Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[HashRouge]

So ambition and it making sense is too completely different things, as I said. Reasons it didnt go that way.

Thank you for source though.

Domen Novak also said on Slovenian television during the Tour, that as far as he knew Pog was going to the Vuelta. So it seems like it definitely was the plan, for most of the season.

 

[2WpK]

No excuses, man.
Pog is at 43 race days. He will finish the season in the low 50s.
No disrespect but this is a MVDP number of days. And Mathieu does 10 CX races in the winter.
Pog will be 27 this year - the peak of his career. I expect more of him. I don't expect a battle with Arnaud de Lie in Canada...

Are you serious? It is not all about Grand Tour victories. If Pogi goes on to win the WC and Lombardia this year, 2025 will be one of the greatest seasons ever=3 Monument victories, 5 Monument podiums, TDF and WC.

 

[2WpK]

Vingegaard in 2023 (pre-crash).
1st in Gran Camino
3rd in Paris-Nice
1st in Itzulia
1st in Dauphine
1st in the TDF (with insane level)
2nd in the Vuelta (the strongest rider)
68 race days
I want to measure Pogacar against this guy not against some farmers in Canada and Italy.

Dude, that is so 2023. How do they stack up in 2024 and 2025 to date. Vingo has not won the Vuelta yet.

 

[Cycling111]

@Rou
Pogacar crashed in the 2025 Tour, while Vingegaard didn't.

Pogacar competed a lot before the Tour , while Vingegaard only preparing for the Tour.

Despite this, Pogacar easily beat Vingegaard in Dauphiné and the Tour. This year, it's undeniable that he was far superior. Canadian farmers don't matter; the difference is already clear.

And if Vingegaard goes to the World Championships, we'll see the same thing. Although in classics, especially those over 250 km, Vingegaard has never done anything at all.

I can't imagine what you'd be saying if it had been Vingegaard who crashed in this Tour. You'd be putting an asterisk on the Tour. However, since it was Pogacar who crashed, it's not even remembered.
The other big difference is that Vignegaard spent months preparing for the Tour, Pogacar less time, and you've seen the result. There's no point in questioning anything; Pogacar has been far superior to Vignegaard in both races this 2025, even though Pogacar came into them with less adequate preparation.

 

[YavorD]

Yes.

And Sola talked about the Vuelta as part of a second block. The first block was for the classics.

And he also talked about three GTs in one year. Obviously, that year without the spring classics.
But if they're talking about three GTs, how can it be a lie that he talked about doing the Vuelta this year? It wouldn't have made sense.

I don't know what happened, but it's clear that between what Sola and Pogacar himself said a few months ago and what's being said now, things have happened.What we don't know is what.

Right now, it seems unthinkable that Pogacar would do all three Grand Tours in one year. But last year in Zurich, Pogacar said he'd do two Grand Tours per year in the coming years, and his coach added the Vuelta a España to the calendar this year, knowing better than anyone Pogacar's numbers and fatigue capacity. Now, suddenly, it seems taht Pogacar doesn't even want to do the Tour, even though his coach was talking about doing all three, and Pogacar was talking about doing two at least two GT per year next 2-3 years.

Something happened.

Well, if you feel death tired, and you look really tired as well, I guess it's kinda normal to ask yourself whether you want to come back.
And perfectly explainable not to do the Vuelta as well. And the plans you have early in the season are not set in stone, obviously.

The question, I think, it is why he was feeling that tired? Was it because he couldn't reach last year's level, because of whatever reason ? Was it because of the crash, illness and the questionable team after Almeida's DNF? Was it because Visma's mind games too it's toll and exhausted him too much? A combination of everything perhaps?


Bottom line is, with how exhausted he was, it didn't make sense to do the Vuelta, especially against Vingegaard and risk 21 more days of the same.
Regardless of what the plans were, the outcome of the Tour rulled out the Vuelta.

 

[Vinther1991]

@Rou
Pogacar crashed in the 2025 Tour, while Vingegaard didn't.

Pogacar competed a lot before the Tour , while Vingegaard only preparing for the Tour.

Despite this, Pogacar easily beat Vingegaard in Dauphiné and the Tour. This year, it's undeniable that he was far superior. Canadian farmers don't matter; the difference is already clear.

And if Vingegaard goes to the World Championships, we'll see the same thing. Although in classics, especially those over 250 km, Vingegaard has never done anything at all.

I can't imagine what you'd be saying if it had been Vingegaard who crashed in this Tour. You'd be putting an asterisk on the Tour. However, since it was Pogacar who crashed, it's not even remembered.
The other big difference is that Vignegaard spent months preparing for the Tour, Pogacar less time, and you've seen the result. There's no point in questioning anything; Pogacar has been far superior to Vignegaard in both races this 2025, even though Pogacar came into them with less adequate preparation.

