Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Rou]

And to think that some people were saying that Pogacar is struggling to close Jonas 5 days ago... Pogacar should work in Hollywood or I don't know what else to say.

 

[Oldman]

Hugely impressive lead out from UAE. Cipressa like effort but Jonas did not have the kind of explosive ability to hold the wheel or pull back a couple of bike lengths as MVDP did. Obviously this was a steeper climb after a more intensively ridden race.

Jonas looked overheated early. Trying to stay with Tadej didn't help.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

pog had a VAM of 1888 today on a 8.61 km climb at 7.24%. In PDB his vam was 1887, but the gradient was 7.9% in PdB so it's easier to do an higher vam in PDB (higher gradient). Moreover, here he did almost the entire climb alone. So it's easy to estimate that he did at least 7 w/kg (probably even a bit more) for 19:48. Let's wait for more accurate estimates, but I already know this performance was super, not Pdb level, but still super

Very high level, considering a shallow section in the middle, but not thermonuclear for this duration and his 2024 standards.

 

[solo80k]

pog had a VAM of 1888 today on a 8.61 km climb at 7.24%. In PDB his vam was 1887, but the gradient was 7.9% in PdB so it's easier to do an higher vam in PDB (higher gradient). Moreover, here he did almost the entire climb alone. So it's easy to estimate that he did at least 7 w/kg (probably even a bit more) for 19:48. Let's wait for more accurate estimates, but I already know this performance was super, not Pdb level, but still super

7 w/kg is new not-so-marginal gains.

 

[hayneplane]

Jonas looked overheated early. Trying to stay with Tadej didn't help.

It did look to be a very warm day with lots of water spent throwing over yourself to cool down.

Seems that the heat resistance training from Sola is paying off.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I wonder if you bring Narvaez for these kinda leadouts especially for the 1st week. Really effective. I'd go something like this:

Pog
Almeida
Yates
Sivakov
Soler
Wellens
Politt

and then.. Narvaez if you value explosive leadouts/classics style racing in the first week, and Novak if you value high watts upon hour and hour on donkey duty more suited to just sit in front on all terrain. Because I don't think you drop these 7 guys

 

[Salvarani]

Greatest cyclist to have ever lived

Just lucky to be alive to watch this

It is amazing

 

[rafa92]

Very high level, considering a shallow section in the middle, but not thermonuclear for this duration and his 2024 standards.

I mean considering he still has 2 weeks in isola this level is super, last year before isola (at the giro) he did not have this level

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I mean considering he still has 2 weeks in isola this level is super, last year before isola (at the giro) he did not have this level

Sure he can still improve significantly, TdF peak will be something else.

 

[Oldman]

It did look to be a very warm day with lots of water spent throwing over yourself to cool down.

Seems that the heat resistance training from Sola is paying off.

It is important. We're in the 80s (f) here at 6,000' and about 30% humidity or less. You don't have a margin for error or the results can be dangerous.

 

[Rou]

So first part of the 4-way revenge for Pogi is complete.
Combloux - complete
Hautacam - remaining
Mont Ventoux - remaining
Col de la Loze - remaining.

 

[Poursuivant]

I think Pogacar confirmed his selection in the UAE TDF team 2025 today. Solid ride.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I think Pogacar confirmed his selection in the UAE TDF team 2025 today. Solid ride.

Yeah, Almeida will surely choose him as a super-dom.

 

[Salvarani]

The Combloux revenge!

It feels absolutely marvelous

 

[Cycling111]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1933538409488015539

View: https://x.com/GCKUSSfan/status/1933538409488015539?t=ksEXHAh5hhXyaSFB9SUutA&s=19

He's saved Visma from earning more than 10 GT in the last 5 years. When Visma accumulates GT, they don't complain.

 

[James M]

He's saved Visma from earning more than 10 GT in the last 5 years. When Visma accumulates GT, they don't complain.

