Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Cookster15]

Vingo is a single peak rider so he’ll fade in the Vuelta compared to pogi. He’s only riding the vuelta to retain base

Not sure we can think this after what we saw in 2023? In 2023 Vingegaard beat Pog by 7 minutes at the Tour then looked ominously good backing up at the Vuelta.

It seemed to me Vingegaard could have won last year’s Vuelta if not riding to team orders in support of Seth Kuss.

 

[2WpK]

WC starts 2 weeks after end of Vuelta. Tour-Vuelta-WC would be madness, even for the GOAT.

 

[YavorD]

Yes, it is easy to be good in Vuelta after the Tour. Dude was in his home country playing with his daughter

That's my point. So many riders have done good in the Vuelta after the Tour that I don't believe Vingegaard is worse than them.
I think people over here just massively underrate Vingegaard.

 

[hayneplane]

Next year, he can win in Montreal again or in 2027. So I don't understand your desire to see him out of the Vuelta.

The worlds courses for 25,26 and 27 are likely highly favourable so he has a few great chances to combine with Vuelta as well. Maybe one year could go Giro/Vuelta/Worlds

 

[YavorD]

We just said he wont decide until after the Tour... so he doesnt have to say anything atm.

If he has good spring, wins Dauphine and Tour. I dont think he will do Vuelta. He will take a break and go for Worlds + Lombardia as his fall targets.

If he says he's doing the Vuelta he'll go to the Vuelta unless the battle with Vingegaard is hard.
If he destroys Vingegaard in the Tour (as many people here seem to assume), that Vuelta route is so soft that he can win it even on 90%.

Unless he wins San Remo I don't think anything else will be satisfying enough to make him miss the Vuelta (if he is really much better than Vingegaard).
Yes, I too believe that he'll skip it if he has trouble with Vingegaard

 

[SHAD0W93]

Not sure we can think this after what we saw in 2023? In 2023 Vingegaard beat Pog by 7 minutes at the Tour then looked ominously good backing up at the Vuelta.

It seemed to me Vingegaard could have won last year’s Vuelta if not riding to team orders in support of Seth Kuss.

If Vingegaard and Roglic were on different teams it’d have been a close battle but I think Roglic would have gotten enough time during the first week to win.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I don’t doubt. In 2025 Pogacar won’t have the Giro in his legs.

There is zero doubts in my mind, Pogacar will be better in 2025. But I also think Jonas will improve massively

 

[Peyroteo94]

WC starts 2 weeks after end of Vuelta. Tour-Vuelta-WC would be madness, even for the GOAT.

2 weeks is perfect. It would be worse if it was 4 weeks later.

 

[scribers]

4 weeks is better than two depending on the previous load

 

[Salvarani]

If he says he's doing the Vuelta he'll go to the Vuelta unless the battle with Vingegaard is hard.
If he destroys Vingegaard in the Tour (as many people here seem to assume), that Vuelta route is so soft that he can win it even on 90%.

Unless he wins San Remo I don't think anything else will be satisfying enough to make him miss the Vuelta (if he is really much better than Vingegaard).
Yes, I too believe that he'll skip it if he has trouble with Vingegaard

I am not saying he will skip it if he has trouble with Vinge, so you have also missed the point.

It is about managing himself and other targets during the season. It really has nothing to do with Vinge, just about himself and how his season goes.

Like I said, just what I think, if he has a good spring and wins both Dauphine x Tour. He might just want to take a break in August, as he has done in the past. He doesnt really "need" the Vuelta to have a great season if he has won a lot of races before it, give everyone else a chance to win something. Including his teammates. Go all in for Worlds, on a route that suits him, and another Lombardia instead.

But if he has to abandon the Tour or something else happens. He might go for the Vuelta.

Or he still might just go for it. I dont know. I am just saying what I think is best and making my own prediction, based on if everything goes to plan with the main targets. They surely know best and what is the smartest.

Hence no real decision from him and the team yet. They will see. Because nobody knows how the season and races will turn out yet.

 

[Salvarani]

WC starts 2 weeks after end of Vuelta. Tour-Vuelta-WC would be madness, even for the GOAT.

If he has had a fantastic season with big wins in the spring + Dauphine + Tour... I think he will not do Vuelta.

He will take a break in August and try to win Worlds + Lombardia.

Plans can change though and the season is long. A lot can happen. Hence no real decision until the end of the Tour, most likely.

 

[Peyroteo94]

4 weeks is better than two depending on the previous load

It is not. Specially after a huge period of racing.

 

[Peyroteo94]

If he has had a fantastic season with big wins in the spring + Dauphine + Tour... I think he will not do Vuelta.

He will take a break in August and try to win Worlds + Lombardia.

Plans can change though and the season is long. A lot can happen. Hence no real decision until the end of the Tour, most likely.

I get your point however this Vuelta route is very soft and very tempting to Pogacar.

 

[Monsi]

I still firmly believe that they will announce that Pogacar does the Vuelta but they will make a final decision after the Tour.

