Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[jono]

He said he is not riding Strade anymore because now it's too hard for him.

So imho he is hiding from these races because he knows he has no chance whatsoever.

I'm not sure I understand your point. Why should he ride the races then if he has no chance whatsoever? Is Primoz Roglic hiding when he doesn't ride Roubaix?

 

[scribers]

Yes, but there is no sense for Pogi to line up for P-R, MSR.

But he does it anyway. Even those Worlds not suited for him, he lines up as well.

Look, VDP is a Strade winner, and he just is too afraid to ride it nowadays.

At the end of the day, even people saying VDP is the best classics rider of this era, I know that Pogi will have more monuments and palmares than him when all is said and done. And this brings me peace.

Pogi will win P-R and MSR. To the rest of your ideas I can only offer MVP has acknowledged Pogi is the greatest rider of all time. Even if he can beat pogi with some frequency on terrain ideal for mvps qualities.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yes, but there is no sense for Pogi to line up for P-R, MSR.

But he does it anyway. Even those Worlds not suited for him, he lines up as well.

Look, VDP is a Strade winner, and he just is too afraid to ride it nowadays.

At the end of the day, even people saying VDP is the best classics rider of this era, I know that Pogi will have more monuments and palmares than him when all is said and done. And this brings me peace.

Only a fool can say MVP is the best classics rider of this era (despite being one of the best ever).

 

[JoãoRamos]

I'm not sure I understand your point. Why should he ride the races then if he has no chance whatsoever? Is Primoz Roglic hiding when he doesn't ride Roubaix?

He is not the best classics rider of his era?

He should be riding all the monuments + Strade (which he won in the past).

 

[Berniece]

Only a fool can say MVP is the best classics rider of this era (despite being one of the best ever).

Not really.

 

[jono]

He is not the best classics rider of his era?

He should be riding all the monuments + Strade (which he won in the past).

If he is one of the greatest classics riders of his era, he should continue to do whatever he has been doing to get to that point.

What does MVDP have to gain, or to prove, by finishing 25th in Lombardia or 8th in Liege or something like that?

 

[JoãoRamos]

Only a fool can say MVP is the best classics rider of this era (despite being one of the best ever).

You see? There are people who believes in this.

So, that's why I have my argument: if you are the best classics rider of your era, you should be riding ALL the monuments + Strade.

No excuses.

 

[JoãoRamos]

If he is one of the greatest classics riders of his era, he should continue to do whatever he has been doing to get to that point.

What does MVDP have to gain, or to prove, by finishing 25th in Lombardia or 8th in Liege or something like that?

Pogacar has nothing to prove as well, lining up for MSR, which is very very difficult for him.

But my point is: if you are the best classics rider of your generation, you must at least try. Pogi is trying. How about VDP?

 

[jono]

Pogacar has nothing to prove as well, lining up for MSR, which is very very difficult for him.

But my point is: if you are the best classics rider of your generation, you must at least try. Pogi is trying. How about VDP?

Which are you arguing? That Pogi is a better classics rider than MVDP? I'm about as big a van der Poel diehard as you'll find here, but I'd have a hard time mounting a convincing argument against Pogi. MVDP is obviously a great classics rider, but I just don't see why his greatness is diminished by not lining up up for races he has no chance of winning.

MSR for Pogacar is a poor analogy for Liege/Lombardia for van der Poel. Sure, MVDP podiumed Liege last year but he was minutest behind and if Pogacar didn't take part he probably doesn't even top 10. He finished top 10 at COVID Lombardia but on the current course is unlikely ever to match that against a proper field. Pogacar has finished on the podium or in the front group of MSR several times. P-R remains to be seen if he has a realistic chance of winning, and I give him kudos for being willing to try.

 

[Salvarani]

You see? There are people who believes in this.

So, that's why I have my argument: if you are the best classics rider of your era, you should be riding ALL the monuments + Strade.

No excuses.

Absolutely this.

 

[Peyroteo94]

You see? There are people who believes in this.

