Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[James M]

If he is not 100% for whatever reason its a fight and they can always pray, only way its remotely close after the level he has reached and the things weve seen in what fashion not the least.. goes without saying.

"Keep on praying because it's not going to change" - Bob Roll & Christian Vande Velde analyse Jonas Vingegaard's chances of beating Tadej Pogacar at 2025 Tour de France

The route and profiles of the 2025 Tour de France are here and we look set for another thrilling spectacle at next summer's edition of the Grand Tour. Can Tadej Pogacar go back to back? Will Jonas Vin...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[James M]

Evenepoel just as every other pro and legend stating the obvious, though from a first row seat so naturally with a better knowledge than the average Joe:

"But in the valley, actually a bit ahead of me, he rode away another two minutes. At such moments you realise that he is the best rider in the world and that he is slowly becoming the best ever."

"I sent him: I want to know what you really pedalled" - Remco Evenepoel didn't believe Tadej Pogacar's reported wattages were real at Il Lombardia

Tadej Pogacar finished his historic 2024 season in typically scintillating style at Il Lombardia, picking up his second monument victory of the campaign ahead of Remco Evenepoel. Afterwards, the Belgi...

cyclinguptodate.com

 

[Peyroteo94]

Evenepoel just as every other pro and legend stating the obvious, though from a first row seat so naturally with a better knowledge than the average Joe:

"But in the valley, actually a bit ahead of me, he rode away another two minutes. At such moments you realise that he is the best rider in the world and that he is slowly becoming the best ever."

"I sent him: I want to know what you really pedalled" - Remco Evenepoel didn't believe Tadej Pogacar's reported wattages were real at Il Lombardia

Tadej Pogacar finished his historic 2024 season in typically scintillating style at Il Lombardia, picking up his second monument victory of the campaign ahead of Remco Evenepoel. Afterwards, the Belgi...

cyclinguptodate.com

"Best in rolling terrain" asking Pogacar how many watts he was pushing in the valley.

 

[Cookster15]

slowly becoming the best ever.

I’d say the only reason it is “slowly” is it will take time to overhaul the great Eddy’s record. But I still doubt this. Crashes are most likely to stop him else motivation.

For 2025, I hope he targets Tour / Vuelta. Vingegaard seemed capable in 2023 if he wasn’t returning a favour to Sepp Kuss. If Vingo was capable then the 2024 version of Pog most certainly is.

 

[Tanakka]

Yes, it is. He already won a WC, there will be always a hole in his palmares. Can we imagine a world with Nibali as a winner of all GTs and not Pogacar?

Let's face it:
in reality Vuelta, for someone who has multiple GTs and Monuments, is nothing more than lesser GT to TdF.
No one doubts Pog has the skills to easily win a Vuelta.

It's not like with monuments where winning both Sanremo and Roubaix, or Roubaix and Liege, is a completely diffent thing than winning one of the two even multiple time.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be important to add a Vuelta, but it's mostly a marketing, 'face value', thing.
For people in the know, it wouldn't add much.

Now, being able to win a Roubaix is actually something Tadej would have to prove and that would mean a ton.

 

[Salvarani]

Why would he make Vuelta a priority right now? Only if he has to drop out of the Tour early for some reason imo.

Only if he does a lighter spring but it could still be risky with Tour and Vuelta, before worlds this year. Worlds that should suit him to a tee.

I think MSR, RVV and LBL in spring as his main goals.

Tour.

Worlds + Lombardia.

He will try to add one or two stage-races outside of this.

Never know with this guy though, but that is what I would do.

 

[Oldermanish]

Evenepoel just as every other pro and legend stating the obvious, though from a first row seat so naturally with a better knowledge than the average Joe:

"But in the valley, actually a bit ahead of me, he rode away another two minutes. At such moments you realise that he is the best rider in the world and that he is slowly becoming the best ever."

"I sent him: I want to know what you really pedalled" - Remco Evenepoel didn't believe Tadej Pogacar's reported wattages were real at Il Lombardia

Tadej Pogacar finished his historic 2024 season in typically scintillating style at Il Lombardia, picking up his second monument victory of the campaign ahead of Remco Evenepoel. Afterwards, the Belgi...

cyclinguptodate.com

I found that analysis of the ride to the finish pretty much as it looked: Tadej had a gap and it started to grow and Remco backed off. It wasn't like suddenly Pogacar rode some newfound tempo. He knew mechanicals and other crap can happen on the way to finish and Remco rode to stay ahead of the chasers behind him. Not a revelation; more of an admission of capitulation.