If Vingegaard does the Giro-Tour, then Pogacar should just go for the Vuelta because none of the other Big 4 will be there and with the soft Vuelta route, he could just cruise to the victory while still possibly preserving himself for the Worlds.

 

[Salvarani]

I get your point however this Vuelta route is very soft and very tempting to Pogacar.

The route doesnt really matter, when the decision if he will go wont hinge on that.

It will hinge on the amount of success he has had in the season up until that point and how he feeling physically/mentally after the Tour. No way on knowing that right now, hence the Vuelta is not a priority and only "we will see". A maybe. No further commitment will be made on that for now. At least not publicly. It might be his ambition but it is smarter to hold the cards close to his chest regarding it. Not "promise" too much, when he doesnt need to.

I said what I think is best. Depending of different things happening or not happening.

 

[Peyroteo94]

The route doesnt really matter, when the decision if he will go wont hinge on that.

It will hinge on the amount of success he has had in the season and how he feeling physically/mentally after the Tour. No way on knowing that right now, hence the Vuelta is not a priority and only "we will see". A maybe. No further commitment will be made on that for now. At least not publicly. It might be his ambition but it is smarter to hold the cards close to his chest regarding it. Not "promise" too much, when he doesnt need to.

I said what I think is best. Depending of different things happening or not happening.

Yes, it does. A hard Vuelta could hurt his chances badly in Kigali and I think he wouldn't race the Vuelta (specially if he wins the Tour) but with this course, he can just do a training block for 3 weeks, just like 2024 Giro.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I still firmly believe that they will announce that Pogacar does the Vuelta but they will make a final decision after the Tour.

If Vingegaard does the Giro-Tour, then Pogacar should just go for the Vuelta because none of the other Big 4 will be there and with the soft Vuelta route, he could just cruise to the victory while still possibly preserving himself for the Worlds.

This is my opinion too. I still think Vingegaard will not race the Vuelta and he will target only Kigali after the Tour.

 

[Salvarani]

Yes, it does. A hard Vuelta could hurt his chances badly in Kigali and I think he wouldn't race the Vuelta (specially if he wins the Tour) but with this course, he can just do a training block for 3 weeks, just like 2024 Giro.

I disagree on that.

He is not doing a "training block" after the main objective. The other way around works much better.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I disagree on that.

He is not doing a "training block" after the main objective. The other way around works much better.

Of course he can do. Rest 8-10 days after the Tour and then use Vuelta as a training block. Without Roglic, Remco and probably Vingegaard, he can win the Vuelta at 85-90% (easily). He already showed that in the Giro. Vuelta is even easier to control, every stage is flat with a climb in the end. He will suffer more from detraining than tiredness.

 

[Salvarani]

Of course he can do. Rest 8-10 days after the Tour and then use Vuelta as a training block. Without Roglic, Remco and probably Vingegaard, he can win the Vuelta at 85-90% (easily). He already showed that in the Giro. Vuelta is even easier to control, every stage is flat with a climb in the end. He will suffer more from detraining than tiredness.

I disagree.

After racing classics, Dauphine + Tour.... I think he will take a rest. If it goes to plan.

Then do his usual preparation to win another Worlds, when it is a course that really suits him, and then Lombardia.

As I also said, I dont know. He might do it. I dont really care.

But for the reasons quoted, I cant agree.

 

[Tymek]

I am not assuming. He will decide after the Tour. My prediction is he wont, if everything goes to plan before.

Giro is pretty much out of the picture I think.

UAE officials literally said to cyclingnews that they will decide on Giro presentation day or even earlier so I think he will go to Vuelta.
Tour imo has nothing to do with it.

 

[Salvarani]

UAE officials literally said to cyclingnews that they will decide on Giro presentation day or even earlier so I think he will go to Vuelta.
Tour imo has nothing to do with it.

Ok

 

[Tymek]

Tour and then use Vuelta as a training block. Without Roglic, Remco and probably Vingegaard, he can win the Vuelta at 85-90%

Exactly. Roglič is doing Giro - Tour, Remco probably only Tour as result of crash and Vingegaard Giro - Tour or only Tour. I doubt that he wants ride two GT against Pog.
We can all agree that without any crash Pogi is big favorite of Vuelta, also Almeida is going to be in the team. Why Almeida is so important, you can ask. He said in interview that he is happy to helping Pogačar.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I disagree.

After racing classics, Dauphine + Tour.... I think he will take a rest. If it goes to plan.

Then do his usual preparation to win another Worlds, when it is a course that really suits him, and then Lombardia.

As I also said, I dont know. He might do it. I dont really care.

But for the reasons quoted, I cant agree.

There is also EC, one week after Kigali. Next year is tailormade for him, let's see if he will attend.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Exactly. Roglič is doing Giro - Tour, Remco probably only Tour as result of crash and Vingegaard Giro - Tour or only Tour. I doubt that he wants ride two GT against Pog.

Vuelta is also a joke. One of the worse and lighter Vueltas I have ever seen.