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Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

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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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
He is already preparing the 2025 season, he will be ready and stronger to take Pogacar down.
 
It’s going to be an exciting season for Pog fans no matter what he and team management pick.

Remarkable that he would be favourite for every Grand Tour and the 7 big one week races as well as the Worlds Road Race. He will also be at least co-favourite for every monument including Paris-Roubaix if he adds it in after success elsewhere.

I hope he does another grand tour double either to emulate Indurain with back to back Giro-Tour doubles or Tour-Vuelta to join the select club to win all three Grand Tours.

Consecutive worlds wins have been done twice in the last decade by Sagan and Alaphillipe but win it this year with the most favourable parcours you will get and he can ride it in future years without any pressure as a free shot at palmares building.

Getting the tick in box for MSR will be huge for future projects as he can then either skip it or ride it without such a millstone round his neck.
 
It’s going to be an exciting season for Pog fans no matter what he and team management pick.

Remarkable that he would be favourite for every Grand Tour and the 7 big one week races as well as the Worlds Road Race. He will also be at least co-favourite for every monument including Paris-Roubaix if he adds it in after success elsewhere.

I hope he does another grand tour double either to emulate Indurain with back to back Giro-Tour doubles or Tour-Vuelta to join the select club to win all three Grand Tours.

Consecutive worlds wins have been done twice in the last decade by Sagan and Alaphillipe but win it this year with the most favourable parcours you will get and he can ride it in future years without any pressure as a free shot at palmares building.

Getting the tick in box for MSR will be huge for future projects as he can then either skip it or ride it without such a millstone round his neck.
MSR will be his kryptonite until his retirement. In fact, I don't see him ever winning it. I hope to be wrong.
Paris Roubaix is a matter of time, 2 more kilos of pure muscle and no one will be able to follow him.
 
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.
Well records are just that, records. You dont rate Roglic over Vingegaard as a GT rider just cause he has won more GT?. I know your not but its a lazy argument based on favorisme imo its not black and white cause if it is Roglic is better GT rider than Vingegaard and that sums up how flawed that argument is cause he is not, unless people are able to difference betwen best and greatest which most who cares about that never are.

Its pretty obvious from everyones mouth that clearly Pogacar is the best of all time ive not heard a guy in cycling not say it. nvm that what we see speak for itself already and its not even remotely close though I completely agree with you he can win more to become the greatest for those who cares about that but it will always be a perception thing no matter what anyway(merckx rode in a era where cycling wasnt even 1/3 of how competitive it is today not trying to take anything away but it is what it is) , But yeah I agree with Evenepoel and you on the matter btw:sweatsmile:
 
It's an Olympic year so no Vuelta.

Why not? The Olympics in 2028 will be held during July so Pogačar should have several weeks to prepare himself for the Vuelta.

Also if Pogačar wins the WCRR in the next three seasons, he will become the first rider ever to win it 4 times, which would make him even more of a legend. Meanwhile he just needs a single Vuelta win.