Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Rou]

Visma's basically been doing the Tour in preseason the last few years. And if there's minor substitutions, they'll just photoshop something different, no big deal.

If del Toro destroys Juan in 3 days in San Sebastian it would be a good photoshop bomb to add the Mexican instead of the Spaniard, no?
As far as I know the Vuelta is HUGE in Latin America and a local rider fighting for the podium would be good business for UAE.

 

[YavorD]

Rick, UAE just had to post Pogacar's schedule and be done with it.
There are multiple races between now and the Vuelta and it makes ZERO sense to post a full starting lineup now.
What if some riders crash or get sick?
They will post more starting posters?
Literally no other team is doing this so early.
Makes no sense at all.

Kinda remember Visma announced their Giro 2023 team 3 or 4 weeks early.
People (a lot of people actually 😂) got injured and they changed them. Teams usually have some reserves for such cases.
I think you're reading too much into it. Yes, it's unusual, but not something to make big thing of it.

 

[AmRacer]

If del Toro destroys Juan in 3 days in San Sebastian it would be a good photoshop bomb to add the Mexican instead of the Spaniard, no?
As far as I know the Vuelta is HUGE in Latin America and a local rider fighting for the podium would be good business for UAE.

Del Toro has already done one GT, noway he's riding two.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Next year he will not race the Vuelta again.
If he is targetting PR, it's obvious his schedule will be similar to this year.

 

[James M]

What year do people here reckon he'll go for the three GT in the same year challenge?

Without checking or knowing—isn't next year's WC circuit also good for him?

 

[Peyroteo94]

What year do people here eckon he'll go for the three GT in the same year challenge?

Without checking or knowing—isn't next year's WC circuit also good for him?

It is. 2025, 2026 and 2027 are very good for him. The true is, routes not made for Pogacar are few. Probably WC like Doha or Copenhagen.

 

[Rou]

What year do people here eckon he'll go for the three GT in the same year challenge?

Without checking or knowing—isn't next year's WC circuit also good for him?

I don't think he'll ever go for it.
Last year was the perfect storm to do it (best career shape, injured Jonas, amazing Tour shape) and he didn't go for it.
Maybe his last ever season he will start all 3 but I can't see fighting for the win.

 

[James M]

It is. 2025, 2026 and 2027 are very good for him. The true is, routes not made for Pogacar are few. Probably WC like Doha or Copenhagen.

Thats my thought also, im obviously just guessing and have no idea but this is why I think it will be in 2027 or 28 he will try, for this reason. He is also in the right age-limit still or there about.

 

[fenns]

Next year he will not race the Vuelta again.
If he is targetting PR, it's obvious his schedule will be similar to this year.

You can't make a one-day race on cobbles in April the primary target for the year. Sure he might take it in along the way with other Spring classics but the target for 2026 will be the Tour de France.

 

[Peyroteo94]

You can't make a one-day race on cobbles in April the primary target for the year. Sure he might take it in along the way with other Spring classics but the target for 2026 will be the Tour de France.

Like I said, a schedule very similar to this year.

 

[HashRouge]

I don't think he'll ever go for it.
Last year was the perfect storm to do it (best career shape, injured Jonas, amazing Tour shape) and he didn't go for it.
Maybe his last ever season he will start all 3 but I can't see fighting for the win.

I lean towards this view as well. Last year was the year to do it, though I think his WC bid might have suffered had he done it. He was in such good shape, but also in the most ebullient mood, unlike this year.

 

[fenns]

What year do people here reckon he'll go for the three GT in the same year challenge?

Seems unlikely - he's only raced more than the Tour on one occasion.

 

[The bald fraud]

Next year he will not race the Vuelta again.
If he is targetting PR, it's obvious his schedule will be similar to this year.

Yes, he is targeting PR. But that does not mean he will not do the Vuelta. If he has a proper team (that is at least on par with Visma, if not better), and if he does not crash and catch cold (this year it looks like he did) he will be significantly less exhausted after the Tour.

Without checking or knowing—isn't next year's WC circuit also good for him?

They are. At least the RR courses. But if he wants to win the WC ITT, there will never be a better (hilly) course than in Rwanda. Next year, the TT will allegedly be on a motor racing circuit (flat), in 2027, it will be similar to Zürich TT course, and 2028-2029 will be surely flat (RR too). Pogacar wants to win everything possible (including WC TT) - and this is his best (possibly only) chance to win the WC TT. It would be too hard to ride it immediately (one week) after Vuelta.

