Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Lequack]

Pogačar has a great chance, of becoming only the third cyclist in history, together with Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche in winning the triple crown—victory in the Giro, Tour, and World Championship in the same year. The Olympic Road Race title, is also up for grabs.

Still, those races usually suit a lot of different profiles of riders, so there will be a lot of competition.

Worlds 2024:

Olympics 2024:

 

[Cookster15]

Visma and Tom just seems like sore losers.

And they are taking it hard because they are very arrogant. Thought they would win again, so it is amplified.

Tom was in probably thinking he’d never have to relive 2020 again. He and Visma should know cycling cannot be controlled like a turning a dial. I thought we learned this wasn’t right after enduring the Dave Brailsford years.

 

[James M]

Still, those races usually suit a lot of different profiles of riders, so there will be a lot of competition.

Worlds 2024:

Olympics 2024:

The worlds I like far more for him than the Olympics personally. How cool would it be to see him ride the WC jersey next year(ofc with a proper UCi worlds kit not the usualy uae rubbish)

Would be epic to watch him ride the Tour or giro in the worlds jersey but if its only one day haha idk but anyway rest of the year would be epic.

 

[velaso montador]

Take no prisoners Tadej haha this guy is so different.

Cycling couldnt ask for a better guy than this. That he is the best in history part doesnt hurt either but his character too oh boy.

 

[velaso montador]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=465GqT_EuUA

 

[James M]

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Timeline​

• 0
  ..
  If POGAČAR Tadej (UAE Team Emirates) was a team on his own, where would he rank in the PCS teams ranking this season?
  
  

  #		POINTS
  18	Uno-X Mobility	3276
  19	Intermarché - Wanty	3270
  20	Team dsm-firmenich PostNL	3155
  21	POGAČAR Tadej	2928
  22	Cofidis	2794
  23	Astana Qazaqstan Team	2336
  24	Tudor Pro Cycling Team	2117

 

[BullsFan22]

Poor Tadej, dammed if he attacks, dammed if he doesn’t.

 

[hayneplane]

The worlds I like far more for him than the Olympics personally. How cool would it be to see him ride the WC jersey next year(ofc with a proper UCi worlds kit not the usualy uae rubbish)

Would be epic to watch him ride the Tour or giro in the worlds jersey but if its only one day haha idk but anyway rest of the year would be epic.

If he wins it they should put rainbow bands on leaders jerseys so we can still see them for most of the season

 

[hayneplane]

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​

Timeline​

• 0
  ..
  If POGAČAR Tadej (UAE Team Emirates) was a team on his own, where would he rank in the PCS teams ranking this season?
  
  

  #		POINTS
  18	Uno-X Mobility	3276
  19	Intermarché - Wanty	3270
  20	Team dsm-firmenich PostNL	3155
  21	POGAČAR Tadej	2928
  22	Cofidis	2794
  23	Astana Qazaqstan Team	2336
  24	Tudor Pro Cycling Team	2117

If he wins the TT he will have more wins this season than 2 and 3 (Merlier and Vingegaard) on the list combined. Not only that but they are all world tour wins.

 

[Savant12]

One Pog To Rule Them All

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

How many mountain stages in GTs has he won by now? It must be a record surely? I count 10 this year alone.
So, being unsure about some medium mountain stages, if they are mountainous enough, I arrive at 19-21.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Dare I say it, but that image of Pogacar crossing the line really is fit for a KING.

"Bow down to me, my peloton plebs."

 

[jmdirt]

BEAST!

 

[snipeheem]

The goat debate is over.

 

[No Excuses]

Tadej Pogacar

Still looks hungry

 

[Salvarani]

Tom was in probably thinking he’d never have to relive 2020 again. He and Visma should know cycling cannot be controlled like a turning a dial. I thought we learned this wasn’t right after enduring the Dave Brailsford years.

I think this is exactly what it is and when Vinge beat him in 2022/2023, they thought they had his number. Like "we got him". They were just gonna do it again this year, despite the crash which frankly cant have mattered much in their decision to send Vinge and after seeing his performance on PdB... they definitely thought "we got him". They saw Giro and like many others on here said... its "only" the Giro. He is racing against Martinez and old man Thomas. Come to Tour, we will see who is the best. Especially, 3rd week.

From training and prep they knew he could probably win again, according to what they saw and what they thought they knew. Stage 15, Stage 19 and the last ITT was where he was gonna win the race. You dont have to be super-smart to realize that.

However, in hindsight, you could see small cracks in this imagery that they had of themselves on stage 4 already. Vinge is visibly frustrated crossing the line after blowing up on the descent and not being able to come back. The talk is... "well, we will see 3rd week". He was always gonna lose seconds in the first week. Pog is more fresh. Pog will fade in the 3rd week etc.

First ITT only loses 25 seconds to Pog. No problem. Better than they thought.

Fast forward to stage 11.... Vinge is able to reel back Pog and beat him at the line. Things looking like they are turning. Starting to look exactly like the script from the past two years. Vinge very emotional and celebratory at the finish. They are all in to destroy Pog on PdB.

In hindsight, what happened on that stage is pretty curious. Was Pog sandbagging? Did he just had a bad day and bonked? Did he just want to draw out his opponent on some Art of War type stuff, to make it so much psychologically worse for Vinge and Visma come PdB? We will probably never know for sure and no reason to speculate more on that, but it is interesting since this is what essentially breaks Vinge and Vismas spirits.

