I love how this time of year, we're just trying to decode quotes like they're puzzles. I have my doubts about Pog's fitness and ability to train for the race with his injury. With that said, who knows. I think one of Pog's great problems is his aggression. Great in one day races, a liability in a 3 week bike racing where accumulated fatigue matters. He raced for a ton of small bonus seconds here and there throughout the first part of last year's Tour, including a stinging move in the cobbled stage which might have made a difference if not for Van Aert. However I do wonder how those little moves and sprints impacted him against a fresher, Ving.
That's a long way of saying, I've worried about the the first 2 or 3 stages of the 2023 for a while. We could all imagine Pog chasing bonus seconds in them while Ving just sits protected with his team guiding him. Instead, I can imagine a scenario where Pog just rides a smart cautious race until we get to the mountains and then is more rested. Of course, even with the injury, watch Pog still attack in those early stages. I hope he's learned his lesson but I am skeptical.
I do hope Pog is 100% fit not just because I am a fan of his but it's hard to imagine the race being interesting without him challening Ving, unless the latter really was a 1 race phenomena.
That's a long way of saying, I've worried about the the first 2 or 3 stages of the 2023 for a while. We could all imagine Pog chasing bonus seconds in them while Ving just sits protected with his team guiding him. Instead, I can imagine a scenario where Pog just rides a smart cautious race until we get to the mountains and then is more rested. Of course, even with the injury, watch Pog still attack in those early stages. I hope he's learned his lesson but I am skeptical.
I do hope Pog is 100% fit not just because I am a fan of his but it's hard to imagine the race being interesting without him challening Ving, unless the latter really was a 1 race phenomena.
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