 

[Shortcut]

I agree 100% with you, only he himself said, he is racing 2 GT-s this year. It could be Giro but than Flanders is no go. It is either : UAE, MSR, Itzulia, Giro, Tour, Quebec Montreal, WC, Lombardie or: UAE, MSR, E3, Flanders, LBL, Romandie, Tour, Vuelta, WC, Lombardie.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Let's face it:
in reality Vuelta, for someone who has multiple GTs and Monuments, is nothing more than lesser GT to TdF.
No one doubts Pog has the skills to easily win a Vuelta.

It's not like with monuments where winning both Sanremo and Roubaix, or Roubaix and Liege, is a completely diffent thing than winning one of the two even multiple time.

I'm not saying it wouldn't be important to add a Vuelta, but it's mostly a marketing, 'face value', thing.
For people in the know, it wouldn't add much.

Now, being able to win a Roubaix is actually something Tadej would have to prove and that would mean a ton.

I agree but that was not the point. I was talking about WC, Pogacar already won it so IMHO his palmares would be richer with a Vuelta win compared to a 2nd WC.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I’d say the only reason it is “slowly” is it will take time to overhaul the great Eddy’s record. But I still doubt this. Crashes are most likely to stop him else motivation.

For 2025, I hope he targets Tour / Vuelta. Vingegaard seemed capable in 2023 if he wasn’t returning a favour to Sepp Kuss. If Vingo was capable then the 2024 version of Pog most certainly is.

It is hard to reach Merckx's palmares. Competition is far harder nowadays, some riders will emerge in the future when Pogacar is 30-32 years old.

 

[Bolder]

Vuelta depends on how much he races in the spring for me.

If he does RVV and other classics. I would just ride the Tour and then Worlds + Lombardia in the fall as the big targets.

I feel like Vuelta is something he could do if Tour doesnt go to plan in the near future. Like he doesnt finish it or has to drop out early for any reason. Roglic-style.

Like Roubaix, the Vuelta is something he can afford to put off for a couple of seasons to maximize his chances in other races.

Agreed. He (and Vingegaard) can win the Vuelta almost any time they set their mind to it. The level of recent winners has been well below their TdF form, sorry Rogla....looking at the Rwanda course, that's actually going to take some serious commitment from anyone, even Pog, who wants to win it. The Vuelta coming after the Tour might be too much, better to take August off and build toward Worlds/Lombardia

 

[Peyroteo94]

Agreed. He (and Vingegaard) can win the Vuelta almost any time they set their mind to it. The level of recent winners has been well below their TdF form, sorry Rogla....looking at the Rwanda course, that's actually going to take some serious commitment from anyone, even Pog, who wants to win it. The Vuelta coming after the Tour might be too much, better to take August off and build toward Worlds/Lombardia

And Pogacar can win 2026 or 2027 WC. Pogacar can also win multiple WC if he wants to.

 

[Cookster15]

Why would he make Vuelta a priority right now? Only if he has to drop out of the Tour early for some reason imo.

Because he hasn’t won the Vuelta and it looks easy pickings. He has the world title now.

And why would he need to drop out of the Tour to win the Vuelta? If not for wanting to ride for his teammate Sepp Kuss Vingegaard looked like he could have won the 2023 Vuelta after beating Pogacar at the Tour. Pog has plenty of time to target those other races. What’s wrong with defending his Tour title as his #1 priority then backing up for the Vuelta? We are all looking forward to the rematch with an uninjured Vingo.

Maybe I am missing something but it seems obvious after pulling off the Giro-Tour double this year that the Tour-Vuelta double is the biggest missing piece in Pogacar's palmeres now. He still has plenty of years to target every other race suggested.

 

[Cookster15]

better to take August off and build toward Worlds/Lombardia

But he's already won Worlds/Lombardia this year. Better to target something he hasn't done - the Tour / Vuelta double.

 

[scribers]

That’s enough!!

I control pogis schedule. I’ve collected all of the opinions. And will make a determination and public announcement December

 

[AmRacer]

UAE 17-23 Feb; 7
MSR 22 Mars;1
Itzulia 7-12 April; 6
LBL 26 April; 1
---15 days

TDF 05-27 July
VUELTA 23 August - 14 Sept
WORLDS 21 Sept ITT 28 Sept RR

LOMBARDIA

 

[Peyroteo94]

But he's already won Worlds/Lombardia this year. Better to target something he hasn't done - the Tour / Vuelta double.

Spot on. Tour-Vuelta should be on the menu!

 

[scribers]

I have to listen to this interview. But for Worlds, he had to ask the car if he had 1 or 2 laps remaining and was cross eyed at that point.

 

[Salvarani]

Because he hasn’t won the Vuelta and it looks easy pickings. He has the world title now.

