Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Mayomaniac]

I think the hard cipressa may have hurt him in the sense nobody was able to work with him. If he and another guy or two got away he’d have a fair chance of a sprint finish win even against the usual names. Instead they were only able to latch on and keep everyone else in tow, the worst of both worlds. Still probably not his ideal parcours though.

Yeah, but without the hard pace on the Cipressa his team wouldn't have been in such a good postition on the Poggio, on the Cipressa it took them a bit of time to catch up with Pogacar on the front and a full bunch going into the Poggio would have been even more hectic.
I think if Pogacar wants to ggive MSR another go he needs more big engines and less climbers on his teams, guys like Bjerg and Laengen who can keep the team near the front and drive the train into the Poggio.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I think the other thing to remember is that Mojoric is not necessarily going to hang on with the best climbers every year. obviously if he's gapped he can catch back on, but then Mohoric becomes just another opponent racing to line. And then if does another monster descent to get such a gap, the dynamic in the chasing group could go differently.
So I don't it would be worth it for him or the team to waste time and energy trying to make sure he could win in a exact repeat scenario.

He might also be able to hold on without having the energy to go on a full-on attack in the descent, which appeared to be the case last year, unless the team wanted him to ride for Colbrelli. I was quite surprised when he didn't give it a go then, especially since he was still allowed to supertuck at the time.

 

[SafeBet]

He might also be able to hold on without having the energy to go on a full-on attack in the descent

That's a very underrated part of a descent attack, I believe.
For instance, Biniam Girmay talked about being on the very limit at the top of the Poggio and not being able to sprint out of every corner during the descent.

For all we know, Mohoric might have saved himself a bit during the Poggio, only following wheels and pacing himself as good as he could. The acceleration before the top of the Poggio suggests he still had some energy in the tank while other looked gassed (WVA for instance). That's why I disagree with people saying he won only because he took more risks than the others. Risks are only a part of the story, you still need incredible legs to do what he did.

I'm not sure Pogacar will ever win Sanremo, but he will have more chances in the future. He'll have time to adjust to this race and pick some better places to attack. He might have another teammate with him on top of the Poggio and use different tactics. Luck will be crucial too, it always is in Sanremo.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

I think the other thing to remember is that Mojoric is not necessarily going to hang on with the best climbers every year. obviously if he's gapped he can catch back on, but then Mohoric becomes just another opponent racing to line. And then if does another monster descent to get such a gap, the dynamic in the chasing group could go differently.
So I don't it would be worth it for him or the team to waste time and energy trying to make sure he could win in a exact repeat scenario.

Exactly. Now that Mohoric won San Remo, he probably lost and loses this maximum hunger, this obsession, for this race.

Just like Colbrelli, he now discovers what great feeling it is to have won a Monument. Now, Mohoric will want to repeat this, and win other Monuments.

For Pogacar, this could mean that Mohoric is gone as a main rival for San Remo. The race, however, can be such a lottery, so unpredictable, that there will arrive other contenders…

 

[sir fly]

We knew he's got the punch but doesn't quite roll like a Flandrien.
And Kwaremont and Paterberg tend to absorb the punch. Even more so with barriers.

 

[Lequack]

Pidcock teaching Pogacar:
“Seeing him and how he was riding, he doesn’t fully understand where the key points are yet, which is completely understandable. He’s never ridden these races yet,” Pidcock said.

“It shows it’s his first race because the positioning is just as important as the legs. He clearly had good legs. I heard on the radio twice he was coming across the gap. But when you have to position for climb, it’s not necessarily at the bottom, it’s five kilometres before. Ben didn’t have good legs but we were first into Ten Houte, and we took race on - that’s just as important as legs.

“Also, when you have a bunch full of massive guy, you’ve got to get your elbows out a bit, or go under them. Once he gets grasp of that, there’s no reason why won’t be in the front group.”

More:

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tom-pidcock-declares-massive-improvement-ahead-of-tour-of-flanders/

 

[RedheadDane]

“Also, when you have a bunch full of massive guy, you’ve got to get your elbows out a bit, or go under them. Once he gets grasp of that, there’s no reason why won’t be in the front group.”

Guess that would be Pidcock's tactic.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Pidcock teaching Pogacar:
“Seeing him and how he was riding, he doesn’t fully understand where the key points are yet, which is completely understandable. He’s never ridden these races yet,” Pidcock said.

“It shows it’s his first race because the positioning is just as important as the legs. He clearly had good legs. I heard on the radio twice he was coming across the gap. But when you have to position for climb, it’s not necessarily at the bottom, it’s five kilometres before. Ben didn’t have good legs but we were first into Ten Houte, and we took race on - that’s just as important as legs.

“Also, when you have a bunch full of massive guy, you’ve got to get your elbows out a bit, or go under them. Once he gets grasp of that, there’s no reason why won’t be in the front group.”

More:

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tom-pidcock-declares-massive-improvement-ahead-of-tour-of-flanders/

I am glad that Tadej is a nice person.

If Tadej had the character of Lance, then Pidcock now would move to his „black list“: Pidcock would get the hate of Lance for the next 15 years…

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Results this year: 1->1->1->5->10

Pogi's form in terminal decline. Soon he won't be able to win races against kids from my block.
All UAE can hope for is him being good enough to carry bidons for FreeAlmeida at the Giro.

 

[Lequack]

He met with his long time mentor Allan Peiper before the race

 

[lenric]

Results this year: 1->1->1->5->10

Pogi's form in terminal decline. Soon he won't be able to win races against kids from my block.
All UAE can hope for is him being good enough to carry bidons for FreeAlmeida at the Giro.

soon he'll be battling with froome for the lanterne rouge TDF jersey

 

[Sciatic]

soon he'll be battling with froome for the lanterne rouge TDF jersey

I hope not because that would mean they allowed Froome to ride it!

