Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Gargamel35]

Of course it is my opinion but I am everything but polite. For example I don't understand all this hype around Roglic and how he could beat Pogacar and Vingegaard if it weren't his injuries. For me this is BS and I'm the first one to say Roglic has no business in a GT against Pogi/Vingo and I say this since 2022. I can say the same about Remco, I am a huge fan of him but I am almost sure he will never be close to Vingo/Pogi in GT's but time will tell.

I understand opinion about Roglič, he didn't show the level that is needed to go head to head against healthy and prepared Pog/Vinge and age is a problem. Maybe he has one last surprise up his sleeve.

But Remco? He's 24 years old so the youngest of them all. I think he's a big threat to Pog/Vinge in years to come if he decides to fully commit to GT racing.

 

[velaso montador]

I understand opinion about Roglič, he didn't show the level that is needed to go head to head against healthy and prepared Pog/Vinge and age is a problem. Maybe he has one last surprise up his sleeve.

But Remco? He's 24 years old so the youngest of them all. I think he's a big threat to Pog/Vinge in years to come if he decides to fully commit to GT racing.

I agree also think Remco is closer to Vingegaard than Vingegaard is Pog (granted indeed its a gap now though from Vinge to Evenpoel)
But also that Evenpoel will just get better indeed. People evolve. 22 as measurement for Evenpoel is not it anymore, people evolve and he sure will.

 

[AmRacer]

I agree also think Remco is closer to Vingegaard than Vingegaard is Pog (granted indeed its a gap now though from Vinge to Evenpoel)
But also that Evenpoel will just get better indeed. People evolve. 22 as measurement for Evenpoel is not it anymore, people evolve and he sure will.

A healthy Vinge is closer to Pog than what he showed during the Tour.

 

[velaso montador]

A healthy Vinge is closer to Pog than what he showed during the Tour.

He was healthy but granted indeed regarding the prep maybe a little bit week 3 indeed. Still think Evenpoel will be closer to Vingegaard next year than Vingegaard will will be Pogacar but not sure lets see.

Pogacar is simply climbing on a different top level as it is now. I just find it reasonble to believe Evenpoel will get better too mostly that part I agreed on.

 

[Gargamel35]

I agree also think Remco is closer to Vingegaard than Vingegaard is Pog (granted indeed its a gap now though from Vinge to Evenpoel)
But also that Evenpoel will just get better indeed. People evolve. 22 as measurement for Evenpoel is not it anymore, people evolve and he sure will.

I also think healthy Vinge with 100% preparation is very close if not on par with Pog (in a 3 week GT race). I don't know when we will see both of them in a GT 100% again (probably next year Tour but who knows what happens until then). Remco can still evolve. His climbing was probably the best in his career in 2024 TdF. The other two cannot be even better every year, they will fade a bit.

 

[velaso montador]

I also think healthy Vinge with 100% preparation is very close if not on par with Pog (in a 3 week GT race). I don't know when we will see both of them in a GT 100% again (probably next year Tour but who knows what happens until then). Remco can still evolve. His climbing was probably the best in his career in 2024 TdF. The other two cannot be even better every year, they will fade a bit.

but if you look at it vingegaard best its still closer to Evenpoel best climbing now. And I agree and very much find it resaonable to believe Evenpoel will only get better from here on.

Lets say for entertainment purposes only if not anything else Vingegaard can too its not certain at all (its though reasonable to believe he would hold stage 15 performances level more throughout week 3 with better prep fully agree there) but its not a guarantee he can raise the level a lot more. Lets see If Vingegaard will be closer to Evenpoel than he will Pogacar next years only time will tell there.

Pogacar climbing 24 is just on a completely different level though on every mountain sheer dominance, he can fade from that level indeed no guarantee but age wice its not likely but who knows.

 

[Salvarani]

I feel that Pogi is underestimating the importance of becoming an Olympic gold medallist. If you have a shot at that you always should take it. You instantly become an immortal regardless of all the talk on how it supposedly doesn't mean all that much in cycling world.

But he is already immortal by all the wins he has already. This wouldnt move the needle much in that regard. He is the only Slovenian that has won the TdF. Winning that has way bigger reach, than the Olympics for a cyclist. There are millions of people who only watches the TdF when it comes to cycling. He already has his name in history by what he has already done. For many other sports the Olympics is one of the very few ways to get there.

It would only be a nice stat and a great thing to win, but it doesnt deny him of any status or legacy. For a lot of sports the Olympics is the main event, it isnt for cycling and many other sports as well.

For a cyclist of Pogacars status... winning Worlds, at least once, would be much more important.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Salvarani

Olympics don't need any real defending, it's rather clear. Either you are an Olympic gold medallist, or you are not. Who cares if sports like Boxing did everything in their power, to undermine Olympics. Or if cycling is trying to portray a different narrative, on how important cycling, outside Olympics, really is.

In my opinion Pogi will regret it, not participating, through the following decades. I guess still time to change his mind. IMHO he should go and do his best.

 

[Berniece]

In my opinion Pogi will regret it, not participating, through the following decades. I guess still time to change his mind. IMHO he should go and do his best.

