Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Samu Cuenca]

After he lost yellow, you mean? The only real attack I remember before that was on the cobbles stage. Of course when he was three minutes back on GC he had to attack.

But did he really have that many chances before then?
The Granon stage was always going to neutralise some of the action beforehand.

Just like in 2021, he still had stages where he took minutes on the rider in third place and those further back, but the difference was that there was another guy who could not only match him, but also beat him.

 

[theyoungest]

But did he really have that many chances before then?
The Granon stage was always going to neutralise some of the action beforehand.

Just like in 2021, he still had stages where he took minutes on the rider in third place and those further back, but the difference was that there was another guy who could not only match him, but also beat him.

Well, it was suggested that Pogi adopt a new tactic in the beginning of the race: ride conservatively and sprint for bonus seconds. But that's not that different from what he did last year, is what I'm trying to say.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Well, it was suggested that Pogi adopt a new tactic in the beginning of the race: ride conservatively and sprint for bonus seconds. But that's not that different from what he did last year, is what I'm trying to say.

Did you see Roubaix stage last year?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Well, it was suggested that Pogi adopt a new tactic in the beginning of the race: ride conservatively and sprint for bonus seconds. But that's not that different from what he did last year, is what I'm trying to say.

I doubt he was ever planning to continue to do that though, not even if he had kept the jersey on Granon.

 

[theyoungest]

Did you see Roubaix stage last year?

Maybe read a couple of posts back before asking that question?

I doubt he was ever planning to continue to do that though, not even if he had kept the jersey on Granon.

Then we're entering pure speculation territory. I think Pogi should use the weapons he has over Vingegaard: explosiveness and a sprint. But how he can use them differently than last year, I'm not sure.

 

[ontheroad]

More mind games?
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...ar-i-myself-am-only-just-back-after-an-injury
"My wrist is not yet fully mobile, and certain shocks still bother me. My body has to compensate a bit, so he's definitely not 100 percent okay yet," continues Pogacar. "Jonas Vingegaard starts as the favourite anyway. He was very dominant in the Dauphiné and I myself am only just back after an injury.”

What's the state of the roads in the Basque country? A few unexpected shocks and we'll see if Pogacar is bluffing or not.

I’d take those comments with a large pinch of salt.

Van Aert was supposedly doubtful with a knee injury a week ahead of last years Tour and we all know how that ended up.

 

[Gratemans]

I’d take those comments with a large pinch of salt.

Van Aert was supposedly doubtful with a knee injury a week ahead of last years Tour and we all know how that ended up.

That's been Van Aert's standard MO for a while now. I immediately disregard anything he says about his form right before the Tour. It's kind of a shame Pogacar seems to be doing the same now. I mean come on, they both know how good they are, who are they hoping to fool?

 

[YavorD]

Well, Vingegaard was clearly stronger last year, but I think thae gap should've/would've been within a minute with a bit more sensible effort from Pogacar. On Granon he was dropped by the same riders that he dropped by minutes on every other mountain stage. Quintana was strong there and finished a minute behind, but I still think Pog should've been better than him.
So how much? Maybe 30 seconds behind Vingegaard? 30 seconds lost and Pog is still in yellow, meaning that Vingegaard is the one who has to attack all the way to Hautacam. Now, JV might've been strong enough to drop Pog on AdH already, but I think that only Granon (certainly) and Hautacam are slightly misleading (circumstances wise) about the actual gap between them last year.

However, to me Vingegaard has taken a step forward, so he is the favorite (60:40) right now.

 

[Andy schleck]

Well, Vingegaard was clearly stronger last year, but I think thae gap should've/would've been within a minute with a bit more sensible effort from Pogacar. On Granon he was dropped by the same riders that he dropped by minutes on every other mountain stage. Quintana was strong there and finished a minute behind, but I still think Pog should've been better than him.
So how much? Maybe 30 seconds behind Vingegaard? 30 seconds lost and Pog is still in yellow, meaning that Vingegaard is the one who has to attack all the way to Hautacam. Now, JV might've been strong enough to drop Pog on AdH already, but I think that only Granon (certainly) and Hautacam are slightly misleading (circumstances wise) about the actual gap between them last year.

However, to me Vingegaard has taken a step forward, so he is the favorite (60:40) right now.

In reality quintana was 1 min and 40 s slow than Vingegaard in the last 5 km, because when Vingegaard attacked, quintana had an advantage of 40 s. I think pogacar in normal circumstances would lost 1 min to vingegaard on granon, like in hautacam.

