Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

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For me he is a top 5 time triallist in the world. Can't compete with Tarling, Remco and Ganna in a flat course but in a more rolling time trial, he is probably the best. No joke, only Vingegaard can beat him if we are talking about a third week time trial.
It's a very relative subject.

What is being a top 5 time trialist in the world? Is being better on flat time trials? Hilly time trials?
Doing better time trials in Grand Tours, especially in the last week? Or doing top 5 in the worlds championship TT? Doing good in short TT(prologue)?

It's a very relative subject for every rider.

Certainly Pogacar is one of the best time trialists in the last week of a Grand Tour, also one of the best in a hilly TT, but in a world championship TT, Certainly he is not top 5 in the world, and the same to Vingegaard.

Roglic probably is the best time trialist in the world in a short TT, but in a flat TT in a world championships he can't do top 5.
 
Feb 18, 2015
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Honestly kind of a boring Giro from him. Easily winning, being a class and a half above everyone else all the time, but never having completely insane performances.

Today he was really, really good, but realistically in these kind of TTs he's just not the top dog. And when he faces one of those top tier TTers in great shape, like he did today, 2nd is the best he can get. Still, he has almost 4 minutes and already 3 stage wins with 7 stages to go. Realistically this Giro is going really well for him.
 
Mar 20, 2022
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Honestly kind of a boring Giro from him. Easily winning, being a class and a half above everyone else all the time, but never having completely insane performances.

Today he was really, really good, but realistically in these kind of TTs he's just not the top dog. And when he faces one of those top tier TTers in great shape, like he did today, 2nd is the best he can get. Still, he has almost 4 minutes and already 3 stage wins with 7 stages to go. Realistically this Giro is going really well for him.
Honest question. Bar Remco, what gc rider can beat Ganna in this type of TT?
 
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Oct 15, 2017
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Honestly kind of a boring Giro from him. Easily winning, being a class and a half above everyone else all the time, but never having completely insane performances.

Today he was really, really good, but realistically in these kind of TTs he's just not the top dog. And when he faces one of those top tier TTers in great shape, like he did today, 2nd is the best he can get. Still, he has almost 4 minutes and already 3 stage wins with 7 stages to go. Realistically this Giro is going really well for him.
I think that is unfair to call it a "boring" Giro from him.

Especially after the opening weekend, first TT, doing lead-outs, UAE pulling back breaks... then guys were complaining about that and wanting gifts instead. That was what he was doing, which was called "boring" or being too much of a "cannibal".

Now you are saying it is a "boring" Giro from him. Literally cant win over some people because they are gonna complain about anything.

As far as I know... the most difficult and hardest stages is still coming up, so there is still time for a couple of more wins if he wants to... he really doesnt need to. He can ride calculated and defensive, because as you say it is going really well for him. Not "realistically" either... it is facts.
 
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It's a very relative subject.

What is being a top 5 time trialist in the world? Is being better on flat time trials? Hilly time trials?
Doing better time trials in Grand Tours, especially in the last week? Or doing top 5 in the worlds championship TT? Doing good in short TT(prologue)?

It's a very relative subject for every rider.

Certainly Pogacar is one of the best time trialists in the last week of a Grand Tour, also one of the best in a hilly TT, but in a world championship TT, Certainly he is not top 5 in the world, and the same to Vingegaard.

Roglic probably is the best time trialist in the world in a short TT, but in a flat TT in a world championships he can't do top 5.
Both Vingegaard and Pogacar (but specially Pogi because he is the better time triallist, unless we are talking about a third week TT) don't care about world championships. Pogi is normally far from his peak and don't prep for that specific TT. And for that reason, he looks awful and can't be competitive. I'm sure if we have an edition with a winner slower than 51 km/h, I can guarantee that winner is Pogacar (if he is good shape) or he is close to the win at least. In a flat course, he can't compete, simple as that.
 
Feb 18, 2015
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I think that is unfair to call it a "boring" Giro from him.

Especially after the opening weekend, first TT, doing lead-outs, UAE pulling back breaks... then guys were complaining about that and wanting gifts instead. That was what he was doing, which was called "boring" or being too much of a "cannibal".

Now you are saying it is a "boring" Giro from him. Literally cant win over some people because they are gonna complain about anything.

As far as I know... the most difficult and hardest stages is still coming up, so there is still time for a couple of more wins if he wants to... he really doesnt need to. He can ride calculated and defensive, because as you say it is going really well for him. Not "realistically" either... it is facts.
Believe it or not, but the people who would like him to win more might not be the same who complain about him winning. They might in fact not even be haters.
 
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So you think I'm a Pogacar hater?
My comment was in general in my post, I believe, but since you taking it to heart... sure. I didnt call anyone a hater in it either... I said you cant win some people over. I am more so calling out the hypocrisy and flip-flopping of the narrative.
 
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My comment was in general in my post, I believe, but since you taking it to heart... sure. I didnt call anyone a hater in it either... I said you cant win some people over. I am more so calling out the hypocrisy and flip-flopping of the narrative.
If someone who wanted to see Pogacar going thermonuclear from stage 1 says he is actually racing in a more boring manner than hoped, that doesnot indicate a flip flopping narrative. Two people alternatingly expressing opposite opinions does not a show a change of mind by the general public.
 
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No but I think you are overreacting because you are a Pogi fan. For the first time in his career, he has been smart. Tour is the big prize, never forget that. He can win Giro-Tour since Pantani, how legendary is that? He wants to be the GOAT so he is riding very carefully this Giro.
Even if a fan grants all that, I don't see how that contradicts his Giro being "kind of boring", as in neither competitive nor excessively dominant.
 
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If someone who wanted to see Pogacar going thermonuclear from stage 1 says he is actually racing in a more boring manner than hoped, that doesnot indicate a flip flopping narrative. Two people alternatingly expressing opposite opinions does not a show a change of mind by the general public.
You are missing the point completely.

And the general public is not on here, as far as I know. Because the crowds love Pog and the way he races.
 
Jun 30, 2022
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Pogačar should do some big attacks so he can beat RoboBasso‘s winning margin from the 2006 Giro. Maybe he can do a reenactment with G as Bufalo Gutierrez, Martinez as Simoni (I guess) and Tiberi as Il falco.