Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

Before 2024 I would have agreed it better Pogacar not waste his energy on lesser races like MSR. Not now. He still has to be careful to avoid a repeat of his mistakes in 2022 but both Pogacar and UAE are much stronger.

I also find it hard to believe Vingegaard can seriously challenge Pogacar at the Tour even with a perfect unhindered season. Can I remind everyone we had a taste of what was to come way back on stage 8 of the 2021 Tour.

As for UAE tour, that is in February, he won't have to be 100% and is of little consequence to Pogacar's recovery for the remainder of the season. Do we still have people who doubt Pog's recovery after what we saw this year?

Don't underestimate Vingegaard. For that reason, Pogi lost the 2022 Tour

 

[Peyroteo94]

Even as a Pogi fan i wouldn't want them bringing Manie back. There shouldn't be any "shortcuts" for Pogi's win. Last three editions were great just because Pogi is trying doing everything.

Why shortcuts? Manie is part of MSR, I don't even know why they took this climb out. Cav won MSR with Manie in the race.

 

[Shortcut]

Why shortcuts? Manie is part of MSR, I don't even know why they took this climb out. Cav won MSR with Manie in the race.

Bringing back would it be because of Tadej. They shouldn't change anything if they want crazy battles to continue. Of course he would win the race without MvDP and VWA but i really want to see him trying with them there.

 

[scribers]

You are both right. It's part of the race and they might be helping Pogi by adding it back. And without Manie, it's a very interesting and challenging as we know it. We talk about it frequently here.

 

[Cookster15]

Don't underestimate Vingegaard. For that reason, Pogi lost the 2022 Tour

That's why I mentioned it

He still has to be careful to avoid a repeat of his mistakes in 2022

But I think 2024 is a different beast to 2022.

 

[scribers]

I think they will try this year again with that. narvaez really can be a difference maker. They only problem last year was MvDP everybody else dropped. MvDP brought Pogi back. Also Remco being in race could be good for Pogacar.

Cipressa tempo last year that failed to gap any of the favorites and MVP bringing pogi back after the poggio are two different things.

 

[RedheadDane]

Even as a Pogi fan i wouldn't want them bringing Manie back. There shouldn't be any "shortcuts" for Pogi's win. Last three editions were great just because Pogi is trying doing everything.

I would have thought you'd be all about those shortcuts.

Are there plans of returning it next year?

 

[scribers]

Before 2024 I would have agreed it better Pogacar not waste his energy on lesser races like MSR. Not now. He still has to be careful to avoid a repeat of his mistakes in 2022 but both Pogacar and UAE are much stronger.

I also find it hard to believe Vingegaard can seriously challenge Pogacar at the Tour even with a perfect unhindered season. Can I remind everyone we had a taste of what was to come way back on stage 8 of the 2021 Tour.

As for UAE tour, that is in February, he won't have to be 100% and is of little consequence to Pogacar's recovery for the remainder of the season. Do we still have people who doubt Pog's recovery after what we saw this year?

Pogi seems to be competitive even at 80% with selective peaks at multiple points in the season. He is a specimen. But as far as total race days, I wouldn't add in any races that don't need to be. I am against UAE tour as well. If he has those bullets, use them in June for those 1 week historical stage races.

 

[Peyroteo94]

MSR is a monument. It's a disgrace seeing riders like Phillipsen winning this race. Sprinters shouldn't be allowed to win monuments and WC (and I'm a big fan of Cav). Unless they can climb a little bit. Manie is a 4 km climb at 6% and It's 100 km from the finish line.

 

[2WpK]

I don't understand people who still talk about Remco vs Pogi in a one day race as some big matchup. That is so 2022.

 

[Unchained]

Was told by a little bird yesterday that Pogacar is generous w time and advice for younger riders. He is humble and sincere with team, staff . Was also told that Yates, Hirsci, and McNulty are all nice people. To hear that Tadej taking the interest and time to advise and encourage young riders is super, super cool.

 

[scribers]

MSR is a monument. It's a disgrace seeing riders like Phillipsen winning this race. Sprinters shouldn't be allowed to win monuments and WC (and I'm a big fan of Cav). Unless they can climb a little bit. Manie is a 4 km climb at 6% and It's 100 km from the finish line.

Has it changed much since Merckx was winning it though? The riders evolved more than the race as I understand it

 

[Izzyeviel]

Not really. its distance has been its thing. Maybe we should add another 100k to it?

 

[Peyroteo94]

I don't understand people who still talk about Remco vs Pogi in a one day race as some big matchup. That is so 2022.

Some Pogacar haters still live in an alternative world

 

[hayneplane]

Cipressa tempo last year that failed to gap any of the favorites and MVP bringing pogi back after the poggio are two different things.

Yes UAE screwed up the Cipressa badly in 2024. In 2023 they actually did some decent thinning out there.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He can have the perfect scenario in MSR where tempo is hard all day (specially in those Capos and Cipressa) but he still needs to drop MVP and WVA. A impossible mission!

 

[ArnaudVDL]

I don't understand people who still talk about Remco vs Pogi in a one day race as some big matchup. That is so 2022.

Pogacar has double the amount of major one day races, 8 to 4. There is no debate on who is the better one day races.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogacar has double the amount of major one day races, 8 to 4. There is no debate on who is the better one day races.

Of course not. It's like comparing prime Cav to prime Tyler Farrar in sprints.

 

[ArnaudVDL]

Of course not. It's like comparing prime Cav to prime Tyler Farrar in sprints.

Educate me on this, who was the better sprinter?

 

[Oldermanish]

Don't underestimate Vingegaard. For that reason, Pogi lost the 2022 Tour

Also, don't overestimate Jonas. You and I have no idea how well he recovered and what his next year will look like. He may need another season to get back to form, like Remco. Doesn't happen on will and Visma's "program" alone.

 

[Oldermanish]

Of course not. It's like comparing prime Cav to prime Tyler Farrar in sprints.

No sh*t. When they were teammates Cav spent more than one sprint setup trying to push Tyler into the barriers. To be fair, though; Farrar could go from further out and close hard. Cav has usually relied on his last kick after a stellar leadout and the fact that his rear wheel is whipping his adjacent racers in the face.

Sorry; this comment belongs on another thread but I couldn't miss the opportunity to point that out.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Educate me on this, who was the better sprinter?

Sarcasm?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Also, don't overestimate Jonas. You and I have no idea how well he recovered and what his next year will look like. He may need another season to get back to form, like Remco. Doesn't happen on will and Visma's "program" alone.

I am not overestimating Jonas. He had a serious crash and that's not good before the Tour even if he had 12 weeks to recover.

 

[Oldermanish]

I am not overestimating Jonas. He had a serious crash and that's not good before the Tour even if he had 12 weeks to recover.

I'm saying he may need much of the upcoming season to get back to his best. IMO he paid a price for coming back too soon.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I'm saying he may need much of the upcoming season to get back to his best. IMO he paid a price for coming back too soon.

Nah, he will be back to his best level already next year.