Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[QueenStagiaire]

The team is ridiculously strong, the weakest links might actually be Politt who was 3rd and Morgado who was 5th last year, while 4th place might do the donkey work. I‘d guess Bjerg will do the work if Alpecin doesn‘t do the stupid thing and burn all their riders instead. Politt would probably be the option to do positioning and 2nd Chase engine during the early hills, while Morgado and Narváez may mark attacking moves. Morgado could also be working with Politt because he‘s not really shown up in position to follow moves so far this season. Then I guess it‘s up to Wellens and Vermeersch to do a leadout to the 2nd Kwaremont and then it‘s up to Pogi.

Bit sad to see three of last year‘s Top five in position to be burned off early, but what are you gonna do…

 

[ice&fire]

I already watched the "He will destroy everyone on the Kwaremont" two years ago. I demand a different ending this year.

 

[yaf2]

So why was Politt leading out Pogacar today? He will not be there if he is going to work right after the first Kwaremont.

A ride in training doesnt necessarily mean its gonna happen in racing. They just wanted to go full & test the legs on kwaremont for pog. They know it anyway the chances of this line up on 2nd kwaremont happening in the race situation is below 1%

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think having any combination of 3 or more teammates with Pogacar at a decisive moment in the race is optimistic.

I think it is realistic to have 3, specially due to UAE's strenght. The only problem is how will they position themselves before Kwaremont.

 

[Peyroteo94]

A ride in training doesnt necessarily mean its gonna happen in racing. They just wanted to go full & test the legs on kwaremont for pog. They know it anyway the chances of this line up on 2nd kwaremont happening in the race situation is below 1%

Hum... I can agree partly with you to be honest. I think Vermeersch and Wellens will for sure leadout Pogacar.

 

[Peyroteo94]

The team is ridiculously strong, the weakest links might actually be Politt who was 3rd and Morgado who was 5th last year, while 4th place might do the donkey work. I‘d guess Bjerg will do the work if Alpecin doesn‘t do the stupid thing and burn all their riders instead. Politt would probably be the option to do positioning and 2nd Chase engine during the early hills, while Morgado and Narváez may mark attacking moves. Morgado could also be working with Politt because he‘s not really shown up in position to follow moves so far this season. Then I guess it‘s up to Wellens and Vermeersch to do a leadout to the 2nd Kwaremont and then it‘s up to Pogi.

Bit sad to see three of last year‘s Top five in position to be burned off early, but what are you gonna do…

They really overachieved last year, a little bit like MVP in LBL 2024.

 

[jono]

They really overachieved last year, a little bit like MVP in LBL 2024.

Like MVP in LBL 2024 they were able to get a result because the race in front was so far gone everyone else was looking at each other.

As I recall, Morgado, Bjerg, and Politt made little to no impression on the key moments of the race until they turned up in the field sprint for 2nd. Guys like Bettiol and Teuns, even Jorgenson, had far more impressive rides, despite worse placings.

 

[hayneplane]

They really overachieved last year, a little bit like MVP in LBL 2024.

I can agree there that they had better results than performances as they were way out of the race but came through as others such as Jorgensen faded after trying to keep with MVDP.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Like MVP in LBL 2024 they were able to get a result because the race in front was so far gone everyone else was looking at each other.

As I recall, Morgado, Bjerg, and Politt made little to no impression on the key moments of the race until they turned up in the field sprint for 2nd. Guys like Bettiol and Teuns, even Jorgenson, had far more impressive rides, despite worse placings.

I completely agree with you. I already said UAE riders (those who will race in RVV) are not good enough to lead but when they are racing as domestiques, they are incredible.
If we look to UAE's results this spring in cobbled classics, It think only Wellens got a respectable 8th place in E3. They were nowhere to be seen (out of the top10) in any other cobbled classic.

 

[scribers]

So why was Politt leading out Pogacar today? He will not be there if he is going to work right after the first Kwaremont.

I see this for a few reasons. They are training together, so no reason to train in absolute hypothesis. Even if they are greatly reduced, it's best to plan for each scenerio by having them all there. Visualization through motion is crucial in effective preparation. The team didn't recon like this as MSR, so maybe they've gotten the memo from somewhere above to actually prepare if you’re serious about monuments.

