Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Pleney]

Why would rain give Pogi an advantage, what precedent is making some think that a bit of rain will suddenly put him 1 minute ahead? Pogi is no bike handling wizard

 

[frisenfruitig]

Why would rain give Pogi an advantage, what precedent is making some think that a bit of rain will suddenly put him 1 minute ahead? Pogi is no bike handling wizard

Well there was that one time a couple of years ago when it was very rainy and he really demolished the entire field. I don't remember which mountains but he took off on the penultimate climb and put over a minute into everyone IIRC. I think it's more the case that he just doesn't particularly react well to heat compared to Vingegaard rather than him being so much better in the rain though.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Well there was that one time a couple of years ago when it was very rainy and he really demolished the entire field. I don't remember which mountains but he took off on the penultimate climb and put over a minute into everyone IIRC. I think it's more the case that he just doesn't particularly react well to heat compared to Vingegaard rather than him being so much better in the rain though.

On stage 8 of the 2021 Tour to Le Grand-Bornand it was very cold and rainy and Pogačar took 3:20 on the rest of the GC group with an attack on the Col de Romme.

 

[Netserk]

On stage 8 of the 2021 Tour to Le Grand-Bornand it was very cold and rainy and Pogačar took 3:20 on the rest of the GC group with an attack on the Col de Romme.

After Vingegaard had crashed.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

This rain talk is a bit nonsense, these aren't Galibier 1998 conditions, it's still +20C° in the Pyrenees, a bit of rain won't make Vingegaard suddenly crack.
Althoug I'd like to see it happen, I don't see Pog putting time into Aqua Pantani on the road (outside potentially the ITT) just by outclimbing him now that the Basque stages are done. Best he can do is to mop up as many Bonus seconds as possible or UAE actually really play the two leader card and role attacks which they haven't given me the vibes so far to really plan to do that. Tomorrow we'll see as it is an excellent opportunity to try.

 

[bNator]

There's a difference between having the energy to take over and not doing this and not taking over because you are already going over your limits. Wheelsucking is when you can take over but you won't.

I would also exclude from classical wheelsucking definition a situation when you don’t have common interests…

 

[Lorzenz08]

Well in my case, I feel like tomorrow all the GC contenders will arrive at the same time in a group of 8 or so, and Pogacar will just outsprint them.
I don't think tomorrow is hard enough to put some real gaps.
Again, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Berniece]

But some people will still say he is wheel sucking even if reality he is deep in the red trying to keep up with Vingegaard(who will also be deep in the red ofc).

Could be. I actually don't think Vingegaard will be able to drop Pogacar, definitely not like he did last year. But we'll see.

 

[ciranda]

He is the Perry the Platipus of cycling

That's great! Platypuses are like the coolest animals in the world.

 

[Offline]

Good to see Trentin back after the crash. Really good in the final keeping Pogacar safe.

 

[HelloDolly]

Haven't watched the Tour in last 2 days cos at work but tuned in last night to see end of race and Pog looking at the replay of the finale behind Philipson back
Like he got a new job as a commissaire !!!

He makes me laugh ...he is every where

 

[Krzysztof_O]

So tomorrow the first big test for Pog. He could attack or be attacked by Vinge. Hopefully he'll be able to bring the watts from the ITT in Slovenia here.

 

[Didinho]

Haven't watched the Tour in last 2 days cos at work but tuned in last night to see end of race and Pog looking at the replay of the finale behind Philipson back
Like he got a new job as a commissaire !!!

He makes me laugh ...he is every where

It's just the zone for stage winner and classification jerseys so Pogi is there as leader for white and they're really good friends from their time together at UAE, even went on holidays with eachother. Just talking like friends.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Lequack]

Some young Pog fans

https://twitter.com/x/status/1676350421923778568

View: https://twitter.com/NBCSCycling/status/1676350421923778568?s=20

 

[Peyroteo94]

He already made a big step in the Tour, avoided crashing before the mountains. I'm pretty sure he will be more relaxed after today

 

[Peter von]

Could be. I actually don't think Vingegaard will be able to drop Pogacar, definitely not like he did last year. But we'll see.

No IMO it's more likely that Pogi will minimize his losses much better if they occur. Part of that is that he should ride a bit more conservatively on the 2-3 stages where we think Jonas might have the edge and then Pogi should try to gain time here and there on the stages that suits him better.

 

[Peyroteo94]

UAE rode perfectly the first two stages. They have a 11 seconds advantage and Yates is in yellow too. They are fully recovered after two easy stages where they didn't do a thing.

 

[Sciatic]

I’m assuming everyone is anxious to see how this plays out between the two, whether one of them might be be able to gain time on the biggest climbs or Pog can rack up enough bonus seconds from sprint finishes. Which will be exciting to see. That assumes all the other variables stay even. We’ve seen though, when we’ve had closely matched top two riders, both climbing at close to the same level, it’s some another variable to decide the race, such as a getting caught out in echelon stages (Quintana and who else), dropped chain (you know who), pulled from race by team, crashes, injuries, and surprising big gaps in a time trial (PDBF, Lemond).
Of course the teams and fans will look for strategies to win without those variables because, for the most part, they are unpredictable. But I wonder if in the racers minds they know that if they maintain top form, stay healthy, stay alert, and stay upright, they’ll have a great chance to win.

 

[Lorzenz08]

What I was afraid of the most is unfortunatel y the current situation. Pogacar is far from his current form, probably due to his lack of preparation.
He can't even drop Kuss.

 

[Netserk]

Could be. I actually don't think Vingegaard will be able to drop Pogacar, definitely not like he did last year. But we'll see.

And we saw.

 

[Berniece]

And we saw.

Indeed, I was wrong. It's going to be a boring TDF

 

[Miha81]

His tour hope is over. He can go stage hunting now

 

[Peyroteo94]

He isn't in his best shape.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Last year he was overconfident during the Granon stage, this year he was overconfident even before the Tour and despite his poor preparation.