Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Samu Cuenca]

Possibly not but I would be tempted to as a road captain and for the cobbled stage.

Sure, but I can see them choosing Trentin for that role instead for a couple of reasons

 

[hayneplane]

Sure, but I can see them choosing Trentin for that role instead for a couple of reasons

why not both. I don’t think he could use a 5 man mountain train given it would be more advantageous to attack 6km out rather than 3km or less which would play more to the strengths of Roglic.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

why not both. I don’t think he could use a 5 man mountain train given it would be more advantageous to attack 6km out rather than 3km or less which would play more to the strengths of Roglic.

Well I just doubt his team would be happy with him working for Pogacar.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Pogacar and JV form kinda balance in the peleton.
Imagine the Tour without Pogacar: Primoz and Jonas holding hands at the end of every mountain stage. Not exciting!
Tour without JV? Basically over halfway to Paris (or earlier!).

 

[Landeirovic]

Vegard stake Laengen will do Tour de France

 

[Filippo_3467]

Pogacar is the clear favorite, but I think this Tour is more unpredictable than last years or better said, you first have to come through the first week (which isn't only about pure strenght) and then there are not that many opportunities to but real time into your opponents until Stage 11 & 12. Even then the Pyrenees are way better for a multi mountain raid in my opinion as they have good launch pads without great valleys. Pogacar maybe strong but it's not optimal for him to go against Jumbo with domestiques left even if he's the strongest.

So you loose 2 Minutes in the Roubaix stage because of bad luck and it could take a long time to take it back. Of course the other way around is also possible (or more likely). Pogacar does the Nibali and the race is basically over without a mountain in the legs. I think his squad ist still not very good when it comes to his domestiques. Majka is a very good one. But Formolo won't be there and he was the second best domestique last year for UAE. Likewise no Almeida. Hirschi, McNulty, Soler, Bennett are ok but not first class neither as mountain domestiques nor for the hilly stuff. Langen and Bjerg are ok for their roles, but not the experienced domestiques for the first week. Therfore they need Trentin as a Road Captain in my eyes. Of course the team will be good and last year it was enough by a mile. I just don't understand why a team like UAE misses out on assembling a top notch team for the Tour. Ineos and Jumbo have the better domestiques or "break-in-case-of emergency" GC options. They have the money to get those kond of guys but they are investing in Ackermann, Hodeg and a bunch of guys that are not really Grand Tour material for a GC Team. Taking in Almeida as the second GC Guy is good for 2022 and 2023 (+maybe adjusting to the multiple GC options trend that seems to be a thing right now...) but let's see how that will work out whenthe next wonder boy in Ayuso iscoming around. Would be good TV if they can't sort it out between the 3 leaders...Long story short: they should pick up a couple of versatile domestiques for GTs like van Baarle, Tratnik or Kelderman (I'm thinking Jumbo there as well) for 2023.

 

[Extinction]

Interesting interview of Pogacar in today's la Gazzetta dello Sport. Asked about his Tour prospects, Tadej responded: "Let's see if my 2021 form will be enough. I seem to be better, I have less body fat and I'm more powerful and I also see the psychological factor has improved. It will be useful against Roglic and Vingegaard. Jumbo has taken important steps on the climbs, they are frightful in the mountains. However, I go to the Tour ever with a smile on my face, all the way to Paris."

Translated: "Competition beware."

 

[Krzysztof_O]

"Let's see if my 2021 form will be enough. I seem to be better, I have less body fat and I'm more powerful and I also see the psychological factor as improved. "

This sounds alarming. It's often forgotten but as a 23 yo he still may have some room for improvement

 

[Krzysztof_O]

My previous post doesn't make sense. He couldn't even beat Novak today. Should be Majka's super-domestique in July.

 

[Rackham]

So, no national championships for Pogacar: Tadej Pogacar et Primoz Roglic ne participeront pas au Championnat de Slovénie - L'Équipe (lequipe.fr)

Unless I'm mistaken, that will mean no individual time trial in competition for Pog since March 7th (Tirreno).

It'll be almost 4 months off the TT bike in a race by the start of the Tour. Interesting.

 

[JosefK]

Pog is stronger than in 2021. Yikes.

 

[Eeslliw]

Pog is stronger than in 2021. Yikes.

Dude can't beat washed out Majka, give me a break .

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Pog is stronger than in 2021. Yikes.

Judging by his best ToS performance he was stronger last year. But it's probably misleading due to a different race situation and a very strong teammate. He looked very well today and I don't doubt he'll be super strong at the Tour again.

 

[Tinnekeisabella]

Dude can't beat washed out Majka, give me a break .

Everyone knows rock is a bad choice #amateur

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Actually, this year‘s Tour of Slovenia tells us not much about Tadej‘s shape before the Tour.

We only learned that he is, in hillier stages, a few seconds faster than Tolio, Repa, Double and Conci. But even before ToS, I supposed Tadej could be at least a little bit faster than Tolio, Repa, Double or Conci. So not much new there…

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations for winning Tour of Slovenia for the second time in a row.

 

[Ripper]

Congratulations for winning Tour of Slovenia for the second time in a row.

Sandbagging in Slovenia

 

[CyclistAbi]

Sandbagging in Slovenia

Sparring partner for Majka.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Pogacar not being super explosive in those kinda stages in nothing new, not surprised he couldnt drop Mohoric today since it was an easy stage. Hes not Alaphilippe, actually quite the opposite.

His form looks totally fine. Looked easy (I only saw highlights, but yeah).

 

[Tinnekeisabella]

Does anyone know why Roglic and Pogacar wont be at the national championships? Except Covid reasons?

I read the course is flat but it is in Maribor? Is that not near hill/mountains?

I would think Tadej really would love that slovenian jersey and he seems to attend his annual race in Komenda so covid reasons seem to not be everything?

 

[bajbar]

Does anyone know why Roglic and Pogacar wont be at the national championships? Except Covid reasons?

I read the course is flat but it is in Maribor? Is that not near hill/mountains?

I would think Tadej really would love that slovenian jersey and he seems to attend his annual race in Komenda so covid reasons seem to not be everything?

Roglič barely ever competes in the NCs before the Tour, beacuse it clashes with the altitude camp. Pogačar? Not sure. He did it last year and he will be in Slovenia for the whole week apparently. As to why he won't participate... I guess he cannot be bothered or is afraid of Covid.

 

[del1962]

No so much afraid of covid, but does not want covid to scupper his TDF

 

[Nick2413]

It has to be something else, I don’t have any theories though. Does he normally do nationals?

 

[Lequack]

He doesn't like the UAE national design.

 

[Red Rick]

He doesn't know for sure Rog isn't riding because Rog teleports there if he does