Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

But what if doing (and winning) the Vuelta turned out to be bad decision for the future?
What if he doesn't win the Vuelta (which would be somewhat understandable given he probably didn't project his form to be high in early September) and burns himself in the process?
That's certainly a possibility.

Is the risk-reward worthy?

I think so. No one has ever won Giro-Tour-Vuelta. He would be the GOAT of cycling.

 

[YavorD]

I think so. No one has ever won Giro-Tour-Vuelta. He would be the GOAT of cycling.

And what if he didn't win the Vuelta while he still burns himself?
I mean, I admit that I'm not very familiar with how training and peaking works but I could assume you schedule your training/racing to reach a certain peak during the races you aim for while having some lows in between?
Now Pog peaked during the Tour. And if mid august was scheduled for light training rather then mini peak (still needed to win a a grand Tour even for him), I don't think it's that easy to reach high enough level to race another GT.

I may as well be way off but I think that if he wanted to do the Triple (even) he would need to go through Giro and the Tour a bit easier than he did this year (IIRC he had some great numbers even in the Giro).

 

[Peyroteo94]

And what if he didn't win the Vuelta while he still burns himself?
I mean, I admit that I'm not very familiar with how training and peaking works but I could assume you schedule your training/racing to reach a certain peak during the races you aim for while having some lows in between?
Now Pog peaked during the Tour. And if mid august was scheduled for light training rather then mini peak (still needed to win a a grand Tour even for him), I don't think it's that easy to reach high enough level to race another GT.

I may as well be way off but I think that if he wanted to do the Triple (even) he would need to go through Giro and the Tour a bit easier than he did this year (IIRC he had some great numbers even in the Giro).

He was fresh as a daisy after the Tour. No signs of fatigue at all. In the Giro he was cruising all time despite winning 6 stages.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Maybe Pogi could have win the Vuelta too, anything but a given, anyway, likely it would shorten his cycling career. This years edition is IMHO way too hard for such an attempt. If in addition to Giro organisers would soften up Vuelta too, then maybe.

But that is sort of cheating anyway, doesn't hold as much value, compared to all three GTs being considered hard.

 

[scribers]

It's easy to get that thought for sure.

Obvisoulsy Pogi is more used to riding for GC and all that jazz, but he is still so young, so why risk burning his candle at both ends now?

If he can ride circles around Vingegaard, Rogla, Remco and everyone else again in 2025, maybe they go for the treble in 2026 and Pogi only races a few other races than the 3 GTs?

I mean a treble attempt would be truly epic, but IMO even Pogi needs to plan for it all year and not do it on a whim. precisely to avoid burnout.

I like the idea of planning for it. To limit race days, he would need to drop many of the classics except for maybe LBL. I would even take off the end of the season, so no WC or Lombardia. It's been posted next year's WC is another ideal course for Pogi? So maybe the treble in 2025 is out of the question. He has at least 5 more years to toy with the idea, I think. Although, if all goes well, the guy should be quite competitive I would think beyond 35 years of age.

 

[mariosommelier]

I like the idea of planning for it. To limit race days, he would need to drop many of the classics except for maybe LBL. I would even take off the end of the season, so no WC or Lombardia. It's been posted next year's WC is another ideal course for Pogi? So maybe the treble in 2025 is out of the question. He has at least 5 more years to toy with the idea, I think. Although, if all goes well, the guy should be quite competitive I would think beyond 35 years of age.

I think he has many great years ahead, so he can plan for the treble.

 

[stekelegel]

Some people here seem to think that because we have seen one of the most dominant half year in modern cycling history, that the party will go on for the next 5-10 years. I don’t think it will be as easy as that. The tour looked to be his for the next decade in 2021, but he lost 2022 and 2023.

I agree that he left some unique opportunities out there after the tour by not riding the Olympics or Vuelta. I get the last one, citing fear of exhausting himself and risking the next season (s). but will there ever be another year we’re he comes looking so fresh out of Giro and Tour? Olympics seemed more manageable, until they decided to leave out his girlfriend.
I expect the next years to be more of a challenge.

Not every year he will be so lucky to remain injury free and have no noticable racing incident. And if his body holds up, can he do it mentally. Skip all those monuments and just do prep GT, prep … he loves all kinds of races and parcours, but I think winning worlds and MSR, Roubaix, … will challenge him, not the 3 GT.

