Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[AdonisP91]

I expect Pog launching 2-3 kms into the base of Ventoux.

Not a chance. No one really mentioned it yet but after Hautacam right as he pulled up the camera came to him and he said something to the effect “whew, was too much”, then the camera panned away. Pog also looked extremely tired in the cool down.

Then in the post race interview he said Navarez didn’t get the joke and launched earlier than he expected so he just committed to it. Naturally it worked and Pog cracked everyone.

But at the TT he said he was starting to crack at the last 1 km but he pushed through. In stage 14 he just defended and didn’t attack like he usually does.

Pog is tired. Good news he can soft pedal today, rest up tomorrow, and be fresh for week 3 but he isn’t going to repeat the Hautacam attack. He might attack with 5km to go but not 10+ km. Too risky at this point and he doesn’t need to.

 

[Rou]

Not a chance. No one really mentioned it yet but after Hautacam right as he pulled up the camera came to him and he said something to the effect “whew, was too much”, then the camera panned away. Pog also looked extremely tired in the cool down.

Then in the post race interview he said Navarez didn’t get the joke and launched earlier than he expected so he just committed to it. Naturally it worked and Pog cracked everyone.

But at the TT he said he was starting to crack at the last 1 km but he pushed through. In stage 14 he just defended and didn’t attack like he usually does.

Pog is tired. Good news he can soft pedal today, rest up tomorrow, and be fresh for week 3 but he isn’t going to repeat the Hautacam attack. He might attack with 5km to go but not 10+ km. Too risky at this point and he doesn’t need to.

He said: 'Too much flash'' referencing to the cameras flashing him. It was planned from Narvaez to do the sprint leadout.
He wanted to humiliate Jonas on Combloux - done
He wanted to humiliate Jonas on Hautacam - done
He wants to humiliate Jonas on Ventoux - remaining
He wants to humiliate Jonas on Loze - remaining

 

[Peyroteo94]

This hard pace of Visma will work unfortunately, not for the Tour but for the Vuelta. Pogacar is mentally tired.

 

[Cycling111]

This hard pace of Visma will work unfortunately, not for the Tour but for the Vuelta. Pogacar is mentally tired.

If Vingegaard loses the Tour, it will also be hrd for him to make the Vuelta against Pogacar.
Pogacar would arrive mentally stronger.

I still think it's the best year to do the Vuelta.

Tour-Vuelta is hard, the older he is, more difficult. He has to do it at his peak.

 

[BubbaChuck]

kamikaze can backfire and already did.if pog feels good and tahn jonas attacks like yesterday,he can destroy him and than well see,who is mentally stronger in vuelta.

 

[dr.eve]

He said: 'Too much flash'' referencing to the cameras flashing him. It was planned from Narvaez to do the sprint leadout.
He wanted to humiliate Jonas on Combloux - done
He wanted to humiliate Jonas on Hautacam - done
He wants to humiliate Jonas on Ventoux - remaining
He wants to humiliate Jonas on Loze - remaining

Such a sporting spirit from fans here... 'humiliating someone'... It's sad to see this state of affairs.

 

[Peyroteo94]

If they go crazy on 16 it'll be over for them. By the way; how will that work?

Mont Ventoux is very hard and somewhat they need to tire Pogacar for Col de la Loze. It's also after a rest day so a bad day can happen, even if I believe Pogacar will gain time, they need to try. The Tour is almost lost so what do they lose?

 

[Peyroteo94]

After Stage 4 and Stage 10 when Jonas followed Tadej on these short hills people were losing their minds.
Pog crashed and we all panicked.
Next 2 days - total beatdown.
Visma know who the boss is and the difference in level.
I expect Pog launching 2-3 kms into the base of Ventoux.

I hope he doesn't ride hard for 30 minutes anymore. UAE should just maintain the gap under 2 minutes before his attack with 5km to go.

 

[Cycling111]

Mont Ventoux is very hard and somewhat they need to tire Pogacar for Col de la Loze. It's also after a rest day so a bad day can happen, even if I believe Pogacar will gain time, they need to try. The Tour is almost lost so what do they lose?

We'll see if Vingegaard isn't the one who ends tired.

I'm increasingly convinced that his poor time trial performance in the first week is a consequence of following Pogacar the day before and reaching his limit.

Jorgenson exploded yesterday because he wants to challenge Pogacar in the first week.
Last year he finished eighth, but he didn't try to be a fake rival for Pogacar, so he didn't explode.

 

[Peyroteo94]

We'll see if Vingegaard isn't the one who ends tired.

I'm increasingly convinced that his poor time trial performance in the first week is a consequence of following Pogacar the day before and reaching his limit.

Jorgenson exploded yesterday because he wants to challenge Pogacar in the first week.
Last year he finished eighth, but he didn't try to be a fake rival for Pogacar, so he didn't explode.

Matteo isn't a worldclass climber. Where did he try to follow Pogacar?
I don't think it will result but Visma need to try something.

 

[AdonisP91]

We'll see if Vingegaard isn't the one who ends tired.

I'm increasingly convinced that his poor time trial performance in the first week is a consequence of following Pogacar the day before and reaching his limit.

