Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

If they still needs it explained why Pog is fresher than the others at the end, that its obv because he's relatively not pushing as hard and simply controlling the gap when its that big— the incentive and burden clearly fall on the others to push and close it. I wouldn't hold my breath at this point.

At the end of the day hes a special rider on his own but Remco isn't even a rival to Pogacar in any way shape or form atm. It is indeed tedious.

Indeed, Pogacar vs Remco is really not a rivalry. It's the modern Serena vs Sharapova for those who like tennis.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Where are Wout and MVDP? It seems like they disappeared from the face of the Earth at the end of the season. And they can both challenge Pog.

Where exactly can they challenge Pog at the end of the season? According to MVP "Pogacar on his terrain does whatever he wants"

 

[Lequack]

Today for example. These are not huge climbs that Wout or MVDP couldn't challenge. I mean MVDP won Glasgow world champs on a much lumpier profile.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Today for example. These are not huge climbs that Wout or MVDP couldn't challenge. I mean MVDP won Glasgow world champs on a much lumpier profile.

It's a minor race not worth preparing for. WC, EC or Lombardy were not realistic goals for them.
BTW, Glasgow had those micro hills 30-60 seconds long. Today was different

 

[James M]

Mathieu van der Poel speaks about Pogacar in an interview. Big respect of one great towards another:

On comparison with Merckx:

It is really impressive, and it looks so easy. I have said it before, the new Merckx might not be the right comparison, because his name is Pogacar, but for us it must feel a bit like it did when Merckx was racing. On his terrain, Pogacar can do whatever he wants.

On San Remo and Roubaix victories:

That was on my terrain, and even then it was close. On his terrain I am no threat to him. It does give extra motivation to be ready again next spring. If you can follow Pogacar and beat him, you are close to victory

"On his terrain, Pogacar can do whatever he wants" - Mathieu van der Poel on World Championships, van Aert, rest and Eddy Merckx comparisons

Mathieu van der Poel is perhaps the only rider in the pro peloton that managed to match and beat Tadej Pogacar in a race (two in this case: Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix) where the Slovenian put hi...

cyclinguptodate.com

He's an absolute all-time great in his own turf, and summarized it perfectly, it's this simple. MvdP is a real one. I really hope he stays at the absolute top level longer than I personally think. This MSR, RVV, and PR were absolute cinema.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He's an absolute all-time great in his own turf, and summarized it perfectly, it's this simple. MvdP is a real one. I really hope he stays at the absolute top level longer than I personally think. This MSR, RVV, and PR were absolute cinema.

Nowadays MVP is the only guy who can beat Pogacar in races the Slovenian targets and prepares for. If not for him this year would be too boring!

 

[hayneplane]

Mathieu van der Poel speaks about Pogacar in an interview. Big respect of one great towards another:

On comparison with Merckx:

It is really impressive, and it looks so easy. I have said it before, the new Merckx might not be the right comparison, because his name is Pogacar, but for us it must feel a bit like it did when Merckx was racing. On his terrain, Pogacar can do whatever he wants.

On San Remo and Roubaix victories:

That was on my terrain, and even then it was close. On his terrain I am no threat to him. It does give extra motivation to be ready again next spring. If you can follow Pogacar and beat him, you are close to victory

"On his terrain, Pogacar can do whatever he wants" - Mathieu van der Poel on World Championships, van Aert, rest and Eddy Merckx comparisons

Mathieu van der Poel is perhaps the only rider in the pro peloton that managed to match and beat Tadej Pogacar in a race (two in this case: Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix) where the Slovenian put hi...

cyclinguptodate.com

Game respects game. It has always been a very friendly and respectful rivalry between the pair.

 

[hayneplane]

I imagine WVA will be at MSR next year too.

He should do. Far better chance of sticking with Pog on Cipressa than the final time up Oude Kwaremont.

 

[Cycling111]

Slovenia jersey >>>>>>>>> UAE jersey

Does the UAE one meet the regulations? The stripes seem narrower.

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[pihi42]

This looked like a post Tour/something criterium. Looking at Pogi.
Then the camera switched to the peloton and it looked like 2015 WC RR.

 

[Peyroteo94]

This looked like a post Tour/something criterium. Looking at Pogi.
Then the camera switched to the peloton and it looked like 2015 WC RR.

Pogacar was in recovery mode. The big fish is on Saturday.

 

[pihi42]

Pogacar was in recovery mode. The big fish is on Saturday.

Is it possible that .. I mean .. the motorcade was well organised.
And who was the guy trying to high-five in the middle of the road, after the finish line, but Pogi just ignored him?
Is this all .. ah, nevermind.

 

[pihi42]

I have no idea if they do or not. I dont know a single fan of pole vaulting.

Looks like pole vaulting has it's own stars and fans.

Maybe that's what cycling is missing?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Looks like pole vaulting has it's own stars and fans.

Maybe that's what cycling is missing?

