Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Krzysztof_O]

It looked like a friendly match. They chatted and also Pogacar and UAE supplied Mezgec with drinks/food. Pog pushed harder only 1 km from the line. He didn't want to ride in the peleton and also didn't have any strong attack (both to reduce the wrist risk maybe?). His weight is reduced with ribs clearly visible on his back - time for the Tour battle!

 

[pelotonIQ]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1673015725483515904

View: https://twitter.com/duledoz/status/1673015725483515904?s=20

Looks skinny, shedded his winter coat.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

UAE has been rumoured to forgo a NC jersey and just slap a sticker on his ass.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

UAE has been rumoured to forgo a NC jersey and just slap a sticker on his ass.

Once he wins a stage, he‘ll be allowed to add a W.
Nobody will be permitted to follow his wheel afterwards.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He looks thinner than ever. This is the reason he will win the Tour. 1 kilo lighter and no more baby fat

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Dude, he had a wrist injury. He couldn't eat for 3 months, no wonder he's so skinny.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He looks thinner than ever. This is the reason he will win the Tour. 1 kilo lighter and no more baby fat

The battle of skeletors in upon us.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Dude, he had a wrist injury. He couldn't eat for 3 months, no wonder he's so skinny.

Move aside ketones, we have ng feeding now.

 

[Mayomaniac]

He looks thinner than ever. This is the reason he will win the Tour. 1 kilo lighter and no more baby fat

He was already lighter than last year's Tour weight at the start of the season in Andalucia, before he focussed on the classics (64-65kg), so being skinnier than last year for the Tour was probably always the plan.

 

[Cookster15]

Promising. I hope this new leaner Pog is making Vingegaard and Jumbo Visma nervous. We also read recently he was training at high altitude so maybe hope this weakness is repaired before Col de la Loze.

 

[Boehmand]

Wellens confirmed out of the Tour, which is a blow to Pog and UAE.

 

[Andy schleck]

Promising. I hope this new leaner Pog is making Vingegaard and Jumbo Visma nervous. We also read recently he was training at high altitude so maybe hope this weakness is repaired before Col de la Loze.

Every year he trains in high altitude.

 

[Cookster15]

Every year he trains in high altitude.

Sure, like all GC contenders, but does he always train at over 3,000 metres? Because this is what I recall reading?

And regardless of his abilities over 2,000 metres, he has trimmed down. So there are a few more watts per kilo right there. Then consider he is still only 24 and I don’t know any 24 year olds who are in physiological decline?

The thing which still counts against Pog is the aftermath of his LBL crash - loss of time on the bike and possible weakness in his wrist. But in every other way he is potentially better than he was in July 2022. This must surely seed some doubts in the minds of Jumbo? Watching the Netflix documentary, it was also obvious that JV feared Pog. I would suggest that respect hasn’t lessened simply because their plan worked last year. You also can’t deny that Pogacar played into their hands on Granon so this cannot be assumed to replicate even on the one mountain this year which suits Vingegaard.

Anyway, this is my opinion based upon facts, logic and reason. Let’s see what happens, his greatest challenge might be avoiding crashes on the first half of the Tour but that is also a challenge for your boy.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Sure, like all GC contenders, but does he always train at over 3,000 metres? Because this is what I recall reading?

And regardless of his abilities over 2,000 metres, he has trimmed down. So there are a few more watts per kilo right there. Then consider he is still only 24 and I don’t know any 24 year olds who are in physiological decline?

The thing which still counts against Pog is the aftermath of his LBL crash - loss of time on the bike and possible weakness in his wrist. But in every other way he is potentially better than he was in July 2022. This must surely seed some doubts in the minds of Jumbo? Watching the Netflix documentary, it was also obvious that JV feared Pog. I would suggest that respect hasn’t lessened simply because their plan worked last year. You also can’t deny that Pogacar played into their hands on Granon so this cannot be assumed to replicate even on the one mountain this year which suits Vingegaard.