Some of the races this year had rather soft competition, like the giro. No evenepoel in LBL. both Evenepoel and vingegard having their tour prep disrupted by the fall in Basque. For sure Vingegard will be more of a challenge the next years in the tour or other GT. And Evenepoel might improve to, or get a GT route that is more favorable for him. I rate Pog higher, but he will have to be at his best and some races will take more out of him then this year. I don’t see Roglic getting back to his best, but some of the younger riders might push on.

I think the ship of the 3 GT has sailed, but I am sure there are many more wins and records to come.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Some people here seem to think that because we have seen one of the most dominant half year in modern cycling history, that the party will go on for the next 5-10 years. I don’t think it will be as easy as that. The tour looked to be his for the next decade in 2021, but he lost 2022 and 2023.

I agree that he left some unique opportunities out there after the tour by not riding the Olympics or Vuelta. I get the last one, citing fear of exhausting himself and risking the next season (s). but will there ever be another year we’re he comes looking so fresh out of Giro and Tour? Olympics seemed more manageable, until they decided to leave out his girlfriend.
I expect the next years to be more of a challenge.

Not every year he will be so lucky to remain injury free and have no noticable racing incident. And if his body holds up, can he do it mentally. Skip all those monuments and just do prep GT, prep … he loves all kinds of races and parcours, but I think winning worlds and MSR, Roubaix, … will challenge him, not the 3 GT.

Some of the races this year had rather soft competition, like the giro. No evenepoel in LBL. both Evenepoel and vingegard having their tour prep disrupted by the fall in Basque. For sure Vingegard will be more of a challenge the next years in the tour or other GT. And Evenepoel might improve to, or get a GT route that is more favorable for him. I rate Pog higher, but he will have to be at his best and some races will take more out of him then this year. I don’t see Roglic getting back to his best, but some of the younger riders might push on.

I think the ship of the 3 GT has sailed, but I am sure there are many more wins and records to come.

Spot on. For me he lost a golden opportunity this year.

 

[scribers]

Some people here seem to think that because we have seen one of the most dominant half year in modern cycling history, that the party will go on for the next 5-10 years. I don’t think it will be as easy as that. The tour looked to be his for the next decade in 2021, but he lost 2022 and 2023.

I agree that he left some unique opportunities out there after the tour by not riding the Olympics or Vuelta. I get the last one, citing fear of exhausting himself and risking the next season (s). but will there ever be another year we’re he comes looking so fresh out of Giro and Tour? Olympics seemed more manageable, until they decided to leave out his girlfriend.
I expect the next years to be more of a challenge.

Not every year he will be so lucky to remain injury free and have no noticable racing incident. And if his body holds up, can he do it mentally. Skip all those monuments and just do prep GT, prep … he loves all kinds of races and parcours, but I think winning worlds and MSR, Roubaix, … will challenge him, not the 3 GT.

Some of the races this year had rather soft competition, like the giro. No evenepoel in LBL. both Evenepoel and vingegard having their tour prep disrupted by the fall in Basque. For sure Vingegard will be more of a challenge the next years in the tour or other GT. And Evenepoel might improve to, or get a GT route that is more favorable for him. I rate Pog higher, but he will have to be at his best and some races will take more out of him then this year. I don’t see Roglic getting back to his best, but some of the younger riders might push on.

I think the ship of the 3 GT has sailed, but I am sure there are many more wins and records to come.

Nobody is saying that. Some of us are suggesting this vuelta is way too difficult to chance on pogi running it without more prep or consideration.

He can crash in training and be out of worlds, or out for several years (see Bernal). Or dead. There are no guarantees to anything.

 

[stekelegel]

Nobody is saying that. Some of us are suggesting this vuelta is way too difficult to chance on pogi running it without more prep or consideration.

He can crash in training and be out of worlds, or out for several years (see Bernal). Or dead. There are no guarantees to anything.

Not just that, 2024 was just superhuman, I doubt we will ever see a perfect season like this again.

 

[Peter von]

Some people here seem to think that because we have seen one of the most dominant half year in modern cycling history, that the party will go on for the next 5-10 years. I don’t think it will be as easy as that. The tour looked to be his for the next decade in 2021, but he lost 2022 and 2023.

That's why IMO he needs to see if he still has that edge in 2025 if he want's to attempt the treble; but yeah, obviously that gives the others one more year to catch him up.

