Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[rafa92]

A rider who dominates Giro-Tour (a harder double) is also able to dominate Tour-Vuelta. I really think he doesn't care about the Vuelta.

he does care, maybe he prefers giro but still he cares about vuelta. He can easily do tour vuelta double, but he would have to skip flanders and roubaix, and only focus on stage racing in the first part of the year and maybe do MSR and Liege (no fleche and no AGR like in 24)

 

[carolina]

I think he wanted to do the Vuelta, but the lack of a proper team in the Tour made him spend way more energy then expected.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think the same.

They've given him the schedule Ayuso was going to do before the WC.

The team thinks Pogacar needs rest and they're sending him to Canada?
The feeling is that they've swapped that part of the schedule with Ayuso and haven't even tried to discuss with Pogacar what was best. As soon as Pogacar told them he was tired, they saw an opportunity to solve the problems with Ayuso.

I hope Ayuso leaves the UAE and they're made a fool of themselves after making so many concessions to him to get him to leave them.

He is tired now. In 3 weeks, he won't. I just think Montreal one week before Kigali is a terrible option, unless he doesn't want to race the TT.

 

[Peyroteo94]

he does care, maybe he prefers giro but still he cares about vuelta. He can easily do tour vuelta double, but he would have to skip flanders and roubaix, and only focus on stage racing in the first part of the year and maybe do MSR and Liege (no fleche and no AGR like in 24)

Not next year. He will race PR again.

 

[Cycling111]

Un ciclista que domina el Giro-Tour (un doblete más difícil) también puede dominar el Tour-Vuelta. Creo que la Vuelta le da igual.

Creo que fue una decisión tomada en un momento de agotamiento y es un error.

Al menos debería haber esperado esta semana. Si todavía pensara lo mismo, habría tomado la decisión. Pero ni siquiera consideraron la opción de descansar unos días y reflexionar.

Todo fue muy precipitado, por eso creo que la situación de Ayuso ha condicionado demasiado.

Después del Tour, muchos ciclistas necesitaron días de reflexión para saber qué hacer. Aquí, se tomó en pleno Tour, y eso es un error. En pleno Tour, algunos ciclistas querían retirarse, pero después de unos días, piensan diferente.

 

[HashRouge]

Canadian classics are a terrible option before Rwanda. Jet lag and hours of travelling.

Rwanda is the same time zone as France I think, so given Pog combined the Canadian classics with the WC last year and it turned out pretty well, I don't think doing it this year should be a particular concern. Yes, it will be a long trip, but jet lag shouldn't be an issue.

 

[James M]

The World Championships were in Europe. In Australia, many cyclists didn't adapt well to the trip. Although the trip to Rwanda isn't that long.

I think this year's WC is uncontrollable for Slovenia . Last year's was the same, which is why he did a long-distance attack, especially to distance VDP.

Yes, I know but you get my point? I also said that personally, I initially didn’t like the idea of Canada last year either, in his schedule, but it worked wonders for him last year when he included it in his training plan for the WC. So it’s hard to knock it, and it's clearly a comfort choice since he knows it works wonders for him to peak his form as part of training. That reasoning is easy to follow, don’t you agree? Its proven thereby comfort as he knows it work.

As for travel concerns I agree, but he's aware. Dont fool yourself to think he would go to Canada if he thought it would hurt his chances in the Worlds, that's for sure, It’s methodically added to build his form, not hamper it.

This year’s Worlds might be a bit uncontrollable, indeed. Slovenia’s team isn’t strong, neither was they last year, don’t worry, if he shows up in last year’s form and now sticking to that same formula, then nothing really matters. He can only lose if he crashes. The route suits him even more.

 

[rafa92]

Not next year. He will race PR again.

yes, and if he doesn't win also not in 2027. Imo he should go to vuelta in 2028. That year the olympics collide with the tour and he has said olympics are a big goal, so he should skip the tour in 2028 and focus on olympics+vuelta

 

[HashRouge]

Creo que fue una decisión tomada en un momento de agotamiento y es un error.

Al menos debería haber esperado esta semana. Si todavía pensara lo mismo, habría tomado la decisión. Pero ni siquiera consideraron la opción de descansar unos días y reflexionar.

Todo fue muy precipitado, por eso creo que la situación de Ayuso ha condicionado demasiado.

Después del Tour, muchos ciclistas necesitaron días de reflexión para saber qué hacer. Aquí, se tomó en pleno Tour, y eso es un error. En pleno Tour, algunos ciclistas querían retirarse, pero después de unos días, piensan diferente.

