This is indeed what they rely on heavily. Hard to blame them. Still Giro-Tour double could expose the limits to such approach. Or not. I guess we will find out if they are brave of foolish enough to do it.
This is indeed what they rely on heavily. Hard to blame them. Still Giro-Tour double could expose the limits to such approach. Or not. I guess we will find out if they are brave of foolish enough to do it.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,938
- 44,324
- 28,180
I think the whole thing is a double requires a different enough approach to leave something in the tank.
Very sensible if he doesnt take part in the Vuelta if he is not 100% physically or mentally.
I dont think a double (Giro-Tour) should be tried just yet. Not for a couple of years. Hope outside pressure doesnt get to him and them, to try it earlier. If they do give it a go, then the best of luck.
I see more an attempt at a 3-peat next year in the Tour and then perhaps give Vuelta a go, with not having the Olympics and so on coming in between. A bit more rest. Then he will have felt how he responds to riding two GTs in a row. That should be an "easier" double to ride then the Giro-Tour.
And if he only rides one GT for another year again, it could just be a good tactic from everyone involved to keep him fresh and not risk to burn him out too early in his career. There is already a lot of weight and pressure on his shoulders to perform every time he races. He will hopefully have many years left to achieve wins in a lot of other races as well. Because it is the wins that count. Whether it be in one-day races, monuments, stage-races or GTs.
So far he has been going in to win almost every race he lines up in and that is something I am sure he will/should continue to do. It might not be a bad idea to race fewer days and races to keep him fresh and focused. Than trying to do everything. As I said, he hopefully has many years left to win as much as he can. He doesnt have to do it all in a short span of time.
I dont think a double (Giro-Tour) should be tried just yet. Not for a couple of years. Hope outside pressure doesnt get to him and them, to try it earlier. If they do give it a go, then the best of luck.
I see more an attempt at a 3-peat next year in the Tour and then perhaps give Vuelta a go, with not having the Olympics and so on coming in between. A bit more rest. Then he will have felt how he responds to riding two GTs in a row. That should be an "easier" double to ride then the Giro-Tour.
And if he only rides one GT for another year again, it could just be a good tactic from everyone involved to keep him fresh and not risk to burn him out too early in his career. There is already a lot of weight and pressure on his shoulders to perform every time he races. He will hopefully have many years left to achieve wins in a lot of other races as well. Because it is the wins that count. Whether it be in one-day races, monuments, stage-races or GTs.
So far he has been going in to win almost every race he lines up in and that is something I am sure he will/should continue to do. It might not be a bad idea to race fewer days and races to keep him fresh and focused. Than trying to do everything. As I said, he hopefully has many years left to win as much as he can. He doesnt have to do it all in a short span of time.
Last edited:
- Feb 21, 2019
- 4,349
- 6,993
- 16,180
The Tour should be a certainty for next year, as there is no way that the sponsors will allow Pogačar to skip it because the he is the winner of the last two Tours and they have no alternative in the team to fill his role.
The question is if he races the Giro or the Vuelta as I believe two Grand Tours are on the menu for the next season. I actually think that a part of him wants to ride the Giro already next year as its the only Grand Tour that he never rode and the weather should suit him. However there is a problem called Jumbo Visma. This year, they may have lost Roglić during the Tour but they found in Vingegård another posible Tour winner for the next years and with the two starting in Danmark, I have little doubt that he will be in the start line next to Roglić.
So this might be the deciding factor that will make Pogačar skip the Giro and go for the Tour-Vuelta double. In the Giro he would certainly be the number one favourite but cycling is always unpredictable and then in the Tour against a fresh Roglić, Vingegård, Bernal and possibily Carapaz it would be unlikely for him to win the race and like Contador he could even be out of the final podium.
The Tour-Vuelta double is not without its dangers, he wouldn't be as favourite for any of those for the Giro but at least he could have a good chance of winning the Tour and in the end that will likely be the deciding factor.
As for this season, I expect to him see finishing the season in the Italian classics with Lombardy as the final goal of the season, maybe with the Worlds in between.
The question is if he races the Giro or the Vuelta as I believe two Grand Tours are on the menu for the next season. I actually think that a part of him wants to ride the Giro already next year as its the only Grand Tour that he never rode and the weather should suit him. However there is a problem called Jumbo Visma. This year, they may have lost Roglić during the Tour but they found in Vingegård another posible Tour winner for the next years and with the two starting in Danmark, I have little doubt that he will be in the start line next to Roglić.
