Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Nick2413]

In today’s race MVdP was 15 seconds faster combined between climbing, descending, and flat, so I don’t think anything Pog could do would change anything.

He can make micro changes but the chances of him winning this race have more to do with his opponents than himself. He clearly will be top 10 pretty much every edition, but winning requires MVdP not to be at his best today and a bit of luck in the sprint, or a bit of luck to get solo. In 5-10 editions he may get a win but I don’t think he handled it wrong.

 

[Extinction]

But what do you think would happen then?
Van Der Poel could attack nevertheless..
He or Van Aert could attack on the downhill...
He could also wait for the sprint, and Van Aert too...
Bigger group could form...

What I'm asking is how do you think slowing down would benefit Pogacar?

It would have taken that .5% less out of him that maybe was the difference, after almost 300 km, between mounting a response to MVP's attack and just watching him ride away. And then MVP would have gone 500 meters or so from further down the climb, so would have had to hold the chase off longer. This, too, may have been the difference between getting over the top alone or with company (as he only had a 2 second advantage at the top of the Poggio).

In any case, insisting Pog only gauranteed himself no defense. The best Tadej could have hoped for was being their for the finishing sprint, but the way he rode took him out of any chance of that happening, in my opinion.

 

[Extinction]

In today’s race MVdP was 15 seconds faster combined between climbing, descending, and flat, so I don’t think anything Pog could do would change anything.

I don't think so, because MVP was at 8 just secs with about one km to go, so the other 7 secs were gained by the others playing cat and mouse for the sprint for second place.

Clearly MVP was the strongest in the end and would likely have won under different circumstances too, but Pog could have veered over 500 meters earlier with a bit less energy spent and maybe this would have resulted in a different, more favorable, scenario for his approach to the line.

 

[Oldermanish]

It would have taken that .5% less out of him that maybe was the difference, after almost 300 km, between mounting a response to MVP's attack and just watching him ride away. And then MVP would have gone 500 meters or so from further down the climb, so would have had to hold the chase off longer. This, too, may have been the difference between getting over the top alone or with company (as he only had a 2 second advantage at the top of the Poggio).

In any case, insisting Pog only gauranteed himself no defense. The best Tadej could have hoped for was being their for the finishing sprint, but the way he rode took him out of any chance of that happening, in my opinion.

Honestly, Pog did what would have worked if they had gotten 15 seconds on MVP and WVA. Resting on their wheels would've only meant he's lose a little less time in the sprint. I love the guy but he's no match for them in that finish.

 

[Extinction]

Honestly, Pog did what would have worked if they had gotten 15 seconds on MVP and WVA. Resting on their wheels would've only meant he's lose a little less time in the sprint. I love the guy but he's no match for them in that finish.

He must have expected to drop them, as a week ago at PN he would have, and then he didn't have a plan B. I think with smarter managing of his effort he could have gotten on the podium.

On a different note, I'd never have imagined Ganna outsprinting Van Aert and Pog for second. Obviously after Matthieu's win, Filippo's was the ride of the day.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm sorry but what is the point of this?

Yes, Nibali won some impressive races, but it's really quite ludicrous to suggest that nobody could have followed him on the Poggio and that it wasn't a tactical win. When was Nibali ever a top rider for an explosive climb like that?

Sagan was boxed in hard the moment Nibali countereattacked if you freeze at 3:22. Like 20s later it's still Bahrain guys in front of the peloton. I dont'really consider this group 2 dynamics, but no team had good domestiques in the front of the peloton

View: https://youtu.be/ncs96s4T_II?t=202

 

[Oldermanish]

He must have expected to drop them, as a week ago at PN he would have, and then he didn't have a plan B. I think with smarter managing of his effort he could have gotten on the podium.

On a different note, I'd never have imagined Ganna outsprinting Van Aert and Pog for second. Obviously after Matthieu's win, Filippo's was the ride of the day.

Pogacar's lead out lasted about 1 minute less than necessary for him to launch and gap most of them. MVP was waiting and tactically all in for that move. That would possibly left he and Tadej off the front. Not good enough for Pogi to win and he was gassed and probably didn't care about 3rd place.