So, that's why I have my argument: if you are the best classics rider of your era, you should be riding ALL the monuments + Strade.

No excuses.

MVP can't compete in LBL or GdL. He got a third but I can say 10 names who were better than him in LBL.
He is the best rider when we talk about the period between MSR and PR. Pogacar is his biggest rival during this period even if these races don't suit him very well. Aside this period, Pogacar is a king without rivals.

 

[scribers]

Only a fool can say MVP is the best classics rider of this era (despite being one of the best ever).

Let’s see what happens next weekend. That will be very revealing

 

[JoãoRamos]

Which are you arguing? That Pogi is a better classics rider than MVDP? I'm about as big a van der Poel diehard as you'll find here, but I'd have a hard time mounting a convincing argument against Pogi. MVDP is obviously a great classics rider, but I just don't see why his greatness is diminished by not lining up up for races he has no chance of winning.

MSR for Pogacar is a poor analogy for Liege/Lombardia for van der Poel. Sure, MVDP podiumed Liege last year but he was minutest behind and if Pogacar didn't take part he probably doesn't even top 10. He finished top 10 at COVID Lombardia but on the current course is unlikely ever to match that against a proper field. Pogacar has finished on the podium or in the front group of MSR several times. P-R remains to be seen if he has a realistic chance of winning, and I give him kudos for being willing to try.

Many people believe VDP is a best classics rider than Pogi.

And my argument is: how can he be if he avoids monuments, Strade and so on?
How can he be if he races only routes that are favorable to him?

He cannot be the best classics rider of his era hiding like he does. That's my point.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Which are you arguing? That Pogi is a better classics rider than MVDP? I'm about as big a van der Poel diehard as you'll find here, but I'd have a hard time mounting a convincing argument against Pogi. MVDP is obviously a great classics rider, but I just don't see why his greatness is diminished by not lining up up for races he has no chance of winning.

MSR for Pogacar is a poor analogy for Liege/Lombardia for van der Poel. Sure, MVDP podiumed Liege last year but he was minutest behind and if Pogacar didn't take part he probably doesn't even top 10. He finished top 10 at COVID Lombardia but on the current course is unlikely ever to match that against a proper field. Pogacar has finished on the podium or in the front group of MSR several times. P-R remains to be seen if he has a realistic chance of winning, and I give him kudos for being willing to try.

I agree. I love MVP too but there isn't really a debate about who is the best classics rider. In 4 years, Pogacar will have 15 monuments if he doesn't have a serious crash.

 

[KZD]

You see? There are people who believes in this.

So, that's why I have my argument: if you are the best classics rider of your era, you should be riding ALL the monuments + Strade.

No excuses.

Boonen and Cancellara were the best classics riders of their era, did they ride all the monuments? No. Sagan, the same. Strade isn't even a monument, so it shouldn't enter this discussion.

I like both Pogačar and Van der Poel so for me its irrelevant who ends up winning more monuments or who is the best classics rider but trying to paint Van der Poel as a coward when he has already ridden all the major one day races on the road and also rides cyclocross and mountain bike, is ridiculous.

 

[Salvarani]

Boonen and Cancellara were the best classics riders of their era, did they ride all the monuments? No. Sagan, the same. Strade isn't even a monument, so it shouldn't enter this discussion.

Pogacar wasnt racing in their time.

And I would hold Gilbert pretty high. He went for all of them and only missed out on one.

 

[JoãoRamos]

Boonen and Cancellara were the best classics riders of their era, did they ride all the monuments? No. Sagan, the same. Strade isn't even a monument, so it shouldn't enter this discussion.

I like both Pogačar and Van der Poel so for me its irrelevant who ends up winning more monuments or who is the best classics rider but trying to paint Van der Poel as a coward when he has already ridden all the major one day races on the road and also rides cyclocross and mountain bike, is ridiculous.

It is my opinion. We can disagree and respect each other's opinion.

Sagan didn't have a Pogacar in his era. VDP has. So if he wants to be declared the best classics rider, he should race all monuments.

