Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Krzysztof_O]

I think its fair that there is a monument sprinters with endurance and climbing prowess can win like Philipsen or Pedersen (although they also have a shot at PR and Ronde, I guess). So I would rather say UAE shouold bring a proper team with the likes of Bjerg and Politt to drive the pace in the low gradients and flat parts and fresh Wellens, Del Toro, ... can take over then.

Yup, MSR gives a chance to riders with various characteristics. The spectrum of winners is very broad (from a sprinter to a GT winner). That's why it's so difficult to win (despite being easy to ride) and so hard to predict. It's perfect the way it is.

 

[ppanther92]

Looking forward to Catalunya - first real test of @mou's claims.

 

[Red Rick]

Milan San Remo should experiment with their route like Milano Torino did and add some more climbs. Otherwise UAE should bring a team that could push the pace all the way for an attack on Cipressa.

They should not.

The race has a very specific identity. If you add more hills it just turns into another giftwrapped monument to one specific rider, an honor which Lombardia already holds.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Stat of the day: over the last year Pogacar took part in 18 races: only one of them was a stage-race (TdF).
He's a good one-day racer but let's see how he fares against true stage-race specialists next week.

 

[scribers]

Another pog option. Save his bullets for a searing attack coming off the end of the descent of the poggio

 

[SHAD0W93]

They should not.

The race has a very specific identity. If you add more hills it just turns into another giftwrapped monument to one specific rider, an honor which Lombardia already holds.

I didn’t say turn it into Lombardy, I said they should experiment with the route. My opinion, bring in 2 or so similar climbs as now earlier in the race and it still keeps its identify while making the attrition aspect higher. The same people who competed for the win today would still be able to do so and it gives viewers more reason to tune in early. Most here were waiting to see if the hype was going to be real.

 

[ppanther92]

Another pog option. Save his bullets for a searing attack coming off the end of the descent of the poggio

True but he still needs a very hard Poggio. Cause that ain't stick against sprinter teams with 3 domestiques there.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Next year Teddy will bring Yates, Majka, Almeida, Vine, Ayuso and Wellens to demolish big boys on small climbs!

 

[mou]

I would completely rejuvenate the team for next year that would follow Pog on the grand tour. Pollit, Bjerg, Baroncini, Morgado, Sivakov, Vine, Del Toro, Pog. experience is an overrated thing in my opinion, Ullisi is experienced so he is 0 in every race, the condition for the first 4 names would be physically strong players from the classics, the other 3 names climbers who are bigger than Pogačar and from whom you can hide in the train because I noticed that Vingo was constantly riding in the team behind Van Hooydonk or Laporte and on the hill behind Kelderman and Pog behind Yates and Majka on flat and hill, and he ate the wind, does anyone else think like me or should we bring old and experienced players Majka, Wellens, Yates or problematic Ayuso who only looks at his ass?

 

[scribers]

Next year is different than this year for sure. If I take the same age wellens one year to the next he goes everywhere pog goes

 

[ppanther92]

I would completely rejuvenate the team for next year that would follow Pog on the grand tour. Pollit, Bjerg, Baroncini, Morgado, Sivakov, Vine, Del Toro, Pog. experience is an overrated thing in my opinion, Ullisi is experienced so he is 0 in every race, the condition for the first 4 names would be physically strong players from the classics, the other 3 names climbers who are bigger than Pogačar and from whom you can hide in the train because I noticed that Vingo was constantly riding in the team behind Van Hooydonk or Laporte and on the hill behind Kelderman and Pog behind Yates and Majka on flat and hill, and he ate the wind, does anyone else think like me or should we bring old and experienced players Majka, Wellens, Yates or problematic Ayuso who only looks at his ass?

I think Großschartner is an awesome domestique for example since he not only has proven he can ride into the top 10 in a GT but also that he is strong on rolling and hilly terrain, and maybe most importantly doesn't have any ego to just be a domestique. Hirschi for example, I don't trust on the last part at all.

