Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

Even if Pogacar would not ride TdF. That would by no means make Evenepoel the no. 1 (or even no 2) favourite.

Number 2 but very close to numbers 3 and 4

 

[Peyroteo94]

Same with the final boss, Roger De Vlaeminck. Both raced in an era when helmets werent used. Do I need to say more?

Helmet wasn't a thing in the 90’s (specialization era)

 

[hayneplane]

Helmet wasn't a thing in the 90’s (specialization era)

Yeah even in the Armstrong-Ullrich era riders were taking their helmets off at the foot of the final summit climb to save weight. If i recall correctly this only came as a mandatory rule change for permanent helmets after the death of Andrei Kivilev in 2004.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yeah even in the Armstrong-Ullrich era riders were taking their helmets off at the foot of the final summit climb to save weight. If i recall correctly this only came as a mandatory rule change for permanent helmets after the death of Andrei Kivilev in 2004.

I don't remember it but initially they didn't use a helmet and when itnwas mandatory, they still could take it off in MTFs.

 

[Oldman]

Yeah even in the Armstrong-Ullrich era riders were taking their helmets off at the foot of the final summit climb to save weight. If i recall correctly this only came as a mandatory rule change for permanent helmets after the death of Andrei Kivilev in 2004.

It was mostly the heat generation from many early helmets. Those guys would sweat until they were blind during some of those summer stages. So much so it was a heat-stroke risk and hydration was primitive at best.
No ice packs....

 

[memyselfandI]

Pogi is keeping it quiet just yet. My 02 cents he's going all in, all three gt's. Enjoying how others trying to grab any piece of hope, chance. Then killing it. Because after all he is always looking for a hard best competition and likes that everybody is at the startline when he wins.

"Hi! Big groups niceee"

"Plz don't come here...."

 

[AmRacer]

Pogi is keeping it quiet just yet. My 02 cents he's going all in, all three gt's. Enjoying how others trying to grab any piece of hope, chance. Then killing it. Because after all he is always looking for a hard best competition and likes that everybody is at the startline when he wins.

"Hi! Big groups niceee"

"Plz don't come here...."

All five monuments, all three GTs, Worlds and Euros....

 

[memyselfandI]

I'm not sure he's not interested of Euros anymore. He could take all three gt's at the moment with careful, more tactical energy saving sniperism in first two, and really working out in Vuelta.

If he starts season with easier racing calendar, something like 2024, prolly would work nice that way. MSR that he's really looking for. Itzulia he's never done, no? San Sebastian later in the season?

 

[vappaxbipmv]

All five monuments, all three GTs, Worlds and Euros....

Pretty sure he will wait with that to 2028 to win Olympics as well

 

[AmRacer]

I'm not sure he's not interested of Euros anymore. He could take all three gt's at the moment with careful, more tactical energy saving sniperism in first two, and really working out in Vuelta.

If he starts season with easier racing calendar, something like 2024, prolly would work nice that way. MSR that he's really looking for. Itzulia he's never done, no? San Sebastian later in the season?

Euros 2026 in Slovenia.

 

[Peyroteo94]

The Vuelta is begging for a Pogi's participation. This year the route was very easy, avoiding also the heat of Andalucia and next year they will start with a ITT in Monaco...

 

[fenns]

No chance Pog skips the Tour. Noone who might win it ever leaves it off their programme - would be like skipping the World Cup, Wimbledon or Olympics to do another event.

 

[hayneplane]

No chance Pog skips the Tour. Noone who might win it ever leaves it off their programme - would be like skipping the World Cup, Wimbledon or Olympics to do another event.

Fully agree. Think Contador 2008 is the only time this century and even that was due to the team being excluded and not a deliberate rider decision.

 

[Berniece]

No chance Pog skips the Tour. Noone who might win it ever leaves it off their programme - would be like skipping the World Cup, Wimbledon or Olympics to do another event.

I wouldn't be surprised if after these 2 seasons, he rather does something he wants. He doesn't even seem to like riding the TDF

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I wouldn't be surprised if after these 2 seasons, he rather does something he wants. He doesn't even seem to like riding the TDF

Pogacar would definitely like to skip the Tour for a change. He doesn't like it indeed: the pressure is huge, it's physically draining and one has to be careful for 3 weeks. However, my point is that the sheikhs won't allow him to. He can do almost whatever he wants (even ride Roubaix against the will of Gianetti and co) but the Tour looks to be a must every year.

 

[Berniece]

Pogacar would definitely like to skip the Tour for a change. He doesn't like it indeed: the pressure is huge, it's physically draining and one has to be careful for 3 weeks. However, my point is that the sheikhs won't allow him to. He can do almost whatever he wants (even ride Roubaix against the will of Gianetti and co) but the Tour looks to be a must every year.

I agree, that he might not have a choice. Hope that's not the case for him, another reason he might stop after 2028.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Fully agree. Think Contador 2008 is the only time this century and even that was due to the team being excluded and not a deliberate rider decision.

Yeah, the best GT rider in the world always races the Tour.

 

[Cycling111]

I wouldn't be surprised if after these 2 seasons, he rather does something he wants. He doesn't even seem to like riding the TDF

He's already confirmed to Lequipe that he'll compete in the 2026 Tour.
He knows what it means to win the fifth.

To think he won't go for the fifth is wishful thinking.

 

[Berniece]

He's already confirmed to Lequipe that he'll compete in the 2026 Tour.
He knows what it means to win the fifth.

To think he won't go for the fifth is wishful thinking.

Where did I say he wouldn’t go for a fifth victory? No one said that

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I agree, that he might not have a choice. Hope that's not the case for him, another reason he might stop after 2028.

What he said after the Tour could have been some kind of a game, a hidden threat to the sponsors: release me from the Tour duty or there will be an earlier retirement.

 

[hayneplane]

What he said after the Tour could have been some kind of a game, a hidden threat to the sponsors: release me from the Tour duty or there will be an earlier retirement.

Maybe not quite as specific as that but certainly a bit of a power play to wrestle near full control over his schedule eg riding whatever he wants in the cobbled classics.

 

[Extinction]

Pogacar would definitely like to skip the Tour for a change. He doesn't like it indeed: the pressure is huge, it's physically draining and one has to be careful for 3 weeks. However, my point is that the sheikhs won't allow him to. He can do almost whatever he wants (even ride Roubaix against the will of Gianetti and co) but the Tour looks to be a must every year.

Pog doesn't like the Tour? Reverse psychology kills the competition. Imagine if he liked it.

 

[Extinction]

What he said after the Tour could have been some kind of a game, a hidden threat to the sponsors: release me from the Tour duty or there will be an earlier retirement.

The run is up?

 

[Berniece]

What he said after the Tour could have been some kind of a game, a hidden threat to the sponsors: release me from the Tour duty or there will be an earlier retirement.

I don’t think it was a game and just the truth. He was tired. He too needs some rest mentally which is completely normal.

 

[fenns]

This year he clearly didn't enjoy the Tour after the crash - probably in discomfort for a long time and riding 200k a day is not conducive to healing.

But the Tour is so far above other races in prestige one can't see him skipping it before he has 6 .