Jorgenson exploded yesterday because he wants to challenge Pogacar in the first week.
Last year he finished eighth, but he didn't try to be a fake rival for Pogacar, so he didn't explode.

Exactly, Jonas said he doesn’t usually have bad days but he fails to realize Pog isn’t on 2023 level so the reason he has bad days is because he is trying to follow Pog. We all know what happens to people who try to follow Pogi this year and last year.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Exactly, Jonas said he doesn’t usually have bad days but he fails to realize Pog isn’t on 2023 level so the reason he has bad days is because he is trying to follow Pog. We all know what happens to people who try to follow Pogi this year and last year.

Without a doubt, I don't believe at all he was just 15" better than Lipo on Hautacam.

 

[kingjr]

Such a sporting spirit from fans here... 'humiliating someone'... It's sad to see this state of affairs.

Typical parasocial relationship IMO… in their mind, Jonas needs to be humiliated for the crime of beating Tadej two times in the Tour (a traumatic experience for them, after all), and they project that mindset onto Tadej.

 

[Cycling111]

Bad days are also more likely to occur outside of peak years.

That's why I increasingly believe Pogacar shouldn't postpone the Tour-Vuelta. It's very demanding to do it, and it's better to do it now than in three years.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Typical parasocial relationship IMO… in their mind, Jonas needs to be humiliated for the crime of beating Tadej two times in the Tour (a traumatic experience for them, after all), and they project that mindset onto Tadej.

I partly agree with you but he definitely wants to make a statement. If you hear Armstrong, he says big champions want to show who is the boss, specially in the first mountain stage. This mentality is there.

 

[AdonisP91]

I partly agree with you but he definitely wants to make a statement. If you hear Armstrong, he says big champions want to show who is the boss, specially in the first mountain stage. This mentality is there.

Exactly, Pog can be all nice guy in the bus and in front of the media, but you don’t get to that level without some serious internal fire to obliterate the competition.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Exactly, Pog can be all nice guy in the bus and in front of the media, but you don’t get to that level without some serious internal fire to obliterate the competition.

Yup. Vingegaard is also a killer. After his Marie Blanque performance, he wanted to kill Pogacar in the Tour already on Tourmalet.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Mont Ventoux is very hard and somewhat they need to tire Pogacar for Col de la Loze. It's also after a rest day so a bad day can happen, even if I believe Pogacar will gain time, they need to try. The Tour is almost lost so what do they lose?

Especially with Evenepoel out, they don’t have such an immediate threat for second unless Lipo or Roglic keep improving.

 

[yaf2]

Bad days are also more likely to occur outside of peak years.

That's why I increasingly believe Pogacar shouldn't postpone the Tour-Vuelta. It's very demanding to do it, and it's better to do it now than in three years.

Tbh if he is to go to vuelta he is somewhat compromising on worlds b/c he has been training for long climbs the past 2 months & if he is doing vuelta he is missing on quality training on short climbs. Since its only 2 weeks b/n vuelta & worlds it will be hard to see him as good as last years worlds

 

[scribers]

If I had a say, pogi would just cruise in at 4 minutes with maybe a stage or two of “accidental wins’ (they drag him to the line). And he rides the vuelta

 

[Peyroteo94]

Especially with Evenepoel out, they don’t have such an immediate threat for second unless Lipo or Roglic keep improving.

Really? Even before the Hautacam stage, I knew he would not be a contender for the third place. Before the Tour, only dreamers could think he was able to threat Vingegaard let alone Pogacar. Facts are there to see, people choose to see or not.
There is a strong case to be made about Del Toro and Lipo as the next big thing in GTs behind Pogacar and Vingegaard

 

[Peyroteo94]

Tbh if he is to go to vuelta he is somewhat compromising on worlds b/c he has been training for long climbs the past 2 months & if he is doing vuelta he is missing on quality training on short climbs. Since its only 2 weeks b/n vuelta & worlds it will be hard to see him as good as last years worlds

Next year and in 2027, he will have the same dilemma. 2028 is also an olympic year.

 

[Cycling111]

Tbh if he is to go to vuelta he is somewhat compromising on worlds b/c he has been training for long climbs the past 2 months & if he is doing vuelta he is missing on quality training on short climbs. Since its only 2 weeks b/n vuelta & worlds it will be hard to see him as good as last years worlds

He can win the next three world championships. That would mean he wouldn't compete in the Vuelta until 2028, and three years is a long time in cycling.
And of the three world championships, it's better to sacrifice the one that requires a long trip and he doesn't know the circuit. He's familiar with Canada and Sallanches,.

 

[Rou]

If I'm Pog I'm 100% doing the Vuelta and sacrificing World's this year.
Much more prestige, much more fame, much more sponsors and money.
Besides a trip to Rwanda requires vaccinations and there is an unstable political situation there so I wouldn't wanna risk it.

 

[yaf2]

He can win the next three world championships. That would mean he wouldn't compete in the Vuelta until 2028, and three years is a long time in cycling.
And of the three world championships, it's better to sacrifice the one that requires a long trip and he doesn't know the circuit. He's familiar with Canada and Sallanches,.

I dont think he wants to let go the rainbow jersey. It also depends on what jonas does after tdf b/c he might afford to do specific efforts/intervals during vuelta if jonas is absent