Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[pastronef]

Did they go any different than expected? I don't see how the manner in which they unfolded would make it more likely for him to race Roubaix than beforehand.

probably Gianetti and Matxin said to him: we'll decide after Sanremo

 

[Berniece]

Why couldn't they announce it in December?

Marketing

 

[Netserk]

Maybe Pogi didn't really plan to ride it this year. Then he impulsively chose to accompany Wellens for a full recon of all the Roubaix cobbles and from there, he just wanted to begin riding it this year. Matxin and Gianetti were probably not as welcome to the idea so the discussions began from there.

Someone else from the team said that it was long planned for Pogi to recon the cobbles.

I can't remember where I read it but the UAE director that was with Pogi and Wellens said this recon was planned in December with the 4 riders mentioned. Morgado and Politt couldn't make it for "physical" reasons that day.

 

[tobydawq]

The God King can do no wrong. He is invincible, except for when he is not. And when he is not, everyone else is to blame.

K

 

[Monsi]

Someone else from the team said that it was long planned for Pogi to recon the cobbles.

Oh. If that's the case, then I also have no idea why discussions would take until after MSR.

 

[Netserk]

Marketing

You think the TikTok A-hole wants attention???

 

[Cookster15]

He realized that he shouldn't wait until he's 30 to try and win Roubaix. He's in the best shape of his life so he should try as hard as possible, right now

I don’t understand this, seems irrational. San Remo has hills, Paris-Roubaix doesn’t. He is in the best shape of his life to win grand tours. Not race cobbled races where 10 extra kilos actually helps. I think he will be in better shape for PR by the time he is 30.

If he crashes at PR this year and rules himself out of the Tour that would be a great shame as we miss seeing the rematch of the century with Vingegaard.

 

[theyoungest]

It makes sense for him to ride it. He could win, although he has about as much chance in Roubaix as he does in MSR. One thing he has in his favour: he seems to be able to largely avoid bad luck. When did you ever see him get a flat tire on a decisive moment? That's of course a good quality to have in Roubaix, a race largely decided by luck.

 

[Salvarani]

Maybe Pogi didn't really plan to ride it this year. Then he impulsively chose to accompany Wellens for a full recon of all the Roubaix cobbles and from there, he just wanted to begin riding it this year. Matxin and Gianetti were probably not as welcome to the idea so the discussions began from there.

This.

It probably wasnt in the plans that they made up during the winter, but maybe it is something that has just grown on him that he really wants to try now and not later.

Management probably wanted to stick to orginal plan, which is not strange either.

Looks like they found a compromise. All good.

 

[Salvarani]

It makes sense for him to ride it. He could win, although he has about as much chance in Roubaix as he does in MSR. One thing he has in his favour: he seems to be able to largely avoid bad luck. When did you ever see him get a flat tire on a decisive moment? That's of course a good quality to have in Roubaix, a race largely decided by luck.

He just crashed in SB. And crashed out of LBL a couple of seasons ago. He did crash during the Giro and have done in the Tour as well. He lost time in the crosswind during the 2020 Tour I believe also.

So he has had his fair share.

 

[Savant12]

I don’t understand this, seems irrational. San Remo has hills, Paris-Roubaix doesn’t. He is in the best shape of his life to win grand tours. Not race cobbled races where 10 extra kilos actually helps. I think he will be in better shape for PR by the time he is 30.

If he crashes at PR this year and rules himself out of the Tour that would be a great shame as we miss seeing the rematch of the century with Vingegaard.

He can crash in any race, SB could have been real bad.

He just wants to race PR so why not?

Flanders/PR/LBL would be something to achieve for him.

 

[tobydawq]

I don’t understand this, seems irrational. San Remo has hills, Paris-Roubaix doesn’t. He is in the best shape of his life to win grand tours. Not race cobbled races where 10 extra kilos actually helps. I think he will be in better shape for PR by the time he is 30.

If he crashes at PR this year and rules himself out of the Tour that would be a great shame as we miss seeing the rematch of the century with Vingegaard.

But why would that happen? There are no descents in the race, so real high-speed crashes are unlikely. Is it more injury-sustaining to crash on cobbles than asphalt? I don't think so. How many riders lose their seasons because of crashes in PR? I'd guess fewer than 0.5 per year.

 

[Monsi]

I don’t understand this, seems irrational. San Remo has hills, Paris-Roubaix doesn’t. He is in the best shape of his life to win grand tours. Not race cobbled races where 10 extra kilos actually helps. I think he will be in better shape for PR by the time he is 30.

If he crashes at PR this year and rules himself out of the Tour that would be a great shame as we miss seeing the rematch of the century with Vingegaard.

Pogi is just a born racer. He's stated that he likes riding one-day races more than Grand Tours. He's just gifted that he is able to do both every season. Risk of crashes are high but it is what it is.

 

[Poursuivant]

Happy to see him at PR, but I think no warm up race for RVV might be a mistake.

 

[Miha81]

Not expecting much to be honest but lets se how he copes with hell of the north

 

[Peyroteo94]

Why couldn't they announce it in December?

What is the problem of annoucing later?

 

[Salvarani]

Happy to see him at PR, but I think no warm up race for RVV might be a mistake.

Maybe, but it might be too intense to race 4 or 5 weekends in a row in all these races. Especially, with the character of these races. So might make sense to skip this weekend and I can see him skipping AGR/Fleche later as well.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Happy to see him at PR, but I think no warm up race for RVV might be a mistake.

I agree. E3 would be perfect to prepare RVV.

 

[Didinho]

And now for something completely different!

Dunno why I didn't notice that earlier, but... is this the flattest his hair has hever been?

I saw a picture where he lost his last 3 one day races with the aero helmet. No hair sticking out. Coincidence?

 

[Salvarani]

What is the problem of annoucing later?

Need something to complain about.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It makes sense for him to ride it. He could win, although he has about as much chance in Roubaix as he does in MSR. One thing he has in his favour: he seems to be able to largely avoid bad luck. When did you ever see him get a flat tire on a decisive moment? That's of course a good quality to have in Roubaix, a race largely decided by luck.

Oropa for example.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

If he would have won San Remo, I'm sure there would be less pressure for riding, let alone winning Roubaix.

Others have speculated the opposite: that he wanted all 5 in one season and that PR wasn't worth trying unless he won MSR.

 

[Didinho]

The real reason he had to skip E3 and Wevelgem. Was scheduled to do some work this week.

 

[Netserk]

What is the problem of annoucing later?

Teasing it for months is annoying.

 

[Salvarani]

Teasing it for months is annoying.[deleted content]

Only for you.

It makes perfect sense that it takes some delibration within in the team, when it might not have been the plan going into the season and want to see how the season starts first. Not wanting to commit too early to it or promise too much.