Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Extinction]

He was the "new messi" for his boss 😅

Quintana also appeared with 22/23 years in the Tour 2013, the difference is that he faced Froome. Bernal faced his teammate Thomas.

Quintana was always more dominant in the mountains if we compare to the dominance of Bernal.

Prime quintana in a good day was almost unbeatable in the mountains.

Well, Froome has since showed his true colors, whereas Thomas has shown his resistance, thus I don't think your comparison holds weight. Prime Quintana, if anything, showed a reckless disregard of etiquite on that neutralized descent of the Giro to win the Maglia Rosa. At any rate, Bernal uphill, were it not for his misfortunes, would likely have had the oppurtunity to write new climbing feats. And notice I wrote "new Messi" in quotation marks.

 

[Cookster15]

He was the "new messi" for his boss 😅

Quintana also appeared with 22/23 years in the Tour 2013, the difference is that he faced Froome. Bernal faced his teammate Thomas.

Quintana was always more dominant in the mountains if we compare to the dominance of Bernal.

Prime quintana in a good day was almost unbeatable in the mountains.

Bernal wasn’t around long enough for you to form this opinion. Yet despite his career cut short with the crash and back problems he still managed to win two grand tours including the big one. Credit where due.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I vividly remember the old Evenepoel vs Bernal vs Pogacar thread where Pogacar was getting the short end of the stick around 2020 Dauphine time

At the time of Dauphiné 2020, Pogacar had won this long list of impressive GC's: Algarve, California and Valencia. The end.
He also finished 3rd in the Vuelta behind grandpa Valverde, who was neither in his prime, nor a GT powerhouse to begin with.

At that same time, Bernal - being only a year and a half older, had won: Tour de France, Tour de Suisse, Paris Nice, California, Occitanie.
Btw, Bernal won the Tour when he was 22 and a half years old. Pogacar won his Tour the day before turning 22.

Even Evenepoel at that time, and being a year and a half younger, had won: Belgium Tour, Algarve, Burgos, Pologne and San Juan.

So Pogacar getting the short end of the stick at that time, would simply mean people applying common sense. But hindsight 20/20 rules obviously. That said, i just scrolled through that topic, and i can't really see any ridiculous claims either way in the first few pages.

 

[Lequack]

Today Tadej Pogačar passed the UCI WCC team and he said even 'Ciao'

https://twitter.com/x/status/1749486661140873688

View: https://twitter.com/lucasaganronald/status/1749486661140873688?s=20

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Today Tadej Pogačar passed the UCI WCC team and he said even 'Ciao'

https://twitter.com/x/status/1749486661140873688

View: https://twitter.com/lucasaganronald/status/1749486661140873688?s=20

Psychological warfare has just started: Skeletor is shaking in his boots knowing that the same will happen to him in July.

 

[Lequack]

Psychological warfare has just started: Skeletor is shaking in his boots knowing that the same will happen to him in July.

Time for Vinge to find some slow riders while training and smoke them.

 

[johnymax]

Time for Vinge to find some slow riders while training and smoke them.

Like Remco and Rogla for example.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Psychological warfare has just started: Skeletor is shaking in his boots knowing that the same will happen to him in July.

Robovingo is immune to the psychology warfare, it won't work, he has the advantage. Pogacar is desperately trying all mind games, but deep down he knows that when grisca neirmann activates the password, 'today you the world who is the strongest', Robovingo is unstoppable.

Pogacar took the biggest mental victory in 2023 Paris Nice, he decimated Vingegard, but it is not Jonas Vingegard that goes to le tour, it is RoboVingo

 

[sam6]

Robovingo is immune to the psychology warfare, it won't work, he has the advantage. Pogacar is desperately trying all mind games, but deep down he knows that when grisca neirmann activates the password, 'today you the world who is the strongest', Robovingo is unstoppable.

Pogacar took the biggest mental victory in 2023 Paris Nice, he decimated Vingegard, but it is not Jonas Vingegard that goes to le tour, it is RoboVingo

Indeed, you can't play mind games with a skeleton!!

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Robovingo is immune to the psychology warfare, it won't work, he has the advantage. Pogacar is desperately trying all mind games, but deep down he knows that when grisca neirmann activates the password, 'today you the world who is the strongest', Robovingo is unstoppable.

Pogacar took the biggest mental victory in 2023 Paris Nice, he decimated Vingegard, but it is not Jonas Vingegard that goes to le tour, it is RoboVingo

Leaked photo from recent JV training camp.