Not to mention he would achieve something that Eddy Merckx never achieved. Win a medal in the Olympics

 

[Offline]

Not to mention he would achieve something that Eddy Merckx never achieved. Win a medal in the Olympics

Pogacar have a bronze medal from OL in Tokyo

 

[Salvarani]

@Salvarani

Olympics don't need any real defending, it's rather clear. Either you are an Olympic gold medallist, or you are not. Who cares if sports like Boxing did everything in their power, to undermine Olympics. Or if cycling is trying to portray a different narrative, on how important cycling, outside Olympics, really is.

In my opinion Pogi will regret it, not participating, through the following decades. I guess still time to change his mind. IMHO he should go and do his best.

He has already participated and won a medal.

I dont think he will regret THIS participation and he will likely participate again in the future.

I think this is just making a big deal out of nothing.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He was healthy but granted indeed regarding the prep maybe a little bit week 3 indeed. Still think Evenpoel will be closer to Vingegaard next year than Vingegaard will will be Pogacar but not sure lets see.

Pogacar is simply climbing on a different top level as it is now. I just find it reasonble to believe Evenpoel will get better too mostly that part I agreed on.

idk. Vingegaard was on his highest level for 2 weeks. Then his lack of base crept up, kinda expected

However, I had a feeling in the spring already Vingegaard had made another jump, because he was winning more, and more easily than ever before in the spring, compared to previous years. I think he'd have reached an even higher ceiling this years Tour if he didn't crash. And I don't think that's easy to close for Remco at all.

Could he have been at Pogi's level? we'll never know.

 

[scribers]

Not to mention he would achieve something that Eddy Merckx never achieved. Win a medal in the Olympics

I’m coming around on this pogi = goat talk

 

[Peyroteo94]

idk. Vingegaard was on his highest level for 2 weeks. Then his lack of base crept up, kinda expected

However, I had a feeling in the spring already Vingegaard had made another jump, because he was winning more, and more easily than ever before in the spring, compared to previous years. I think he'd have reached an even higher ceiling this years Tour if he didn't crash. And I don't think that's easy to close for Remco at all.

Could he have been at Pogi's level? we'll never know.

For me, Vingo would be at Pogi's level if he didn't crash in April.

 

[Berniece]

Pogacar have a bronze medal from OL in Tokyo

Lol, completely forgot that. Which means only gold counts I guess

 

[Offline]

Lol, completely forgot that. Which means only gold counts I guess

Maybe OL gold in LA. He would still be under 30

 

[CyclistAbi]

Of course Pogi will mention his Bronze medal, won at the Olympics, in decades to come, just like Froome & Co does. Not participating at this edition is something he will IMHO regret in the future.

Just do it.

 

[Salvarani]

Of course Pogi will mention his Bronze medal, won at the Olympics, in decades to come, just like Froome & Co does. Not participating at this edition is something he will IMHO regret in the future.

Just do it.

Nah, he wont and seems quite happy about making that decision.

Would have been different if it was another course, but it is a pretty flat one and much more suited to others. I think he will have no regrets after completing the double and getting a couple of weeks off before starting to prepare for Worlds and Lombardia.

 

[velaso montador]

For me, Vingo would be at Pogi's level if he didn't crash in April.

Thats just based on wishful thinking not much else though and thats fine as long as it is what it is. To reach those numbers when he never been close and even better than ever now thats hard cope and wishful thinking for me.

idk. Vingegaard was on his highest level for 2 weeks. Then his lack of base crept up, kinda expected

Exactly its all in the numbers Vingegaard said it himself so not really much to discuss at all.
3 months is plenty to gain top form look at Crass he crashed even worse in Basque and never was better aswell.
3 months as you say its nice to gain top level problem is the super rest in between to make it stick in week 3 indeed.

He coulda been better week 3 without it sure but higher overall level its not very likely at all from a odds perspective if he had previous showned he could be close and sustain 7.30W/kg on 40min climbs at end of stages then sure now its just wishful thinking not much else especially since soo far off aswell.

But granted lets see, all im saying aswell dont count Evenpoel to increase his level drastic out of the picture either after this its not very unlikely he will increase more than Vingegaard and have more places to gain something to increase his level from various different parts from a outsiders standpoint but that remains to be seen of course indeed. But lets see.

 

[velaso montador]

Maybe OL gold in LA. He would still be under 30

OL 2028 is in LA of all places didnt know that had to check it up.
What a place to put it, been there twice disgusting place.

 

[Peyroteo94]

OL 2028 is in LA of all places didnt know that had to check it up.
What a place to put it, been there twice disgusting place.

Probably they will make a route for Matteo and Pog will take advantage of that.

 

[velaso montador]

Probably they will make a route for Matteo and Pog will take advantage of that.

Good take I didnt even think about that, wouldnt surprise me.

 

[Offline]

+ McNulty

 

[mrgmyers]

OL 2028 is in LA of all places didnt know that had to check it up.
What a place to put it, been there twice disgusting place.

LA is finished as a town [[deleted]], the whole place is little more than a giant crack house will NOT be going there!

 

[mrgmyers]

I read Jens Voigt's piece speculating on why Tadej had binned the Olympics and I have to say that was my immediate reaction when I heard the news a couple of days ago. Respect to Tadej for what he has done it's a big sacrifice to give up a gold medal he must love her very much, and shame on what is a very strange federation if you know what I mean.