Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Salvarani]

Neither Novak nor Narvaez are better climbers than Del Toro.
Narvaez is a mid-mountain rider. Another one who was terrible at Paris-Nice.

It's mots importante to have Yates at 100% for the Tour than Narvaez or Novak. Especially since there are doubts about Yates' performance, and last year he had a bad GC performance in the Vuelta because of double two GTs.

Nobody has said that.

You just dont know how to put together a good team that complements each other well.

 

[Cycling111]

Nobody has said that.

You just dont know how to put together a good team that complements each other well.

TDF's biggest rival is Vingegaard, so the high-mountain team must be reliable.

Aside from the mountain domestiques, it's important to have good domestiques to help out on the flat.
The first few days will be difficult because all the sprinters will be looking to take the lead, as well as the danger of schelons. Last year, they failed at this once again. Pogacar fixed it himself because he's very good, but it shouldn't happen again.

I would´ve taken Vermeerchs for the flats, sacrificing Narvaez or another rider.

For the mountains, I wouldn't speculate. I´d take three domestiques who can be 100% , not two of them with serious doubts like Yates (after Giro) and Sivakov this year, while Del Toro could possibly be on the Giro podium.
Del Toro should´ve been kept as a reserve for the Tour. If Yates or Sivakov don't recover their shape, del Toro should replace them.
If Del Toro ultimately doesn't go to the Tour, they still have the Vuelta.

 

[Salvarani]

TDF's biggest rival is Vingegaard, so the high-mountain team must be reliable.

Hence Soler, Sivakov, Yates and Almeida. Duh.

Del Toros time will come, just not this year and he is definitely not doing Tour after Giro under any circumstances at this point.

 

[Cycling111]

Hence Soler, Sivakov, Yates and Almeida. Duh.

I've already explained my opinion on Yates and Sivakov. Soler was used last year before the high mountains.

 

[Salvarani]

I've already explained my opinion on Yates and Sivakov. Soler was used last year before the high mountains.

You are just proving how ignorant you are being about these riders atm.

 

[Salvarani]

Imagine not selecting Soler and Sivakov. Selecting Del Toro and Vine instead? Jesus christ.

It is for clear reasons both UAE and Visma are selecting their most experienced and most reliable riders for the Tour.

If you dont understand it, there is really no point in discussing it.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It's too early to see Sivakov's shape. He was sick in PN and probably lost fitness due to this. I trust in Yates but he will no longer be Pogacar's leadout. He is regressing IMHO.

 

[Cycling111]

You are just proving how ignorant you are being about these riders atm.

I haven't disrespected you. And I couldn't disagree more with your opinion on Novak for the Tour,b ut I didn't call you ignorant for that.
We have different opinions. There is no need to make personal attacks.

If I have proven to be ignorant, think about what you have proven to be with that phrase.

 

[Salvarani]

It's too early to see Sivakov's shape. He was sick in PN and probably lost fitness due to this. I trust in Yates but he will no longer be Pogacar's leadout. He is regressing IMHO.

I think order is likely Soler/Sivakov, Yates and then Almeida.

It is also possible Soler and Sivakov can arrive at the bottom of the last climb. They launch from the bottom with Yates. Almeida gets to do his own race behind Pog with others, if Pog is gone, and can assist if he has to.

 

[Salvarani]

I haven't disrespected you. And I couldn't disagree more with your opinion on Novak for the Tour,b ut I didn't call you ignorant for that.
We have different opinions. There is no need to make personal attacks.

I think your take is ignorant and that there is a lack of knowledge behind it, that is not a personal attack. That is an observation.

Nothing personal at all.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I can't agree on Novak. He is very loyal but his ceilling is not high and will drop when we hit the high mountains. Of course he will be useful but can't see him in the group even when Benoot goes to the front. However, Pogacar will have a great team and he needs to be better than Vingegaard and that's it.

 

[Salvarani]

Novak is a very good pick for the last spot because of his loyalty, that he has no problem doing the dirty work in the beginning of stages, go down to the car and so on. Especially for the first half of the stage race.

He will be very useful and helpful for others, so they can be focused and fresh for their tasks later in stages/the race.

They dont need him around for the high mountains. The rest of the team is strong enough to handle that.

 

[Cycling111]

Imagine not selecting Soler and Sivakov. Selecting Del Toro and Vine instead? Jesus christ.

It is for clear reasons both UAE and Visma are selecting their most experienced and most reliable riders for the Tour.

If you dont understand it, there is really no point in discussing it.

I didn't say Del Toro is better than Yates or Sivakov, nor that he would be selected before them.

