Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Valv.Piti]

If Remco rides only 2 monuments, WC and Tour out of big races, tell me how exciting this schedule is? I'm really hoping he will do MSR and RVV though.

Yeah I dno, lets complain about a rider targetting all 5 monuments (most likely unless he skips Lombardia which he doesnt do), two stage races he hasnt won, Tour de France and Worlds. And thats not even taking a possible Vuelta into account

People would have thought this was impossible just 5-10 years ago. People used to beg the best GT riders to just do Liege for crying out loud

 

[hayneplane]

Yeah I dno, lets complain about a rider targetting all 5 monuments (most likely unless he skips Lombardia which he doesnt do), two stage races he hasnt won, Tour de France and Worlds. And thats not even taking a possible Vuelta into account

People would have thought this was impossible just 5-10 years ago. People used to beg the best GT riders to just do Liege for crying out loud

Amazing how quickly the world of cycling just shrugs its shoulders and treats it as an everyday occurrence for the tour winner to target Paris Roubaix in the same year and be viewed as a top 2 favourite to win the race.

 

[AmRacer]

Amazing how quickly the world of cycling just shrugs its shoulders and treats it as an everyday occurrence for the tour winner to target Paris Roubaix in the same year and be viewed as a top 2 favourite to win the race.

For the second consecutive year.

 

[Unchained]

Has nothing to do with it. I’m saying it’s a boring schedule if he doesn’t do Vuelta

UAE, Tadej and teammates have set objectives that go against cycling norms, who should fit where, when. Pogacar is a current great because he sets goals and trains like a scary monster to achieve them. When he loses he is quick with a compliment to his competitors. Pogacar is setting new standards, he doesn't see an reason to set a schedule that fits into the established narrative. He is going to do races that were counterintuitive for stage racers even just a few years ago. Hardly boring in my opinion.
As I said before, he is leading by example. Guy gushing in generosity for the sport, his teammates and management, ownership.
UAE looks and sounds organized and focused because they are, if that's boring, the sport can use more of it.
I still can't get over how UAE management has worked with riders, the entire team to establish a plan that has everyone working towards individual goals and working on team goals all at the same time, said loud ,proud and first before other teams are milling around unfocused.
It's not established science, but you would think that other teams would ask themselves, they win all the time, they train, talk and act a certain way, maybe we should try it, what do we have to lose.
The mental preparation of UAE is truly impressive.
I can't help but think how beneficial it is for young riders to have set plans and work towards them, just shows a level of discipline and confidence other squads lack. Here's yet another example of money having nothing to do with professionalism and determination.
Del Toro for example, doesn't need to wait and see if he will be selected for TDF, he is in ..in December, before his birthday, before Christmas, guy rattled off from memory the races he is set to do for preparation leading up to lifetime goal. Someone is counseling, conditioning him with direction and confidence to get where he wants to go..
Maybe this post fits in Onley or Cian thread also, how can you get to where you want to go if you don't even have a map yet..

 

[James M]

People would have thought this was impossible just 5-10 years ago. People used to beg the best GT riders to just do Liege for crying out loud

Word hes transcending modern cycling norms, that should imo be obvious to everyone on a cycling forum.

Luckily were talking about one guy but honestly, it’s worrying that even one person on a cycling forums don’t understand the physical demands, complexity or rarity of doing RVV and PR for someone like him. It’s also clear they’re leaving a door open for the second part of the season this time around.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The likes of Berniece probably think he should add a couple of flemish races more, full Ardennes and a week long stage race more and then complain that he dominates those above races and makes them boring!

 

[SHAD0W93]

This Satanist is and will always be synonymous with the downfall of cycling, him never doing Suisse when it was a proper race but now doing it that it's a Mickey mouse 5-day Richard plugge race , is proof of that. One-cycling tiktock gianetti sheikh billions industry plant.

Pogacar is just clearing the way for Masnada to win CdD on route to his top 5 GC Tour bid.

 

[Berniece]

If Remco rides only 2 monuments, WC and Tour out of big races, tell me how exciting this schedule is? I'm really hoping he will do MSR and RVV though.

Maybe I need to explain myself better, I want to see him race more often. Just like I want to see MVDP more often.

 

[AmRacer]

Maybe I need to explain myself better, I want to see him race more often. Just like I want to see MVDP more often.

I want him to race only so much he is at his best for the races he hasn't won yet, and RVV and the Tour of course.

 

[hayneplane]

The likes of Berniece probably think he should add a couple of flemish races more, full Ardennes and a week long stage race more and then complain that he dominates those above races and makes them boring!

Would also be lavishly praising Remco and Red Bull if they had presented this schedule for 2025 (had they done so then the praise would have been richly deserved).

 

[Salvarani]

I want him to race only so much he is at his best for the races he hasn't won yet, and RVV and the Tour of course.

People underestimate the preparation he has to do before doing all the monuments and switching to Tour preparation. It is grueling.

Like he is already riding at the PR roads...

It is not like he is doing nothing when he is not racing. I definitely want him to be at his best for the most important and greatest races. Thats where I want to see him race. Not at some race that means nothing for the things that Pog is achieving. Maybe some should be more critical of riders that consistently avoid racing the hardest and toughest races or their opponents, as much as they can.

