Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[SHAD0W93]

Pogi needs a strong team against Ineaos and JV. I won't be surprised if he has more of these "hidden" helpers during the Tour Maybe even Urska will be helpful there.

That’s where being liked helps. Like how Contador would receive help because he was liked and he would gift the stages. Versus what I said in the Froome thread on successful breakaway depends on if others will work with him. Froome wanted to win whenever he could and to humiliate, that doesn’t transition well to outside team help.

 

[yaco]

Maybe it was simply because UAE and Bahrain were battling all day long, it would be strange to suddenly help your biggest rival. Maybe Mezgec and Pogi just made a quick deal. Although we are talking here about 1km of keeping the pace high. Not that big of a deal.

Mezgec had to prove his condition was good and his climbing was OK to make BEX's TDF team - Nothing wrong with Pogacar helping a fellow Slovenian - It's no coincidence the BEX TDF team was announced today !

 

[RedheadDane]

He also used to be quite good on one wheel.

Tadej Pogačar: from Slovenian village unicyclist to Tour de France cha – Rouleur

 

[Landeirovic]

Uae selection

– Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
– Rafal Majka (Pol)
– Davide Formolo (Ita)
– Brandon McNulty (USA)
– Marc Hirschi (Swi)
– Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
– Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
– Rui Costa (Por)

 

[Tinnekeisabella]

Uae selection

– Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
– Rafal Majka (Pol)
– Davide Formolo (Ita)
– Brandon McNulty (USA)
– Marc Hirschi (Swi)
– Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
– Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
– Rui Costa (Por)

Still not seeing why Polanc could not fit in this team but ok.

Biggest absent to me is Peiper as team leader.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Uae selection

– Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
– Rafal Majka (Pol)
– Davide Formolo (Ita)
– Brandon McNulty (USA)
– Marc Hirschi (Swi)
– Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
– Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
– Rui Costa (Por)

I would have replaced Rui Costa or Hirschi with Polanc, but taking Bjerg and Laengen instead of a sprinter is the way to go. The thing with Rui Costa is always the question how much of a teamplayer he is, just looking at his results taking him to the Tour makes sense.
Still, I would have replaced Hirschi with Polanc, who seems to be in great form atm. You already have Formolo for the hills and Hirschi is clearly not at his best right now.

 

[KZD]

I can't really understand the choice of Rui Costa, a guy that barely has worked for others over Polanč.
Not having sprinters makes sense Laengen and Bjerg are peobably better at giving support on the flat

 

[Leinster]

Just having Majka, Formolo and McNulty there already makes it a stronger team for the mountains than he had last year.

The big question must be do they have enough flatland firepower with those 3, plus Hirschi and Costa, taking up 5 spots (acknowledging that McNulty is a pretty good TTist anyway). Are Laengen and Bjerg echelon experts? Because that was Pog's biggest time-loss of the Tour last year, so...

 

[Landeirovic]

Just having Majka, Formolo and McNulty there already makes it a stronger team for the mountains than he had last year.

The big question must be do they have enough flatland firepower with those 3, plus Hirschi and Costa, taking up 5 spots (acknowledging that McNulty is a pretty good TTist anyway). Are Laengen and Bjerg echelon experts? Because that was Pog's biggest time-loss of the Tour last year, so...

But Pogacar is good in the wind. He was held up by a fall that prevented him from getting to the front in time. Bjerg and Laengen are super strong on the flat. Even stronger than Martin and Teunissen from Jumbo. in the Uae Tour there was wind. There was Bjerg with Pogacar in front

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Biggest absent to me is Peiper as team leader.

Source?

 

[Landeirovic]

Source?

Matxin, Hauptmann and Pedrazinni. No Peiper

 

[BigCoward]

I assume they are taking Hirschi as his upside (if he can ride into form) is so high.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I assume they are taking Hirschi as his upside (if he can ride into form) is so high.