Read the full messages.
I've contextualized it with what we're seeing this year.

And I always say that Del Toro should be their RESERVE. If they see the trend doesn't change, then replace one of them with Del Toro. If the trend changes and they arrive in good shape for the Tour, then Del Toro will be sent to the Vuelta.

 

[Salvarani]

I didn't say Del Toro is better than Yates or Sivakov, nor that he would be selected before them.

Read the full messages.
I've contextualized it with what we're seeing this year.

And I always say that Del Toro should be their RESERVE. If they see the trend doesn't change, then replace one of them with Del Toro. If the trend changes and they arrive in good shape for the Tour, then Del Toro will be sent to the Vuelta.

Just failing to see the bigger picture.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Novak is a very good pick for the last spot because of his loyalty, that he has no problem doing the dirty work in the beginning of stages, go down to the car and so on.

He will be very useful and helpful for others, so they can be focused and fresh for their tasks.

They dont need him around for the high mountains. The rest of the team is strong enough to handle that.

Politt is there for that but I think his team won't be a problem unless Kuss and Simon decide to show in their best shape ever.

 

[Salvarani]

Politt is there for that but I think his team won't be a problem unless Kuss and Simon decide to show in their best shape ever.

Politt is not there for that. He has an important role of pushing on the flat and even some early climbs in the front at a pace he can handle. He was super last year.

 

[HashRouge]

Novak is a very good pick for the last spot because of his loyalty, that he has no problem doing the dirty work in the beginning of stages, go down to the car and so on. Especially for the first half of the stage race.

He will be very useful and helpful for others, so they can be focused and fresh for their tasks later in stages/the race.

They dont need him around for the high mountains. The rest of the team is strong enough to handle that.

This. How many mountain domestiques do people think Pogacar needs? I would have thought Soler, Sivakov, Yates and Almeida were plenty! I know people have doubts about the form of Yates and Sivakov, but Yates has always been great for Pogacar in the Tour so I don't see any need to doubt him yet. I like Novak because he has a big engine and he's useful for controlling the break on days where UAE want to ride for the win/ put pressure on Visma because he'll happily sit on the front eating wind and set a pretty high pace for several hours.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Politt is not there for that. He has an important role of pushing on the flat and even some early climbs in the front at a pace he can handle. He was super last year.

Doing the dirty work also. I remember seeing him in the front for more than 50 km

 

[hayneplane]

Not so sure that UAE will be super hot in the mountains outside of Pogacar but equally I am expecting the to be the weakest Visma TDF team of the Vingegaard leadership era.

Van Aert regressing to being a mere mortal along with Kuss having done virtually nothing since Vuelta 2023 means a lot is resting on whether Simon can outperform Adam of the Yates brothers doing Giro-Tour.

 

[Rou]

Not so sure that UAE will be super hot in the mountains outside of Pogacar but equally I am expecting the to be the weakest Visma TDF team of the Vingegaard leadership era.

Van Aert regressing to being a mere mortal along with Kuss having done virtually nothing since Vuelta 2023 means a lot is resting on whether Simon can outperform Adam of the Yates brothers doing Giro-Tour.

Matteo Jorgenson is the name. This guy is giving me mutant vibes and I don't know what Visma will be cooking with him.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Matteo Jorgenson is the name. This guy is giving me mutant vibes and I don't know what Visma will be cooking with him.

If you are suggesting he can be on par with Pogacar, forget it. He will never be another Vingegaard.

 

[Rou]

If you are suggesting he can be on par with Pogacar, forget it. He will never be another Vingegaard.

It's not necessary to be on par with them. Sepp Kuss was not on par with Pogacar in 2023 but he completely destroyed his team and isolated Pogacar.

 

[Cycling111]

It's not necessary to be on par with them. Sepp Kuss was not on par with Pogacar in 2023 but he completely destroyed his team and isolated Pogacar.

I don't think Jorgenson will climb better than Almeida.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It's not necessary to be on par with them. Sepp Kuss was not on par with Pogacar in 2023 but he completely destroyed his team and isolated Pogacar.

Vingegaard dropped Pogacar. Nothing would change if Yates was with Pogacar

 

[Rou]

I don't think Jorgenson will climb better than Almeida.

The reason why I think Jorg is dangerous is because he has an X - factor with him. We don't know what his limits are.
Last year he was the only rider on par with Pog on the gravel stage. He did a monster pull on Plateau de Beille. He was faster than Almeida on both TTs.
Almeida is a diesel and I don't see how we will completely ruin his GC for Pogacar but Matteo will bury himself for Vingegaard.