Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.idlprocycling.com/cycling/pogacars-business-manager-confesses-that-pogacar-has-two-stage-races-at-the-top-of-his-checklist&ved=2ahUKEwj4gvTVip2IAxU4hf0HHaC6B-IQxfQBKAB6BAgLEAI&usg=AOvVaw1lHZlz_1GBviEucmXcdumH

 

[Peyroteo94]

He wants to win Tour Down under, what the hell?

 

[SHAD0W93]

He wants to win Tour Down under, what the hell?

Hopefully that’s not his only WT week stage race next year.

 

[AmRacer]

Hopefully that’s not his only WT week stage race next year.

He hasn't won three of the big seven, I think. So he wants to tick at least two of them.

 

[scribers]

I think he does mostly classics + one 1-week stage race Dauphne. The reasoning will be that freakin MSR, which because eddy won it like 7 times, pogi won't stop trying. He'll have to commit himself to it as will the full team as they'll keep trying to crack the field on the Cipressa to best his chances. And he'll look for multiple chances for wins at Flanders because he can and LBL too for the same reason. So no time for things like Basque and Romandie just yet. And who cares about Tour Down Under? Let it go chief lol

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think he does mostly classics + one 1-week stage race Dauphne. The reasoning will be that freakin MSR, which because eddy won it like 7 times, pogi won't stop trying. He'll have to commit himself to it as will the full team as they'll keep trying to crack the field on the Cipressa to best his chances. And he'll look for multiple chances for wins at Flanders because he can and LBL too for the same reason. So no time for things like Basque and Romandie just yet. And who cares about Tour Down Under? Let it go chief lol

Next year it will be something like:
SB
MSR
E3 Harelbeke
Flanders
Liege
Dauphiné
Tour
Vuelta
WC
Lombardia

 

[scribers]

What is Pogacar's ultimate goal? "His dream is to win all the races on the calendar. That is why I am sure he will want to ride the Tour of the Basque Country, and I am sure he will go to the Vuelta in 2025 or 2026. However, he will decide with his team and those closest to him. I would say the chances of seeing him there next year are fifty percent," Carera cautiously predicts.

This is a valuable insight into the thinking of pogi. His palmares calendar guides his thinking about everything in terms of priorities. I mean, he will always ride the TdF because his sponsors want him too and so long as he can realistic win it, that will also interest him. Mou taught us Pogi does not like the French GT compared to other races on the calendar and there is no reason to disagree with this.

But elsewhere in this string someone doubted Pogi was driven by such things, and there it is right there. His agent says as much. He has a pencil and paper and wants to check off each of these races. Every one of them won by the legends of the sport, he himself will want to win.

 

[scribers]

Next year it will be something like:
SB
MSR
E3 Harelbeke
Flanders
Liege
Dauphiné
Tour
Vuelta
WC
Lombardia

Perfect. If he deviates from this, I will be greatly surprised and will look for understanding myself.

 

[scribers]

I would expect him to start racing oddball things in 2026 and beyond. Things you wouldn't expect him to ride like wevelgem, dwars, milano, fall italian classics not won with different intent other than prep for Lombardia, Maybe even unthinkable things like Paris Tours, Bretagna, Trobro lol.

 

[Nick2413]

How long till he does PR? Should start taking cracks now.

 

[scribers]

How long till he does PR? Should start taking cracks now.

Mou said not before 2026

 

[AmRacer]

Mou said not before 2026

Sounds reasonable, he have time to win everything else by then.

 

[Peyroteo94]

How long till he does PR? Should start taking cracks now.

MVP and Wout have 3 more years in them. I don't believe they will be top riders after 2027.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Perfect. If he deviates from this, I will be greatly surprised and will look for understanding myself.

Maybe he will add Fleche to spin his legs a little bit before Liege but this schedule seems reasonable. Just hope he doesn't have to race UAE Tour.

 

[veganrob]

I would expect him to start racing oddball things in 2026 and beyond. Things you wouldn't expect him to ride like wevelgem, dwars, milano, fall italian classics not won with different intent other than prep for Lombardia, Maybe even unthinkable things like Paris Tours, Bretagna, Trobro lol.

See, I agree with this. Pogacar loves to ride his bike. He enjoys the experiences of new challenges. H e's having fun. When he gets bored, how much longer do you think he will compete? 30? How many TdF does he really want to win? Only he knows but I think he will retire earlier than many think. He has everything he needs. And good for him. Have fun!

 

[scribers]

Health willing he’ll go until he can’t I think.

 

[scribers]

Maybe he will add Fleche to spin his legs a little bit before Liege but this schedule seems reasonable. Just hope he doesn't have to race UAE Tour.

Flèche is a tough race for him to win again. It’s a flat out sprint to the top and he exerted quite a lot to win it his only time, to my eyes

 

[Cookster15]

How long till he does PR? Should start taking cracks now.

PR is a great way to crash and risk losing the chance to ride the Tour. I think he holds off until he has ticked off his Tour ambitions. Next stop - beat Vingegaard at the 2025 TdF when both of them have an uninjured and healthy season.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Flèche is a tough race for him to win again. It’s a flat out sprint to the top and he exerted quite a lot to win it his only time, to my eyes

We didn't see the same race. He completely bossed Huy when he won it, just like Valverde in his heydays.

 

[scribers]

I think it requires perfect positioning and extreme effort to outsprint the field

 

[Nick2413]

PR is a great way to crash and risk losing the chance to ride the Tour. I think he holds off until he has ticked off his Tour ambitions. Next stop - beat Vingegaard at the 2025 TdF when both of them have an uninjured and healthy season.

I don’t really buy that narrative. I don’t think it’s any worse of a risk than any other race especially after what we’ve been seeing lately. It’s a race he may need a few tries at due to luck and not necessarily being the absolute best at it, I’d start making attempts now.

 

[RJH]

PR is a great way to crash and risk losing the chance to ride the Tour. I think he holds off until he has ticked off his Tour ambitions. Next stop - beat Vingegaard at the 2025 TdF when both of them have an uninjured and healthy season.

I think Pogacar could win Roubaix on first try. He has what is needed, and will get all the information he needs. And he’s courageous. I hope he‘ll ride Roubaix next year already.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think it requires perfect positioning and extreme effort to outsprint the field

Pogacar is world class in both of those qualities

 

[scribers]

I trust UAE understands perfectly what the efforts cost in pure numbers terms and can weigh a calendar against previous results to maximize his potential without running over. It's like the article above, UAE never seriously even entertained the idea of him riding the vuelta. And I trust they will figure out exactly what he can do in a season with only adding maybe a little more to see how he responds.

 

[2WpK]

I don’t really buy that narrative. I don’t think it’s any worse of a risk than any other race especially after what we’ve been seeing lately. It’s a race he may need a few tries at due to luck and not necessarily being the absolute best at it, I’d start making attempts now.

PR is not a race you just enter and win. Not even for the great Pog. A rider has to commit to a cobbles program that spring. Lots of risk.