I think this too. I think he should have been given a week to rest and then a decision could have been made. That said, we are assuming that there isn't more going on than a bit of tiredness and burnout. His mood in the last week of the Tour seemed unusually low, so there could be something else at play that has shaped his decision.

The only other thing I wonder is whether this is UAE trying to hang on to Ayuso, after the rumours that he wanted to leave. I.e. we'll give you Pog's spot at the Vuelta if it makes you happy.

 

[rafa92]

Rwanda is the same time zone as France I think, so given Pog combined the Canadian classics with the WC last year and it turned out pretty well, I don't think doing it this year should be a particular concern. Yes, it will be a long trip, but jet lag shouldn't be an issue.

yes jet lag is not a problem for the WC, same time as europe

 

[fenns]

Anyways, guys.
I don't know if somebody here shares my opinion.
I expected more from Pogacar.
I'm disappointed.
Peace.

The public reason is his condition. If that is the reason for skipping the Vuelta then it's disappointing as he has 4 weeks to recover.

Personally I feel there is likely more to it as less than 48 hours post-race is far too soon to be judging what his condition will be a month from now.

Cycling is an individual sport forced into a template of a team structure. Pogacar has to do as he is told or face consequences. And if it is a Team decision to benefit other commitments he can't say so.

 

[James M]

I think this too. I think he should have been given a week to rest and then a decision could have been made. That said, we are assuming that there isn't more going on than a bit of tiredness and burnout. His mood in the last week of the Tour seemed unusually low, so there could be something else at play that has shaped his decision.

The only other thing I wonder is whether this is UAE trying to hang on to Ayuso, after the rumours that he wanted to leave. I.e. we'll give you Pog's spot at the Vuelta if it makes you happy.

Its really as simple as if Pog says no to Vuelta, Ayuso makes sense to add for many reasons, I dont like that long face myself but emotions dont dictate these things, its highly logical and business as usual, teams and riders arent as emotional as some fans.

Doesnt change anything, this will be the last season Ayuso rides in UAE. Bookmark that.

 

[Tanakka]

Spoiler: No vuelta ; Yep Canada

https://twitter.com/x/status/1950194326329319511

View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1950194326329319511

Uhm... Canada. Interesting.

Is he going to be able to figure out the "Quebec Puzzle"?

Canadian classics are a terrible option before Rwanda. Jet lag and hours of travelling.

Is he doing the TT or what?

12.09 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
14.09 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal

21.09 Rwanda TT
28.09 Rwanda RR

If he's skipping it anyway, I'd say it's fine.

 

[Cycling111]

The public reason is his condition. If that is the reason for skipping the Vuelta then it's disappointing as he has 4 weeks to recover.

Personally I feel there is likely more to it as less than 48 hours post-race is far too soon to be judging what his condition will be a month from now.

Cycling is an individual sport forced into a template of a team structure. Pogacar has to do as he is told or face consequences. And if it is a Team decision to benefit other commitments he can't say so.

Many say they've noticed Pogacar in a bad mood these days. I think there's something to that.

Plus, it all coincides with Ayuso's pressure to leave the team, and within two days, his entourage was already leaking that he was going to the Vuelta.

And even if it was Pogacar's decision, it's clear the team didn't advise him, telling him to have a few days to reflect after the Tour. The team saw this as a solution for Ayuso, and that's a serious problem for Pogacar. The team should be there to advise him, not to see his exhaustion as a solution.

 

[pelotonIQ]

In Pogacar's winning speech on the podium he thanked the organizers and the fans only to then close it out with ''maybe I'll be back''.

 

[Cycling111]

Its really as simple as if Pog says no to Vuelta, Ayuso makes sense to add for many reasons, I dont like that long face myself but emotions dont dictate these things, its highly logical and business as usual, teams and riders arent as emotional as some fans.

Doesnt change anything, this will be the last season Ayuso rides in UAE. Bookmark that.

If this is Ayuso's last season in the UAE, then it makes less sense to do that to Almeida, who has renewed his contract.

I think Ayuso is staying now, or so he told the UAE after they included him in the Vuelta team.

That's why I say the UAE deserves to see him leave despite everything, and they see that they've given in to his blackmail for nothing.
In the UAE, no one has ever done two GTs so young; they don't see it as advisable. Have they suddenly changed their minds? It's clear that this decision was made after reports that he would leave the team.

 

[James M]

You are speculating, thats what you are doing. Did Pogacar look like a rider wanting to ride the Vuelta the last week of the Tour? No, he didn't. This end of season schedule is tested and tried and works very well after an extremely demanding first part of the season. The Vuelta is no rush at all, calm down. Pogi needs some week now to relax and slowly start training again, its only human. No one rider in the peloton does what he does.

