- Jun 11, 2021
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Wellens looked incredible today. Might turn out to be very valuable for this first week for him.
When I hear some guys saying Visma have a good opportunity to distance him by riding hard with crosswinds, I shake my head and say "do they even know Pogacar is the best classics rider in the world?"Brilliant positioning as always. Looked very comfortable.
The team? He only had Wellens with him in the split.
Pog vs MVDP tomorrow? Should get some bonus seconds at least.
Wellens and Narvaez will create chaos in hilly stages.Wellens looked incredible today. Might turn out to be very valuable for this first week for him.
Yup. Now, I only fear stage 3 and the next weekendI´ve seen him very calm and very easy all time.
Today was the worst day for risk of accidents.
Probably true for both YatesWhat I have been saying during June, Yates will drop minutes in almost every stage to arrive fresh as a daisy to Hautacam.
Agreed. Similar approach to this race and the right one IMHO.Probably true for both Yates
Depends. If he gets a leadout similar to Combloux at the Dauphine, he can definitely do damage.We'll see how it goes tomorrow.
Last year, Pogacar wasn't as superior on those types of climbs in San Luca because he had focused on the high mountains.
It's possible that tomorrow will be the same.
Probably true for both Yates
We'll see how it goes tomorrow.
Last year, Pogacar wasn't as superior on those types of climbs in San Luca because he had focused on the high mountains.
It's possible that tomorrow will be the same.
Everyone is gangster until Vingegaard brings out the Danish Bald Eagle haircut for the Hautacam stage...What I have been saying during June, Yates will drop minutes in almost every stage to arrive fresh as a daisy to Hautacam.
Visma is trying to have a numbers advantage and they already created a gap between Almeida and Matteo.A.Yates differently followed a plan.
S. Yates I'm not sure.. He said before TDF he would keep his GC. I think he felt bad today and maybe are sick.. He dropped pretty bad today and even before crosswind
MVP can't follow Pogacar in these super steep hills but I think Vingegaard can unless it's raining.Those climbs are quite short and will be tackled by a large group (especially the hardest one 10 km from the line) so a bit worse positioning will make it very difficult to attack successfully. Plus there is MVP (maybe those climbs are short enough for him to win) and Vingegaard is also quite punchy (when in top form). I think there could be a selected group fighting in the finale (including MVP and top GC contenders).
Jorgenson isn't a rival for Pogacar. He doesn't have Roglic's climbing level in 2022.Visma is trying to have a numbers advantage and they already created a gap between Almeida and Matteo.
I agree but Visma have this plan of maintaining as many riders as possible close to Pogacar in order to attack him with numbers in the mountains. Of course, this will not work unless they have a second card close to Vingegaard's level.Jorgenson isn't a rival for Pogacar. He doesn't have Roglic's climbing level in 2022.
In fact, Almeida isn't a rival for Vineggaard either. But in any case, it would be more valid to use Almeida against Vineggaard than Jorgenson against Pogacar. Jorgenson's best GT finish is eighth, and he's not a consistent climber.
Almeida > Jorgenson in the mountain while Jorgenson is a better all rounder. If Jorgenson attacks, Pogacar wouldn’t care.Visma is trying to have a numbers advantage and they already created a gap between Almeida and Matteo.
I don't think so, Positioning will be very important and UAE is built for the mountains.i believe goat will win today and gain some time in GC
So Pieper is a bit worried that Vinge might have more in the tank than Pog in the 3rd week. Why he thinks this is not said out loud, but there seems to be two reasons: 1) Due to Pog's "overconfidence" he might ride too hard the first two weeks, 2) Vinge is probably more rested than Pog due to Pog's tough spring campaign.Allan Peiper, who worked in UAE and knows Pogacar well, says overconfidence is Pogacar's weak point:
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"His weak point is overconfidence” – Former UAE boss warns Tadej Pogacar
Tadej Pogacar got through the opening stage of the 2025 Tour de France without incident, staying alert when Jonas Vingegaard and Team Visma split the peloton in the final 20 kilometers. While rivals R...cyclinguptodate.com
He is a bit worried because he loves Pogacar so he is almost warning him. He is afraid of Vingegaard because he is the only rival able to beat his beloved student.So Pieper is a bit worried that Vinge might have more in the tank than Pog in the 3rd week. Why he thinks this is not said out loud, but there seems to be two reasons: 1) Due to Pog's "overconfidence" he might ride too hard the first two weeks, 2) Vinge is probably more rested than Pog due to Pog's tough spring campaign.
If he has a point I'm not sure. Pog has such a high level that he wins even when he isn't at his highest level. And we thought he was tired after Amstel and then he crushed the competition in FW and LBL.
Still think that the thing must happen for Pog to be challenged in the tour is that Vinge reaches a higher level than he has ever shown before. Then maybe slight more tiredness can have crucial effect.