I can get where he comes from. Visma won the Giro because the favorites crashed thats the truth, and Yates is a better climber than Del Toro which no one should be surprised about. They’re also smarter and better tactically without a doubt they are, but by no means do they have more horsepower as a whole.

Even in the Giro, they were weak as a whole in that sense. The only team that could have made a difference was UAE, but they had no brain. When Pogacar rides, no brain is required—you just need to pace, and he does the rest.

 

[Mina.S]

Last year Pog gave an interview where he said he spends more time with Majka than he does with Urska or his parents so I feel like if he can have him in the team he will but I guess it depends.

Yates hasn’t been spotted training at altitude yet I don’t think.

 

[rafa92]

I have seen the first estimates, apparently pog did 7.3-7.4 w/kg for 19:48. This is huge. Vingegaard's performance was very good, 6.95 w/kg for 20:49

 

[snipeheem]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1933546955893830073

View: https://x.com/ammattipyoraily/status/1933546955893830073

 

[snipeheem]

Toujours aussi hallucinant, Tadej Pogacar a encore écoeuré ses adversaires vers Combloux ! - Watts2Win

Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 | Tadej Pogacar was the fastest on the climb of Combloux La Cry. Discover all times and watts estimations on Watts2Win.

watts2win.eu

 

[Cycling111]

I can get where he comes from. Visma won the Giro because the favorites crashed thats the truth, and Yates is a better climber than Del Toro which no one should be surprised about. They’re also smarter and better tactically without a doubt they are, but by no means do they have more horsepower as a whole.

Even in the Giro, they were weak as a whole in that sense. The only team that could have made a difference was UAE, but they had no brain. When Pogacar rides, no brain is required—you just need to pace, and he does the rest.

In Dauphiné, Visma has three riders in the top 10.

 

[Cycling111]

I wonder if you bring Narvaez for these kinda leadouts especially for the 1st week. Really effective. I'd go something like this:

Pog
Almeida
Yates
Sivakov
Soler
Wellens
Politt

and then.. Narvaez if you value explosive leadouts/classics style racing in the first week, and Novak if you value high watts upon hour and hour on donkey duty more suited to just sit in front on all terrain. Because I don't think you drop these 7 guys

I wouldn't take the 2025 Adam Yates.

And to think that some people were saying that Pogacar is struggling to close Jonas 5 days ago... Pogacar should work in Hollywood or I don't know what else to say.

I don't think it was fake. Pogacar seems to be struggling on the first day. In the Giro, he was beaten by Narvaez and Schachmann.

 

[rafa92]

Toujours aussi hallucinant, Tadej Pogacar a encore écoeuré ses adversaires vers Combloux ! - Watts2Win

Critérium du Dauphiné 2025 | Tadej Pogacar was the fastest on the climb of Combloux La Cry. Discover all times and watts estimations on Watts2Win.

watts2win.eu

7.38 w/kg for 19:48, incredible considering he can still improve for the tour, vingegaard performance (6.95w/kg for 20:49) was actually very good, better than I thought

 

[James M]

In Dauphiné, Visma has three riders in the top 10.

Yes, and what does that have to do with what I typed? You know it's accurate based on what happened... which only proves what I said even in the Giro if you look at the team classification. Sigh...

UAE doesn’t have any pure climbers here—they’ll have Almeida waiting and hell drop everyone which I think is unfortunate but yeah.. They’re also on a different altitude training program than the rest. Friendly tip: look at Politt last Dauphine, come the Tour, he even dropped half the peloton.

There’s a difference between brain and strategy, by the way. You're right Visma is indeed much superior in that regard much better strategy wice UAE literally couldnt ridden like more amateurs if they tried in the Giro for instance. But that and horsepower are two different things, and Pogacar lvl now neglects all tactics anyway, thats the reality so who really cares? Besides people who are fans of teams in cycling, which I definitely am not.

 

[Roku]

I was afraid after the ITT that Vingegaard would crush him again this season.

I'm sorry GOAT, promise I won't doubt you anymore.