 

[pelotonIQ]

You guys are over complicating things, if Poga can overcome the itch of unnecessarily attacking when he shouldn't, he wins this tour.

 

[Rob5091]

You guys are over complicating things, if Poga can overcome the itch of unnecessarily attacking when he shouldn't, he wins this tour.

Therein lies the entertainment!

 

[Peyroteo94]

They are giving rain next week in the Tourmalet. It still a long way to go and the weather can change but this is good for Pogacar.

 

[Boehmand]

They are giving rain next week in the Tourmalet. It still a long way to go and the weather can change but this is good for Pogacar.

Why is rain good for Pogacar?

 

[Miha81]

Why is rain good for Pogacar?

In the past he performed better on cold rainy days than hot days. I think he once even said himself that he preffers cold conditions and has some difficulties in really hot conditions.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Why is rain good for Pogacar?

Rain is not enough. It has to be cold but the presence of water obviously cools down a body quicker. Pogacar is a cold weather monster and his advantage over the rest grows in these conditions, probably due to a better utilization of glycogen stores (as illustrated by his most dominant performances - i.e. 3.5 minutes gap in LGB stage or 1 minute 20 seconds gap in just 4 km on Carpegna climb).

 

[Pogačar's neighbor]

Article about the Slovenian national cycling championship:


The circle before the final climb Pogacar waited for you and even gave you his energy gel.

Luka Mezcec: "I was empty. These are the zones I don’t train. All day in the wind is not for me. We have other riders for that. I’m not a master on long slopes.

https://slovenia.postsen.com/news/132622/Enjoyed-and-suffered-with-the-number-1-rider-in-the-world.html

 

[gregrowlerson]

Article about the Slovenian national cycling championship:


The circle before the final climb Pogacar waited for you and even gave you his energy gel.

Luka Mezcec: "I was empty. These are the zones I don’t train. All day in the wind is not for me. We have other riders for that. I’m not a master on long slopes.

https://slovenia.postsen.com/news/132622/Enjoyed-and-suffered-with-the-number-1-rider-in-the-world.html

Giving up his energy gel is one thing, but would he ever give up his hair gel?

 

[Boehmand]

In the past he performed better on cold rainy days than hot days. I think he once even said himself that he preffers cold conditions and has some difficulties in really hot conditions.

I agree he has a tendecy to struggle (relative to his normal level) in extreme heat (it's one of the few areas where Vingegaard is better), but we have to remember Vingegaard grew up in Denmark, so rain (and wind) is not exactly a problem for him

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Regarding his weight, in a recent interview (https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tadej-pogacar-2023-tour-de-france/) Pogacar states that his weight is nothing extraordinary but around the same as when he performs his best. Among others, he also states that his Tour preparation wasn't worse but maybe even better (due to being fresher) than before and that Vingegaard is the favourite (while he has nothing to lose).

 

[rokovski]

Can Pogi get 30 seconds from Vinge in TT?
Maybe he will go nuclear in TT, with better gear this year and than he wait others to attack?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Can Pogi get 30 seconds from Vinge in TT?

Yes. But the other way around is also possible. I think they are quite evenly matched at this discipline, and overall form and form on the day will decide the outcome. But i think a <20s gap is more likely.

 

[Boehmand]

Can Pogi get 30 seconds from Vinge in TT?

IMO not on a 22.4 K TT with gradients, I might even put Vingegaard as the favourite.

Either way I believe they will be very close, but that depends a lot on how the previous 15 stages have transpired of course.

 

[Red Rick]

UAE TT setup is much better this year. Last year Vingegaard would have crushed this ITT.

Still, smart money is on small gaps.

 

[YavorD]

In reality quintana was 1 min and 40 s slow than Vingegaard in the last 5 km, because when Vingegaard attacked, quintana had an advantage of 40 s. I think pogacar in normal circumstances would lost 1 min to vingegaard on granon, like in hautacam.

So you think Pog would be only 30 seconds faster that GT and a minute faster than Gaudu? Sorry, but that's hard to believe.

 

[Panda Claws]

Article about the Slovenian national cycling championship:


The circle before the final climb Pogacar waited for you and even gave you his energy gel.

Luka Mezcec: "I was empty. These are the zones I don’t train. All day in the wind is not for me. We have other riders for that. I’m not a master on long slopes.

https://slovenia.postsen.com/news/132622/Enjoyed-and-suffered-with-the-number-1-rider-in-the-world.html

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