It seems it is you who struggle with the memory. Vingegaard crashed twice in the Tour.

 

[jmdirt]

I'm glad that he is going to enjoy life a little before building for his two final goals of the season!

 

[2WpK]

Everyone needs to calm down about the Vuelta. After Pogi wins his 6th Tour, he will do a couple of Giro-Vuelta seasons. For now, lets just enjoy his one day races.

 

[James M]

The question, I think, it is why he was feeling that tired? Was it because he couldn't reach last year's level, because of whatever reason ? Was it because of the crash, illness and the questionable team after Almeida's DNF? Was it because Visma's mind games too it's toll and exhausted him too much? A combination of everything perhaps?

It's a combination of everything imo and when you add in an unprecedented classics campaign, which definitely takes its toll and absolutely matters aswell, and there you go.

Mental fatigue hasn’t really been brought up, and I think it plays a huge role here. It’s something we as spectators don’t necessarily gauge properly after a full, taxing year of racing hard and long races.

It’s much smarter to reset and rest, and go for the WCs, which he clearly values more than the Vuelta. Acknowledging that he is tired is more rational than kill himself and risk alot of things for next year aswell.

 

[James M]

Everyone needs to calm down about the Vuelta. After Pogi wins his 6th Tour, he will do a couple of Giro-Vuelta seasons. For now, lets just enjoy his one day races.

Its funny indeed. There will come a year he does all 3 GT in the same season(he then obv will plan his season around it and as a whole) I really dont see why someone cry. its very emotional to me and somewhat lack perspective

People obviously want to see him race, and I get that, I do too. But apart from that, it’s not hard to acknowledge that it’s a rational decision, especially when he openly admits he’s tired both mentally and physically

 

[The bald fraud]

I think he wanted to do the Vuelta, but the lack of a proper team in the Tour made him spend way more energy then expected.

Something happened after Peyragude.
Pogacar when asked what changed with him in the last week he said that now is not the time to talk about it.
Fatigue is not the answer. We won't know the real reason.

I do not think racing PR is the reason he will not do the Vuelta. The problem is he was isolated in the Tour mountains (lack of mountain domestiques after Almeida crashed). He also crashed and was allegedly sick (mou said he could become sick because he is hugging people from dubious countries) and this took a toll on his recovery abilities. Add to that this year might be his only career chance to win the WC double (he would have to skip WC TT in case of Vuelta).

I believe Pogi is capable of racing both a strong spring classics season (okay, maybe he should still skip some races such as UAE Tour, Amstel and Fleche) AND a Tour-Vuelta double, all in the same season. And I believe he WILL do it, either next year or in 2027. Just give him a proper mountain team for the Tour.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Man, the Vuelta news hit this thread like

 

[Lorzenz08]

Something happened after Peyragude.
Pogacar when asked what changed with him in the last week he said that now is not the time to talk about it.
Fatigue is not the answer. We won't know the real reason.

Thats interesting, possible but unless it is a good source I rather believe the crash did affect him and his recovery a bit.

And then I believe he caught a cold and felt under the weather the last week (apparently he said it in an interview for a Slovenian TV channel).

 

[yaco]

It's also very annoying that you laugh at so many posts with the intention of being disrespectful, and I've never said anything to you.
And don't think you're smarter than anyone else, as if everything you said was the absolute truth and you're there to say who's wrong.
If you want to talk about what is annoying, that arrogance and believing yourself superior to me is really annoying. I've never addressed you in those terms. And it's not the first time you've spoken as if you were superior to the rest and referred to others as if we were inferior. That is annoying.

This is a thread for discussing Pogacar and giving our opinions.

It's not a thread for you to judge me.

However, if you post incessantly and continously complain about support riders, then people will make judgements.

 

[Bratone]

The concerning factor is that Visma saw how spent Pogi was at the end of the Tour and that he's also skipping the Vuelta because of that, so next year they will try the same tactic even harder and with a stronger team.
If Jonas improves more next year, a 5th Tour is not as straight forward as everyone thinks., especially since Pogi is planning to have the same exhausting spring classics season.

 

[skippo12]

Legacy wise him being the first rider to ever podium all monuments in the same season (plus potenially worlds) is a bigger achievement than Tour+Vuelta. Smart decision to skip the Vuelta this year.

 

[Peyroteo94]

The concerning factor is that Visma saw how spent Pogi was at the end of the Tour and that he's also skipping the Vuelta because of that, so next year they will try the same tactic even harder and with a stronger team.
If Jonas improves more next year, a 5th Tour is not as straight forward as everyone thinks., especially since Pogi is planning to have the same exhausting spring classics season.

Pogacar will have a better team.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Legacy wise him being the first rider to ever podium all monuments in the same season (plus potenially worlds) is a bigger achievement than Tour+Vuelta. Smart decision to skip the Vuelta this year.

