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Unlucky in the sprint but has no one to blame but himself. I didn't think it looked like he would have beaten VdP anyway.
I feel sorry for him.
Really impressive ride. But that's weak consolation after such a finish.
Really impressive ride. But that's weak consolation after such a finish.
The current TdF winner the strongest on flandres cobbles but what happened later? He botched a sure top2 place.
Incredible in these first couple of races on the cobbles.
He could win these sort of races in the future and many other races as well.
The way he races... always riding hard and not afraid to attack is amazing to see. A true champion of a rider and today he lost against another one.
He could win these sort of races in the future and many other races as well.
The way he races... always riding hard and not afraid to attack is amazing to see. A true champion of a rider and today he lost against another one.
De Ronde is much more of a hilly classic as it is right now. No group ever comes back after the Pater and every pure sprinter gets creamed in the hilly zone.
He can win de Ronde. Roubaix is gonna be a lot harder though.
He can win de Ronde. Roubaix is gonna be a lot harder though.
Bad ending, but still a massive race. If MvdP hadn't been there Pogacar would have won by a minute. I hope he gets over the disappointment and comes back next year.
Bad tactics prevent the strongest from being the winner. That's why we love cycling
Chapeau for making the race every time he had the chance too. I'm pretty sure he'll win Flanders in the future.
He lost today but watching him in all these races I think he's the best cyclist I've seen in my life (last 25 years of watching). Obviously I mean overall level, not achievements. We really have to go back to ancient times of Merckx and Coppi to have adequate comparisons.
Imagine having to face him at the Tour as a gc rider after watching today, I'd be begging my team to send me to the Giro or just stagehunting at the Tour and the Vuelta for the GC...
The strongest rider did win.
How much does today apply to a Tour GC though.
Hasn't broken 6.5W/kg this season yet.
Year, but the overall wear and tear and being in monster shape all year around should take a toll on anyone's body.
When you look how Pog thrashed almost all the specialists here and Rog looked great in Denain albeit in a much weaker field the more one dimensional climbers could be 3 minutes down before the first true uphill rendezvous in the Tour.
All the common ideas of peaking too early and taking the jersey too early and spending too much energy too early and paying for it later are just memes to Pog
Big Doopie
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the fact that he does it on every terrain.
and seems so easy all the time.
and the harder and longer any race gets, the better he becomes (or there is less fall-off).
if he comes in healthy and prepared (and has no accidents) the TDF will be a walk in the park this year.
We will see. Pog is still at his spring peak. Will he have enough time to rest, slow down and build another peak for July? This is interesting but maybe he shouldn't be at his peak during Ardenne classics regarding the Tour (he wasn't during last years LBL).
Yeah. At most things other GC riders are good at, he's better than them.
At most things they are not good at, or not willing to try, he's mixing with the bests.
He looks clueless today alongside best classic rider, among elite climbers he can look like a genius who knows everything, when doesn't even need to.
At most things they are not good at, or not willing to try, he's mixing with the bests.
He looks clueless today alongside best classic rider, among elite climbers he can look like a genius who knows everything, when doesn't even need to.
Big Doopie
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As one (of the few?) here who watched Merckx's career live, it is early yet, but it is close. it is the feeling that in any race, at any time, he can win.
i will never forget watching Merckx ride away (actually, it was live radio at the time, race came on later) with over 100 kms in the Ronde in 1975. DeVlaeminck and Maertens almost laughed thinking it was way too early. Only Verbeeck clung to his wheel.
Merckx pulled almost the entire 100 kms. 5kms from the end, he drops behind Verbeeck and almost off camera leaving a gap and then just detonated past him, winning by 30 seconds.
later that same spring a fairly large group of favorites came into the finish of LBL. Thevenet got away and looking back no one appeared to follow. he seemed sure to win. then out of nowhere, merckx was on his wheel (alone) resplendent in the rainbows and the sprint was a formality.
I would say Pog looks more versatile and easy than Hinault in his dominance (though still much to catch up in terms of palmares). so, yes, and particularly considering the greater depth of talent at the top of cycling, he is close to being merckxian.
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I agree with everything except for the walk in the park part.
Big Doopie
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