Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Krzysztof_O]

Yeah 4.5 seems the most natural over/under to me, although at the same time it feels ridiculously conservative. He won *** 4 stages in Catalunya.

I've also never seen Pogacar gift anything outside of .1 races to teammates, so it feels like we're finally gonna see how greedy Pog is.

But I guess gifting to the break is different than gifting to a direct competitor when the stage is right there.

After dominating first part of the race (at least 3 stage wins before the first rest day) UAE wont be making big efforts to chase breaks and Pog will be saving himself a bit for the Tour. Maybe Pog will want to win one more big stage in the second half.

 

[Netserk]

After dominating first part of the race (at least 3 stage wins before the first rest day) UAE wont be making big efforts to chase breaks and Pog will be saving himself a bit for the Tour. Probably Pog will want to win one more big stage in the second half.

He will win all stages that are up for grabs if other teams chase the break.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He will win all stages that are up for grabs if other teams chase the break.

Why would other teams chase the break to be smoked by Teddy at the end?

 

[Netserk]

Why would other teams chase the break to be smoked by Teddy at the end?

They are dumb. This is cycling.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

They are dumb. This is cycling.

Nah, I think the Giro will be breaks paradise once Pog wins some stages and builds a comfortable gap

 

[Netserk]

He could end up with only 7 stage wins, but then breaks have to take almost all mountain stages after the first week.

 

[Netserk]

Ineos will try to "tire" Teddy by drilling it all day, but that will just hand him the stage win on a platter.

 

[Fos]

No chance it will be that boring.

I look forward to see how Pogi will perform on both TT, with the current UAE set-up he can actually win both under the right circumstances.

I think he is the favourite in both, unless Ganna reaches the last TT riding every stage before in grupetto.

 

[Red Rick]

They are dumb. This is cycling.

Mandatory "how can you know better than a proc cyclist"

 

[Netserk]

Mandatory "how can you know better than a proc cyclist"

Listen to Thomas for two full sentences, then there can be no doubt.

 

[Red Rick]

Listen to Thomas for two full sentences, then there can be no doubt.

Tried. Couldn't.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Ineos will try to "tire" Teddy by drilling it all day, but that will just hand him the stage win on a platter.

No, they won't. They don't have Vingegaard to beat Pogi in the third week.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Stage 1 by sprint and then stick to G. wheel for the rest of the race.

Sticking to G's wheel sounds like a recipe for getting caught up in crashes.

 

[Cookster15]

If Pogacar builds a comfortable gap early (by Prati di Tivo) he can effectively soft pedal the last two weeks. Makes perfect sense in terms of preserving energy for his attempt on the double.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I can't imagine a Giro where Pogi doesn't have a 4 minute gap after Prati di Tivo. I think he will demolish the TT and Prati di Tivo. Only Ganna will be under a minute in the TT.

 

[hayneplane]

No, they won't. They don't have Vingegaard to beat Pogi in the third week.

They would be doing it essentially for Carlos Rodriguez TDF prospects against a marginally more tired Pogi.

 

[Peyroteo94]

They would be doing it essentially for Carlos Rodriguez TDF prospects against a marginally more tired Pogi.

C'mon, they know Rodriguez is no match against Pogi even with a Giro in his legs. Only Roglic can defeat Pogacar and I have serious doubts about Roglic specially after seeing a sterratto stage where crashes are normal

 

[hayneplane]

C'mon, they know Rodriguez is no match against Pogi even with a Giro in his legs. Only Roglic can defeat Pogacar and I have serious doubts about Roglic specially after seeing a sterratto stage where crashes are normal

Not saying that it is going to make any difference just offering a reason why they might try it.

 

[Tim Cahill]

They would be doing it essentially for Carlos Rodriguez TDF prospects against a marginally more tired Pogi.

Yes a long shot perhaps but they might take some hope from Stage 17 last year, when Rodriguez put 3 minutes into Pogacar due to the cumulative fatigue that had been put into him. When Pogacar is on he's unbeatable, but he does have a complete crack in him.

 

[zekance]

I believe that after the 1st TT the fight for the 2nd place will start. Let's say O'Connor, Lutsenko, Martinez and especially Uijtdebroeks lost time to Thomas, but they feel like they are better in the mountains then him. AG2R, Bora, Astana and especially Visma will want to make the race hard for Thomas.
If Visma doesn't already know Vingegaard's status for the TDF, by then they should. If by any chance he is ready and starts TDF, then I believe they will ride as hard as they can this Giro. If that is the case then Pogačar has a chance to win close to 10 stages.

I'm already picturing Tratnik at the front driving it full gas for Jonas and even more for his friend Primož, dropping Cian in the process. That would really make my day.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Only Roglic can defeat Pogacar and I have serious doubts about Roglic specially after seeing a sterratto stage where crashes are normal

Why would you assume Rogla has better chance at crashing on the "sterrato stage" compared to Pogi? AFAIK both are great bike handlers on such terrain.

 

[Froome]

Why would you assume Rogla has better chance at crashing on the "sterrato stage" compared to Pogi? AFAIK both are great bike handlers on such terrain.

Well, historically Roglic has a better chance at crashing than Pogacar.

 

[Cookster15]

I am beginning to wonder if Rogla’s chances at the Tour are being underestimated?

He will be motivated to avenge 2020.
He will be fresh.
And he will also have a strong team riding for him - including Jai Hindley.

Underestimate Roglic at your peril.

 

[proffate]

I am beginning to wonder if Rogla’s chances at the Tour are being underestimated?

He will be motivated to avenge 2020.
He will be fresh.
And he will also have a strong team riding for him - including Jai Hindley.

Underestimate Roglic at your peril.

who is underestimating him? Surely he's the second favorite at this point

 

[BigCoward]

Shrely with modern technology they could stream the Giro without ever showing Pog and leave him out of the overall standings to make it interesting.

I expect him to aim for 20 total grand tour stages.