I agree that he left some unique opportunities out there after the tour by not riding the Olympics or Vuelta. I get the last one, citing fear of exhausting himself and risking the next season (s). but will there ever be another year we’re he comes looking so fresh out of Giro and Tour? Olympics seemed more manageable, until they decided to leave out his girlfriend.

I think focusing on worlds and Lombardia is the smart move. Last year he was dead tired after crossing the line in Glasgow and year before he looked very human in San Sebastian.
If he was hyper motivated for the treble and the data showed all was good I am sure the team would have convinced him to go. But he needs at least two more TdF titles in the bank and loads more other big races.

 

[scribers]

Not just that, 2024 was just superhuman, I doubt we will ever see a perfect season like this again.

I’d say he’s odds on favorite himself to do it again one of or each of the next four to six years.

 

[Peyroteo94]

That's why IMO he needs to see if he still has that edge in 2025 if he want's to attempt the treble; but yeah, obviously that gives the others one more year to catch him up.


I think focusing on worlds and Lombardia is the smart move. Last year he was dead tired after crossing the line in Glasgow and year before he looked very human in San Sebastian.
If he was hyper motivated for the treble and the data showed all was good I am sure the team would have convinced him to go. But he needs at least two more TdF titles in the bank and loads more other big races.

I really believe he was honest when he said no to race the Vuelta because he needs to keep his mates happy (in this case Yates and João). And he must race and try to win tbe treble when he is clearly the best, this year was the perfect year because of Vingegaard. Next year, I really doubt Pogacar will be a lot better than Vingegaard so it will be hard to win the Tour.

 

[scribers]

Where is mou to excite the doubters and calm the believers?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Where is mou to excite the doubters and calm the believers?

We all miss Mou.

 

[Berniece]

We all miss Mou.

No we don't.

 

[Peyroteo94]

No we don't.

He was a comic character. The forum misses this type of users.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I will miss all of you.

 

[2WpK]

All this talk of possible regret not doing the Vuelta is just in our minds. Champions like Pogi don't look back and have regret. He is too busy looking forward.

 

[Peyroteo94]

All this talk of possible regret not doing the Vuelta is just in our minds. Champions like Pogi don't look back and have regret. He is too busy looking forward.

Beautiful words and he really needs to hit a tremendous peak in late September because Slovenia is weak and Belgium is full of talent.

 

[Bolder]

All this talk of possible regret not doing the Vuelta is just in our minds. Champions like Pogi don't look back and have regret. He is too busy looking forward.

I have little doubt he would win the Vuelta this year but I suspect he wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of doing 3 3-week GTs in a year. He's no Sepp Kuss.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I have little doubt he would win the Vuelta this year but I suspect he wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of doing 3 3-week GTs in a year. He's no Sepp Kuss.

Blame his "amigos". But yeah, let's move forward and focus on Worlds. This weekend he will recon the course with Zigart. I'm thrilled to know his slovenian team. Novak, Mohoric, Tratnik and Mezgec will be there for sure. The main question is Roglic, is he humble enough to work for Pogacar? I have a hard time seeing a rider of his palmares working for someone else.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Some good insights into his season goals, motivation, and upcoming schedule, so click through for the full interview. Also notable that, as they always said, the Vuelta wasn't ever on his program:

As for the Vuelta, given how unbeatable he was at that time, didn't you even think about it for a while?

The Vuelta wasn't on the agenda and we didn't talk about it. Or rather, we talked about it because the media led us to do so in some way, but between us we never actually did it in a technical way. It wasn't on the agenda. You know what? That many times everything seems easy, but it isn't.

Clear…

Tadej is always ready, always at full speed, when he shows up at a race it's to win. He came from the Giro d'Italia , then he stayed focused in the middle, then the Tour again... sooner or later he had to stop. He couldn't go to Spain maybe to win a stage. I spoke to him: he felt the real tiredness two, three days later. "Now I feel the fatigue. I'm dead tired", he told me . It's normal. As long as you're in the race your mind is predisposed, there's adrenaline, you have a high performance. But then if you continue sooner or later you explode and when that happens getting up is really complicated at that point.

 

[scribers]

Link?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Che fine ha fatto Tadej? Ci dice tutto Hauptman

Ad oltre un mese dalla sua ultima apparizione in pubblico, che fine ha fatto Tadej Pogacar? Sentiamo cosa ci dice il suo diesse Hauptman

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