Andrea Piccolo

 

[Peyroteo94]

He beated his best season in PCS points. He will almost reach 5000 points with a GdL win.

 

[Lorzenz08]

He beated his best season in PCS points. He will almost reach 5000 points with a GdL win.

If he wins GdL, best classic season of all time, and among the best overall season of all time

 

[hayneplane]

If he wins GdL, best classic season of all time, and among the best overall season of all time

If he wins it will be back to back 5000+ points CQ Ranking seasons when nobody else has ever exceeded 3300 points in a ranking that dates back to 1999.

 

[Oldman]

If they still needs it explained why Pog is fresher than the others at the end, that its obv because he's relatively not pushing as hard and simply controlling the gap when its that big— the incentive and burden clearly fall on the others to push and close it. If thats not clear by now I wouldn't hold my breath at this point.

At the end of the day hes a special rider on his own but Remco isn't even a rival to Pogacar in any way shape or form atm. It is indeed tedious.

Remco has his WCTT, OCTT and RR and many other serious victories. Pogacar has had some good fortune meeting him on venues that suit Tadej over pretty much all riders. Remco will beat him in the future but GTs will not be the opportunity unless he really wants to dedicate to it. Several here, including me hope that he doesn't wreck a career trying to appease a fan base.

 

[No Excuses]

Pogman eats them all again.

 

[Shortcut]

Remco has his WCTT, OCTT and RR and many other serious victories. Pogacar has had some good fortune meeting him on venues that suit Tadej over pretty much all riders. Remco will beat him in the future but GTs will not be the opportunity unless he really wants to dedicate to it. Several here, including me hope that he doesn't wreck a career trying to appease a fan base.

He won all big RR (Vuelta,LBL 2X, OGRR) except WC when Pogacar was out. It is reasonable to think that Pogacar wouls win at least 3 of those races if not all 4) so don't start with "Pogacar has had some good fortune...". Tell me one RR where Remco would be favourite over Pogacar, just one?

 

[peterfin]

He won all big RR (Vuelta,LBL 2X, OGRR) except WC when Pogacar was out. It is reasonable to think that Pogacar wouls win at least 3 of those races if not all 4) so don't start with "Pogacar has had some good fortune...". Tell me one RR where Remco would be favourite over Pogacar, just one?

MSR. The race and climbs are not hard enough so Remco could benefit from his TT skills in the final and Pogacar has not the benefit of his exceptional recovery vs the field. We have seen that MSR is difficult for Pogacar. I give Remco more chances to win.

 

[Peyroteo94]

If he wins GdL, best classic season of all time, and among the best overall season of all time

I'm curious to see if this season will be considered better than last year.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He won all big RR (Vuelta,LBL 2X, OGRR) except WC when Pogacar was out. It is reasonable to think that Pogacar wouls win at least 3 of those races if not all 4) so don't start with "Pogacar has had some good fortune...". Tell me one RR where Remco would be favourite over Pogacar, just one?

Yup. It's very possible Remco wouldn't win half of his big wins if he was racing against Pogacar. But you just beat who is there in the race. It was Pogacar's decision to not race ORR, LBL or the Vuelta.

 

[Peyroteo94]

We talk a lot about Pogacar's zone 2 but here Sven says Pogacar's zone 3 is what makes him special.

'In one-day races, he can become Pogačar's equal' – Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe confidently plotting how to help Remco Evenepoel close the gap on Slovenian champion

'I'm convinced that Remco hasn't reached the end of his development yet and that he can take the step towards Pogačar' says Sven Vanthourenhout

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

We talk a lot about Pogacar's zone 2 but here Sven says Pogacar's zone 3 is what makes him special.

Im not sure he's talking about the standard zone 3 in the way people talk about Pogacars zone 2 training, but about the third system of energy generation in the body.

Vanthourenhout spoke of three separate engines of the body to HLN, which generate energy for exercise, from the first, which uses fat and oxygen – basic endurance, to a second, more intense level where sugars and oxygen are used up. But he focused on the third, most intense of the three, as to where Evenepoel can improve in comparison to the World Champion – with Pogačar thriving during the most anaerobic efforts where his rivals falter as lactic acid accumulates.

"It's in that third zone that Pogačar is so good," said Vanthourenhout, having witnessed the new gradual seated attack that Pogačar has utilised several times since changing coach in 2023. "Remco's basic fitness isn't inferior, but Tadej has an advantage in that regard. And that's what we're going to try to work on.

Above Zone 2 there are many more zones based on which model you use (traditionally between 5 and 8 zones in total), look for example this example from BikeRadar:

https://imgur.com/a/d5RkUIz

When talking about anaerobic efforts I think it's definitively talk about the higher end of Treshold zone and above Vanthourenhout is speeking about in this specific case. That also rhymes with Remco saying he need to improve his 3-5 minute effort to be able to stay with Pogacar during these longer seated attacks without killing himself.