Anyway, this is my opinion based upon facts, logic and reason. Let’s see what happens, his greatest challenge might be avoiding crashes on the first half of the Tour but that is also a challenge for your boy.

We will see. One episode above 3000 m is not much. I think it's more about long and difficult climbs than about altitude itself. If Pog is lighter than previously it's a big factor that will make him better on most difficult climbs and stages. The Slovenian ITT championship was promising regarding his form. Hopefully his wrist holds up and we should have a battle to remember (and afterwards the Skeletor will get back to winning fishing trophies).

 

[Monsi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1673258337801043968

View: https://twitter.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1673258337801043968


UAE finally revealed their TDF line up and thankfully, they put Trentin in there. Looks like a real strong lineup.

 

[Earns1985]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1673258337801043968

View: https://twitter.com/TeamEmiratesUAE/status/1673258337801043968


UAE finally revealed their TDF line up and thankfully, they put Trentin in there. Looks like a real strong lineup.

Important will be in which form Majka and Soler will be.

If they are not in form, Pogacar will quickly only have Yates with him in the high mountains..

 

[Elos Anjos]

Soler will attack every stage or go in the break, because he is Soler.

 

[Landeirovic]

Important will be in which form Majka and Soler will be.

If they are not in form, Pogacar will quickly only have Yates with him in the high mountains..

Majka is hole year in great shape.

 

[Netserk]

Pogi	Vingegaard
Yates	Kuss
Majka	Kelderman
Soler	Van Aert
Grossschartner	Benoot
Bjerg	Van Baarle
Trentin	Van Hooydonck
Laengen	Laporte

I thought UAE would have more of an edge uphill this year, but the two teams look quite evenly matched, but Kuss after the Giro is a bit more uncertain though.

 

[Jan the Man]

Important will be in which form Majka and Soler will be.

If they are not in form, Pogacar will quickly only have Yates with him in the high mountains..

Großschatner looks in great shape though. I am sure Majka will be fine. Soler is an enigma, but capable of some amazing rides.

 

[Peyroteo94]

If Yates is good (and he seems to be in the best shape of his life), Pogacar doesn't need to worry about being alone in the mountains.
Very good decision to leave Novak at home. They don't come close to the power jumbo brings in flat stages with WVA, Laporte, hooydonk, van baarle, etc but it still is a great team to protect Pogacar.

 

[Roku]

Soler is either hit or miss. He will have his usual two off days when he will climb with the grupetto and other days when he will drop (almost) everyone not named Pogi or Vingo.

 

[YavorD]

Important will be in which form Majka and Soler will be.

If they are not in form, Pogacar will quickly only have Yates with him in the high mountains..

Well, Vingo only has Kelderman and Kuss for the high mountains, so we may see a fun situation where the best riders are isolated early.

 

[Andy schleck]

I

Sure, like all GC contenders, but does he always train at over 3,000 metres? Because this is what I recall reading?

And regardless of his abilities over 2,000 metres, he has trimmed down. So there are a few more watts per kilo right there. Then consider he is still only 24 and I don’t know any 24 year olds who are in physiological decline?

The thing which still counts against Pog is the aftermath of his LBL crash - loss of time on the bike and possible weakness in his wrist. But in every other way he is potentially better than he was in July 2022. This must surely seed some doubts in the minds of Jumbo? Watching the Netflix documentary, it was also obvious that JV feared Pog. I would suggest that respect hasn’t lessened simply because their plan worked last year. You also can’t deny that Pogacar played into their hands on Granon so this cannot be assumed to replicate even on the one mountain this year which suits Vingegaard.

Anyway, this is my opinion based upon facts, logic and reason. Let’s see what happens, his greatest challenge might be avoiding crashes on the first half of the Tour but that is also a challenge for your boy.

It was just one episode above 3000m. He already did that in the preparation for the past tours.
Maybe he improved on long climbs, if he is more lighter.

 

[Andy schleck]

Dude, he had a wrist injury. He couldn't eat for 3 months, no wonder he's so skinny.

He could eat other things at home.