And Strade is a very famous race nowadays. He is a former winner. He should ride it, being a CX and MTB god.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It is my opinion. We can disagree and respect each other's opinion.

Sagan didn't have a Pogacar in his era. VDP has. So if he wants to be declared the best classics rider, he should race all monuments.

And Strade is a very famous race nowadays. He is a former winner. He should ride it, being a CX and MTB god.

He doesn't even care about being considered the best classics rider. He knows Pogi is the best and he just enjoys winning MSR, RVV and PR.

 

[JoãoRamos]

He doesn't even care about being considered the best classics rider. He knows Pogi is the best and he just enjoys winning MSR, RVV and PR.

I doubt that my friend.

He can say whatever he wants, but deep down inside, I think he cares.

 

[KZD]

It is my opinion. We can disagree and respect each other's opinion.

Sagan didn't have a Pogacar in his era. VDP has. So if he wants to be declared the best classics rider, he should race all monuments.

And Strade is a very famous race nowadays. He is a former winner. He should ride it, being a CX and MTB god.

Sure, we can disagree, but a rider maximising its career by preparing himself for a few major races, its not being a coward, its being smart. If we apply the same logic that you have just used to Van der Poel, then Vingegaard and Roglic are also cowards because they don't ride LBL or Lombardia despite being great climbers.

As I said before Van der Poel's goal is to maximise his career, become the rider with the most Flanders wins and winning the MTB Worlds. Its not to be considered the best classics rider, that's an expectation that you are putting on him but whether he cares or you like it or not, he is becoming one of the best classics riders ever.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Many people believe VDP is a best classics rider than Pogi.

And my argument is: how can he be if he avoids monuments, Strade and so on?
How can he be if he races only routes that are favorable to him?

He cannot be the best classics rider of his era hiding like he does. That's my point.

So what you are saying is basically that Pogacar only becomes the best classic rider in two weeks when he starts Roubaix. Because how can he be the best classic rider of his era as he’s been hiding from Roubaix until now?

 

[JoãoRamos]

Sure, we can disagree, but a rider maximising its career by preparing himself for a few major races, its not being a coward, its being smart. If we apply the same logic that you have just used to Van der Poel, then Vingegaard and Roglic are also cowards because they don't ride LBL or Lombardia despite being great climbers.

As I said before Van der Poel's goal is to maximise his career, become the rider with the most Flanders wins and winning the MTB Worlds. Its not to be considered the best classics rider, that's an expectation that you are putting on him but whether he cares or you like it or not, he is becoming one of the best classics riders ever.

It's not an expectation that I am putting on him.

This statement we can see from many people. I am new here, but I am sure a lot of people also agree with it.

And my point is: you cannot be the best classics rider of your era hiding from monuments and routes that are not suited for you. Pogacar does not hide.

 

[JoãoRamos]

So what you are saying is basically that Pogacar only becomes the best classic rider in two weeks when he starts Roubaix. Because how can he be the best classic rider of his era as he’s been hiding from Roubaix until now?

He is 26 my friend.

You know he rides races that are not favorable for him.

Look at the number of previous TdF winners that started P-R.
You can have your opinion, but Pogacar has balls.

 

[Netserk]

Because how can he be the best classic rider of his era as he’s been hiding from Roubaix until now?

He has been a coward all his life.

 

[KZD]

It's not an expectation that I am putting on him.

This statement we can see from many people. I am new here, but I am sure a lot of people also agree with it.

And my point is: you cannot be the best classics rider of your era hiding from monuments and routes that are not suited for you. Pogacar does not hide.

It is an expectation that you and those people are putting on Van der Poel because he has never said that he wants to be the best classics rider of his era, he has already stated his goals, having the record for most Flanders wins and winning the MTB Worlds, its as simple as that. Now contrast that to Pogacar that has said that he wants to become the best rider ever.

As I said, you are entitled to think that Pogacar is a better classics rider than Van der Poel but you will have to live with the fact that the Dutchman is also one of the best classics riders ever.