Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[ppanther92]

This was not supposed to be a stage where Vingegaard would lose out to Pogi - especially considering what happened on Marie Blanque.

He really has to hope a supposedly superior recovery will help him turn the tables but right now it looks like Pogacar has the cards on his hand.

I actually think Pogacar's 3rd week pedigree is stellar though. Last year Vingegaard was just the better climber and it probably also didn't help that Pogacar came off once (as well as generally wasting energy all across). But other than that I can't remember a 3rd week struggle but rather the Vuelta 19 and Tour 20 where he came out being the strongest in the very end.

 

[Offline]

He have flipped the tour around. Crazy if you can win the tour with 3-4 weeks of preparation.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think we can throw normal expectations out of the window, there is no logic to what's happening. Which makes it exciting, of course.

Vingegaard always looks rather pale, but Pogi has made him look white as a sheet these last couple of stages. Still, on paper it's probably a win for Vingegaard that he's ahead after one week. In reality it doesn't look that way though.

Indeed, on paper, but that paper fails to include that Pogacar has been hampered in the prep! So I agree with your statement - Pogacar has the upper hand, and I think he feels fine with Vingegaard having the yellow jersey and all that comes with wearing that.

 

[dacooley]

there are at least 5 stages for crossing the swords to come and that's amazing. nonetheless I'd go for Pogacar as a winner. there's clearly more magic around him. With all due respect to the Dane, Pogačar's absolute best is more formidable than Vingegaard's one. The sky's the limit for Pogačar. An athlete like him is born once or twice in a decade in all of sports.

 

[Lorzenz08]

Pogi was extremely reckless last year. Even after Granon, he tried in the Alpe d'Huez, he tried in Hautacam a long range etc.

This is absolutely reckless. He should have followd Vingo wheel and only attack the last few kms.

This is how winning is done.

 

[Nick2413]

Out of all the possible scenarios, didn’t expect Pog to be both behind at the first rest day and looking like the strongest in the race. But still impossible to know what the next 2 weeks have in store.

 

[theyoungest]

Pogi was extremely reckless last year. Even after Granon, he tried in the Alpe d'Huez, he tried in Hautacam a long range etc.

This is absolutely reckless. He should have followd Vingo wheel and only attack the last few kms.

This is how winning is done.

What? Which long range attacks have you seen?

 

[dacooley]

Pogi was extremely reckless last year. Even after Granon, he tried in the Alpe d'Huez, he tried in Hautacam a long range etc.

This is absolutely reckless. He should have followd Vingo wheel and only attack the last few kms.

This is how winning is done.

he had no reason not to be reckless. Throughout the whole career until the last years' Tour Pogacar did just 2 things: attacking and winning. I wouldn't say anything has changed this year. He clearly didn't mind winning the stage 1 and would've done that, had Vingegaard not been able to stick to his wheel. Still some lessons were obviously drawn from the Tour 2022. At the very least, the 2 latest attack appear to be well-calculated.

 

[Rackham]

Pogi was extremely reckless last year. Even after Granon, he tried in the Alpe d'Huez, he tried in Hautacam a long range etc.

This is absolutely reckless. He should have followd Vingo wheel and only attack the last few kms.

This is how winning is done.

3 minutes last year was just too much to take back without something massive happening. So Pog tried something 'massive' every mountain stage.

17 seconds is much more manageable with small attacks.

Out of all the possible scenarios, didn’t expect Pog to be both behind at the first rest day and looking like the strongest in the race. But still impossible to know what the next 2 weeks have in store.

I think some people believed his wrist (& lack of racing) could be a problem in the first week. And we seem to have gone from one extremely bleak prognosis after Wednesday (aka Pog's TdF was screwed, basically) to now a far more positive outlook 4 days later.

Lady momentum is on Pog's side, basically. Especially as he's now dropped Vingegaard twice.

 

[theyoungest]

Indeed, on paper, but that paper fails to include that Pogacar has been hampered in the prep! So I agree with your statement - Pogacar has the upper hand, and I think he feels fine with Vingegaard having the yellow jersey and all that comes with wearing that.

