Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

It really is thier only (slim) chance. They are also trying to fatigue him, and there is some evidence they have been successful. Pog has a tendency to look like he is headed to a photo shoot, as soon as he steps off the bike...he has not looked like that the last 2 days.

This week has been hard for everyone. I don't see him more tired than Vingegaard for example.
Pogacar will probably go all out on Hautacam and then he should just follow Vingegaard's wheel.

 

[YavorD]

This week has been hard for everyone. I don't see him more tired than Vingegaard for example.
Pogacar will probably go all out on Hautacam and then he should just follow Vingegaard's wheel.

To be honest, given that these stages are supposed to suit him more, he should be fresher than Vingegaard imo.
I think the Tour will be much, much closer than many people in here think.

 

[Peyroteo94]

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[Peyroteo94]

To be honest, given that these stages are supposed to suit him more, he should be fresher than Vingegaard imo.
I think the Tour will be much, much closer than many people in here think.

What is "much closer" to you?

 

[YavorD]

What is "much closer" to you?

Okay, "much different" is more accurate.
Vingegaard is looking very sharp on stages that are not supposed to suit him, he'll have a lot of issues with Vingegaard in the mountains. Could as well lose.

 

[Monsi]

To be honest, given that these stages are supposed to suit him more, he should be fresher than Vingegaard imo.
I think the Tour will be much, much closer than many people in here think.

I mean, they have not ridden a single big climb yet. We won’t know if this Tour will be a close battle for yellow until stage 12.

 

[Jack_89]

What is "much closer" to you?

Truth is he behind 1.17s.. freaking 1.17s I repeat.
The rest is just "wishful thinking" and "hoping for the best " stuff, as always 😂😂

 

[Red Rick]

Okay, "much different" is more accurate.
Vingegaard is looking very sharp on stages that are not supposed to suit him, he'll have a lot of issues with Vingegaard in the mountains. Could as well lose.

Vingegaard is systematically very underrated on short climbs, while Pogacar's explosiviness that "should" get him a gap on Vingegaard is overrated/has not made the same leap as his aerobic engine has.

Vingegaard not losing time on a 2% gradient sprint indicates in no way that he can compete in the high mountains.

 

[Monsi]

Okay, "much different" is more accurate.
Vingegaard is looking very sharp on stages that are not supposed to suit him, he'll have a lot of issues with Vingegaard in the mountains. Could as well lose.

Jonas’ punch is probably the most underrated part of his arsenal. He’s always been good in these stages.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Okay, "much different" is more accurate.
Vingegaard is looking very sharp on stages that are not supposed to suit him, he'll have a lot of issues with Vingegaard in the mountains. Could as well lose.

But these stages don't tell us anything about Vingegaard or Pogacar to be honest. Last year, Vingegaard was very sharp too on stages 2, 9, 11 and he wasn't close in the high mountains. You can still be right, I just think these stages don't say anything about Vingegaard to be honest.

 

[snipeheem]

Okay, "much different" is more accurate.
Vingegaard is looking very sharp on stages that are not supposed to suit him, he'll have a lot of issues with Vingegaard in the mountains. Could as well lose.

He is far behind already. Hautacam stage will end the Tour this year.

 

[Gigs_98]

Vingegaard is systematically very underrated on short climbs, while Pogacar's explosiviness that "should" get him a gap on Vingegaard is overrated/has not made the same leap as his aerobic engine has.

Vingegaard not losing time on a 2% gradient sprint indicates in no way that he can compete in the high mountains.

It's actually quite funny that the only kind of effort in which Jonas has been consistently capable to stick to Pogs wheel since last year, are the ones still perceived as his weakness.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Vingegaard is systematically very underrated on short climbs, while Pogacar's explosiviness that "should" get him a gap on Vingegaard is overrated/has not made the same leap as his aerobic engine has.

Vingegaard not losing time on a 2% gradient sprint indicates in no way that he can compete in the high mountains.

100% true. I would love to see Vingegaard racing in FW. I think he can be competitive there.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

It's actually quite funny that the only kind of effort in which Jonas has been consistently capable to stick to Pogs wheel since last year, are the ones still perceived as his weakness.

Conversely, the stages where Jonas is supposed to have an advantage turn out to not be an advantage.

 

[scribers]

But these stages don't tell us anything about Vingegaard or Pogacar to be honest. Last year, Vingegaard was very sharp too on stages 2, 9, 11 and he wasn't close in the high mountains. You can still be right, I just think these stages don't say anything about Vingegaard to be honest.

