Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Extinction]

You don't have to have been a cyclist to commentate (we can all name commentators who haven't raced), you don't need to have ridden a bike to be able to commentate (there are more commentators that don't ride bikes than you might think), but are we now making it a requirement that you don't wear non-western dress if you want to commentate?

Not at all. I simply found it ironic. I suppose it is like ring-side commentary on a Muhammad Ali fight by those who have never boxed, with the addition of boxing never having been a sport in their world. Surreal. I quite enojoyed it and even thought maybe we are more united after all.

 

[theyoungest]

Engine wise? Then it is also a matter of how we define a "peak". The scientific literature shows most endurance athletes' VO2 max peaks at early 20s. Until recently most assumed grand tour riders peaked between 26 and 30. Now I am not so sure, also per the earlier discussion of the rise in youngsters.

We can also look at Vinge who is nearly two years older but came into the sport later. Vinge might also struggle to reach his peak of 2022. And he will be forced to work harder in 2023 as won't be gifted an opportunity like Granon again.

But as a neutral observer (I am neither Danish nor Slovenian), I prefer Pog because of how he rides and the fact he is good all races and not just peak at the TdF which is just too much like Armstrong for my liking.

Vingegaard was 2nd in Tirreno and 2nd in Dauphiné last year, in case you missed it. He also had a crack at Pais Vasco and a couple of classics. For some reason he doesn't really have results in the classics, but it's not for lack of trying.

Pogi probably has a higher base level and Vingegaard is better at peaking, but that doesn't make him another Armstrong.

 

[Andy schleck]

You mean a thin boy?

You're right. That's a fact.

 

[Andy schleck]

Seems as if he shies away from any encounter with the best cyclists in the world.

I don't know if you are being ironic, but he is going to PN to face his main rival.

 

[fmk_RoI]

I don't know if you are being ironic, but he is going to PN to face his main rival.

He was always going to PN. He's skipping out of facing the others.

 

[Andy schleck]

He was always going to PN. He's skipping out of facing the others.

If he had chosen TA instead of PN he would be skipping of face everybody.
I don't think he wants to skipp facing MVDP or WVA. Simply, is main rival will be vingegaard, because the Tour france, is the main goal for pogacar.

 

[Bonimenier]

When and why did he suddenly decide to only ride Mickey Mouse races?

 

[red_flanders]

Seems as if he shies away from any encounter with the best cyclists in the world.

That...is 100% nonsense.

This guy loves to race. He's faced down everyone he needs to, across all types of races. This is literally the opposite vibe I get from Pogačar. Dude loves to compete.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Considering the current form and dedication. JV will likely have to respond. That is sending Jonas fully exposed. It doesn't sound as a good idea to me.

 

[Elos Anjos]

That...is 100% nonsense.

This guy loves to race. He's faced down everyone he needs to, across all types of races. This is literally the opposite vibe I get from Pogačar. Dude loves to compete.

At last a wise remark. Chapeau.

Users should be shy on reading too much on Poginator schedule.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

He knows he can't win when the big boys show up.

It's like Nadal dodging Djokovic off clay

Only that Pogačar is dodging racing on clay

 

[KZD]

Seems as if he shies away from any encounter with the best cyclists in the world.

If that was the case he wouldn't ride three monuments this spring and have, once again, the Tour as the main goal of his season.

 

[Bonimenier]

If that was the case he wouldn't ride three monuments this spring and have, once again, the Tour as the main goal of his season.

I'm confident he will announce his participation in the Sibiu Tour come the end of June.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Picking up sarcasm remains elusive on the internet i see.

 

[Unchained]

My take is that Pog has already reached his peak (engine-wise) but if he's motivated (he surely is) there may still be room for improvement (i.e. slight weight loss, tweaks in build-up, change in tactical approach).

I pretty much agree with most of these last dozen posts.
.I am saying this from the hour of racing I have seen of recent Pog..
his gluts and legs look bigger to me?? He just looks a little bigger than previous.. I am also wondering what his ITT times are going to look like..

 

[hfer07]

So is happening

game on!!

 

[Extinction]

Vingegaard was 2nd in Tirreno and 2nd in Dauphiné last year, in case you missed it. He also had a crack at Pais Vasco and a couple of classics. For some reason he doesn't really have results in the classics, but it's not for lack of trying.

Pogi probably has a higher base level and Vingegaard is better at peaking, but that doesn't make him another Armstrong.

If Vingegaard is in good shape, it will be a nice battle with Pog. Tadej was beating Mas in Andalusia, who evidently was carrying his level over from Vuelta-Lombardia. So Pog's form must be quite high, which means Jonas will need to have laid down a solid base at Tiede to be competative.

 

[tobydawq]

What he does to beat Vingegaard. He wants to beat him, he doesn't care about Paris Nice, it's all about beating a guy who gave him deep mental wounds after that 2022 Tour.

Of course he cares about Paris-Nice.

 

[tobydawq]

But, but, but Strade is just below the monuments in prestige!?

It is.

?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He knows he can't win when the big boys show up.

It's like Nadal dodging Djokovic off clay

Fortunately Pog's clay lasts most of the season

his gluts and legs look bigger to me?? He just looks a little bigger than previous.. I am also wondering what his ITT times are going to look like..

TBH I have an impression that he's leaner than normally at this time of the year. Contradicting impressions mean that there's probably no actual difference.

BTW it's official now https://www.velonews.com/news/road/...on-paris-nice-showdown-with-jonas-vingegaard/
Disappointing that he skips Strade but PN will be more interesting now (or maybe the other way around )

 

[theyoungest]

If Vingegaard is in good shape, it will be a nice battle with Pog. Tadej was beating Mas in Andalusia, who evidently was carrying his level over from Vuelta-Lombardia. So Pog's form must be quite high, which means Jonas will need to have laid down a solid base at Tiede to be competative.

I don't expect a real battle, to be honest. Normally Pogacar should be better in a one week race in March. Strade Bianche or no Strade Bianche, I don't think it makes much of a difference.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Pog just obviously doesn't like all the Nibali and Contador talk.

 

[tobydawq]

Fortunately Pog's clay lasts most of the season

I think the joke was that Strade takes place on clay (dirt roads).

 

[SafeBet]

Picking up sarcasm remains elusive on the internet i see.

Have to admit sometimes I can't quite tell whether it's sarcasm or plain trolling.

 

[Netserk]

It is.

?

Would the defending winner of Liège ever skip it to focus on Romandie? No, not even close. It speaks volumes of the prestige of the race when the defending champion skips it to better prepare for a one-week stage race.