Vinge and Visma are a mess in the days after. Look sluggish and bit out of it. Like just trying to cope with the defeat at PdB, come to terms with what they thought knew... is no longer. Vinge is not the best and strongest climber anymore. They look a bit stunned and their statements/behavior is very telling the following days. All of this has to do more with psychology and the mental aspects of it. Not the crash, not that Vinge is not in very good form or shape or that he doesnt have the legs.... because is actually better than he has ever been. You have to compare him to himself. That they will now work and try improve more is a given. The level has been raised again, but that has literally nothing to do with his crash.

How he recovered from the crash, how bad his injuries really were... that just something we will never know. And how he is able to still be in the best form of his life... thats difficult to discuss here.

What you can conclude is the roles have been reversed, which Vinge and Visma probably wasnt thinking was even possible. Thats why they are now saying the things they are saying. Tom D. Zeeman etc. They are very hurt, because of their own arrogance and pride. First they were shocked/stunned. Now as the days goes by they just seem to be getting more angry about it, but thats the stages you usually have to go through.

At least Vinge is being pretty honest and saying he would have done the same thing, regarding to the stage yesterday. He will come back even better next year and the battle will ensue again. Im sure of it.

 

[vwpe]

One stage left and he will universally solidify his position as the best of all time which the entire peloton already unanimously agree upon.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Doing La Vuelta would probably be a bad idea for all kinds of reasons , but this might be the best chance we ever get to see if the GT treble is possible.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I said I would not say Pogacar is the best GT rider in the world despite winning Giro-Tour because Vingegaard was not at his best (I think he was very close in the first two weeks but his suboptimal preparation took a tool in his performance just like Pogacar last year). I still won't say he is the best but after this Tour, it's hard to not say.

 

[James M]

Doing La Vuelta would probably be a bad idea for all kinds of reasons , but this might be the best chance we ever get to see if the GT treble is possible.

I agree. Will never be a chance like this but what if he breaks his body down for next year I have zero doubts amost he could do it this year but I dont think thats the problem.

I think if not for the WC route which is good for him he would do it for sure. The WC is also appealing and very very very prestigious so if it wasnt for that route etc I think the risk woulda outweight the gains.

I dont see him doing that now but would if not.

 

[James M]

I said I would not say Pogacar is the best GT rider in the world despite winning Giro-Tour because Vingegaard was not at his best (I think he was very close in the first two weeks but his suboptimal preparation took a tool in his performance just like Pogacar last year). I still won't say he is the best but after this Tour, it's hard to not say.

First rider to win the giro - tour double in modern time. Lets look at the fashion he did it(if he manage to secure it last stage)

Wins the giro by 10min record margin. 6 stage wins
Finish it off by not only win the Tour but wins the most competetive Tour in ages both in terms of competition, level and speed while 5 stages.

If anyone say he isnt the best GT rider after that while breaking every climbing record knowned to history and clearly having so much more watts its easy for him uphill if all that is not enough to say that idk man Lets just remind ourself what he is doing regarding the double have been deemed impossible in modern time and he is not only doing it he is doing it in this fashion. I think it speaks for itself..

Think its without a question he is the best GT rider of all time after this theres not a single outliner from a stats even to numbers to result which says anything else is close to him dude

 

[Cookster15]

What you can conclude is the roles have been reversed, which Vinge and Visma probably wasnt thinking was even possible. Thats why they are now saying the things they are saying. Tom D. Zeeman etc. They are very hurt, because of their own arrogance and pride. First they were shocked/stunned. Now as the days goes by they just seem to be getting more angry about it, but thats the stages you usually have to go through.

Yep. 5 stages of grief:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Seems like Visma are only at #2. Hopefully by the 2025 TdF they get to #5

Personally it is quite satisfying to see the roles reversed after they rubbed Pogacar's nose in it for the last two years so confident they had his measure. No doubt when Pog matched Vingo's attack on PdB then upped the ante they went into shock. Karma boys but you should have been prepared for that and a LOT more humble and reserved knowing Jonas's misfortunes.

For 2025 the cycling world will anticipate the rematch of the century with both riders injury free.

 

[Berniece]

I said I would not say Pogacar is the best GT rider in the world despite winning Giro-Tour because Vingegaard was not at his best (I think he was very close in the first two weeks but his suboptimal preparation took a tool in his performance just like Pogacar last year). I still won't say he is the best but after this Tour, it's hard to not say.

He’s definitely the best. Sure Vingegaard didn’t have the best preparation, but this was only visible in the last week. Other stages he also wasn’t able to follow while pushing his best numbers. Pogacar is just better

 

[James M]

He’s definitely the best. Sure Vingegaard didn’t have the best preparation, but this was only visible in the last week. Other stages he also wasn’t able to follow while pushing his best numbers. Pogacar is just better

This guy doesnt miss. Pogacar or Evenpoel for the win today? Not the most aero TT.

 

[Cookster15]

I said I would not say Pogacar is the best GT rider in the world despite winning Giro-Tour because Vingegaard was not at his best (I think he was very close in the first two weeks but his suboptimal preparation took a tool in his performance just like Pogacar last year). I still won't say he is the best but after this Tour, it's hard to not say.

Who is better than Pogacar?

Vingegaard? No, simply not versatile enough even when uninjured.

Tennis and golf rankings do not have asterisks for which player was injured. Right now Pogacar is the best rider in the world, period.

On any objective measure Pogacar is the best rider in the world. I think you are inferring the GOAT? In that case I would agree, he isn't there yet. But by the time he retires he might be.