Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re: Re:

Does anybody know what he'll be riding for the 2nd part of the season?

He says they'll decide after the training camp if he actually goes to t the Vuelta this year already.

Thanks, but yes i knew about him maybe riding Vuelta. I was wondering if anything had been decided yet, and if the rest of his program was known yet... though it would make sense if they have a different program depending on him doing Vuelta or not.

Lambrecht did the Vuelta last year too, and got off in the second week. He was only a few months older than Pogacar is now, and the latter seems to be further in his development. UAE is doing the same with Philipsen in the Tour now, so i'm guessing chances are they'll bring Pogacar to the Vuelta too.

 

[Lequack]

He's doing some off road training as well.

 

[Lequack]

Aru and Pogacar head UAE Team Emirates for Vuelta a Espana

Aru and Pogacar head UAE Team Emirates for Vuelta a Espana | Cyclingnews.com

Gaviria to lead the line in bunch sprints

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[tobydawq]

It doesn't even sound like they'll force him out of the race after two weeks.

 

[Valv.Piti]

It doesn't even sound like they'll force him out of the race after two weeks.

I don't understand that at all.
They select him for a race and then they proceed to NOT take him out of the race after 12 days? Preposterous!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I don't understand that at all.
They select him for a race and then they proceed to NOT take him out of the race after 12 days? Preposterous!

There was an article a while ago where this was said to be an option.

 

[Lequack]

Well the initially also said he won't ride his first GT until 2021. But here we are.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Well the initially also said he won't ride his first GT until 2021. But here we are.

Sure, nobody's contesting that. Doesn't mean they didn't think about it.

 

[Lequack]

Some posts with his GF (also a pro cyclist in the women's peloton):

 

[tobydawq]

Haha, what's up with his outfit in the second photo?

 

[Lequack]

That's what the cool kids wear nowadays.

 

[Lequack]

His first GT

 

[Lequack]

He came with the chasing group of Lopez today, so a very good result I think.

 

[hayneplane]

With Aru up ahead he had the luxury of just surfing wheels and not having to contribute to the chase.

On a day where many fancied riders waved goodbye to their GC so early in the race he can be very content that his first road stage in a grand tour was a big positive tick in the box.

 

[Lequack]

Great ride today on a hard climb. He finished just behind Roglic and Valverde.

 

[tobydawq]

He is just insane.

 

[Lequack]

And if UAE didn't lose a minute in the TTT because of the crash he'd be up there in top 5.

 

[Sestriere]

Yes, immensly talented. After crashing on his very Grand Tour stage, many would probably be scared away and need a week or so to accommodate. Heck, even Bernal needed a fews stages to get the grove in his first Grand Tour. Speaking about Bernal, I think Pogacar's climbing talent is almost on the same level. But he seems to be a better TTer. About three-week-consistency... Well, let's wait and see I guess

 

[Koronin]

First race I really saw him was California and was very impressed. Today did well on this climb.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

... Speaking about Bernal, I think Pogacar's climbing talent is almost on the same level. But he seems to be a better TTer. ...

I'm firmly on the Pogacar hypetrain, but this statement might be a bit presumptuous. Bernal is a far above average ITT'er. Even his TDF ITT wasn't "bad", but he certainly has done much better ITT's (just look at his ITT in TDSuisse). Pogacar has already done some great ITT's and he's the national ITT champion, but the opposition wasn't exactly world class there. Obviously, he has roughly 20 months to spend compared to Bernal, so who knows what that'll be like in 2 years. But for the moment, i'm still comfortably siding with Bernal overall. Maybe he's better than Bernal was 20 months ago. And Evenepoel is probably better than Pogacar was 16 months ago. And Brenner is likely better than Evenepoel was 19 months ago... etc. But in absolute terms, Bernal is still top dog imho. If we're talking about potential... it's anyone's guess, i guess

 

[hayneplane]

Top class ride from Pogacar today. With the heat and a brutal course freshness may become a big factor and he is the main rider doing his first Grand Tour of the year (Also Higuita) so if the consistency and recovery aspects hold up then a top 5 finish in Madrid is realistic.

