Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[CyclistAbi]

Last year we sent Rogla and all along some were like why doesn't he attack. That is until he did exactly that and secured one of the most memorable Giro victories in entire Giro history.

So this year we sent Pogi and lets see what potential "problems" could emerge this year.

 

[Froome]

Last year we sent Rogla and all along some were like why doesn't he attack. That is until he did exactly that and secured one of the most memorable Giro victories in entire Giro history.

So this year we sent Pogi and lets see what potential "problems" could emerge this year.

Rogla didn't attacked. What he did in the last TT of the Giro wasn't attack.

 

[TrekCyclist]

theres nothing like him, in the entire peleton

just wonder what attributes are left for Vingegaard then, who smashed Pogi fair and square in two TdF?
Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of Pogi also.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Rogla didn't attacked. What he did in the last TT of the Giro wasn't attack.

I agree that it can't count as a mere attack. It was much, much more than that.

Still it's about Pogi this year and he is looking forward to it, basically ever since he was a young kid. For us Slovenians Tour is No.1 still Giro is and always was close to the heart. Hopefully a good match this year and i am sure that Pogi takes it seriously and doesn't underestimate it like some cycling fans might prior to the start of this edition.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I will personally witness Il Campionissimo beating farmers on the Oropa climb on Sunday!

Is Girardengo coming back from the dead or Coppi?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Is Girardengo coming back from the dead or Coppi?

I'll be like 2-3 km from the finish to witness the modern day Campionissimo from Slovenia.

 

[Berniece]

Last year we sent Rogla and all along some were like why doesn't he attack. That is until he did exactly that and secured one of the most memorable Giro victories in entire Giro history.

So this year we sent Pogi and lets see what potential "problems" could emerge this year.

It was one of the most boring Giro’s we’ve had for a while

 

[topcat]

Blocked and reported.

We disagree frequently but I consider Red Rick a vriend (virtual friend). When I read his posts I nearly always accidentally hit the report button and then I have to cancel it.
I haven't reported anyone since the Sky era and I regret that. These days, I get a few of my vriends to gang up on the offending party and virtually knee-cap them.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Man, stage 4 has everything to be a nightmare. A downhill until the sprint is a treat for big crashes

 

[Lequack]

Team Comfirmed:

POGAČAR Tadej (Slo)
OLIVEIRA Rui (Por)
NOVAK Domen (Slo)
MOLANO Sebastian (Col)
MAIJKA Rafal (Pol)
LANGEN STAKE Vegard (Nor)
GROßSCHARTNER Felix (Aus)
BJERG Mikkel (Den)

 

[hayneplane]

I’m down with some more mou

Might be best to keep him on the bench until Saturday morning so he doesn’t fire up and get another ban before the race has even started

 

[Peyroteo94]

Might be best to keep him on the bench until Saturday morning so he doesn’t fire up and get another ban before the race has even started

how much he will be out? I thought he was banned forever.

 

[Gratemans]

It was one of the most boring Giro’s we’ve had for a while

Exactly. That last TT might have been quite spectacular, but make no mistake. It did in no way shape or form make up for the coma-inducing snoozefest of a Giro we had been watching up until that point.

 

[hayneplane]

how much he will be out? I thought he was banned forever.

No idea

 

[saunaking]

Team Comfirmed:

POGAČAR Tadej (Slo)
OLIVEIRA Rui (Por)
NOVAK Domen (Slo)
MOLANO Sebastian (Col)
MAIJKA Rafal (Pol)
LANGEN STAKE Vegard (Nor)
GROßSCHARTNER Felix (Aus)
BJERG Mikkel (Den)

Seems like the weakest team Teddy has lined up with in a loooooooonng time.

 

[Rob5091]

What's the odds Teddy tries at least once to do a leadout for Molano?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

We’ve already seen at Liege that he isn’t rusty so he might choose not to go hard, but he definitely can go hard

He is in excellent form, smashing Redoute against headwind and easily building large gap afterwards. Crushing rivals in the first 8 days will actually make it less stresful later. Other teams will be forced to chase dangerous guys earlier than UAE and they could let some potentially dangerous riders go instead of chasing everyone (so Pog doesnt have tk go to much into red on some weaker day). Also in this case Pog may not need any big effort in the second part of the race which is good for the Tour

 

[Salvarani]

Seems like the weakest team Teddy has lined up with in a loooooooonng time.

Laengen, Bjerg, Grosschartner and Majka has ridden with Pog quite a lot. All has great experience in GTs.

Novak seems to have upped his level this year. He has been very good in every race so far.

Oliveira is a work-horse.

Molano is tbf a pretty versatile sprinter and can get over some smaller/medium climbs. Won a stage in both 2022 and 2023 in the Vuelta. Would perhaps be harsh to not send him to any GT, if there is a different plan for the Vuelta this year, so Giro made the most sense for him.

 

[Berniece]

He is in excellent form, smashing Redoute against headwind and easily building large gap afterwards. Crushing rivals in the first 8 days will actually make it less stresful later. Other teams will be forced to chase dangerous guys earlier than UAE and they could let some potentially dangerous riders go instead of chasing everyone (so Pog doesnt have tk go to much into red on some weaker day). Also in this case Pog may not need any big effort in the second part of the race which is good for the Tour

Yeah a lot of things could happen

 

[Offline]

Molano is tbf a pretty versatile sprinter and can get over some smaller/medium climbs. Won a stage in both 2022 and 2023 in the Vuelta. Would perhaps be harsh to not send him to any GT, if there is a different plan for the Vuelta this year, so Giro made the most sense for him.

I don't think it make sense bringing Molano.
But I agree, he's versatile and not afraid of working for the team.

 

[Salvarani]

I don't think it make sense bringing Molano.
But I agree, he's versatile and not afraid of working for the team.

I dont think it makes sense either but he has been pretty good in the past couple of seasons and probably deserves to ride one GT this year. Giro seems to have made the most sense of the three this year and as you say he will work for the team.

 

[Breh]

How are they going to fit all of Pogacar, Yates, Sivakov, Mcnulty, Ayuso, Almeida, Wellens, Vine, Soler and some rouleurs in their TdF team?

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think they could bring another mountain helper. Fisher Black, Del Toro, McNulty. One of these guys would be important in the high mountains. Del Toro could ride without pressure and just needed to be strong in the last week. A perfect time and way to ride his first GT. The other two, I think they won't do any GT this year, why not the Giro?

 

[Peyroteo94]

How are they going to fit all of Pogacar, Yates, Sivakov, Mcnulty, Ayuso, Almeida, Wellens, Vine, Soler and some rouleurs in their TdF team?

Vine and McNulty will not start the Tour. Wellens is very important in hilly terrain.

 

[Netserk]

I think they could bring another mountain helper. Fisher Black, Del Toro, McNulty. One of these guys would be important in the high mountains. Del Toro could ride without pressure and just needed to be strong in the last week. A perfect time and way to ride his first GT. The other two, I think they won't do any GT this year, why not the Giro?

Vine was planned to go before his crash.

McNulty has had a long spring, as he isn't down for any GT. So I don't think they could pivot to have him replace Vine.

While only Majka can remain in a ~10 rider group, I think Novak, Grossschartner and Bjerg will all be solid (on the mostly mid climbs of this Giro) and provide enough width to rotate their workload. Pogi will likely only be left with just Majka before the last climb on Grappa.