 

[YavorD]

I think Alpecin will work as much as UAE at least untill 100-90km to go.
They have as much interest to keep the break/secondary break close as UAE

 

[hayneplane]

It can be a strategy but I don't think Alpecin will simply let Narvaez go away. Maybe it is because he was sick and they expect Morgado and him to work earlier in the hilly part of the race.

I don’t think Alpecin are strong enough in a hilly race to control who goes up the road when real live outsiders make their moves. In Paris Roubaix they can do an awesome job as last year but not imo in RVV.

 

[jono]

I don’t think Alpecin are strong enough in a hilly race to control who goes up the road when real live outsiders make their moves. In Paris Roubaix they can do an awesome job as last year but not imo in RVV.

Like Vermeersch with Pedersen last year?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Just saw Pog's statements about Wout. He has so much more class than many of his fans.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Kudos to Pog for standing up for Wout. Sometimes fans forget that these riders are just human beings and sensitive to a lot of the negative attention that social media sometimes (often) generates.

He is so hard to dislike, that I stopped disliking him, and it will still p!ss me off if he makes Sunday boring, but I still hope he wins...unless Wout can somehow be someone he clearly does not appear to be.

 

[hayneplane]

Like Vermeersch with Pedersen last year?

If you look at teams beyond their clear leader then I would put UAE/Visma/Lidl/Ineos all clearly above Alpecin.

Last year Pedersen had crashed hard in DDV in midweek costing him top shape.

 

[Berniece]

If you look at teams beyond their clear leader then I would put UAE/Visma/Lidl/Ineos all clearly above Alpecin.

Last year Pedersen had crashed hard in DDV in midweek costing him top shape.

Most people do, and every year Alpecin shows they are able to get their riders in the position to win. Even when it gets tough, like E3 this year

 

[hayneplane]

He is so hard to dislike, that I stopped disliking him, and it will still p!ss me off if he makes Sunday boring, but I still hope he wins...unless Wout can somehow be someone he clearly does not appear to be.

I don’t honestly see any way that he can bore you on Sunday. It is a clash of the Titans between two of the greatest one day riders of all time both on prime form. It’s a far cry from Lombardia last year where the whole world knew it was done the second Pogacar lifted the pace.

 

[Tim Cahill]

The likes of Meurisse, Plankaert and Dillier must be like 55 by now and haven't done much by themselves for years but they'll turn up on Sunday and in Roubaix looking like Barca 2015s attacking lineup.

Just knowing the roads and knowing where to be is 70% of the battle.

Maybe a touch harsh on Meurisse actually, he was quite good in them weird end of season Italian classics but I never remember those.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I don’t honestly see any way that he can bore you on Sunday. It is a clash of the Titans between two of the greatest one day riders of all time both on prime form. It’s a far cry from Lombardia last year where the whole world knew it was done the second Pogacar lifted the pace.

I think you're right, but we are talking about probably the most talented man to ever throw his leg over a bike.

 

[jono]

The likes of Meurisse, Plankaert and Dillier must be like 55 by now and haven't done much by themselves for years but they'll turn up on Sunday and in Roubaix looking like Barca 2015s attacking lineup.

Just knowing the roads and knowing where to be is 70% of the battle.

They're fine for the donkey work they will be called upon to do. I trust that Vermeersch will be able to do his thing from km 100 to the Koppenberg. Hermans is the wild card, for me.

 

[hayneplane]

I think you're right, but we are talking about probably the most talented man to ever throw his leg over a bike.

Very true. The only thing that gives me some nerves is not doing any prep races over the cobbles.

 

[yaf2]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907777163161411819

View: https://x.com/InsideOut2912/status/1907777163161411819?t=90S3XTSxbqynJ1yPMenzkg&s=19

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Even vdp is laughing out loud at the moment

 

[Peyroteo94]

I don’t think Alpecin are strong enough in a hilly race to control who goes up the road when real live outsiders make their moves. In Paris Roubaix they can do an awesome job as last year but not imo in RVV.

There are also other teams to pursuit Narvaez. Trek will not win but they will race to win.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Very true. The only thing that gives me some nerves is not doing any prep races over the cobbles.

Yup, not doing E3 was a dumb move IMHO.