuelta and all one week stage races when Pogacar is not there and why shouldn't he? But of course i don't know what his motivation is and if he really cares about his palmares outside TdF.
You're saying a lot here and I can't really untangle it, but I just disagreed with this:
Also about Jonas, if Pogi beats him like he did on Dauphine and than does the same on the Vuelta, Jonas will go to other races next year and will not try to go all in just for TdF.
I believe that he will., wether he wants to or not. The Tour is what he's most suited for and the team would never allow him not to go all in for the Tour.

Disclaimer: I'm not a particular fan, nor do I have anything aginst him. I'm just saying he's the only one even close to being capable of beating Pogacar. And with cycling, we all know every rider can hit bad luck. So in my mind, it's just obvious there is no way Visma wouldn't go all-in for the Tour with Vingegaard.
 
You're saying a lot here and I can't really untangle it, but I just disagreed with this:

I believe that he will., wether he wants to or not. The Tour is what he's most suited for and the team would never allow him not to go all in for the Tour.

Disclaimer: I'm not a particular fan, nor do I have anything aginst him. I'm just saying he's the only one even close to being capable of beating Pogacar. And with cycling, we all know every rider can hit bad luck. So in my mind, it's just obvious there is no way Visma wouldn't go all-in for the Tour with Vingegaard.
Let's ask you different way? If (the most important part) Pogacar wins TdF and Vuelta overal with 10 stage wins on both races and Jonas gets lets say 8 2nd places in those two races, should he race next year Giro (if Pogacar is not there) and after that TdF, or should he do the same schedule as Pogacar?
 
Let's ask you different way? If (the most important part) Pogacar wins TdF and Vuelta overal with 10 stage wins on both races and Jonas gets lets say 8 2nd places in those two races, should he race next year Giro (if Pogacar is not there) and after that TdF, or should he do the same schedule as Pogacar?
Visma is a big team, with big sponsors (although I still got no idea whatsoever what 'Visma' does. Something with computers I am told).
Anyway: they want exposure and the Tour brings just that. If your entirely hypothetical scenario plays out, than yeah, they would still bring Vingegaard to the next Tour. Unless they'll be able to find a new talent in the meantime. Because who else can challenge him? (And the one to challenge him brings attention. Which is why you sponsor a team in the first place)
 
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It was a tough stage for him. His body wanted to launch, but he had to hold back.
Tomorrow he will test their legs.
I honestly thought there was a chance he would launch at like 2 or 3 km or something lol. Obviously, he did the right thing today. Made the front split and just stay safe all the way to the finish.

Anyway, I expect his first attack to come tomorrow.