I think the hampered prep story probably doesn't really matter anymore, Vingegaard didn't have an ideal prep two years in a row and you didn't really see any of that in the Tour either. Maybe the extra rest actually worked to Pogi's benefit.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I think the hampered prep story probably doesn't really matter anymore, Vingegaard didn't have an ideal prep two years in a row and you didn't really see any of that in the Tour either. Maybe the extra rest actually worked to Pogi's benefit.

I don't think you can compare Vingegaard's prep 2022 (he was already flying in Dauphine) to Pogacar this year. Very different matter IMO.

 

[Trofonios]

Pog was absolutely smashing it this spring, not only in stage races but also in the classics, winning Flanders, AGR and FW.
It was a domination we have rarely seen before and he had clearly progressed as a classics rider, even riding away from an in form MVDP in Flanders, which was just incredible. I thought then that his progession was also going to be shown in the tour, but then came the crash in LBL and a non optimal build up for the tour.

What we see now is a Pogacar on his way to peaking and a peaked Pog this year is, I'm certain, is better than last year.
Add to this that he has learned from last year's mistakes.

Vingegaard is in for a tough ride.

 

[theyoungest]

I don't think you can compare Vingegaard's prep 2022 (he was already flying in Dauphine) to Pogacar this year. Very different matter IMO.

I have no idea what happened last year, but apparently (according to Dumoulin) Vingegaard's preparation wasn't ideal. I think we can safely say that Pogi's prep hasn't been that bad Maybe a bit of forced rest actually helped him.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Ofc it hasn't been bad, but I never think not being able to ride outside for such a long time and having visible pain in his hand is a good sign.

This is Pogacar's Tour to lose now. I have a hard time seeing Vingegaard winning.

 

[Mayomaniac]

IMO Pogacar has a slight advantage right now, but Vingegaard might limit is losses only to boss the ITT and drop the hammer on Col de la Loze one day later.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

From the current perspective his crisis on MB looks weird and doesnt add up with the rest of the race so far. He lost quite a lot of time on that day, which can still cost him dearly at the end.

 

[Salvarani]

From the current perspective his crisis on MB looks weird and doesnt add up with the rest of the race so far. He lost quite a lot of time on that day, which can still cost him dearly at the end.

Almost as if it was a calculated move to not try to follow Vinge that day, like a trap. Making Vinge over-extend himself in the attack. Fueling the fire for JV to go all out assault the very next day. Psychology that must still hurt for them.

 

[Gigs_98]

He always exceeds my expectations and yet it keeps surprising me. Unbelievable

 

[jmdirt]

Still fighting!

 

[Cookster15]

Very hard to know what will happen from here. But Pogacar will be psychologically lifted. Vingegaard and JV will be feeling the pressure.

Today was supposed to suit Pogacar better. Steep and hot. So much for that theory. But there is still stage 17.

I am thinking Pogacar might be equal of Vingegaard in the TT this time. Everyone forgets how young he still is. At 24 you get better. He will be a stronger rider now than in 2021.

 

[perico]

They actually believed he is as good as gone.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1677006351065571341

View: https://twitter.com/charlottebikech/status/1677006351065571341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1677006351065571341%7Ctwgr%5Eeb83ee1081f15167921435d77559d7d598d98e3c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zurnal24.si%2Fsport%2Fkolesarstvo%2Fneverjetno-kaj-je-jumbo-visma-po-radijski-zvezi-govorila-vingegaardu-408706

That’s Sky era level of arrogance right there. Do Jumbo also Call each other un-creative nicknames that 4 year olds could come up with like Roglie, Jee, and Seppers?

 

[Poursuivant]

Interesting thing is, both Pog and JV probably would’ve signed on for this position this time 9 days ago.

 

[YavorD]

Vingegaard has the lead, but I think he also used more energy. Stages 5 and 6 he spent a lot, also during the flat-ish stages being second wheel he looks kinda spent to me.
To be honest, the situation looks complete reverse compered to last year. Now Pog is behind but he seems to have the momentum and the energy management on his side.

 

[BigCoward]

Looks like pog has established his ideal calendar. Smash it until liege them sit on his turbo trainer and chill. Most years the first week is positively mundane, he would have lost no time by the first rest day and have picked up lots of bonus seconds. Then he can ride himself into form and them smash weeks 2 and 3.

 

[Salvarani]

All I know from these stages so far is if Pog has taken off his glasses, rivals should know immediate danger is coming.