Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Red Rick]

Sour grapes, I'm sure he needed a ton of his money to somehow find the guy who won l'Avenir that year and finished 4th in the Tour of Slovenia, after already finishinng 5th in that races one year before when he was just 18 years old.
Patrick is a bit delusional when it comes to their scouting ability, Pogi wasn't exacty hard to find.

Sometimes you need these certainties to hang on to in life.

Lefevre being a saltmine is one of them.

 

[Lequack]

Tadej is ripping it up in Tenerife ahead of the UAE Tour at the end of the month.

Morning Ride - Tadej Pogačar P's 119.6 km bike ride

Tadej Pogačar P rode 119.6 km on Jan 31, 2021.

www.strava.com

5.5km @ 12.3%

 

[Escarabajo]

Why in Tenerife?

 

[Lequack]

Why in Tenerife?

There isn't much climbing or variety in UAE I would think. Plus the unbearable heat.

Another ride from yesterday, climb up to mount Teide:

Morning Ride | Strava

View Tadej Pogačar Pogi's ride on February 1, 2021 | Strava

www.strava.com

 

[johnymax]

There isn't much climbing or variety in UAE I would think. Plus the unbearable heat.

Another ride from yesterday, climb up to mount Teide:

Morning Ride | Strava

View Tadej Pogačar Pogi's ride on February 1, 2021 | Strava

www.strava.com

Lol at the name of the segment, 7k uphill Sprint. Usually one can sprint for a couple of hundred meters uphill. The only one I've seen sprinting uphill for a couple of kilometers was probably Pantani. Oh, and Porte up Willunga Hill.

Anyway, he's destroyed the KOM, I see. Already in TdF form. Will be a good battle with Adam Yates in the UAE Tour again.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Why in Tenerife?

Despite only 40 km of maximum width Tenerife is one of highest islands on Earth - over 3700 m. a. s. l. Vertical relief there is tremendous, almost all roads are winding uphill (the whole island is actually a big volcano). There are very steep sections as well as mamooth 30-40 km ascents (with 2000 m+ of vertical relief, bigger than any GT climbs). Plus great climate for winter training and amazing scenery. This is the best place to train for European cyclists (and not only them, it seems).

 

[memyselfandI]

Despite only 40 km of maximum width Tenerife is one of highest islands on Earth - over 3700 m. a. s. l. Vertical relief there is tremendous, almost all roads are winding uphill (the whole island is actually a big volcano). There are very steep sections as well as mamooth 30-40 km ascents (with 2000 m+ of vertical relief, bigger than any GT climbs). Plus great climate for winter training and amazing scenery. This is the best place to train for European cyclists (and not only them, it seems).

Probably more of that hotel up in Teide at 2200m and temperatures. Otherwise such a pos place. Without altitude it's Gran Canary ftw..

 

[Arnout]

Probably more of that hotel up in Teide at 2200m and temperatures. Otherwise such a pos place. Without altitude it's Gran Canary ftw..

Depends. Tenerife isn't only Teide, the north is very beautiful, basically along the width.

 

[Oldermanish]

Despite only 40 km of maximum width Tenerife is one of highest islands on Earth - over 3700 m. a. s. l. Vertical relief there is tremendous, almost all roads are winding uphill (the whole island is actually a big volcano). There are very steep sections as well as mamooth 30-40 km ascents (with 2000 m+ of vertical relief, bigger than any GT climbs). Plus great climate for winter training and amazing scenery. This is the best place to train for European cyclists (and not only them, it seems).

I'd bet they'd like Maui. Start at the beach and end up in snow at the top without getting wet.

 

[Lequack]

Some more pics from Tenerife training camp

 

[Oldermanish]

I'd bet they'd like Maui. Start at the beach and end up in snow at the top without getting wet.

Haleakala goes above 10,000 ft and the descent is amazing. No snow til you get near the top! 37 miles up....and down from the beach.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Graphic stage profiles actually exist in real life.

 

[Lequack]

His girlfriend came to visit while training (she's also a pro cyclist, probably training in Tenerife)

 

[Tinnekeisabella]

She has been with him the whole time in Tenerife . She has trained a day with Annemiek van Vleuten too

I am curious how she will do this season as on Strava she seems to hold up to Tadej trainingswise

 

[Oldermanish]

She has been with him the whole time in Tenerife . She has trained a day with Annemiek van Vleuten too

I am curious how she will do this season as on Strava she seems to hold up to Tadej trainingswise

My guess is they turn off their wattage and heartrate at the key times that tells you how well they hold up. These two are living the rare moment in life and I'm envious.

 

[Sciatic]

My guess is they turn off their wattage and heartrate at the key times that tells you how well they hold up. These two are living the rare moment in life and I'm envious.

That’s a funny thought—like when the team managers go to look at his ride data later that day and say “what’s this spike in your HR on a flat portion on the route when you were supposed to be easy spinning?”

 

[Oldermanish]

That’s a funny thought—like when the team managers go to look at his ride data later that day and say “what’s this spike in your HR on a flat portion on the route when you were supposed to be easy spinning?”

"Spike"?!!!!

 

[Lequack]

What a start to the season he is having. I guess that training with his girlfriend paid off

 

[Oldermanish]

He looks like he's having fun in the desert now, too.

 

[Froome]

Best rider in the world in the moment. Nobody can do the watts per kilo that he does.

 

[Rackham]

Best rider in the world in the moment. Nobody can do the watts per kilo that he does.

Wait & see. Until his famous time trial in the Tour, people wouldn't be saying this (just a couple of days before, he was dropped on the Col de la Loze).

There are a few others who can also light up the watts charts & climbs/time trials, so IMO we could be in for a pretty epic season if all these top GC guys are on form - including Pogacar.

 

[RedheadDane]

Now, the big question for me right now is; at which point will he stop automatically winning two jerseys whenever he wins the GC of a stage-race?
I'm guessing for races that have the BYR jersey be a U-23 competition, it could slowly start this year, providing they apply the "you're too old the year you turn 23" rule.

 

[Netserk]

Now, the big question for me right now is; at which point will he stop automatically winning two jerseys whenever he wins the GC of a stage-race?
I'm guessing for races that have the BYR jersey be a U-23 competition, it could slowly start this year, providing they apply the "you're too old the year you turn 23" rule.

No, next year. He will first be ineligible for U-25 (white jersey) in 2024.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Wait & see. Until his famous time trial in the Tour, people wouldn't be saying this (just a couple of days before, he was dropped on the Col de la Loze).

There are a few others who can also light up the watts charts & climbs/time trials, so IMO we could be in for a pretty epic season if all these top GC guys are on form - including Pogacar.

But the TT happened, right? Also Peyresourde happened. Both among most impressive TdF rides in recent memory. As for Loze, Pogacar lost only 15' to his chief rival (Roglic) on his weakest day of the race, not that bad I would say. Speaking about watts/kg surely they are some very strong riders but it's not so easy to show peak form in 3-week long races (Adam Yates is a good example) where regeneration is also important (and Poga is good at that). So far only Roglic showed he's able to compete (and even win) with Pogacar in a 3-week race but there are some potential candidates (like Evenepoel, Bernal) who are yet to prove themselves against the Slovenian. But I agree that this season (and seasons ahead) could be epic if all talented guys fulfill their GT potential.

 

[RedheadDane]

No, next year. He will first be ineligible for U-25 (white jersey) in 2024.

Yes, for races where the BYR jersey is U-25 it'll obviously be a little longer, especially since you can - in some races - actually win said jersey despite having already turned 25; as shown by Geoghegan Hart in the Giro last year. However, there are races where the BYR jersey is a U-23 competition.