Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Froome]

Exactly, he should wheel suck and only attack in the last few kms and from long range on the gravel. His best stage was the Tourmalet stage finishing at Cauterets-Cambasque where Jumbo blew the race to pieces early and then Pogi wheel sucked Vingegaard until it became clear that he was stronger then he attacked. Pogi should try and replicate this

That strategy work when the opponent is worst than the "wheelsucker" in the TT.

 

[Extinction]

Wheelsucking is preserving strength. You can't accuse any rider if he preferes to save himself rather than burn his matches prematurely just with the goal of you and other viewers to have a dopamine kick.


Nonsense. Every rider can ride for himself but why should he be burnt that way until the right moment comes, if it comes at all? Wheelsucking, feigning tiredness, race reading, body reading, attacking, conserving your energy are all skills in a sport that is based on managing efforts along a race or various days.

The fact that everyone wheelsucks is why many races are won when an attacker escapes a large group and group dynamics fail in the pursuit. While everyone knows that he can be brought up in terms of sheer strenght, the rider won't likely be caught because someone has to do the work (unless he is MVDP) while other would wheelsuck his lifeforce and would likely benefit in the end, leaving him without any profit.

Got it, bro, so wheelsucking doesn't exist, no rider has ever been a wheelsucker, the very idea of which is utterly rediculous, because so-called wheelsucking is only ever tactical nous, etc., etc. But you know what? That's bulllllssssshit. There is a difference between being tactically astute and flagrant wheelsucking, and it has always been so. To say otherwise is merely idiotic.

 

[Berniece]

Nevertheless, I for one have been stating again and again how a rider being boring or not is not up to his choice, so he can't really be praised about that. Do you think Pogacar attacks just because he wants? Or is that he attacks first and foremost because he can attack? Everyone rider would like to be more attacking but as they age, they learn to read when they should in fact do it.

Yes, but there are also riders that can attack or take turns in the front, but still don't. Tactically you don't have to, but don't be surprised that you are called a wheelsucker of boring rider then.

 

[Extinction]

Yes, but there are also riders that can attack or take turns in the front, but still don't. Tactically you don't have to, but don't be surprised that you are called a wheelsucker of boring rider then.

Exactly

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Maybe the LBL crash and lost time on the bike caught up with his recovery? We know he went super deep on the TT. Next day he appeared completely empty. Maybe that won’t happen again? I am just trying to be optimistic as cycling doesn’t always pan out as expected.

Yup, his preparation was shortened and maybe his aerobic base wasn't enough. This would partially explain his big loses in the 3rd week (the other part of the explanation is TT of the century by Vingo). I think it could've been much closer in the 3rd week without Liege crash but OTOH Vingo looked almost unbeatable anyway.

 

[Elos Anjos]

Exactly

Yes, but there are also riders that can attack or take turns in the front, but still don't. Tactically you don't have to, but don't be surprised that you are called a wheelsucker of boring rider then.

No one wins a GT just by wheelsucking but one can loose a GT for not wheelsucking at the right times.

 

[Berniece]

No one wins a GT just by wheelsucking but one can loose a GT for not wheelsucking at the right times.

You can definitely win a GT by wheelsucking. I've seen enough riders win a 1-week stage race by wheelsucking, so don't know why this can't be applied to a GT.

 

[Froome]

You can definitely win a GT by wheelsucking. I've seen enough riders win a 1-week stage race by wheelsucking, so don't know why this can't be applied to a GT.

Vuelta Catalunya 2023.

 

[Berniece]

Vuelta Catalunya 2023.

I didn't want to be too obvious by naming it, but indeed

 

[Elos Anjos]

Ah yes, Roglic, the itch that can't be scratched. Wheelsucking is the scape goat for ressentful fans.

 

[Extinction]

No one wins a GT just by wheelsucking but one can loose a GT for not wheelsucking at the right times.

Well, this, I agree with. However, if a rider is known to shy from taking his turn in a break often, he gets a reputation as a wheelsucker and, when possibile, others will not work with him.

 

[Froome]

Well, this, I agree with. However, if a rider is known to shy from taking his turn in a break often, he gets a reputation as a wheelsucker and, when possibile, others will not work with him.

Rui costa.

 

[CyclistAbi]

So now Pogi is a wheelsucker. You got to love the cycling fans. Had to deal with the same *** in Rogličes thread.

 

[Froome]

So now Pogi is a wheelsucker. You got to love the cycling fans. Had to deal with the same *** in Rogličes thread.

Nobody said that.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Nobody said that.

You are not a proper stage racer until you master the art of wheelsucking.

 

[Froome]

You are not a proper stage racer until you master the art of wheelsucking.

When you master the art of wheelsucking and you don't attack to increase the advantage, things like stage 20 of the Tour 2020 happen.

 

[Berniece]

You are not a proper stage racer until you master the art of wheelsucking.

Which was said by a Roglic fan, to say it's OK to wheelsuck.

 

[CyclistAbi]

When you master the art of wheelsucking and you don't attack to increase the advantage, things like stage 20 of the Tour 2020 happen.

A honest mistake, rectified at Giro 2023. And at Tour 2020, while we are at it, Pogi wheelsucked.

 

[Elos Anjos]

The discussion level has been lowering since some pages ago. By the usual suspects.

It's always the same spin. It's always so tiring. Like "Roglic lost the 2020 Tour" and never "Pogacar won the 2020 Tour".

If not for his Dauphine crash Roglic would likely fare better in the PDBF time trial.

https://granfondoguide.com/Contents/PopUp/5646/favorite-primoz-roglic-confirms-tour-de-france-start-after-dauphine-crash

 

[Elos Anjos]

Which was said by a Roglic fan, to say it's OK to wheelsuck.

You were starting to understand it, but now you got thrown back to the same mindless mantra of "wheelsuck is bad mkay".

Everyone wheelsucks.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Which was said by a Roglic fan, to say it's OK to wheelsuck.

There for sure are reason, on why Rogla is the best stage racer of the current generation. But no, it's general knowledge, regarding wheelsucking. On how that can be beneficial to increasing ones chances.

 

[Elos Anjos]

I'm pretty sure Rui Costa would trade a good share of his victories thanks to the tactical acumen of wheelsucking at the right and at the right location for being some anonymous WT rider and not being called a wheelsucker.

 

[Froome]

A honest mistake, rectified at Giro 2023. And at Tour 2020, while we are at it, Pogi wheelsucked.

I think pogi attacked on peyresourde and marie blanque at least. On col de la loze and glieres he was in trouble, he couldn't attack.

 

[Froome]

There for sure are reason, on why Rogla is the best stage racer of the current generation. But no, it's general knowledge, regarding wheelsucking. On how that can be beneficial to increasing ones chances.

Who are the riders of the current generation you consider?

 

[CyclistAbi]

I think pogi attacked on peyresourde and marie blanque at least. On col de la loze and glieres he was in trouble, he couldn't attack.

Just as Roglič often attacks when racing, usually at least once per race he wins. Then some even take out the tape measure, to argue about length.

Who are the riders of the current generation you consider?

All.