Adding more races would not be beneficial at all and I believe it is solely said because wanting him to possibly be a little bit more tired, so that it could benefit others. Like there is motive behind certain narratives.

And still suggesting he is likely do the Vuelta with this schedule.... cmon. I find that amusing.

His break after Tour will likely be needed both physically and mentally, if nothing happens that changes things during the season.

 

[Cycling111]

Pogacar's schedule is being criticized when Remco isn't doing FW
Now that he knows Pogacar won't be there, he should include it.

He doesn't do Milano-San Remo due to a training camp, and he doesn't even do Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico to do two minor races in Spain.

All of Pogacar's races are WT, and he does all five Monuments. The mere fact that he's doing Roubaix as a Tour de France favorite makes it the best race schedule in the peloton. This hasn't happened in over 30 years, and he's doing it for the second year in a row.

 

[Shortcut]

UAE, Tadej and teammates have set objectives that go against cycling norms, who should fit where, when. Pogacar is a current great because he sets goals and trains like a scary monster to achieve them. When he loses he is quick with a compliment to his competitors. Pogacar is setting new standards, he doesn't see an reason to set a schedule that fits into the established narrative. He is going to do races that were counterintuitive for stage racers even just a few years ago. Hardly boring in my opinion.
As I said before, he is leading by example. Guy gushing in generosity for the sport, his teammates and management, ownership.
UAE looks and sounds organized and focused because they are, if that's boring, the sport can use more of it.
I still can't get over how UAE management has worked with riders, the entire team to establish a plan that has everyone working towards individual goals and working on team goals all at the same time, said loud ,proud and first before other teams are milling around unfocused.
It's not established science, but you would think that other teams would ask themselves, they win all the time, they train, talk and act a certain way, maybe we should try it, what do we have to lose.
The mental preparation of UAE is truly impressive.
I can't help but think how beneficial it is for young riders to have set plans and work towards them, just shows a level of discipline and confidence other squads lack. Here's yet another example of money having nothing to do with professionalism and determination.
Del Toro for example, doesn't need to wait and see if he will be selected for TDF, he is in ..in December, before his birthday, before Christmas, guy rattled off from memory the races he is set to do for preparation leading up to lifetime goal. Someone is counseling, conditioning him with direction and confidence to get where he wants to go..
Maybe this post fits in Onley or Cian thread also, how can you get to where you want to go if you don't even have a map yet..

UAE managers don't deserve that praise. They still need to win something big without Pogacar. Even without Pogacar's salary they would have biggest budget. Till last year Almeida won nothing worth mentioning. He also won Romandie, Basque and Suisse with no real competition. I am glad he won because i believe he is great guy but he still only won those three races(that matters) in his WHOLE career. Del Toro biggest win is still probably Emilia so i wouldn't say he deserves already to much praise. Like i said i like both of those guys but UAE would look like clown team when we are talking about winning(!!) if there is no Pogacar. Jumbo won 2 GTs and all 3 only two years ago. They archieved that with 4 (!!!!)guys. So i would say they are much better organized then UAE when it is about tactic.

 

[aphronesis]

Not to defend them or these premises, if they send Almeida to the Giro and Jonas goes, they can tire him before the Tour. If he doesn’t, they can hit all three GTs “earnestly” anyway.

Which is basically what Pogacar said in terms of doing all three relative to team considerations.

 

[Berniece]

Pogacar's schedule is being criticized when Remco isn't doing FW
Now that he knows Pogacar won't be there, he should include it.

Pogacar makes his own schedule, clearly. Evenepoel doesn’t.

 

[James M]

Wellens cites his opinion on why Poggo wont burn out anytime soon and anticipates he will further improve next year which only looking from the outside at the trajectory is def more than plausible.

https://wielerrevue.nl/artikel/6726...ndle_id=63812776&utm_social_post_id=623621575"

 

[James M]

People would have thought this was impossible just 5-10 years ago. People used to beg the best GT riders to just do Liege for crying out loud

To further elaborate on that. I for one, 99% of the time dont agree with Madiot and usually find him an ancient relic from the past and not up to speed. But here, I agree with his points, he highlights some of this topic. While I dont expect everyone to do it, or diminish the top riders who don’t (given the rarity and complexity of alternating between the various ‘disciplines’ like PR, Liege, and the Tour) its not the norm and its hard I get it, its still the golden standard everyone should aim as the ultimate end game and imo every top rider should be encouraged to ride the biggest races to some degree atleast even if they cant podium.

Marc Madiot praises Tadej Pogačar's 'sense of history' of cycling, but picks Wout van Aert as his favourite

Groupama-FDJ manager finds that the world champion has a deep understanding of the sport

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Oldman]

Swiss government is very intelligent about tourism exposure. No matter the length of the race, it's guaranteed that the tourism component of showing the country, the people, the culture in a positive light, showcasing the gorgeous country will equal any coverage done for the bike race.
Many of these races should include links to vacation packages, how to book a wedding, places to retire. If they shut down villages or streets, regardless of hassle or cost, they are thinking about what they are doing.
As not to be overly positive about Switzerland! Australia knocks it out, with helicopter shots of a country, beaches, landscapes, people that take your breath away.. They start in January or February.

