Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

I think after reading Pogacar saying “I am already thinking about MSR and trying something different,” it doesn’t take much imagination to mean he will launch on the Cipressa. I think that will be his best chance to win too.

But he can't drop a normal WVA or MVP there.

 

[Poursuivant]

But he can't drop a normal WVA or MVP there.

It will be hard but not impossible. But even if a small group of 4/5 go with him and reach the Poggio before the peloton, surely his chances are higher in that situation than if it’s a group of 30/40?

 

[Peyroteo94]

It will be hard but not impossible. But even if a small group of 4/5 go with him and reach the Poggio before the peloton, surely his chances are higher in that situation than if it’s a group of 30/40?

MVP is not going to be dropped by Pogacar unless they bring Manie back.

 

[KZD]

This. And Sagan was a better sprinter than Pogacar. Pogacar has to drop everybody, other teams will not work with him and will try to antecipate Pogacar's attack

Pogačar doesn't need to drop everyone, he just needs to drop riders that are faster than him like Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pedersen. At least in Rwanda with more than 5000 meters of elevation that shouldn't be an issue

 

[scribers]

No but rumours are that 2026 WC will be hilly like GP Montreal and 2027 WC will be in the French Alps. They will not make a flat course there. It's even possible that we will have the hardest WC ever.

Without a guarantee pogi has to focus on the known opportunity this year. No vuelta this year

 

[scribers]

Were there even sprinters in the 60’s and 70’s? Or is that just what they called good riders who couldn’t climb well?

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogačar doesn't need to drop everyone, he just needs to drop riders that are faster than him like Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pedersen. At least in Rwanda with more than 5000 meters of elevation that shouldn't be an issue

But others will not work with him

 

[Peyroteo94]

Were there even sprinters in the 60’s and 70’s? Or is that just what they called good riders who couldn’t climb well?

Of course not. Specialization only started in the 90s

 

[hayneplane]

It will be hard but not impossible. But even if a small group of 4/5 go with him and reach the Poggio before the peloton, surely his chances are higher in that situation than if it’s a group of 30/40?

It would certainly be advantageous for him if riders like Van Gils and Healy could cling onto his back wheel as they are good enough to be their teams best card at a top result from that point in the race, have a current palmares where riding to secure a monument podium would be huge for them and heavily favoured to be dusted in any final sprint by Pogacar.

 

[Poursuivant]

It would certainly be advantageous for him if riders like Van Gils and Healy could cling onto his back wheel as they are good enough to be their teams best card at a top result from that point in the race, have a current palmares where riding to secure a monument podium would be huge for them and heavily favoured to be dusted in any final sprint by Pogacar.

If there was a small group, you would imagine WVA and MVDP would be in there, MVDP might sit on if Phillipsen is behind but it would be in WVA’s best interests to get to the Poggio without any top sprinters latching on.

 

[hayneplane]

If there was a small group, you would imagine WVA and MVDP would be in there, MVDP might sit on if Phillipsen is behind but it would be in WVA’s best interests to get to the Poggio without any top sprinters latching on.

Logically yes they could expect to still be there. My scenario imagined that they are either not able to follow immediately or opt to trust in their teammates to lead a chase. It would be far more in Wouts interests tactically to put Philipsen, Pedersen, Girmay etc fully out the back.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Logically yes they could expect to still be there. My scenario imagined that they are either not able to follow immediately or opt to trust in their teammates to lead a chase. It would be far more in Wouts interests tactically to put Philipsen, Pedersen, Girmay etc fully out the back.

Basically he needs luck however all eyes will be on him

 

[Salvarani]

Basically he needs luck however all eyes will be on him

Or just a moment of hesitation from the others.

Last year on Poggio... MVDP had to sacrifice himself in the end. Otherwise Pog would have been gone.

Small margins and the race is unpredictable that way.

What works one year, might not work the other. Depending on many different factors.

 

[Froome]

Or just a moment of hesitation from the others.

Last year on Poggio... MVDP had to sacrifice himself in the end. Otherwise Pog would have been gone.

Small margins and the race is unpredictable that way.

What works one year, might not work the other. Depending on many different factors.

MDVP sacrificed for Philipsen. He would have won MSR if he wanted in the sprint against pogacar.

 

[Cookster15]

MDVP sacrificed for Philipsen. He would have won MSR if he wanted in the sprint against pogacar.

Maybe. Depends what legs Phillipson still had after the Cipressa, Poggio and 300km @ 45km/h. In a normal sprint you’d be right. But not MSR.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Maybe. Depends what legs Phillipson still had after the Cipressa, Poggio and 300km @ 45km/h. In a normal sprint you’d be right. But not MSR.

Next year, Jasper will not be a factor. UAE will make the race harder.

 

[YavorD]

But others will not work with him

I can perfectly well see a situation where a rider or 2 of "lesser calibre" could work with Pogacar in order to guarantee a medal for themselves.
For plenty of riders Worlds silver could be career achievement.

G1 dynamic is different to G2 dynamic.

 

[2WpK]

Not enough.

Merckx won 19 monuments, 3 worlds, 11 Grand Tours.

525 victories.

If Pogi has a few more totally dominant seasons like 2024, he will likely be regarded as the GOAT. Numbers wise, no one will ever catch Merckx....that era was totally different and will not return.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Not enough.

Merckx won 19 monuments, 3 worlds, 11 Grand Tours.

525 victories.

How many of the 525 were criteriums though. Not to mention there was multiple stages on one day for stage races. You can’t argue with his monument, worlds, and grand tour win success but numbers were inflated in other ways.

 

[Peyroteo94]

How many of the 525 were criteriums though. Not to mention there was multiple stages on one day for stage races. You can’t argue with his monument, worlds, and grand tour win success but numbers were inflated in other ways.

According to PCS, he has 279 wins

 

[SHAD0W93]

According to PCS, he has 279 wins

PCS isn’t complete all the time though for that time period and previously, I think someone before said 1990 or 1995 is when it starts becoming all incumbent. Not to mention some of the Giro or Vuelta editions it doesn’t have some stage results.

 

[Peyroteo94]

PCS isn’t complete all the time though for that time period and previously, I think someone before said 1990 or 1995 is when it starts becoming all incumbent. Not to mention some of the Giro or Vuelta editions it doesn’t have some stage results.

But it has all stage wins of Merckx.

 

[Froome]

But it has all stage wins of Merckx.

It's quite normal, since Merckx is the biggest superstar ever of this sport.

 

[Salvarani]

So happy that Pog is now recognized as the undisputable GOAT after his historic season.

Just amazing.

THE GOAT

 

[scribers]

Cavendish would have thumped Merckx in a fantasy matchup at the Singapore criterium