They do tell us something about Vingegaard. Because he is telling us with his own words this first week has been very hard on him.

 

[Red Rick]

It's actually quite funny that the only kind of effort in which Jonas has been consistently capable to stick to Pogs wheel since last year, are the ones still perceived as his weakness.

Narratives from someone's early career tend to stick, and riders will always be mostly compared to their direct competition. It's the same in other sports. Federer was never really reknowned as an elite athlete and defensive player even though he absolutely used to be. Messi is known as the natural talent who's work ethic is glossed over while Ronaldo is seen as a training beast who's never in the conversation for most naturally gifted players.

 

[Cycling111]

Okay, "much different" is more accurate.
Vingegaard is looking very sharp on stages that are not supposed to suit him, he'll have a lot of issues with Vingegaard in the mountains. Could as well lose.

San Luca stage, stage 1 of the Dauphiné. In both, the conclusion is that Vingegaard was stronger...

 

[Peyroteo94]

They do tell us something about Vingegaard. Because he is telling us with his own words this first week has been very hard on him.

This doesn't tell us anything. Were you expecting him to say this first week was easy?

 

[Cycling111]

Vingegaard is systematically very underrated on short climbs, while Pogacar's explosiviness that "should" get him a gap on Vingegaard is overrated/has not made the same leap as his aerobic engine has.

Vingegaard not losing time on a 2% gradient sprint indicates in no way that he can compete in the high mountains.

Pogacar's explosiveness isn't overrated.

He himself said in February that he would train his explosiveness for the spring classics and that for the second half of the season he would lose it to train for high mountain competitions.

He's definitely more explosive in spring, especially the last two years.

Remco and Vingegaard have said they're more explosive than ever and have better sprinting than ever.
Pogacar, on the other hand, said he would be less explosive in the second half of the year.
However, they haven't beaten Pogacar on any of the days.

But the new narrative is that Vingegaard is as explosive as Pogacar. In the spring, the difference would be bigger.

 

[Cycling111]

100% true. I would love to see Vingegaard racing in FW. I think he can be competitive there.

Imagine if Vingegaard will be able to beat Pogacar with Pogacar's explosiveness in the spring, if he doesn't make it in the Tour againts a less explosive version of Pogacar.

Not to mention that Vingegaard is weaker in the spring. Just look at Paris-Nice in 2023 or Tirreno in 2022. Despite those years he won the Tour, he was easily defeated by Pogacar in the spring races.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogacar's explosiveness isn't overrated.

He himself said in February that he would train his explosiveness for the spring classics and that for the second half of the season he would lose it to train for high mountain competitions.

He's definitely more explosive in spring, especially the last two years.

Remco and Vingegaard have said they're more explosive than ever and have better sprinting than ever.
Pogacar, on the other hand, said he would be less explosive in the second half of the year.
However, they haven't beaten Pogacar on any of the days.

But the new narrative is that Vingegaard is as explosive as Pogacar. In the spring, the difference would be bigger.

How can the best puncheur in the world be overrated? Probably the best puncheur ever to be honest. On his way to become the most prolific winner since Merckx in Ardennes and GdL (most important races for puncheurs).

 

[Rou]

The only climb where Pog went hard was stage 4. Vingegaard survived but if you watch him after the stage he was breathing like a fish on land.
On the next day he suffered in the TT.
All these classic high speed stages are ruining Vingegaard 's legs.
The real test will be Stage 12.
Pog normally won't move on Stage 10.

 

[Rou]

This doesn't tell us anything. Were you expecting him to say this first week was easy?

Vingegaard is a 60 kg rider. All these classic stages where absolute power is needed are hurting him.
A good example is Paris - Roubaix for Pogacar where he suffered like a dog to catch the attack of MVDP.

 

[Peyroteo94]

The only climb where Pog went hard was stage 4. Vingegaard survived but if you watch him after the stage he was breathing like a fish on land.
On the next day he suffered in the TT.
All these classic high speed stages are ruining Vingegaard 's legs.
The real test will be Stage 12.
Pog normally won't move on Stage 10.

Vingegaard was completely cooked for sure. I wouldn't be surprised Pogacar was testing Vingegaard to know his true level.

 

[scribers]

This doesn't tell us anything. Were you expecting him to say this first week was easy?

Yes, actually, as an explainer for his power sap in the ITT for example. And it keeps getting harder with each subsequent stage.

All Visma does is positive affirmation in literally everything they say to the press and from team car communications the public has access to. Any deviation from this narrative is most likely truth.