Yes, probably would have been better to wait a few seconds but to have the whereabouts full of adrenaline makes those small details and calls difficult to make 100% correctly.
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Yes, probably would have been better to wait a few seconds but to have the whereabouts full of adrenaline makes those small details and calls difficult to make 100% correctly.
Milano-Sanremo is the race where you have no excuse for not knowing every meter of the final 10 km. If you attack before the flat part of the climb, it should never be so early and never in to a headwind. They knew this morning what the wind direction would be.
They are not calculated machines at the end of the day.
And yet we see them very carefully time the attack on Poggio year after year. It's one thing to accept that he is not faultless, it's another not to recognise that he really made a mess of how he tackled the climb. He *** up.
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He messed up things a bit on the Poggio but in the end I don't think that it would have made a difference, getting 5th in this race is still a good result given his skillset
Red Rick
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In fact I think Pog gave massive proof today that while there are many ways to win Sanremo there is only one good place to attack uphill
Despite launching several accelerations he was the only rider able to follow Kragh. He had the legs to drop everyone today.
Pogačar gave us what we all expected from him. He tried at Cipressa and tried at Poggio.
Can't ask for more.
Can't ask for more.
Red Rick
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Without previous attacks I dont think he cleans Van Aert or MvdP off his wheel
I think that he is really close to Tour shape already in the beginning of this season. But maybe one of these years he will have more luck
Big Doopie
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No doubt in my mind that he can win in the future.
team should not have lead between Cipressa and Poggio allowing some to come back (including teammates).
he should have attacked only once near the top at the 8% bit.
he could get away alone or in a small group. And his sprint from a small group gives him a very good chance.
team should not have lead between Cipressa and Poggio allowing some to come back (including teammates).
he should have attacked only once near the top at the 8% bit.
he could get away alone or in a small group. And his sprint from a small group gives him a very good chance.
“I attacked too early and into a headwind the first time on the Poggio, that’s a mistake you can’t repair at Milan-San Remo,” he admitted.
Maybe an early attack because he knew that he couldn´t drop guys like Van Aert or Van der Poel with an attack near the top. Even at his best they can follow him in a short uphill sprint. Following the approach of his teammates. Trying to use the entire length of the climb to make it as hard as possible for all. Problem was that no one else was even trying to attack. Race slowed down as soon as Pogacar stopped.
In the end it probably would have been better to wait and make one all out move but I don´t think he would have dropped any of the big names.
In the end it probably would have been better to wait and make one all out move but I don´t think he would have dropped any of the big names.
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It's possible he could become an even stronger rider over the next few years; today proved that he could win it one year.
Gotta give it to Pogacar for making the Poggio climb really exciting 
he just went too damn early to make it stick to the end.....
I don't doubt he'll be able to win it sometime in the future, as he'll get more experience to read better the race during that crucial time within the last 7 K where a simple 200 metre gap set at the right time can lead to win the race....
truly happy with his aggressive riding, proving he's not a simple GT winner, but a natural born bike racer seeking to excel in every race he participates in, every time and everywhere. Cheer to you Pogacar
he just went too damn early to make it stick to the end.....I don't doubt he'll be able to win it sometime in the future, as he'll get more experience to read better the race during that crucial time within the last 7 K where a simple 200 metre gap set at the right time can lead to win the race....
truly happy with his aggressive riding, proving he's not a simple GT winner, but a natural born bike racer seeking to excel in every race he participates in, every time and everywhere. Cheer to you Pogacar
You only need few leaders in your team for the whole calendar with him, compared to the few last decades. Each race he looks more and more like the next incarnation of cycling demigod. Only being a complete non-factor on cobble will put some early doubt.
And I can't blame opponents for being hesitant to take initiative while he's around, it's almost basic for him chasing everything and still had a lot in the tank at the end.
And I can't blame opponents for being hesitant to take initiative while he's around, it's almost basic for him chasing everything and still had a lot in the tank at the end.
It didn't work out but it was exciting indeed. Brutal pace by UAE and strong attacks by Pog. Tadej often follows his instinct and attacks when he feels it but maybe due to it his first attack was mistimed.
Even though he failed at the end it's clear that Pog is in a superb form - those repeated accelerations and ability to follow counterattacks. I think he would drop everyone (included Roglic) had it been a bigger climb. Will he keep his spring peak until Flandres and Ardennes classics? That's his goal but we will see.
His impressive streak of 4 consecutive WT races won (from Lombardy) has been snapped but he's still on a 4 stage-races winning streak.
Even though he failed at the end it's clear that Pog is in a superb form - those repeated accelerations and ability to follow counterattacks. I think he would drop everyone (included Roglic) had it been a bigger climb. Will he keep his spring peak until Flandres and Ardennes classics? That's his goal but we will see.
His impressive streak of 4 consecutive WT races won (from Lombardy) has been snapped but he's still on a 4 stage-races winning streak.
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Red Rick
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I actually dont think yesterday shows great prospects for Pogs Sanremo chamces in the future. Circumstances benefitted him tremendously with the many withdrawals and the huge tailwind, yet attacking early on the Poggio did nothing despite a massive pace on the Cipressa.
Pogacar would have to wait for the same place as Alaphilippe and then hope for the best. But he doesnt have Alas kick and hes also not that level of descender to stay away with a small gap
Maybe it would actually be better to not pace Cipressa and make the Poggio ascent more crowded and chaotic. All that a near record Cipressa did was help everyones positioning.
Pogacar would have to wait for the same place as Alaphilippe and then hope for the best. But he doesnt have Alas kick and hes also not that level of descender to stay away with a small gap
Maybe it would actually be better to not pace Cipressa and make the Poggio ascent more crowded and chaotic. All that a near record Cipressa did was help everyones positioning.
Pogacar clearly said that he attacked too early and in the headwind. Matthews confirmed that the wind didn't favour Pogacar.
Red Rick
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He attacked 4 times, only once in a headwind I believe.
Climbing time on the Poggio does not indicate an overall headwind at all
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