Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

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I think we are getting too ahead of ourselves predicting the participants and the favourites for the Worlds in 2027.

Indeed, it's best to as an oracle I guess.:

Pogačar wins solo after attacking on the penultimate climb, riding the final 20 km alone in the rain like a caffeinated angel in white.

Says the silicon oracle. BORING I say.
It's just a parrot after all...
 
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I might be mistaken, but I think the climb is only 2.5km aswell, done 30 times. Not the best, but the elevation should help him at least. Hopefully, he’s at the start that I fully agree on for sure.
Done 20 times which is still a 6 and a half hour or longer day with 50km of climbing of over 9%.

Each climb is probably around 9 minutes which is quite short but the cumulative impact will sap the field significantly.
 
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In 1980, it was over 6,000 meters :tearsofjoy:

The incredible thing is that De Vlaeminck was in the top 10. At that time, cyclists were strongest in all routes nad moved out of their comfort zones; out of necessity, they were more complete and achieved decent results on routes that weren't suitable for them.

I can't imagine Van der Poel, Pedersen, and even less Philipsen, making the top 10 in a world championship like this. Only Van Aert in 2022-23.

Compared to Boonen and Van der Poel, De Vlaeminck was a monster capable of finishing to 10 in a world championship with over 6,000 meters of elevation gain. Insane
In 1980 (Hinault) they had to climb Côte de Domancy 20 times which is 2.6km @ 8.6%

But how soon we forget. There are two relatively recent worlds which had about 5,000 metres elevation gain:

Mendrisio 2009 was 4,819 metres elevation - won by Cadel Evans
Innsbruk 2018 was 5,020 metres elevation - won by Valverde

Someone up thread mentioned Vingegaard riding the worlds. I'd actually love to see that. But doesn't Vingegaard need much longer Cat 1 or HC climbs that we would never get in a worlds course? To be a contender at the worlds Vingegaard needs longer, steep climbs not just a big elevation gain over many smaller climbs - that would advantage the punchier Pogacar.
 
In 1980 (Hinault) they had to climb Côte de Domancy 20 times which is 2.6km @ 8.6%

But how soon we forget. There are two relatively recent worlds which had about 5,000 metres elevation gain:

Mendrisio 2009 was 4,819 metres elevation - won by Cadel Evans
Innsbruk 2018 was 5,020 metres elevation - won by Valverde

Someone up thread mentioned Vingegaard riding the worlds. I'd actually love to see that. But doesn't Vingegaard need much longer Cat 1 or HC climbs that we would never get in a worlds course? To be a contender at the worlds Vingegaard needs longer, steep climbs not just a big elevation gain over many smaller climbs - that would advantage the punchier Pogacar.

2-3 km climb and reasonably steep (i.e. 8%+) is on the edge of Vingo's striking zone. If he's in form and total elevation gain is huge (i.e. Liege on steroids) then he's definitely a serious candidate for podium but beating Pogi is obviously difficult.
 
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Done 20 times which is still a 6 and a half hour or longer day with 50km of climbing of over 9%.

Each climb is probably around 9 minutes which is quite short but the cumulative impact will sap the field significantly.
Typo. It will be a brutal course for sure. So 26 Montreal and 27 Haute-Savoie I mean these are all Pog walkovers in theory... Are we still on for Rwanda in 2025, or have they taken a knee yet?
 
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2-3 km climb and reasonably steep (i.e. 8%+) is on the edge of Vingo's striking zone. If he's in form and total elevation gain is huge (i.e. Liege on steroids) then he's definitely a serious candidate for podium but beating Pogi is obviously difficult.
Vingegaard has a total of six appearances between Liège and Lombardia. In none of them he was competitive.

He mightn't have been at 100%, but Pogacar didn't arrive toLombarda in his best sgaoe in 2023 and won. But Vingegaard hasn't even performed to make the top5 in those races. The performance was mediocre.

I have doubts he'll do so in the World Championships. He seems to have performing problems in one-day races.
It's a similar case to Froome; he had mediocre performances in one-day races.
 
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2-3 km climb and reasonably steep (i.e. 8%+) is on the edge of Vingo's striking zone. If he's in form and total elevation gain is huge (i.e. Liege on steroids) then he's definitely a serious candidate for podium but beating Pogi is obviously difficult.
As it stands the top 3 at 2024 TdF are the clear cut favourites as we know it fits Pogacar perfectly, Jonas is the best or next best climber in the world and the climbs are long enough to not be about pure punch with only the one day experience lacking. Remco can tick the box of winning very long single day races with significant elevation in LBL and winning championship races that have a different dynamic to riding for your usual trade team.

Riding radio free suits Tadej and Remco who both like to attack when the feeling is right but is more discomfiting for Jonas who has a more meticulous planned out approach.
 
As it stands the top 3 at 2024 TdF are the clear cut favourites as we know it fits Pogacar perfectly, Jonas is the best or next best climber in the world and the climbs are long enough to not be about pure punch with only the one day experience lacking. Remco can tick the box of winning very long single day races with significant elevation in LBL and winning championship races that have a different dynamic to riding for your usual trade team.

Riding radio free suits Tadej and Remco who both like to attack when the feeling is right but is more discomfiting for Jonas who has a more meticulous planned out approach.
The only tactic Vingegaard needs is long-range defence. He will be Pogi's shadow until the last climb.
 
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