 

[Sestriere]

I'm firmly on the Pogacar hypetrain, but this statement might be a bit presumptuous. Bernal is a far above average ITT'er. Even his TDF ITT wasn't "bad", but he certainly has done much better ITT's (just look at his ITT in TDSuisse). Pogacar has already done some great ITT's and he's the national ITT champion, but the opposition wasn't exactly world class there. Obviously, he has roughly 20 months to spend compared to Bernal, so who knows what that'll be like in 2 years. But for the moment, i'm still comfortably siding with Bernal overall. Maybe he's better than Bernal was 20 months ago. And Evenepoel is probably better than Pogacar was 16 months ago. And Brenner is likely better than Evenepoel was 19 months ago... etc. But in absolute terms, Bernal is still top dog imho. If we're talking about potential... it's anyone's guess, i guess

I was mainly impressed by his TT in Algarve where he was only beaten by TT specialists and comfortably the fastest of all the climbers - in his second ever pro race. You may argue that the competition in the Slovenian nationals wasn't strong, but he still rode a 52.05 km/h average on an out-and-back course which means no wind assistance. That would be fast for anyone, but for a 20-yo neo-pro probably weighing under 65 kg who is known to be climber... Very astounding.
Regarding Bernal.. He was really bad at TTs before Sky and has developed into a decent rider against the clock with them. His first major TT for Sky was in California iirc, and it was slightly disappointing. He had impressive TTs since, Paris-Nice this year and, as you mentioned, TdS. His effort in France this year was underwhelming compared to those. I guess, what I'm trying to say is that I believe Pogacar to be a more naturally gifted TTist if that makes any sense. Hence he should ultimately end up being better against the clock. This Vuelta's CLM is going to be an interesting marker for him in that regard.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I was mainly impressed by his TT in Algarve where he was only beaten by TT specialists and comfortably the fastest of all the climbers - in his second ever pro race. You may argue that the competition in the Slovenian nationals wasn't strong, but he still rode a 52.05 km/h average on an out-and-back course which means no wind assistance. That would be fast for anyone, but for a 20-yo neo-pro probably weighing under 65 kg who is known to be climber... Very astounding.
Regarding Bernal.. He was really bad at TTs before Sky and has developed into a decent rider against the clock with them. His first major TT for Sky was in California iirc, and it was slightly disappointing. He had impressive TTs since, Paris-Nice this year and, as you mentioned, TdS. His effort in France this year was underwhelming compared to those. I guess, what I'm trying to say is that I believe Pogacar to be a more naturally gifted TTist if that makes any sense. Hence he should ultimately end up being better against the clock. This Vuelta's CLM is going to be an interesting marker for him in that regard.

Yes, i guess that's basically what i meant. Naturally gifted / full potential as a TTist. But we'll have to find out. One ITT isn't necessarilly an indicator for another. Evenepoel blew everyone away in the EC, but only finished 15th in Romandie. Campenaerts didn't even podium in the nationals but podiumed on the WC... I can also see a scenario, where Bernal wasn't that good in ITT'ing in the past, simply because he never really focussed on it prior to joining Sky. (This is purely speculation on my part).

 

[Bushman]

When comparing Bernal and Pogacar, one has to make the distinction between potential and actual ability, as Logic does. Pogacar is an incredible talent and one of the most well-rounded neopros I’ve ever seen and he might very well be on the same path as Bernal. The difference is though that Bernal has already established himself as one of the best climbers and stage racers in the world (scary to think about how much more upside he has) and while Pogacar is certainly looking incredible, it’s more of an unknown where his ceiling lies (thinking mainly about climbing ability here).

 

[Valv.Piti]

Just looking at PCS, Pogacar's first season as a pro is probably the best I have ever seen. Remember, its difficult to compare to Bernal since he got pro when he was younger. The consistency of Tadej is simply incredible. He seriously can finish top-5, well, he probably would have been now without the crash.

Simply an amazing talent.