So this might be the deciding factor that will make Pogačar skip the Giro and go for the Tour-Vuelta double. In the Giro he would certainly be the number one favourite but cycling is always unpredictable and then in the Tour against a fresh Roglić, Vingegård, Bernal and possibily Carapaz it would be unlikely for him to win the race and like Contador he could even be out of the final podium.
The Tour-Vuelta double is not without its dangers, he wouldn't be as favourite for any of those for the Giro but at least he could have a good chance of winning the Tour and in the end that will likely be the deciding factor.
As for this season, I expect to him see finishing the season in the Italian classics with Lombardy as the final goal of the season, maybe with the Worlds in between.
Last edited:
Thinking about this more in-depth. Giro-Tour double attempt will likely became a factor for Pogačar only after he looses the Tour title for the first time. The other two less likely scenarios as i see them are. First one being the Tour title number gets too high and he gets bored. Second one being he is bored already and feels brave or foolish enough believing he can win the double. To prove that to the world and himself.
Tour 2022 likely to be what 2021 promised to be. Hence likely without the two Slovenians in Giro 2022.
Tour 2022 likely to be what 2021 promised to be. Hence likely without the two Slovenians in Giro 2022.
A factor that could influence a Giro-Tour double attempt is the Giro organisation throwing in 3-4 serious stages in Slovenia potentially including an ITT.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,938
- 44,324
- 28,180
Yeah but then Roglic also goes to the Giro to be struck by disaster so he can win his Tour.
Looks like Jumbo will go all-in for the Tour (shocker) :
Finding a way to beat Pogacar is the biggest challenge for years to come, says Jumbo-Visma DS
Roglic and Vingegaard likely for 2022 Tour de France
www.cyclingnews.com
I doubt UAE wants PogChamp at the Giro, either. It's probably not his call to make.
If next years Jumbo and Ineos with their death line ups going all in for Roglic and Bernal can't put him in difficulty then he can win as much as he wants moving forward.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,938
- 44,324
- 28,180
His reign of terror will end at the hands of The Great Juan at La Vuelta in 2022.
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
- Aug 13, 2011
- 7,887
- 12,052
- 23,180
Nah, Movistar’s new signing of Colombian super talent Rujano will win that Vuelta.
- Jul 10, 2014
- 14,994
- 25,994
- 28,180
- Aug 13, 2011
- 7,887
- 12,052
- 23,180
They’re smart not wanting to lose money just in case he does race it.
- Jul 10, 2014
- 14,994
- 25,994
- 28,180
- Apr 16, 2009
- 17,600
- 6,854
- 28,180
- Apr 16, 2009
- 17,600
- 6,854
- 28,180
Someone will come in 5 years down the road and we will start b!tching about him!!!
Something that didn't happen on competition with the Texan. Things turned out really ugly in other ways for him though!
I think he won't be riding the Vuelta....
He clearly indicated in post-olympics interviews that he was tired and not thinking about doing the Vuelta.
I think several UAE guys are doing recons (de la cruz) and he is not with them.
Hope we get more clarity about his schedule soon, I hope he still goes for some smaller races and the italian races in October.
- Jul 10, 2014
- 14,994
- 25,994
- 28,180
They are throwing a welcoming party for him in his hometown on 13.8. and the Vuelta starts the next day. So I would say he won't be making the Vuelta.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,938
- 44,324
- 28,180
"Tadej you lost 2 minutes in the prologue to Primoz. What happened?"
"I don't know to be honest. And by that I actually mean I have no idea what happened last night"
Little known fact: once a multiple TDF winner loses, they very rarely ever win it again.
I can only think of Hinault off the top of my head. And he arguably only lost because of injury or coming back from injury, and then won again only because his teammate was held back…
I think we fans may give more importance to winning all three GTs more than riders or cycling history do. I believe winning the TDF matters (unfortunately?) so much more. Ask Froome now if he would trade his other GT wins for a fifth TDF? Or Zuelle if he’d give up his Vueltas for a TDF… Lemond’s career results do not reflect his generational talent and yet being a three-time TDF winner puts him on a level way above those with arguably more extensive victory lists.
- Feb 20, 2012
- 53,938
- 44,324
- 28,180
This is just meaningless stats with tiny sample size and from days that are barely relevant to todays cycling.
- Mar 7, 2013
- 626
- 1,215
- 13,180
Eddy Merckx would like to freshen up your memory.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 36K
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 41K
-
Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread- Started by RedheadDane
- Replies: 13K
-
Il Lombardia 2025, monument, October 11- Started by Krzysztof_O
- Replies: 792
-
European Championship 2025: Men’s RR, October 5- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 854
-
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram