Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Bombarolo]

Yup, I think Visma will go crazy on stage 18. Jonas will attack before Loze.

The harder the stage the better is for Pogacar. I don’t know if you noticed but Pogacar got better and better relatively to Vingegaard through the climb. The moment he struggled the most was when he closed the first attack.

Vingegaard had two bad days mainly because Visma tried to make the race as hard as possible. Massive mistake.

 

[nightowl]

Not sure what to make of today’s stage. Yes Pogacar has been riding smarter this year, there was a stiff headwind, and he has a big GC buffer - but I still get the impression his form isn’t at his best. It definitely seems like he’s a bit sick or something.

 

[Peyroteo94]

The harder the stage the better is for Pogacar. I don’t know if you noticed but Pogacar got better and better relatively to Vingegaard through the climb. The moment he struggled the most was when he closed the first attack.

No, that's not true. What about stage 14?

 

[rafa92]

Not sure what to make of today’s stage. Yes Pogacar has been riding smarter this year, there was a stiff headwind, and he has a big GC buffer - but I still get the impression his form isn’t at his best. It definitely seems like he’s a bit sick or something.

one thing is for sure, until now he has never shown a climbing level comparable to last year tour, actually also at the dauphine this year he looked better on the bike imo

 

[Monsi]

Not sure what to make of today’s stage. Yes Pogacar has been riding smarter this year, there was a stiff headwind, and he has a big GC buffer - but I still get the impression his form isn’t at his best. It definitely seems like he’s a bit sick or something.

He said he thinks he's at the end of the "clogged nose and sore throat" so looks like he's getting better. I also think him riding defensively may likely mean he's riding the Vuelta.

 

[Peyroteo94]

With how Pogi has been riding since the Peyragudes TT, I think Pogi is set on riding the Vuelta. He's not exerting too much and he's just following Jonas' wheel.

I hope you are right. He could have finished the Tour today.

 

[Rou]

For the first time in 18 months we saw the pain face on Pog covering the very first Vinge attack.
Either he is still not fully healthy or is weaker than last year.

 

[nightowl]

one thing is for sure, until now he has never shown a climbing level comparable to last year tour, actually also at the dauphine this year he looked better on the bike imo

I agree he looked better at the Dauphine. It just feels like something is a bit off while watching him. Even on Hautacam he was dying on the bike in a way I haven’t seen him do in years. Not sure if he’s as comfortable climbing on the aero bike?

It probably won’t matter as he has a big GC gap but just a bit strange .

 

[Peyroteo94]

4 minutes is nothing when Visma is stronger than UAE. Vingegaard "just" needs to drop Pogacar and Pogi will lose the Tour.

 

[Bombarolo]

No, that's not true. What about stage 14?

Not even remotely close to what Visma did earlier in my opinion. UAE doesn’t have the firepower to make a race really hard like Visma did in Hautacam when they were dropping everyone on a very easy climb. The pace was so high that Healy blew up with 50ish km to go while he finished with Rogla in stage 14. That pace also killed Jonas.

 

[scribers]

I hope you are right. He could have finished the Tour today.

What are you going on about? Have a little more respect for Vingo. These guys totaled the climbing record into a head wind and pogi did most of it seated

 

[Rou]

Vingegaard for sure will try on Madeleine.
The problem is if again he has 3 yellow bots in front to help.
UAE - clueless.
They underestimated today.

 

[YavorD]

4 minutes is nothing when Visma is stronger than UAE. Vingegaard "just" needs to drop Pogacar and Pogi will lose the Tour.

On a penultimate climb with Visma riders up front.

 

[AdonisP91]

Not sure what to make of today’s stage. Yes Pogacar has been riding smarter this year, there was a stiff headwind, and he has a big GC buffer - but I still get the impression his form isn’t at his best. It definitely seems like he’s a bit sick or something.

I mean Pog said he was sick and there was something going around and boom, we hear MvDP has to abandon due to pneumonia. I don’t think he is lying. Let that sink in for us all, Pog with a cold is about level with Jonas.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Not sure what to make of today’s stage. Yes Pogacar has been riding smarter this year, there was a stiff headwind, and he has a big GC buffer - but I still get the impression his form isn’t at his best. It definitely seems like he’s a bit sick or something.

he wasnt stronger than Vingo today but i wont go with any excuses. The level was high.

 

[Peyroteo94]

On a penultimate climb with Visma riders up front.

Of course mate. It is a very realistic scenario. The only question is "Can Vingegaard drop Pogacar?"

 

[Cycling111]

4 minutes is nothing when Visma is stronger than UAE. Vingegaard "just" needs to drop Pogacar and Pogi will lose the Tour.

Vingegaard hasn't dropped him for two weeks, but he's going to dropped him one day and taje him four minutes. That would be double Hautacam's time.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Vingegaard hasn't dropped him for two weeks, but he's going to dropped him one day and taje him four minutes. That would be double Hautacam's time.

Vingegaard will go crazy on Madeleine. I'm pretty sure of that

 

[rafa92]

I agree he looked better at the Dauphine. It just feels like something is a bit off while watching him. Even on Hautacam he was dying on the bike in a way I haven’t seen him do in years. Not sure if he’s as comfortable climbing on the aero bike?

It probably won’t matter as he has a big GC gap but just a bit strange .

in dauphine he had the same smooth pedalling of tour 2024. In this tour he never gave the same impression, not even on hautacam. On the aero bike his pedalling looks off, I first had this impression on the climbs of UAE tour. But he might also not be at his best

 

[Vinther1991]

Don't think it's Pogi declining to Jonas' level. He's just riding defensively. He followed all of Jonas' attacks today with ease.

He clearly tried to drop Jonas and failed to do so.

 

[Peyroteo94]

in dauphine he had the same smooth pedalling of tour 2024. In this tour he never gave the same impression, not even on hautacam. On the aero bike his pedalling looks off, I first had this impression on the climbs of UAE tour. But he might also not be at his best

He rode this bike on Hautacam

 

[AmRacer]

He clearly tries to drop Jonas and failed to do so.

Once

 

[YavorD]

Vingegaard hasn't dropped him for two weeks, but he's going to dropped him one day and taje him four minutes. That would be double Hautacam's time.

He isn't gonna take that on a single climb.
But if Vingegaard has Campenaerts and, say, Benoot up front and he is able to drop Pogacar on Madeleine (a big if, I agree), Pogacar may lose A LOT of time.

 

[Peyroteo94]

The only positive thing was his sprint. A guy really on the limit can't gain 2 seconds like that.

 

[Oldman]

What are you going on about? Have a little more respect for Vingo. These guys totaled the climbing record into a head wind and pogi did most of it seated

That appeared to be the lightest headwind we've seen in....forever. They had crowds lining both sides of the road as well. The last 2 km did have some visible wind but not like expected based on watching flags/banners on the route.