He will do the same thing next year and I will be very surprised if he doesn't win LBL and he isn't on the podium in both MSR and PR.

 

[Rou]

Nobody is talking about this.
Why is the full Vuelta squad announced 25 days before the start of the race? They always announce their squads a week before the start of any GT.
What's the rush?
This is strange and something doesn't add up.

 

[fenns]

Nobody is talking about this.
Why is the full Vuelta squad announced 25 days before the start of the race? They always announce their squads a week before the start of any GT.
What's the rush?
This is strange and something doesn't add up.

There's quite a lot that's strange. Pog saying he was going to assess his own condition for the Vuelta - then giving it less than 48 hours. UAE announcing the team - Almeida is the leader - but adding that Ayuso is "co-leader" - so I guess Almeida is co-leader too but called "leader". Make what you will of that. Then you've got a team which makes a virtue of a welfare policy that has "white jersey" riders only entered for 1 GT per year - so Aysuo at 22yo is entered for 2.

There's obviously a lot going on within the team that we are not privvy too. I guess them wanting a star Spanish rider in the Vuelta has something to do with it. Some say Pog won't ride with him. Who knows...

Pog's won the Tour - eveything else is secondary.

 

[Red Rick]

There's quite a lot that's strange. Pog saying he was going to assess his own condition for the Vuelta - then giving it less than 48 hours. UAE announcing the team - Almeida is the leader - but adding that Ayuso is "co-leader" - so I guess Almeida is co-leader too but called "leader". Make what you will of that. Then you've got a team which makes a virtue of a welfare policy that has "white jersey" riders only entered for 1 GT per year - so Aysuo at 22yo is entered for 2.

There's obviously a lot going on within the team that we are not privvy too. I guess them wanting a star Spanish rider in the Vuelta has something to do with it. Some say Pog won't ride with him. Who knows...

Pog's won the Tour - eveything else is secondary.

It's getting more common to announce the team way in advance, especially the leaders. Vingegaard confirmed his Vuelta participation during the TdF already. Roglic at tihs point is an exception, but he's left the Tour with injury the previous 3 times.

Most likely Pogacar doesn't know 100% if he's gonna recover for the Vuelta, but he prefers not to take the risk for the WC/Lombardia, and in addition UAE can switch immediately to Almeida and Ayuso, who also want to know what they're in for.

Keeping Pogacar's condition secret from everyone just for the sake of announcing it late and leaving your own riders in the dark would be a decidedly uncool move. And if it got out to riders themselves it would just get leaked anyway.

 

[Rou]

It's getting more common to announce the team way in advance, especially the leaders. Vingegaard confirmed his Vuelta participation during the TdF already. Roglic at tihs point is an exception, but he's left the Tour with injury the previous 3 times.

Most likely Pogacar doesn't know 100% if he's gonna recover for the Vuelta, but he prefers not to take the risk for the WC/Lombardia, and in addition UAE can switch immediately to Almeida and Ayuso, who also want to know what they're in for.

Keeping Pogacar's condition secret from everyone just for the sake of announcing it late and leaving your own riders in the dark would be a decidedly uncool move. And if it got out to riders themselves it would just get leaked anyway.

Rick, UAE just had to post Pogacar's schedule and be done with it.
There are multiple races between now and the Vuelta and it makes ZERO sense to post a full starting lineup now.
What if some riders crash or get sick?
They will post more starting posters?
Literally no other team is doing this so early.
Makes no sense at all.

 

[Red Rick]

Rick, UAE just had to post Pogacar's schedule and be done with it.
There are multiple races between now and the Vuelta and it makes ZERO sense to post a full starting lineup now.
What if some riders crash or get sick?
They will post more starting posters?
Literally no other team is doing this so early.
Makes no sense at all.

Visma's basically been doing the Tour in preseason the last few years. And if there's minor substitutions, they'll just photoshop something different, no big deal.

 

[Rou]

Visma's basically been doing the Tour in preseason the last few years. And if there's minor substitutions, they'll just photoshop something different, no big deal.

If del Toro destroys Juan in 3 days in San Sebastian it would be a good photoshop bomb to add the Mexican instead of the Spaniard, no?
As far as I know the Vuelta is HUGE in Latin America and a local rider fighting for the podium would be good business for UAE.

 

[YavorD]

Rick, UAE just had to post Pogacar's schedule and be done with it.
There are multiple races between now and the Vuelta and it makes ZERO sense to post a full starting lineup now.
What if some riders crash or get sick?
They will post more starting posters?
Literally no other team is doing this so early.
Makes no sense at all.

Kinda remember Visma announced their Giro 2023 team 3 or 4 weeks early.
People (a lot of people actually 😂) got injured and they changed them. Teams usually have some reserves for such cases.
I think you're reading too much into it. Yes, it's unusual, but not something to make big thing of it.