Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Ripper]

The comparison is inappropriate, because neither Van der Poel nor Mohoric can even come remotely close to winning the Tour. That is a fact. Merckx, like Hinault, won gts, monuments and worlds. That's the type of beast we are dealing with in the Slovenian. It truly is mind boggling.

It is more than a little bit mind-boggling in our current era of specialization!

 

[Valv.Piti]

He made the race really epic. His second time in a cobbles race... in the De Ronde. What a rider! He races like no other rider with probably the only exception being the guy who won today. Who was very much on defense today. MVDP really had to be as great as he can to win this one and it was a great battle in the end, where tactics and a great acceleration sealed it.

A lot of people seems to view Pog as a villain now, at least on here, and I just find that to be really sad and miserable for them. I like to watch and enjoy greatness when I see it and there were two riders out there today that I hope we will get to see many more times. I dont take nothing for granted.

Indeed, everybody should cherish to see big champions of the classics such as Boonen, Cancellara, Gilbert, Wout and Mathieu when they are at their best. And now Pogacar - you never know what will happen.

 

[Extinction]

It is more than a little bit mind-boggling in our current era of specialization!

Indeed, I'm floored.

 

[Extinction]

He made the race really epic. His second time in a cobbles race... in the De Ronde. What a rider! He races like no other rider with probably the only exception being the guy who won today. Who was very much on defense today. MVDP really had to be as great as he can to win this one and it was a great battle in the end, where tactics and a great acceleration sealed it.

A lot of people seems to view Pog as a villain now, at least on here, and I just find that to be really sad and miserable for them. I like to watch and enjoy greatness when I see it and there were two riders out there today that I hope we will get to see many more times. I dont take nothing for granted.

What you said.

 

[OldCranky]

It is more than a little bit mind-boggling in our current era of specialization!

Like van Aert, the specialist time trialist/climber/sprinter/cross rider? Or more like Pidcock who specialised in winning the Olympic Gold in XC MTB, World Championship in cross, plus winning Brabantse Pijl and second in Amstel Gold on the road in the last 12 months?

 

[Ripper]

Like van Aert, the specialist time trialist/climber/sprinter/cross rider? Or more like Pidcock who specialised in winning the Olympic Gold in XC MTB, World Championship in cross, plus winning Brabantse Pijl and second in Amstel Gold on the road in the last 12 months?

Indeed, like both, but more

 

[Ranagazoo]

I've been a bit worried about this guy Merckxing his way to victory in every race but let's give credit where it's due, Pogacar is an entertainer. First Sanremo and now Flanders it's Tadej who makes all the attacks and looks the strongest but without the victory. Another champion ride today, I can only hope Roglic can give him the fight in the Tour that MVDP gave today.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Pogacar does what no Indurain, Armstrong, Contador or Froome could ever manage to do.

I knew he'd be good in Flanders, but I really doubted whether he could hurt or drop people like Asgreen, Van der Poel, Van Aert. As these are super explosive efforts.
Well, apparently he can. Bar VDP he dropped everyone and even VDP had to do his best RVV ever to be able to keep up.

But in a sprint... yeah, no... he really needs to drop them all. Just to clarify, I know Pogacar is a capable sprinter and after 270km it's not pure sprinting that counts. But I can't see him do a peak of 1400w like those others can. So he will have to drop them all next time. Or simply go to the line with someone not having that capability.

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Now such a weird, crazy finale happened to Tadej for the second time - the first time being the finale of LBL 2020.

After Liege 2020, Tadej came back in 2021 and won. After RVV 2022, I think Tadej will return to Flanders in 2023, and win the next Ronde.

 

[Extinction]

Indeed, like both, but more

You can't bother with off-road, when you can win the Tour.

 

[memyselfandI]

Cadel did, I think he was quite handy in xco too.

