- Apr 10, 2019
- 12,081
- 16,001
- 23,180
His team looks far from unbeatable when it comes to the mountain stages. If Ineos play their cards right and JV don't go full Rabofail, the can put him under pressure.
Now if you just wait for the final climb you're probably not gonna beat this version of Pogi (unless he has a meltdown, gets sick or crashes).
Now if you just wait for the final climb you're probably not gonna beat this version of Pogi (unless he has a meltdown, gets sick or crashes).
however to be fair -- there were reasons for that (froome and contador out), even if you think nibali would have still won...
...a poster here has been saying that for quite a while... ;-)
even a broken clock is right twice a day.
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,374
- 13,954
- 23,180
Yeah but Roglic is crippled.
I mean a mummified crippled Roglic only lost 44 seconds today, so that "convincing Pogacar win" scenario only came about because Roglic went into the ditch. That was not predictable.
2013 Froome meanwhile was inherently head & shoulders above all his rivals. He was in 2014 as well, but he himself went into a ditch & had a DNF which made Nibali look like a Terminator.
Just some food for thought.
- Jun 7, 2011
- 4,281
- 2,840
- 21,180
absolutely. i do not disagree. perhaps the extent of the gap between them would not end up as much ultimately, but it would be waaaaaay wider than last year.
i posted elsewhere -- it is silly to think Rog would be much (if any) improved on last year. meanwhile the only variable likely to be in ascendence is an amazing 21 year old, now 22.
this has been the history of cycling forever. and for the umpteenth time I suggest you look at the difference between the manner of Fignon's two wins.
- Feb 22, 2013
- 182
- 289
- 9,230
If he does the Vuelta this year, as was rumoured, and then the Giro next year, he could quite easily become the reigning GT King of Kings
He will do triple Giro, Tour and Vuelta in one season
.On a serious note (or not). He is on trajectory to one of the greatest seasons in history. So far he won:
- UAE Tour
- Tirreno-Adriatico
- LBL
- Tour of Slovenia
- TDF (very likely, but still has to bring it home)
- RR OI or TT OI (maybe even both )
- Vuelta (if he will even go, this one is really unlikely)
- Il Lombardia (don't know if he will even ride it, but still)
- Mar 13, 2009
- 29,413
- 3,482
- 28,180
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,939
- 44,324
- 28,180
This TT is probably less phenomenal than the one last year, and I still want to see how his climbing holds up to his ITTing, but he's definitely in absolute cruise control.
I'm not anticipating any teaming up scenarios, they never happened against Skineos, they won't happen against UAE.
I'm not anticipating any teaming up scenarios, they never happened against Skineos, they won't happen against UAE.
Theoretically there are only 2 people who 'may' be able to beat him over next few years. Remco if his TT is even better than Pog and he can just follow in the mountains/learn to descend. Or Bernal if the tour rigs it so there are only 30km of TT and a few proper 7/hour 5 or 6 climb stages at altitude.
- May 11, 2013
- 13,995
- 5,289
- 28,180
How's his climbing? Better than his TT-ing.
- Sep 2, 2011
- 17,541
- 13,766
- 28,180
Now tell me again it doesn't make sense to pick him for the Olympics TT.
- Jul 7, 2013
- 8,117
- 14,968
- 23,180
The last guy who was even more impressive than Pogacar at a young age was Ullrich in 1997 (he was 23 back then). Incredibly, he didn't won any TdF later.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,939
- 44,324
- 28,180
Struggling to find many people that said "If Pogacar beats everyone in that first Tour ITT then they should definitely pick Roglic"
There's only 5 stages done, let's wait and see how impressive this gets.
- Jul 7, 2013
- 8,117
- 14,968
- 23,180
I actually meant Pogacar's GT palmares so far: TdF victory, third at Vuelta and already 7 GT stages, all at the age of 22. WOW.
In the last 3 decades you won't find a youngster more impressive than him except Ullrich as far as GTs are concerned.
- Mar 13, 2009
- 29,413
- 3,482
- 28,180
- Mar 17, 2009
- 8,421
- 959
- 19,680
Wow,
We already knew about his skills & potential before last year's tour-yet he raised the bar by winning it in the last stage when all odds declared Roglic ......
& here we are on stage 5 of this year's Tour thinking he's going to be marked & Challenged by INEOS & Jumbo............. SO it happens he's already a minute + 45 secs ahead of his nearest challenger - and we haven't gotten to the mountains yet......
So what are the "limits" for this new rider Superstar? Should we start calling it the "Pogacar Reign" already? given what we've seen so far, who can realistically stop him?
Imagine if Pogacar goes to INEOS?
We already knew about his skills & potential before last year's tour-yet he raised the bar by winning it in the last stage when all odds declared Roglic ......
& here we are on stage 5 of this year's Tour thinking he's going to be marked & Challenged by INEOS & Jumbo............. SO it happens he's already a minute + 45 secs ahead of his nearest challenger - and we haven't gotten to the mountains yet......
So what are the "limits" for this new rider Superstar? Should we start calling it the "Pogacar Reign" already? given what we've seen so far, who can realistically stop him?
Imagine if Pogacar goes to INEOS?
- Jul 16, 2015
- 5,374
- 13,954
- 23,180
On the age factor (i.e. young riders getting better) you could be correct, but I'm a bit burned on that particular aspect of cycling after I spent years following (& supporting) Andy Schleck in the Tour.
The "he'll get better, he's young!" promise turned seriously sour by the end. So I'm not a total believer in young riders automatically improving with age. Likewise Roglic is an interesting case of someone who has reached huge heights but always had some mitigated circumstances which explained losses (like his pre-Tour dauphiné crash last year).
In Basque Country both Roglic & Pogacar were very evenly matched, so I based my assumption & predictions on that.
I'd say he's in a form of his life. Just imagine 40+ km ITT. It would be AX3/PSM like knockout for GC guys with 2:30-3 minutes behind Pog.
- Sep 2, 2011
- 17,541
- 13,766
- 28,180
He was always the one who could give you a shot at the gold medal. Roglic not so much.
There's a clear difference in ceiling between the two. And as I previously said, I would never base my selection on consistency or floor.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 36K
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 41K
-
Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread- Started by RedheadDane
- Replies: 13K
-
Il Lombardia 2025, monument, October 11
- Started by Krzysztof_O
- Replies: 792
-
European Championship 2025: Men’s RR, October 5- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 854
-
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram