Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Berniece]

I'm talking about SB.
Regarding MSR, I don't know of Del Toro has what it takes to decimate a peloton like Pogacar did on Cipressa. You can't use the numbers card against MVP in a big group IMO.

In case of SB I think they'll just do their default approach. Make the race hard and Pogacar attacks. Del Toro will have to play domestique too.

In case of MSR, I agree that you can't do numbers in a big group. That's why they still need to launch hard with UAE on Cipressa, so most riders will drop. Then Del Toro launches with Pogacar just sitting in the wheel of MVDP.

 

[Shortcut]

In case of SB I think they'll just do their default approach. Make the race hard and Pogacar attacks. Del Toro will have to play domestique too.

In case of MSR, I agree that you can't do numbers in a big group. That's why they still need to launch hard with UAE on Cipressa, so most riders will drop. Then Del Toro launches with Pogacar just sitting in the wheel of MVDP.

MVDP is not normal rider to let Del Toro like this, he will attack both of them if they try something like that. Everybody forgot, MvDP attacked Pogi two times on the Poggio, first time he won easily, last year Tadej could reach him but MVDP was flying in a sprint. Also i don't believe Del Toro is 3rd favourite at MSR, i don't know where this narrative is coming from, he still showed nothing at races longer than 210km, but even so, there i guys who can still follow him on cipressa or Poggio if MvDP and Pogi are looking at each other (never going to happen). MVDP and Pogi love helping each other when they are going solo (last year MSR, Flanders, P-R) because is better for both of them in big picture. On the other hand SB could be great rave to try with Del Toro attacking first and let the guys looking at each other as Pogi is sitting with them. I really don't know how important is SB for Pogi and winning it 4th times would be a record, but since it is not a monoument but would be biggest win for Del Toro in his carrer, maybe it would buy his loyalty even more. It would be also good tactic to show other teams that Pogi is capable of letting Del Toro go, if nobody is working with him.

 

[Cycling111]

I'm talking about SB.
Regarding MSR, I don't know of Del Toro has what it takes to decimate a peloton like Pogacar did on Cipressa. You can't use the numbers card against MVP in a big group IMO.

At SB, Pogacar doesn't need any strategy and shouldn't give away this race like he did in Montreal. Montreal was after winning the Tour; this is the first race of the year, so it's important to start with a victory. Furthermore, the next race is Milano-San Remo, where he's not the favorite.
It's better to arrive in Flanders with a win so as not to go there under so much pressure.

Besides, if he wins he'll surpass Cancellara with 4 victories. He definitely shouldn't give away SB.

But I wouldn't underestimate Pidcock to think about whether or not he can hand the race over to someone else. Pidcock has shown great form in the climbs of Murcia and Andalusia

 

[Cycling111]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029535553943748700

View: https://x.com/StradeBianche/status/2029535553943748700?s=20

 

[Lorzenz08]

Get ready for the first thermonuclear moment of the year...

 

[jotafap]

It is just me or Pogi looks already slim af?

 

[Cycling111]

It is just me or Pogi looks already slim af?

I think he was thinner in 2024, I suppose because he had to do the Giro.Del Toro is bigger than Pogacar, and at his side, Pogacar looks small, but he doesn't look too thin to me.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029552012832969187

View: https://x.com/Eurosport_IT/status/2029552012832969187?s=20

 

[Cycling111]

 

[canina82]

Fabian is old as hell. Time flies!
Regarding Pogacar, in 2 days we will know how much he will dominate the cycling season.

 

[Breh]

Please shave that head

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think he was thinner in 2024, I suppose because he had to do the Giro.Del Toro is bigger than Pogacar, and at his side, Pogacar looks small, but he doesn't look too thin to me.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029552012832969187

View: https://x.com/Eurosport_IT/status/2029552012832969187?s=20

2024 was all about GT double so probably his lowest ever weight in early season. He was very thin from the start and no cobbles on his way.

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Rumour has it Pog is flying it, even for him.

 

[canina82]

Rumour has it Pog is flying it, even for him.

He is already breaking records on Cipressa and he normally goes faster in a real race.

 

[HashRouge]

It is just me or Pogi looks already slim af?