Morgado and Baroncini especially, have to prove their level first.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I would completely rejuvenate the team for next year that would follow Pog on the grand tour. Pollit, Bjerg, Baroncini, Morgado, Sivakov, Vine, Del Toro, Pog. experience is an overrated thing in my opinion, Ullisi is experienced so he is 0 in every race, the condition for the first 4 names would be physically strong players from the classics, the other 3 names climbers who are bigger than Pogačar and from whom you can hide in the train because I noticed that Vingo was constantly riding in the team behind Van Hooydonk or Laporte and on the hill behind Kelderman and Pog behind Yates and Majka on flat and hill, and he ate the wind, does anyone else think like me or should we bring old and experienced players Majka, Wellens, Yates or problematic Ayuso who only looks at his ass?

Bringing both Vine and Sivakov could be risky.

 

[Salvarani]

Bringing both Vine and Sivakov could be risky.

Yeah, thats not a good idea at all.

 

[DNP-Old]

Bringing both Vine and Sivakov could be risky.

If you can't create a gap on the bike, might as well try to create one by throwing others off the bike. Genius strategy if you ask me.

 

[mou]

Next year is different than this year for sure. If I take the same age wellens one year to the next he goes everywhere pog goes

I believe that in addition to the heat, Pog got tired and I noticed that he was constantly in the wind behind Majka and Yates and Vingo was resting behind Hoydonk and Kelderman, and take into account 3 weeks, that drains strength, according to me that would be a condition personally, the Pollit is ideal on the flat to ride behind it, you don't even have to pedal, and on the hill on hills of 7-8%, of which there are a handful on the tour, it means a lot of good protection and you surf on the wheel and thus save 30-40 W for sure

 

[scribers]

@mou. After you’ve convinced me of pog’s overall strength. It has me rethinking team tactics at the tour post giro. Assuming all is well, I would send nothing but 100% support to pog rather than GC options. So the Ayuso/Almeida + GC Yates is more problematic in that scenario

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If you can't create a gap on the bike, might as well try to create one by throwing others off the bike. Genius strategy if you ask me.

Two teammates crashing behind Poggi on Poggio and here we go!

 

[mou]

@mou. After you’ve convinced me of pog’s overall strength. It has me rethinking team tactics at the tour post giro. Assuming all is well, I would send nothing but 100% support to pog rather than GC options. So the Ayuso/Almeida + GC Yates is more problematic in that scenario

I would take Pollit, Bjerg, Baroncini, Morgado, Wellens, Sivakov and Del Toro on this Tour, I know that no one agrees with that, but I would do it that way, and in the end if Pog is left alone in the big hills he has to stick to Vingo and that's it if he can, for me the 2 big problems are the heat, which is now solved, and the small hill helpers of 160 cm and 58 kg who do not offer Pog any protection from the wind both on the flat and on the hill, and Pog should, for example, behind Sivakov go 370W to follow the pace and behind Majka and Yates Pog should go 385-390w to follow the pace on the hill, huge difference

 

[mou]

you have 2 choices, 4 strong guys and 3 climbers.... Baroncini, Bax, Bjerg, Laengen, R. Oliveira, Pollit, Wellens, Morgado, Novak, you choose four from that team, Vine, Soler, Sivakov, Mcnulty, Grosschartner, FFB, Del Toro, Christian, Ayuso, Arieta....you choose three of the climbers, anyone smaller than 180cm has nothing to do with the team

 

[Froome]

It's painful listening to lance try and form full sentences.

"The last thing I’ll say for the people that don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics, I’m sorry for you. I’m sorry you can’t dream big and I’m sorry you don’t believe in miracles...”

 

[Krzysztof_O]

"The last thing I’ll say for the people that don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics, I’m sorry for you. I’m sorry you can’t dream big and I’m sorry you don’t believe in miracles...”

"It will be yours next year" pointing to his successors Ivan and Jan...and then Fuentes happened.

 

[Netserk]

They should not.

The race has a very specific identity. If you add more hills it just turns into another giftwrapped monument to one specific rider, an honor which Lombardia already holds.

Le Mànie with 94 km to go is so far out that it's not a total gift.

 

[RedheadDane]

Bringing both Vine and Sivakov could be risky.

They're trying it for Catalunya... we'll see how it goes.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

They're trying it for Catalunya... we'll see how it goes.

It won't matter much there, since he's gonna be an unstoppable one-man army in that ciciban race.

 

[mou]

Bjerg, Pollit, Wellens or Morgado, Mcnulty or Soler, Sivakov, Vine or Del Toro, Ayuso, Pog, so if Ayuso causes problems, *** him, sell him next year like Visma sold Roglić....
I think this is the best possible team at the moment