 

[Extinction]

Pogacar's lead out lasted about 1 minute less than necessary for him to launch and gap most of them. MVP was waiting and tactically all in for that move. That would possibly left he and Tadej off the front. Not good enough for Pogi to win and he was gassed and probably didn't care about 3rd place.

Or more than necessary...

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It seems Teddy has his boogieman in early season classics: Van der Poel. The Slovenian's skills needed there (i.e. uphill punch, sprint) are eclipsed by the Dutch's. We'll see if RVV is the continuation of this trend. Then again, top form MVP is kinda boogieman to anybody in those races.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He is targetting too many races. He will be dead by the end of April. He should not race the Ardennes if his biggest goal is Flanders

 

[tobydawq]

He is targetting too many races. He will be dead by the end of April. He should not race the Ardennes if his biggest goal is Flanders

Bla bla bla. How about we wait and see?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Looks like no Allan Peiper as they haven't been able to reach an agreement. Likely Peiper wanted more say in it then the team was prepared to offer. In regards the Tour.

 

[Netserk]

He is targetting too many races. He will be dead by the end of April. He should not race the Ardennes if his biggest goal is Flanders

Why not? Racing the Ardennes doesn't impact the Flemish classics, so it's just a bonus if he does well there.

He's not racing Roubaix, and a rider like Gilbert have combined the Flemish and Walloon classics without a problem. He wasn't too tired by Liège in 2011, eh.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Looks like no Allan Peiper as they haven't been able to reach an agreement. Likely Peiper wanted more say in it then the team was prepared to offer. In regards the Tour.

Bad news for Pog, surely. We can only speculate what was the main issue: maybe too big focus on one-day races? Or money?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Bad news for Pog, surely. We can only speculate what was the main issue: maybe too big focus on one-day races? Or money?

Hard to say. Usually such things come down to different views. That is if you take responsibility for such a role then you want some power that comes with it too. Otherwise you basically can't fulfill the task you are there for.

But it could be something else. Maybe they will tell us someday.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Tratnik‘s start at Jumbo was a success recently, but what about Polanc at UAE team in 2023? He hasn‘t raced yet, and starts at Tour of Slovenia, according to PCS:

Jan Polanc

Jan Polanc (born 1992-05-06 in Kranj) is a professional road racing cyclist from Slovenia, currently riding for UAE Team Emirates. His best results are 2 stage wins in Giro d'Italia and winning Trofeo Laigueglia.

www.procyclingstats.com

He is close to Pogacar normally, a loyal helper snd someone Pog trusts and likes to race with. So I assume Polanc either crashed or has health troubles, doesn‘t he?… :-(

 

[CyclistAbi]

Polanc somehow got sidetracked.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So Teddy starts his cobbles season in E3 race on Friday. Instead of killing stages in some week race he prefers new challenges.

 

[Didinho]

So Teddy starts his cobbles season in E3 race on Friday. Instead of killing stages in some week race he prefers new challenges.

It will be Pogi weather. And if Mathieu decides he's too cold, could be a fun race.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It will be Pogi weather. And if Mathieu decides he's too cold, could be a fun race.

Over the last 2 years Pogacar has always finished behind Van der Poel in early season one-day races that both contested. He's kinda kryptonite to Pog.

 

[Red Rick]

Apparently he removed DDV from his schedule, which I think is a smart choice.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It's probably raining in Flanders next week. He might have a chance of winning.

 

[Red Rick]

It's probably raining in Flanders next week. He might have a chance of winning.

Rain favors him a lot as a GC rider, but I'm not so sure against dudes like MvdP and Van Aert.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Rain favors him a lot as a GC rider, but I'm not so sure against dudes like MvdP and Van Aert.

It was very cold during last year's RVV, especially in the first part of the race (it snowed the day before). Teddy looked imperious compared to all those specialists so it may have been a factor. Then again, MVP and WVA race a lot of CX races in shitty weather so they should be ok with it.

 

[red_flanders]

It was very cold during last year's RVV, especially in the first part of the race (it snowed the day before). Teddy looked imperious compared to all those specialists so it may have been a factor. Then again, MVP and WVA race a lot of CX races in shitty weather so they should be ok with it.

It’s a good point, but there may be a difference riding for 6 hours vs 1. Whatever the case I can’t wait. Favorite 1-day race of the year, and Pog made It even better last year. Gonna be awesome again I’m sure.