Raced bikes and skied with different Swiss friends. They are quietly proud of their country and it's serious effort to maintain tradition in a modern world.
It took a surprise trip my wife planned for my 65th birthday in the Swiss Alps to truly appreciate the place. No doubt the Tour de Suisse would have plans for a showcase.

 

[Oldman]

After watching Tadej’s entire interview, which gives a completely different feeling than just reading an article, I’m even more convinced that he’s a pure cycling fanatic and that his schedule will always be unpredictable. This forum focuses only on how his schedule will affect the TdF, even though he’s still expected to do everything else as well. In the interview he directly says that he would rather win Roubaix than the Tour and hints that if the two races were held at the same time(!), he would probably go to the Tour de France because the team would decide that (BUT NOT HIM ).
This year’s schedule is brilliant from several perspectives, especially because it can be adjusted very easily. In my opinion, this will be the first year he goes all-in on Milan–San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris–Roubaix. He’ll take Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Romandie seriously, but it won’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t win. I’m convinced that if Jonas goes to the Giro, Pogačar will cancel either Romandie or Switzerland. I think he wants to go to the Vuelta but not race against Jonas, because that takes too much energy out of him.
People here comment a lot that the Vuelta would exhaust him for the WC, but they don’t understand that if his only real competition is the current Roglič (whom I otherwise respect immensely) and Mas, with Almeida covering his back behind them, that’s not the same as racing against Jonas.

"Jonas" as a competitor represents a total media focus on Tadej and immense pressure on Jonas and TP. It has to be exhausting for months before and after, so it's forgivable if both only want to approach that situation carefully. Jonas losing another Tour to Tadej begins to relegate him to a stature in today's fandom he may not deserve. Likewise, there is a growing attitude towards Tadej that he appears selfish and shallow for all of his winning. Time should cure some of that but so many fans seem to pray for a savior.
MvP can, has and will defeat Pogacar again, along with everyone else. He seems mostly immune from the constant critique (except maybe from one country) for racing what he wants and giving those efforts seriously but not to the point of self-reflection for every result. He has fun and seems to deal well with outside analysis.
Doubt Tadej or Jonas will be granted that luxury until one of them calls time...

 

[AmRacer]

"Jonas" as a competitor represents a total media focus on Tadej and immense pressure on Jonas and TP. It has to be exhausting for months before and after, so it's forgivable if both only want to approach that situation carefully. Jonas losing another Tour to Tadej begins to relegate him to a stature in today's fandom he may not deserve. Likewise, there is a growing attitude towards Tadej that he appears selfish and shallow for all of his winning. Time should cure some of that but so many fans seem to pray for a savior.
MvP can, has and will defeat Pogacar again, along with everyone else. He seems mostly immune from the constant critique (except maybe from one country) for racing what he wants and giving those efforts seriously but not to the point of self-reflection for every result. He has fun and seems to deal well with outside analysis.
Doubt Tadej or Jonas will be granted that luxury until one of them calls time...

It's not Pogi's fault Merckx won so much.

 

[aphronesis]

"Jonas" as a competitor represents a total media focus on Tadej and immense pressure on Jonas and TP. It has to be exhausting for months before and after, so it's forgivable if both only want to approach that situation carefully. Jonas losing another Tour to Tadej begins to relegate him to a stature in today's fandom he may not deserve. Likewise, there is a growing attitude towards Tadej that he appears selfish and shallow for all of his winning. Time should cure some of that but so many fans seem to pray for a savior.
MvP can, has and will defeat Pogacar again, along with everyone else. He seems mostly immune from the constant critique (except maybe from one country) for racing what he wants and giving those efforts seriously but not to the point of self-reflection for every result. He has fun and seems to deal well with outside analysis.
Doubt Tadej or Jonas will be granted that luxury until one of them calls time...

You rarely get into this level; it’s a nice change. Within cycling and its returned diversification this may be a debatable perception (unless Jonas finds a rhythm for one days), but most of that intensity and focus is still built off the Tour in this century

 

[Cycling111]

Yes, Paris-Roubaix is like Montreal 😂

https://twitter.com/x/status/2000863911843667978

View: https://x.com/i/status/2000863911843667978

 

[Berniece]

Yes, Paris-Roubaix is like Montreal 😂

https://twitter.com/x/status/2000863911843667978

View: https://x.com/i/status/2000863911843667978

I don't think he means when both of them are riding to the finish line together. I think he means that if he's ahead, Pogacar isn't going to close that gap with MVDP in the wheel.

 

[HashRouge]

I don't think he means when both of them are riding to the finish line together. I think he means that if he's ahead, Pogacar isn't going to close that gap with MVDP in the wheel.

Yes, I agree. I think Vermeersch just means that if he was in a better position to go for the victory, Pog would tell him to go for it.

 

[AmRacer]

Yes, I agree. I think Vermeersch just means that if he was in a better position to go for the victory, Pog would tell him to go for it.

Yeah , Pogi won't chase a teammate who is in a better position to contest the win.