And why would he need to drop out of the Tour to win the Vuelta? If not for wanting to ride for his teammate Sepp Kuss Vingegaard looked like he could have won the 2023 Vuelta after beating Pogacar at the Tour. Pog has plenty of time to target those other races. What’s wrong with defending his Tour title as his #1 priority then backing up for the Vuelta? We are all looking forward to the rematch with an uninjured Vingo.

Maybe I am missing something but it seems obvious after pulling off the Giro-Tour double this year that the Tour-Vuelta double is the biggest missing piece in Pogacar's palmeres now. He still has plenty of years to target every other race suggested.

Winning the Vuelta shouldnt be a big priority imo. Not next season.

And I think you misunderstood what I was saying with him dropping out.

It was to say that if he crashes or fall ill or something in the Tour, he can go for the Vuelta. Not that he would need to drop out to win it. He can just pivot if the Tour doesnt go to plan for any reason. Just like Roglic has done.

I think racing a hard Tour, win or podium, and then doing the Vuelta as well could mess up his chances in Worlds that looks very good for him. I dont question he could win both the Tour-Vuelta if he decides to try.

But I think he can win the Vuelta at some point, just like PR. I dont think now is the time, thats all. With next years Worlds. Just my opinion.

As I said, I would build the season around:
MSR
RVV
LBL
Tour
Worlds
Lombardia

I dont know though. Whatever happens, happens. They probably know best.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He won a award for "Best performance in the 2024 season". Congrats GOAT for that legendary ride in Zurich!

 

[Peyroteo94]

Winning the Vuelta shouldnt be a big priority imo. Not next season.

And I think you misunderstood what I was saying with him dropping out.

It was to say that if he crashes or fall ill or something in the Tour, he can go for the Vuelta. Not that he would need to drop out to win it. He can just pivot if the Tour doesnt go to plan for any reason. Just like Roglic has done.

I think racing a hard Tour, win or podium, and then doing the Vuelta as well could mess up his chances in Worlds that looks very good for him. I dont question he could win both the Tour-Vuelta if he decides to try.

But I think he can win the Vuelta at some point, just like PR. I dont think now is the time, thats all. With next years Worlds. Just my opinion.

As I said, I would build the season around:
MSR
RVV
LBL
Tour
Worlds
Lombardia

I dont know though. Whatever happens, happens. They probably know best.

For you WC is more important than Vuelta?

 

[Cookster15]

Winning the Vuelta shouldnt be a big priority imo. Not next season.

And I think you misunderstood what I was saying with him dropping out.

It was to say that if he crashes or fall ill or something in the Tour, he can go for the Vuelta. Not that he would need to drop out to win it. He can just pivot if the Tour doesnt go to plan for any reason. Just like Roglic has done.

I think racing a hard Tour, win or podium, and then doing the Vuelta as well could mess up his chances in Worlds that looks very good for him. I dont question he could win both the Tour-Vuelta if he decides to try.

But I think he can win the Vuelta at some point, just like PR. I dont think now is the time, thats all. With next years Worlds. Just my opinion.

As I said, I would build the season around:
MSR
RVV
LBL
Tour
Worlds
Lombardia

I dont know though. Whatever happens, happens. They probably know best.

Thanks, yeh I suspected I didn’t follow your reasoning.

But I think adding a Vuelta overrides another worlds, even if it’s a course that suits him. And who is to say he can’t win both? Again I remind he won’t be doing the Giro next year and I am sure that saves a lot of energy and one less period of recovery from doing a grand tour.

 

[Salvarani]

For you WC is more important than Vuelta?

WC might not be on a course that favor him this heavy again for a couple of years. I would take the opportunity to win it again.

I would do Tour-Vuelta in a year where chances are slim in Worlds.

 

[Salvarani]

Thanks, yeh I suspected I didn’t follow your reasoning.

But I think adding a Vuelta overrides another worlds, even if it’s a course that suits him. And who is to say he can’t win both? Again I remind he won’t be doing the Giro next year and I am sure that saves a lot of energy and one less period of recovery from doing a grand tour.

But he will potentially be doing more classics in the spring.

And I am sure Vinge will provide a tougher challenge next season in the Tour.

I think it makes more sense to add a Vuelta later. Either in a year where Worlds course doesnt suit him or favor him, or like I said... if something happens in the Tour where Vuelta becomes a good option to pivot for.

Again, I am not questioning he can win the double Tour-Vuelta. Have never said that.

I dont know what is best or what they will do next year. We will see. Can only say what I think is best from my perspective.

 

[Peyroteo94]

WC might not be on a course that favor him this heavy again for a couple of years. I would take the opportunity to win it again.

I would do Tour-Vuelta in a year where chances are slim in Worlds.

Since 2026 and 2027 WC are tailormade for him and 2028 is a Olympic year, he should only attempt Tour-Vuelta in 2029? That's late.