 

[Lequack]

Opinion: Tadej Pogacar's podium implosion was unavoidably glorious after enthralling Tour of Flanders

Opinion: Tadej Pogacar's podium implosion was unavoidably glorious after enthralling Tour of Flanders

The cloak of mortality came down over Slovenian sensation Tadej Pogacar on Sunday in the Tour of Flanders – and it was no bad thing.

www.eurosport.co.uk

"If you walk around Naples with a large wallet in your trousers, then you’re going to get pickpocketed. And this is no different to Grand Tour winners moseying around Oudenaarde with their fancy yellow jerseys on display. "

 

[Valv.Piti]

Only read what you just highlighted, but gosh, thats a lot of rubbish (as lots of cycling articles are, often trying so hard to make something simple super fancy).

 

[tobydawq]

Only read what you just highlighted, but gosh, thats a lot of rubbish (as lots of cycling articles are, often trying so hard to make something simple super fancy).

You're not going to tell me that I shouldn't have believed all of Jørgen Leth's race analyses?

 

[Lequack]

Only read what you just highlighted, but gosh, thats a lot of rubbish (as lots of cycling articles are, often trying so hard to make something simple super fancy).

Whole article is a pretty good read though.

 

[hfer07]

Pogacar is indeed a force to be reckoned with & the anomaly that current cycling needed in a era of the "super teams blueprint"

will he do P-R?

 

[topcat]

He lost today but watching him in all these races I think he's the best cyclist I've seen in my life (last 25 years of watching). Obviously I mean overall level, not achievements. We really have to go back to ancient times of Merckx and Coppi to have adequate comparisons.

Valverde.

 

[Extinction]

He previously said resolutely that P-R was not in his plans for the moment. I would not be surprised if today changed that for him personally, but I doubt the team would be so bold given his plans for Liege.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

The comparison is inappropriate, because neither Van der Poel nor Mohoric can even come remotely close to winning the Tour. That is a fact. Merckx, like Hinault, won gts, monuments and worlds. That's the type of beast we are dealing with in the Slovenian. It truly is mind boggling.

Agreed. My post was a sarcastic response to someone saying he would be dominant like Merckx if the "two crossers" weren't around.

 

[Netserk]

You're not going to tell me that I shouldn't have believed all of Jørgen Leth's race analyses?

Did he ever analyse races? I can only remember him narrating them. Either very factual about what he saw, telling an anecdote or talking about himself. I don't recall him interpreting the race situation.

 

[Extinction]

He lost today but watching him in all these races I think he's the best cyclist I've seen in my life (last 25 years of watching). Obviously I mean overall level, not achievements. We really have to go back to ancient times of Merckx and Coppi to have adequate comparisons.

I can't but agree. Either the peleton is weak, but we know that is not the case, or he is doing what nobody has been able to do since Hinault. Not as ancient as Coppi, but given the quality of the athletes today, all the more remarkable.

 

[Extinction]

Agreed. My post was a sarcastic response to someone saying he would be dominant like Merckx if the "two crossers" weren't around.

Billiant sarcasm.

 

[gunara]

It is more than a little bit mind-boggling in our current era of specialization!

That era has been tremendously shaken in the last few years.
Using the 2010s way of defining riders, we can't even tell what kind of rider Pidcock or Madouas exactly are, and Remco after thousands pages

 

[Ripper]

That era has been tremendously shaken in the last few years.
Using the 2010s way of defining riders, we can't even tell what kind of rider Pidcock or Madouas exactly are, and Remco after thousands pages

Agree with exception of Remco. He definitely has not demonstrated the ability to do everything

 

[Extinction]

That era has been tremendously shaken in the last few years.
Using the 2010s way of defining riders, we can't even tell what kind of rider Pidcock or Madouas exactly are, and Remco after thousands pages

You have to go back to the 80s for a reference. Yet since specialization started to creep in from that time forward, the general level grew on the key dates for the various targeted events, which makes it all the more remarkable that someone can come along and be as good across specialties as Tadej is demonstrating.