He finished behind Remco in the Euro TT championships! His career has clearly peaked and even the UAE race is in jeopardy!
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Remco would have won the last Tour had he participated!
He would have won every race, had he participated. Even Lewis Hamilton should be concerned....
Although, he finished 3rd in the Euro TT champs. Does that count as a win in Belgium?
The only thing that I can conclude from this is that he would have abandoned La Vuelta half way due to poor form, excess celebration or too many sangrias. Memories of Andy Schleck in Spain come to mind.
I think Vuelta was out of the question soon after he completed Tour+Olympics combo. His form was already dropping in Japan. Fatigue caught up with him, he had a break in training and now he's probably in kinda off-form period,
That being said, what I really like about him is that he always attacks, even if not in top form (i.e. GP Bretagne, Olympics). He won't be just sitting in the peleton on Sunday.
I have two explanations. One I'm cool with, the other I hope is BS.
1. Urska his girlfriend was sporting an engagement looking ring on the engagement hand and finger before TTs this week when they were covid testing. Wondering if maybe he's been a bit distracted closing in on contract, proposal, and media attention. He plays it cool but I don't believe he's immune to the pressure with success this early. His training probably suffered. Doubtful he'll be taking a break like this in the future
2. Is Clinical
Guess we will see Sunday. If he can't pull off something I personally am gonna a till love him but it's a huge turn from the tour. Here's to hoping it's my first option and him and urska have just been exhausted 'celebrating'
1. Urska his girlfriend was sporting an engagement looking ring on the engagement hand and finger before TTs this week when they were covid testing. Wondering if maybe he's been a bit distracted closing in on contract, proposal, and media attention. He plays it cool but I don't believe he's immune to the pressure with success this early. His training probably suffered. Doubtful he'll be taking a break like this in the future
2. Is Clinical
Guess we will see Sunday. If he can't pull off something I personally am gonna a till love him but it's a huge turn from the tour. Here's to hoping it's my first option and him and urska have just been exhausted 'celebrating'
It's just what post Tour form used to look like. It's not a big deal. Even in top form he wouldn't compete for the win here on this route.
Yes hope that's true. At least seems to be the case with Carapaz and his explanation. Makes me hope Pogocar gets to be more than just the tour. But guess UAE is gonna be making that call on the short term
Post tour and olympics form and fact that this route was absolutely not to his liking. Obviously he likes hard TT's with some climbing put into it.
Stage 5 of this year's TDF was flat (longer than this Euro TT) with his speed of 51 kph which he won over the same Kung by 19 seconds. Over the last 2 years he has been insane in all terrains. So before concluding likes/dislikes u should look at the data. I can accept that he is partying/not training/gained weight etc. which would be natural for a human.
He already had to be in great form at the UAE Tour, he won the Tour, he went to the Olympics and won a medal. His season is simply more or less over, I think.
Stage 5 of TDF wasn't completely flat. Like you said Pogi had the avg speed 51kph as the winner. In the EC ITT Kung had almost 55kph. Even Pogi in top form can't compete with the specialists on such course IMO. Maybe 30-45s faster, but that would still put him right above Asgreen in 7th place or maybe in 5th as a best case scenario.
Anyway, I think he is building form towards Lombardia and he plans to be on top form for the Italian fall classics. I still expect him to be among the protagonists in both EC and WC road races.
If he does that's incredibly impressive one more time.
I think he can still build some kind of form for Lombardia, it should be his last goal (given the route and importance). He doesn't need to be at his best to have winning chances there. Not sure if WC make sense for him.
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He's won a monument and three other stage races this year. Doesn't that count?
Imagine the scandal if he wins WC ITT and Lombardia on top of his already great year.
How often do we see GC riders go to the Tour, take a big break and then have a big fall season without La Vuelta? Seems pretty rare to me.
Though Bernal did podium Il Lombardia in 2019.
Though Bernal did podium Il Lombardia in 2019.
I'd say Nibali in 2015 counts. Pinot the same year.
Mollema in 2019, even if he only in the Giro rode for GC.
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I was thinking he possibly is not trying to win/dominate until the end as well. If just seems such totally different form than the tour. I mean maybe thats normal but the difference from the past 2 years really is shocking.
Bit of overreaction to this ITT imo. It's a one day ITT, and an extremely flat one.
It's a bit off, but it's not like "so *** we can forget about the rest of the season"
It's a bit off, but it's not like "so *** we can forget about the rest of the season"
I think Tadej‘s TT in the EC was slightly disappointing, but absolutely no need to worry.
First of all, the fact he starts in Trento shows that he is a real champion. ECs don‘t have that high prestige, and I find it just cool he starts there.
In UAE Tour 2021, he already showed he can be close to the world‘s best in flat, fast TTs. There, he lost 24 secs to Ganna on 13 kms - in Trento, he lost 81 secs to Küng in 22 kms.
I think he already had a long season, with being at his absolute peak on the second weekend of the Tour.
In any case, he is a favourite for EC RR, for WC, and Lombardia - a double Tour winner and LBL winner is always dangerous...
First of all, the fact he starts in Trento shows that he is a real champion. ECs don‘t have that high prestige, and I find it just cool he starts there.
In UAE Tour 2021, he already showed he can be close to the world‘s best in flat, fast TTs. There, he lost 24 secs to Ganna on 13 kms - in Trento, he lost 81 secs to Küng in 22 kms.
I think he already had a long season, with being at his absolute peak on the second weekend of the Tour.
In any case, he is a favourite for EC RR, for WC, and Lombardia - a double Tour winner and LBL winner is always dangerous...
I would call it a rest and go the the beach with my supportive Galfriend. Maybe get a tan and sup some cocktails. Life is short and GT winning careers shorter; best to ponder and appreciate, don't you agree?
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