 

[Froome]

Robovingo is immune to the psychology warfare, it won't work, he has the advantage. Pogacar is desperately trying all mind games, but deep down he knows that when grisca neirmann activates the password, 'today you the world who is the strongest', Robovingo is unstoppable.

Pogacar took the biggest mental victory in 2023 Paris Nice, he decimated Vingegard, but it is not Jonas Vingegard that goes to le tour, it is RoboVingo

@Samu Cuenca the best idea to vingegaard's thread title.

 

[scribers]

They trained him to smile. Must be a new marketing strategy to appeal to Red Bull

 

[CyclistAbi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1749778912123437243

View: https://twitter.com/lucasaganronald/status/1749778912123437243


Boys will be boys.

 

[Mina.S]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1749778912123437243

View: https://twitter.com/lucasaganronald/status/1749778912123437243


Boys will be boys

Urska goes to training camp for a week and this happens? 😅
I guess maybe this year he needs to upgrade the tufts to win the tour….

 

[Oldermanish]

I don't agree with this. He could fight for position all terains, despite his slim build,he was a Monster.

I don't think Quintana was/is more talented than Bernal. Brailsford called Bernal "the Messi of cycling". But then Pogacar and Vingegaard arrived and a new benchmark was established.

Bernal was a good tactician, descender and similar to Quintana in many ways which is explainable largely by the Columbians' route to Europe. A few agents controlled the talent and looked for the same qualities.
Quintana had the misfortune of racing against the Sky Machine. Bernal had the benefit of having Sky ride for him. That polarity makes direct comparisons a bit tough.
Also; Brailsford only released information for tactical reasons while riders were competitive that suited their agenda. What he said usually was as revealing as a Bill Belichick post game press conference.

But in Pogi's world he tends to own up to his ups and downs with few excuses. I don't know if it was a Columbian tendency or their respective teams' policy but neither Nairo or Egan seemed comfortable in the big stage press for the few interviews I had the chance to see.

 

[Extinction]

Bernal was a good tactician, descender and similar to Quintana in many ways which is explainable largely by the Columbians' route to Europe. A few agents controlled the talent and looked for the same qualities.
Quintana had the misfortune of racing against the Sky Machine. Bernal had the benefit of having Sky ride for him. That polarity makes direct comparisons a bit tough.
Also; Brailsford only released information for tactical reasons while riders were competitive that suited their agenda. What he said usually was as revealing as a Bill Belichick post game press conference.

But in Pogi's world he tends to own up to his ups and downs with few excuses. I don't know if it was a Columbian tendency or their respective teams' policy but neither Nairo or Egan seemed comfortable in the big stage press for the few interviews I had the chance to see.

Sure, but if Bernal was farmed by Sky, it was because Brailsford, erroneously as it turned out, touted him as cycling's Messi, because their go-to man Gianni Savio said the young Columbian was their best investment. Ironically, another Italian Giuseppe Sarroni was looking towards Slovenia, just over the border, and noticed a young gem, whereupon he jumped at the occasion to sign him at UAE. Such are the vicissitudes of pro cycling. However, I still think pre-incident Bernal was the more complete rider over Quintana. Nairo could never realize the potential he displayed at his sensational first Tour. This has often, for whatever reason, been the apparent fate of Columbians going back to Lucio Herrera until, that is, Bernal finally gave the nation a Yellow Jersey.

 

[sam6]

Does anyone else think Pogi riding the Giro might be better for his Tour chances than riding so many classics? If he was gaining weight to target Flanders then this isn't great prep for the Tour. At least riding the Giro he is focusing on stage racing for the whole winter. That and Kuss rode 3 grand tours and got stronger through them, no reason Pogi can't do similar. I think that extra racing could be good for his Tour chances

 

[SHAD0W93]

Does anyone else think Pogi riding the Giro might be better for his Tour chances than riding so many classics? If he was gaining weight to target Flanders then this isn't great prep for the Tour. At least riding the Giro he is focusing on stage racing for the whole winter. That and Kuss rode 3 grand tours and got stronger through them, no reason Pogi can't do similar. I think that extra racing could be good for his Tour chances

I think it gives him an out to try some crazy tactics, especially with Adam, Ayuso, and Almeida there.

 

[sam6]

I think it gives him an out to try some crazy tactics, especially with Adam, Ayuso, and Almeida there.