He's a great descender, that's also a plus.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Removing a sprinter from the team is in my opinion a good idea. As for the replacement for Polanc. Only time will tell.

P.S. If they would leave Hirschi at home that would likely signal they don't have the situation under control.

 

[spalco]

Uae selection

– Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
– Rafal Majka (Pol)
– Davide Formolo (Ita)
– Brandon McNulty (USA)
– Marc Hirschi (Swi)
– Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
– Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor)
– Rui Costa (Por)

On paper, that's obviously a very strong team, but how much actual help will they (be interested in) providing Pogacar? Costa, Hirschi, Formolo, maybe even Bjerg seem more like riders looking for their own glory than domestiquing for some supposed team leader.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't think that team is that strong in the mountains. Especially with Formolo coming off the Giro

 

[pink_jersey]

On paper, that's obviously a very strong team, but how much actual help will they (be interested in) providing Pogacar? Costa, Hirschi, Formolo, maybe even Bjerg seem more like riders looking for their own glory than domestiquing for some supposed team leader.

Formolo is gonna die trying for Pogi. I have no doubt about it. Bjerg as well.

 

[Earns1985]

I don't think that team is that strong in the mountains. Especially with Formolo coming off the Giro

We will see. On paper Ineos and also Jumbo are a bit better, but Pogacar will not be isolated after the first acceleration in the mountains like last year. I think Majka and McNulty can stay for a long time with Pogacar.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

WHY THEY DON'T TAKE POLANC?

 

[roundabout]

I assume they are taking Hirschi as his upside (if he can ride into form) is so high.

No completely related to Hirschi, but in general regarding the supporting cast, while the ceilings are fine, they also have a lower floor in my opinion than JV and ineos if the prep doesn't go fully to plan.

 

[Froome]

Pogacar don't need much help in the mountains, he will be fine. Majka will be with him until the last kms.

 

[johnymax]

On paper, that's obviously a very strong team, but how much actual help will they (be interested in) providing Pogacar? Costa, Hirschi, Formolo, maybe even Bjerg seem more like riders looking for their own glory than domestiquing for some supposed team leader.

The only questionable is Costa IMO. Hirschi, Formolo and Bjerg I have no doubts they'll give their all to support Pogi.

I think this team is thin in the high mountains. In a group of 10-15 best climbers Tadej could be left alone with no support from his teammates. A lot depends on what will be Majka's form and how will Formolo do after having the Giro in his legs. To be honest I don't expect McNulty to be of much help in the mountains. He'll be more useful on the flat and on the hills I think. I might be wrong, though.

 

[BlueRoads]

The only questionable is Costa IMO. Hirschi, Formolo and Bjerg I have no doubts they'll give their all to support Pogi.

I think this team is thin in the high mountains. In a group of 10-15 best climbers Tadej could be left alone with no support from his teammates. A lot depends on what will be Majka's form and how will Formolo do after having the Giro in his legs. To be honest I don't expect McNulty to be of much help in the mountains. He'll be more useful on the flat and on the hills I think. I might be wrong, though.

But does Pogacar really need so many domestiques in the mountains? He just needs to follow Roglic. When Jumbo start attacking with Kuss or Kruijswijk or even van Aert, come on, we all know they aren't serious. It's all about Roglic for them. If Pogacar can't follow Roglic, then he won't win the Tour, simple.
But personally I'm very surprised de la Cruz is not on the team. I would have expected him to be a key helper. Was this planned from the beginning?

 

[titan31]

Costa over De La Cruz or Polanc is the biggest surprise. Polanc as you know he'd bury himself for Pogacar, and De La Cruz would be more useful in the high mountains and he's used to being a domestique. Costa is in good form but you'd wonder how much effort he'll put it into helping

 

[CyclistAbi]

As a defending champion and the man to beat you don't get to stand in the corner.

Wherever you will stand that will be the centre and you by no means want to be cornered.

P.S. Last year tactics won't work.