Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[jmdirt]

This sort of line could be like the Godwins Law of CN forum

Doesn't Godwin's Rule assume that all internet conversation end up talking about Hitler?

EDIT: or do you mean that all conversations on the CN forum end up talking about either wheelsucker or victory hog?

 

[jmdirt]

Pog has changed trainer and is apparently now doing a lot more strength work. He definitely looks both leaner and toner kind of a change in overall body tone which is pretty common when you start anyone, even elite athletes on a lot more strength work.

I was thinking that he looked a little more 'chiseled' too.

 

[Rob5091]

What did UAE say before the Giro? Control the race and training for the Tour. Seems to be about right at the moment.
What about the allergy/sniffles he has?

 

[Oldermanish]

Limited opportunities for sprinters is a laughable claim. They get far more chances than any other type of rider.

And they're paid to do domestique duty for the GC candidates in a GT. Otherwise they got nothing but one day classics in the Spring and parking lot kermesses.
The fact that GTs seem to have proportionately more aggressive stages (faster) does limit the opportunities for guys that hate anything above a 5% grade. It's the old reality: bike racing is not genetically democratic on all fronts.

 

[Fos]

Doesn’t make sense to lose weight for spring classics but not for a GT. I think he’s leaner and in top form at the moment. You don’t go on altitude to be at your best for Liege, then lose form and build it again for the 3rd week of a GT. I think he’s just in best form for 5-6 weeks straight.

He was in Sierra Nevada and Matxin commented that it was only because Urska was there. So we don't know what kind of high altitude concentration he did, I understand that it was very light, since it was not planned.

 

[Oldermanish]

Like I said prior to the Giro, We must wait for the Tour if we really want to know how good he is. Even his weight looks bigger than other GT's he has done.

Like others have said; he is probably doing more strength work which is helpful for a longer season. IMO he's progressed well to form; took some time off and will hit a first real peak in the last week. He can taper out and start a Tour build and, hopefully, hit his target peak for that last week there.
His challenge, aside from finishing the Giro successfully will be the intensity and risk of early Tour stages. His opposition should try to take advantage of him then if they want to upset his strategy.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He was in Sierra Nevada and Matxin commented that it was only because Urska was there. So we don't know what kind of high altitude concentration he did, I understand that it was very light, since it was not planned.

This. Pogacar wasn't really training at altitude so it is normal that he isn't in peak shape. Maybe he is preserving his optimal weight and his peak level for the Tour. The Tour is very backloaded this year (he needs to be good for 3 weeks) and he will probably be in yellow before stage 14 so he needs to be superb and not fatigued to defend his jersey.

 

[snipeheem]

"For sure it's in the back of my mind," Pogačar said when asked if he was already looking ahead to the Tour. "That's why I'm happy that I now have a bigger gap so I don't need to try and push too much over the limit to take time on the other guys. Now it's more defensive riding and using the team as much as possible to bring me to the finish line.

 

[Peyroteo94]

"For sure it's in the back of my mind," Pogačar said when asked if he was already looking ahead to the Tour. "That's why I'm happy that I now have a bigger gap so I don't need to try and push too much over the limit to take time on the other guys. Now it's more defensive riding and using the team as much as possible to bring me to the finish line.

He is really a unique guy, he could give the obvious answer (just focused in the giro because it is very tough bla bla bla) but he chose to be honest and authentic. We need this type of communication in cycling!

 

[Rob5091]

"For sure it's in the back of my mind," Pogačar said when asked if he was already looking ahead to the Tour. "That's why I'm happy that I now have a bigger gap so I don't need to try and push too much over the limit to take time on the other guys. Now it's more defensive riding and using the team as much as possible to bring me to the finish line.

Bjerg & Laengen are thinking they're going to have a tough couple of weeks. Everyone else must be thinking "lets tire them out!" It will be very interesting to see how it goes with the breakaways.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Pogacar: "Tomorrow (today) we will ride again because we want to see the place. We have raced on beautiful roads, and hopefully I will have a pizza and a capuccino."

