Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[canina82]

To be fair with Roglic, he's the only rider who have won a GT, Monument and one-week stage race beating Pogi. Yes, it was ages ago, but it's still something no other rider has done.

Roglic was very good, there is no doubt about that but let's not pretend he is Pogacar's greatest rival ever. It's Vingegaard or MVP.

 

[AmRacer]

Roglic was very good, there is no doubt about that but let's not pretend he is Pogacar's greatest rival ever. It's Vingegaard or and MVP.

Yes, but that's another topic.

 

[canina82]

Yes, but that's another topic.

You only can choose one. For me, it's Vingegaard.

 

[jotafap]

You only can choose one. For me, it's Vingegaard.

Yeah, 100%. It’s unprecedented for someone to win 2 Tours, lose the next 2 to another rival, and then beat him again for 2 years straight (3 in 2026). That alone is enough to make him Pogi’s biggest rival.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@canina82

Jonas might be Pogi biggest Tour rival ATM, if he still is, we'll see. Mathieu might be his biggest classics rival ATM, if he still is. Neither of them will likely ever come close to beating Pogi in all elements of this game.

Anyway, enough about that, Rogla will race against Pogi rather soon, maybe they will even face each other in a GT this season. We'll see.

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

Just the usual hype and illusion before the inevitable letdown. Anyone who watched Vingo beat Pog in the past can see he is completely powerless now. It’s going to be whenever, however and by whatever margin Pog chooses.

Pog is 3-2 vs Vingo. Hardly a walkover from ‘the greatest’

 

[canina82]

@canina82

Jonas might be Pogi biggest Tour rival ATM, if he still is, we'll see. Mathieu might be his biggest classics rival ATM, if he still is. Neither of them will likely ever come close to beating Pogi in all elements of this game.

Anyway, enough about that, Rogla will race against Pogi rather soon, maybe they will even face each other in a GT this season. We'll see.

They raced against each other 2 weeks ago. Roglic was nowhere to be seen.

 

[Red Rick]

They raced against each other 2 weeks ago. Roglic was nowhere to be seen.

He was on the big screen multiple times doing donkey duty with 30+ guys left in the peloton. And he made a funny cameo in the finale on the final stage.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

@canina82

Jonas might be Pogi biggest Tour rival ATM, if he still is, we'll see. Mathieu might be his biggest classics rival ATM, if he still is. Neither of them will likely ever come close to beating Pogi in all elements of this game.

Anyway, enough about that, Rogla will race against Pogi rather soon, maybe they will even face each other in a GT this season. We'll see.

Let's be honest, Half of one victory over Pog belongs to Alaphilippe. Apparently Rogla is still buying Ala beers these days.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Let's be honest, Half of one victory over Pog belongs to Alaphilippe. Apparently Rogla is still buying Ala beers these days.

Did he also buy him some before that LBL? Would explain the swerving.

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

Roglic is not Pogs biggest rival.
It’s Vingo (2-3) and Mathieu ( Pog can’t beat him in Roubaix)
Also Van Aert has emerged as a big time bogey man

 

[AmRacer]

Roglic is not Pogs biggest rival.
It’s Vingo (2-3) and Mathieu ( Pog can’t beat him in Roubaix)
Also Van Aert has emerged as a big time bogey man

Pog did beat Mathieu in PR

 

[BahamontesPhantom]

Pog did beat Mathieu in PR

Mathieus pedals beat him, the ‘poor man’s Mathieu’ then beat Pog

 

[SHAD0W93]

Did he also buy him some before that LBL? Would explain the swerving.

Ala felt bad Roglic lost mano y mano on the climbs at the Tour. That’s why he can clearly be seen talking to Roglic repeatedly beforehand about the plan. Roglic was at first shocked but when life gives you lemons, you got to make lemonade eh.

 

[CyclistAbi]

They raced against each other 2 weeks ago. Roglic was nowhere to be seen.

Lipo, Giulio, Remco ... are now too big stars, to ride for Rogla, although Remco never rode with Rogla so far. On top of that a mentor, such as Rogla, can't exactly gobble the protegee, racing for second place. Beyond that Rogla was all over the race, doing Rogla things. At Swiss on the other hand it's full on racing.