What crazy tactics? I think crazy tactics (except on the gravel stage) are a bad idea with Pog tbh. His strength is his explosiveness and he should rely on that. Leave the long range attacks to Vingegaard and just stay with him and try to get bonus seconds + few seconds gaps in last few kms. Then try and win big in the gravel and hope he doesn't have a bad day like he has the previous tours

 

[kingjr]

At the time of Dauphiné 2020, Pogacar had won this long list of impressive GC's: Algarve, California and Valencia. The end.
He also finished 3rd in the Vuelta behind grandpa Valverde, who was neither in his prime, nor a GT powerhouse to begin with.

At that same time, Bernal - being only a year and a half older, had won: Tour de France, Tour de Suisse, Paris Nice, California, Occitanie.
Btw, Bernal won the Tour when he was 22 and a half years old. Pogacar won his Tour the day before turning 22.

Even Evenepoel at that time, and being a year and a half younger, had won: Belgium Tour, Algarve, Burgos, Pologne and San Juan.

So Pogacar getting the short end of the stick at that time, would simply mean people applying common sense. But hindsight 20/20 rules obviously. That said, i just scrolled through that topic, and i can't really see any ridiculous claims either way in the first few pages.

I want to add Bernal's performance in 2021 Strade Bianche as an honorable mention

 

[SHAD0W93]

What crazy tactics? I think crazy tactics (except on the gravel stage) are a bad idea with Pog tbh. His strength is his explosiveness and he should rely on that. Leave the long range attacks to Vingegaard and just stay with him and try to get bonus seconds + few seconds gaps in last few kms. Then try and win big in the gravel and hope he doesn't have a bad day like he has the previous tours

Attacking from afar if it comes to it like Bernal in the Vuelta.

 

[Lequack]

He's riding with this guy in Abu Dhabi

https://twitter.com/x/status/1750612893207298443

View: https://twitter.com/JohanBruyneel/status/1750612893207298443?s=20


PS: Johan Bruyneel replied this on twitter (translated):

He is everywhere, this sacred omnipresent David! The most important thing for him is to be seen alongside important and influential figures, the Pope, President Macron, President of Korea, his friend Thomas Bach, the Golden Ball, etc… All with one specific objective: the presidency of the IOC. What many know but no one ever says: he doesn't really care about cycling. The worst part is that he will succeed in his bet. Sooner or later he will get there. In the meantime, he travels around the world carrying out his dozen official functions. A real crack! Half a million euros per year for nothing to do at
@UCI_media
. You have to do it anyway. It seems that this champion sleeps very little.Already being present at all the events to be photographed and/or receive medals (Legion of Honor, etc.) is quite a magic trick. “Honor” of what,
@DLappartient
?The most omnipresent president of cycling but in the end, what has this gentleman already accomplished? NOTHING! His personal political career above all, his presidency at the UCI is only a simple step in his political escalation towards the highest level of the IOC. (Save this tweet for later, in a few years I'll tell you: I told you so!)

 

[staubsauger]

I mean Bruyneel knows how it works. Actually he might be true. Lappartient's presidency mainly has 2 functions:

1. Being ASO's auxiliary & puppet.
2. Stepping up politically. Maybe with the IOC presidency.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Does anyone else think Pogi riding the Giro might be better for his Tour chances than riding so many classics? If he was gaining weight to target Flanders then this isn't great prep for the Tour. At least riding the Giro he is focusing on stage racing for the whole winter. That and Kuss rode 3 grand tours and got stronger through them, no reason Pogi can't do similar. I think that extra racing could be good for his Tour chances

It's likely that Pogacar will be trimmer this spring due to his goals, yes. But Giro will take its toll, even if Pogacar wins it easily by strong performances in week 1. Kuss didn't ride Giro for victory, this is a big difference. Pogacar will have to perform well during all important stages and will need to stay alert all the time (mental effort shouldn't be neglected as well). It's hard to imagine Teddy being stronger at the Tour with Giro in his legs (than without it) plus he'll face peaking Skeletor, whose only goal is the Tour.

 

[scribers]

What crazy tactics? I think crazy tactics (except on the gravel stage) are a bad idea with Pog tbh. His strength is his explosiveness and he should rely on that. Leave the long range attacks to Vingegaard and just stay with him and try to get bonus seconds + few seconds gaps in last few kms. Then try and win big in the gravel and hope he doesn't have a bad day like he has the previous tours

A crazy tactic would be allowing anyone not named Vingo up the road when visma won’t close it down. You have to be willing to lose everything to defeat strength.