Thomas: "We are circus monkeys riding on shitty roads"

Just a different in mindset.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Bjerg & Laengen are thinking they're going to have a tough couple of weeks. Everyone else must be thinking "lets tire them out!" It will be very interesting to see how it goes with the breakaways.

Not really mate. I don't know if they will try to win tomorrow but they will have to work. The next stage they will work is stage 15. Sprint teams will try to win stages 11, 12 (probably a day for the break) and 13, stage 14 is a active rest day for all peloton bar gc riders.

 

[Sciatic]

Pogacar: "Tomorrow (today) we will ride again because we want to see the place. We have raced on beautiful roads, and hopefully I will have a pizza and a capuccino."

Thomas: "We are circus monkeys riding on shitty roads"

Just a different in mindset.

I need to save this for the next time someone here brings up “what do have against/why don’t you like Thomas.” 😉

 

[Valv.Piti]

I need to save this for the next time someone here brings up “what do have against/why don’t you like Thomas.” 😉

Please do! The contrast is just shocking.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Pogacar: "Tomorrow (today) we will ride again because we want to see the place. We have raced on beautiful roads, and hopefully I will have a pizza and a capuccino."

Thomas: "We are circus monkeys riding on shitty roads"

Just a different in mindset.

Even if his watts estimations were "slightly" off Mou was right in one thing: that Pogi would treat the Giro like paid vacation in Italy!

 

[tobydawq]

Even if his watts estimations were "slightly" off Mou was right in one thing: that Pogi would treat the Giro like paid vacation in Italy!

He had one post with a ridiculous watt claim, otherwise the numbers he posted were fairly believable.

 

[Salvarani]

He had one post with a ridiculous watt claim, otherwise the numbers he posted was fairly believable.

The other he has posted about the training, Pog going to Sierra Nevada with Urska etc... has checked out so far as well.

The direction the season would go... is very much on course of what he envisioned would happen.

 

[snipeheem]

The other he has posted about the training, Pog going to Sierra Nevada with Urska etc... has checked out so far as well.

The direction the season would go... is very much on course of what he envisioned would happen.

Also stuff with wellens in strade

 

[Extinction]

Riders weight is a popular topic (see Remco thread), Pog definitely looked leaner at the start of the season (vs early spring in previous years) and now he looks to be close to his standard GT weight (little or no change since March).

According to Davide Cassani he is 1-2 kg lighter

 

[CyclistAbi]

It's rather tricky situation. The idea of Pogi to start focusing on the Tour after first week of Giro and/or to start riding against his character.

Lets see if that is really possible.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It's rather tricky situation. The idea of Pogi to start focusing on the Tour after first week of Giro and/or to start riding against his character.

Lets see if that is really possible.

Of course it is impossible. The only way to lose the Giro is if he crashes out.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Of course it is impossible. The only way to lose the Giro is if he crashes out.

I don't know to be honest, this is cycling we are talking about.

 

[CyclistAbi]

A couple of days back a journalist from one of the Slovenian TV channel missed the conference and around a hour after the event seen Pogi approaching the crew. Pogi obviously already thinking about other things. He stopped at the journalist, joked a bit he is a hour too late and conducted the interview as normal.

A gent.

 

[Valv.Piti]

The other he has posted about the training, Pog going to Sierra Nevada with Urska etc... has checked out so far as well.

The direction the season would go... is very much on course of what he envisioned would happen.

He's still a douche, and what we have seen so far has been pretty much what we expect of Pogacar these days anyways. Lets not give him credit for predicting something which nobody had seen coming

 

[Salvarani]

He's still a douche, and what we have seen so far has been pretty much what we expect of Pogacar these days anyways. Lets not give him credit for predicting something which nobody had seen coming

Don’t remember many others speaking about the possible importance of the new trainer and changes being made. Tests from training.

Things said prior to SB, Catalunya and so on.

Fair dues in my book.