I think he's pretty normal for him. He was definitely thinner in 2024. He wouldn't want to be too thin this year with MSR, Flanders and Roubaix all coming up.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Probably motorpaced. It's truly insane if he broke the record without a moto or teammates in front of him.

Probably just teammates. With motopacing he would've crushed this record.

 

[AlfaLum]

So if Del Toro manages to stay with Pogacar, who will be allowed to win?

 

[Berniece]

So if Del Toro manages to stay with Pogacar, who will be allowed to win?

How is he going to stay with Pogacar if he's the last in his leadout?

 

[AlfaLum]

How is he going to stay with Pogacar if he's the last in his leadout?

Well if nobody is hanging on after del Toro has finished his leadout maybe Pogacar does not have to attack. 😂

 

[CyclistAbi]

So if Del Toro manages to stay with Pogacar, who will be allowed to win?

Once Pogi starts gifting such wins to his teammate, such as del Toro, that moment it's basically over for him in this team. If del Toro wants gifts he should maybe write to Santa. If he feels he is better then Pogi then he needs to beat him and take the realm.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Well if nobody is hanging on after del Toro has finished his leadout maybe Pogacar does not have to attack. 😂

Yes, if Pogacar and Del Toro are alone I can imagine they will cooperate. If the chase behind isn't dangerous anymore Pogacar may even babysit tired Del Toro and work more without attacking. Who knows what can happen in they finish together.

 

[AlfaLum]

Once Pogi starts gifting such wins to his teammate, such as del Toro, that moment it's basically over for him in this team. If del Toro wants gifts he should maybe write to Santa. If he feels he is better then Pogi then he needs to beat him and take the realm.

For Pogacar the big races are the Tour, San Remo, Roubaix, World Championship, Liege, Flanders and Lombardy. Probably at some point also the Vuelta to “finish” his palmares.

Strade is a big fish, but not that much for Pogacar. I think that if he can ensure Del Toros loyalty in the big races for a season or two by giving away Strade he will do it.

 

[Cycling111]

Deja Vu of the preview of Lombardia and Del Toro couldn't even follow the second strongest rider.

Montreal came after he won his fourth Tour de France.

It's Pogacar's first race of the season.
He's not the favorite in the second, and it's important to start with a win.

He's one victory away from surpassing Cancellara.They just named a sector with his name, he'll want to honor it.
This race matters more to him than Montreal.

Strade Bianche is a gravel race, so there's always more risk. He doesn't take that risk to make concessions.

For these reasons, he's not going to give it away. But, in any case, Del Toro should be the second strongest by a wide margin. The same thing was said before Lombardy, and he wasn't at all.

 

[CyclistAbi]

For Pogacar the big races are the Tour, San Remo, Roubaix, World Championship, Liege, Flanders and Lombardy. Probably at some point also the Vuelta to “finish” his palmares.

Strade is a big fish, but not that much for Pogacar. I think that if he can ensure Del Toros loyalty in the big races for a season or two by giving away Strade he will do it.

If Pogi wanted to gift (a chance) SB to del Toro then he wouldn't participate.

 

[Gratemans]

For Pogacar the big races are the Tour, San Remo, Roubaix, World Championship, Liege, Flanders and Lombardy. Probably at some point also the Vuelta to “finish” his palmares.

Strade is a big fish, but not that much for Pogacar. I think that if he can ensure Del Toros loyalty in the big races for a season or two by giving away Strade he will do it.

Gift Strade to ensure his loyalty? What the hell are you smoking? Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Deja Vu of the preview of Lombardia and Del Toro couldn't even follow the second strongest rider.

Montreal came after he won his fourth Tour de France.

It's Pogacar's first race of the season.
He's not the favorite in the second, and it's important to start with a win.

He's one victory away from surpassing Cancellara.They just named a sector with his name, he'll want to honor it.
This race matters more to him than Montreal.

Strade Bianche is a gravel race, so there's always more risk. He doesn't take that risk to make concessions.

For these reasons, he's not going to give it away. But, in any case, Del Toro should be the second strongest by a wide margin. The same thing was said before Lombardy, and he wasn't at all.

Del Toro hasn't shown much in classics over 200 km long. SB is just slightly longer so it may be short enough for him to shine. I don't think Pogacar is planning to give the race to Del Toro but I can imagine a race scenario when it's a possibility.