Quebec, Montreal, WC ITT, WC RR, Emilia, Tre Valle and Lombardia is a perfectly fine schedule. Maybe he will even do the EC in between and skip some of the lesser Italian classics, who knows.

I initially didn’t like the idea of Canada last year either, in his schedule, but it worked wonders for him last year when he included it in his training plan for the WC. So it’s hard to knock it, and it's clearly a comfort choice since he knows it works wonders for him to peak his form as part of training. That reasoning is easy to follow, its proven thereby comfort. Essentially sticking to a proven plan he knows work is very logical.

1month away from here and I forgot how emotional some people are here in every single projection.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Uhm... Canada. Interesting.

Is he going to be able to figure out the "Quebec Puzzle"?




Is he doing the TT or what?

12.09 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
14.09 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal

21.09 Rwanda TT
28.09 Rwanda RR

If he's skipping it anyway, I'd say it's fine.

Golden opportunity to win WC double

 

[yaco]

I complain about the decision because this year's Vuelta is the easiest. And I have the feeling the team hasn't advise him because of the problems they have with other riders, mainly Ayuso.

But I'm not saying Pogacar is incapable of doing two GTs, nor am I comparing him to other cyclists who don't compete in the Classics in Spring, not even at his level.

By the way, since Ayuso is such a leader, I hope he goes to UAE Tour next year and Pogacar isn't the one who has to bring forward his debut again to go to that race.
Pogacar had to move his debut forward a few weeks this year due to that commitment.

Teams should be lining up to take Ayuso off UAE's books. It's a no-brainer forhim to leave the team.

 

[SHAD0W93]

as a slovenian strange thing happened.pog basically said im done.never had serius injury in his life and he is 26,lol.but than luka doncic decided to get in shape and play for next decade.hope similar happens to pog,but doubtful.hope ist national thing,i dont know modesty or smth.

Not everyone wants to keep performing at a high level professional into their 30s or even going the step further and into their 40s. Pogacar has been riding at a high level since 2019, that’s very tiring physically and mentally. What matters is he does what he wants and that he has no regrets.

 

[James M]

If this is Ayuso's last season in the UAE, then it makes less sense to do that to Almeida, who has renewed his contract.

I think Ayuso is staying now, or so he told the UAE after they included him in the Vuelta team.

That's why I say the UAE deserves to see him leave despite everything, and they see that they've given in to his blackmail for nothing.
In the UAE, no one has ever done two GTs so young; they don't see it as advisable. Have they suddenly changed their minds? It's clear that this decision was made after reports that he would leave the team.

If Pog says no to the Vuelta like he did, and lets say ur the boss,(you know the values how fresh he is etc) ask yourself this, cause its really this simple: Who make most sense to add next to Almeida to increase chances to win? Isnt it really easy then? (he didnt finish giro etc and they knows the values)

Or do you let your emotions knowing he will leave effect it? Which make no sense, If so why did 30% of the riders ride in the Tour when teams know they will change next year and so on and on. Can I ask are you a fremale or male, just curious.

 

[Peyroteo94]

In Pogacar's winning speech on the podium he thanked the organizers and the fans only to then close it out with ''maybe I'll be back''.

Of course he will be back. In fact, I only see Del Toro with a tiny possibility to reach Pogacar's level (I don't think he will btw) so there is a possibility Pogacar can win 3 out of 4 TdF in the next 4 years.

 

[Cycling111]

I initially didn’t like the idea of Canada last year either, in his schedule, but it worked wonders for him last year when he included it in his training plan for the WC. So it’s hard to knock it, and it's clearly a comfort choice since he knows it works wonders for him to peak his form as part of training. That reasoning is easy to follow, its proven thereby comfort. Essentially sticking to a proven plan he knows work is very logical.

1month away from here and I forgot how emotional some people are here in every single projection.

Australia's year was not, and in fact it was said that so much traveling was not good.

Also, the strange thing is that Pogacar said the other day that the hardest part of GT is being away from home. Going to Canada doesn't seem like the best option to be close to home. Because they arrive several days early due to jet lag.

 

[Red Rick]

Time trial has historically been a poor fit for performing in the road race, but it's not like Pogacar should need the perfect leadin.

Dunno if there's some Slovenian team politics either, I always forget how many slots they get.

 

[Salvarani]

Rather he skip the ITT. Let Roglic take that one.

Focus on the RR.