 

[Velolover2]

He is human in hilly races with Van Aert or Van Der Poel in them. They kinda neutralize his attacks because they are just as powerful if not better when it comes to short efforts.

 

[Valv.Piti]

He is human in hilly races with Van Aert or Van Der Poel in them. They kinda neutralize his attacks because they are just as powerful if not better when it comes to short efforts.

Just gotta win these races alá Nibali when they are there. Should be doable since hes a better Nibali in just about every aspect in cycling

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Results this year: 1->1->1->5->10

Pogi's form in terminal decline. Soon he won't be able to win races against kids from my block.
All UAE can hope for is him being good enough to carry bidons for FreeAlmeida at the Giro.

One important piece of info is missing here. Where do you live, more precisely, which kids are living on your block? Do you live in the vicinity of Herentals?

 

[Blanco]

Just gotta win these races alá Nibali when they are there. Should be doable since hes a better Nibali in just about every aspect in cycling

He's stronger than Nibali in almost everything but downhill, I agree, but Nibali was "assassino", he had that killer instinct, he often won despite not being the strongest. That's something I didn't saw with Pogacar, at least yet. He's winning at brute strength, and I'm afraid that won't be enough in these type of races.

 

[SHAD0W93]

He's stronger than Nibali in almost everything but downhill, I agree, but Nibali was "assassino", he had that killer instinct, he often won despite not being the strongest. That's something I didn't saw with Pogacar, at least yet. He's winning at brute strength, and I'm afraid that won't be enough in these type of races.

Yeah, Pogacar doesn’t have to be sneaky about it. He’ll come up to you during the day and rob you while announcing before hand and during he is doing it and there is nothing you can do. While having a dominating rider is boring, I’d love for him to win GTs, week stage races, monuments, and classics like he is showing it can still be done.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He's stronger than Nibali in almost everything but downhill, I agree, but Nibali was "assassino", he had that killer instinct, he often won despite not being the strongest. That's something I didn't saw with Pogacar, at least yet. He's winning at brute strength, and I'm afraid that won't be enough in these type of races.

Yup, that's true. It's not that he needed his killer instinct often, he's usually just too good. Maybe as time goes by he'll develop it for his older years (when he's not that good anymore).

 

[Nick2413]

Yeah, Pogacar doesn’t have to be sneaky about it. He’ll come up to you during the day and rob you while announcing before hand and during he is doing it and there is nothing you can do. While having a dominating rider is boring, I’d love for him to win GTs, week stage races, monuments, and classics like he is showing it can still be done.

I wouldn’t say dominating riders are boring though. Think about the riders everyone gets excited about and talks about the most, they’re all the dominant ones. I do agree that suffocating races can be boring but I still think that’s the minority of races.

 

[Red Rick]

I wouldn’t say dominating riders are boring though. Think about the riders everyone gets excited about and talks about the most, they’re all the dominant ones. I do agree that suffocating races can be boring but I still think that’s the minority of races.

Dominating on occasion is fun.

Dominating every race year in year out is boring as ***.

 

[Extinction]

He is human in hilly races with Van Aert or Van Der Poel in them. They kinda neutralize his attacks because they are just as powerful if not better when it comes to short efforts.

He hasn't focussed on the cobbled races, so we don't know. But in stage races and gts he is on another planet and he can compete with them in the classics (of which he has won Liege and Lombardia). Sunday will be interesting. I expect him to be there or about there and, if he has put Weds's lesson to good use and is at the front in the critical moments, then he has a real chance.

 

[ice&fire]

Dominating on occasion is fun.

Dominating every race year in year out is boring as ***.

I'm sure Pog dominating Flanders would trigger a priceless reaction from grumpy Patrick and all those overrated cobbles specialists. Or maybe there would be a deafening silence... PDBF style. That would be fun

 

[roundabout]

He's stronger than Nibali in almost everything but downhill, I agree, but Nibali was "assassino", he had that killer instinct, he often won despite not being the strongest. That's something I didn't saw with Pogacar, at least yet. He's winning at brute strength, and I'm afraid that won't be enough in these type of races.

Often ?

Maybe it's best suited to another thread, but I am curious as to which races Nibali won despite not being the strongest

Victories for Vincenzo Nibali

Vincenzo Nibali has 54 career victories. The biggest victories were Tour de France in 2014 and Vuelta a España in 2010.

www.procyclingstats.com

I count about 2 with another being arguable due to the nature of the race. And that's about it without getting into the hypothetical rider x crashed out, but would have won otherwise.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Often ?

Maybe it's best suited to another thread, but I am curious as to which races Nibali won despite not being the strongest

Victories for Vincenzo Nibali

Vincenzo Nibali has 54 career victories. The biggest victories were Tour de France in 2014 and Vuelta a España in 2010.

www.procyclingstats.com

I count about 2 with another being arguable due to the nature of the race. And that's about it without getting into the hypothetical rider x crashed out, but would have won otherwise.

Spoiler

incoming 2010 Vuelta, 2014 Tour, and 2016 Giro

 

[Big Doopie]

He's stronger than Nibali in almost everything but downhill, I agree, but Nibali was "assassino", he had that killer instinct, he often won despite not being the strongest. That's something I didn't saw with Pogacar, at least yet. He's winning at brute strength, and I'm afraid that won't be enough in these type of races.

nibali is not even in the same time zone.

Pog is once in generation maybe once in 50-100 years.

Nibali is a guy who won when the best riders of his era were not competing. And an arrogant POS. Maybe he needs to check out Pog’s trophy case…haha!!