Let's be honest, Half of one victory over Pog belongs to Alaphilippe. Apparently Rogla is still buying Ala beers these days.

Note that any other rider joining this club must beat Pogi not only with grit, determination and masterclass positioning, beating must come while Pogi is still is winning the Tour, just like Rogla did, otherwise it won't count.

 

[canina82]

Lipo, Giulio, Remco ... are now too big stars, to ride for Rogla, although Remco never rode with Rogla so far. On top of that a mentor, such as Rogla, can't exactly gobble the protegee, racing for second place. Beyond that Rogla was all over the race, doing Rogla things. At Swiss on the other hand it's full on racing.



Note that any other rider joining this club must beat Pogi not only with grit, determination and masterclass positioning, beating must come while Pogi is still is winning the Tour, just like Rogla did, otherwise it won't count.

What do you mean by Rogla things?

 

[CyclistAbi]

What do you mean by Rogla things?

He helped Lipo gap to Pogi, first responder, when off duty went after a stage win, it took motorcycles bringing him back, on top of that near stomp experience ... Some commentators, ex pros, journalists ,... pissed.

Beautiful. But not at ToS, there the beast will be unleashed! Grand GOAT.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Beautiful. But not at ToS, there the beast will be unleashed! Grand GOAT.

So pre-Tour Pogi to lose against vacationing Rogla?

 

[rafa92]

stage 6 is crucial, if there are no gaps there the tour can become very strange and also dangerous (too many riders with zero chance of winning or even top 5 that are still fighting for positions and everything). So pogacar better do more than just a couple of weeks of altitude, for stage 6 he has to be in top shape

 

[CyclistAbi]

It's possible but somehow i feel that RBH, Seixas ... don't exactly plan, for them to be over at stage 6. So a plethora of teams likely still to be in the mix after stage 6.

 

[Coppi-Bartali]

I thought he would have more days at altitudee. It would be two weeks at most. Last year he was also there after Dauphiné, this year he will have fewer days after TDS.
I read on X that Del Toro was going on May 15th.

 

[canina82]

I thought he would have more days at altitudee. It would be two weeks at most. Last year he was also there after Dauphiné, this year he will have fewer days after TDS.
I read on X that Del Toro was going on May 15th.

Normally Pogacar does camps of 19 days at altitude. After TdS, he will only have 7 days so his level in Suisse will probably be very close to his Tour shape.

 

[onefortheroad]

Pog is 3-2 vs Vingo. Hardly a walkover from ‘the greatest’

Do you really think last year's 3-2 was that close? I think 4-2 will be even easier. Plus, Vingo will have the Giro in his legs (even if that could help him).

 

[canina82]

Do you really think last year's 3-2 was that close? I think 4-2 will be even easier. Plus, Vingo will have the Giro in his legs (even if that could help him).

I think it wasn't close but could have been way worse. The TdF went perfectly well for Visma and Vingegaard. Almeida crashed out before the mountains, Pogacar crashed before the mountains, hurt his knee at the top of Ventoux. Vingegaard still wasn't close. What could Pogacar do to Vingegaard if he had a perfect race like 2024? Probably a gap of 6'-7' like 2024.

 

[onefortheroad]

I think it wasn't close but could have been way worse. The TdF went perfectly well for Visma and Vingegaard. Almeida crashed out before the mountains, Pogacar crashed before the mountains, hurt his knee at the top of Ventoux. Vingegaard still wasn't close. What could Pogacar do to Vingegaard if he had a perfect race like 2024? Probably a gap of 6'-7' like 2024.

Yes, I think Pog will put several minutes into Vingo. Even so, 2026 could be even more "perfect" for Visma: they know they can't win the Tour. But Vingo wins the Giro without the ghost or pressure of Pogi there (he even seems to smile more lately...). After that, the Tour will have less pressure on him (Vingo) and finishing 2nd will feel like a victory anyway (due to the Giro fatigue).