Next year, he will only target WC RR after Vuelta. So IMO it means Vuelta was always likelier either next year or in 2027 (in 2027, the WC comes early, end of August/beginning of September, which means Vuelta will take place AFTER the WC and Pogi can contest Vuelta without compromising his WC goals).

 

[Red Rick]

If del Toro destroys Juan in 3 days in San Sebastian it would be a good photoshop bomb to add the Mexican instead of the Spaniard, no?
As far as I know the Vuelta is HUGE in Latin America and a local rider fighting for the podium would be good business for UAE.

Del Toro isn't scheduled cause they think he shouldn't race 2 GTs in a year. That one ain't happening. In addition, CSS isn't typically much of a target race for riders who target La Vuelta.

 

[Lorzenz08]

The concerning factor is that Visma saw how spent Pogi was at the end of the Tour and that he's also skipping the Vuelta because of that, so next year they will try the same tactic even harder and with a stronger team.
If Jonas improves more next year, a 5th Tour is not as straight forward as everyone thinks., especially since Pogi is planning to have the same exhausting spring classics season.

The positive news is that now Pogi knows he can reach all time high numbers with just 6 weeks of specific GT preparation

 

[Vinther1991]

I think he will only ride the Vuelta in a year where he skips the Tour de France. He wouldn’t want to do like Vingegaard or Froome, having an easy spring, then peak for the Tour-Vuelta. He has some classics in the spring, WC and Lombardia in the fall, which are also priorities. He has cancelled his Vuelta participation three times following a tough Tour.
The question is if he would be willing/allowed to do a season where he skips the Tour? Maybe MSR-PR-LBL and Giro in the spring, followed by a long break, then Vuelta-WC-Lombardia in the fall?

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think he will only ride the Vuelta in a year where he skips the Tour de France. He wouldn’t want to do like Vingegaard or Froome, having an easy spring, then peak for the Tour-Vuelta. He has some classics in the spring, WC and Lombardia in the fall, which are also priorities. He has cancelled his Vuelta participation three times following a tough Tour.
The question is if he would be willing/allowed to do a season where he skips the Tour? Maybe MSR-PR-LBL and Giro in the spring, followed by a long break, then Vuelta-WC-Lombardia in the fall?

I agree with this. He is a classicomano in his heart.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations on winning the Tour for the fourth time and this time with no real competition endangering that involved.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Congratulations on winning the Tour for the fourth time and this time with no real competition endangering that involved.

Yeah, Pogi should thank cycling gods that Rogla beat his crash count record at the Giro.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Krzysztof_O

I don't feel Pogi needs to thank any other cycling god, now when he became one.

P.S. As for Rogla, he is more of a pilgrim anyway, with a bunch of pupils in cloth walking behind him. Note that when we say oh lord, we don't mean Pogi. It's usually non religious and somewhat Rogla related.

 

[Escarabajo]

If del Toro destroys Juan in 3 days in San Sebastian it would be a good photoshop bomb to add the Mexican instead of the Spaniard, no?
As far as I know the Vuelta is HUGE in Latin America and a local rider fighting for the podium would be good business for UAE.

No. The issue is different than you think. They won't make him ride 2 Tours at his age.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Congratulations on winning the Tour for the fourth time and this time with no real competition endangering that involved.

I didn't even understand what was your opinion about Roglic in the TdF. Since you were claiming he would fight for the win, I'm curious to know your opinion right now after his 8th place.

 

[Peyroteo94]

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[FroomeWagon]

I think he will only ride the Vuelta in a year where he skips the Tour de France. He wouldn’t want to do like Vingegaard or Froome, having an easy spring, then peak for the Tour-Vuelta. He has some classics in the spring, WC and Lombardia in the fall, which are also priorities. He has cancelled his Vuelta participation three times following a tough Tour.
The question is if he would be willing/allowed to do a season where he skips the Tour? Maybe MSR-PR-LBL and Giro in the spring, followed by a long break, then Vuelta-WC-Lombardia in the fall?

He mentioned the other day that a goal was the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Since the Olympics are scheduled from July 14th to July 30th, I assume that goal would prevent him from riding the TDF and might be a great year for him to ride the Vuelta?

 

[CyclistAbi]

I didn't even understand what was your opinion about Roglic in the TdF. Since you were claiming he would fight for the win, I'm curious to know your opinion right now after his 8th place.

My opinion didn't really change, that is any team Rogla ride for in the past couple of years, if they really wanted it then all this years Rogla would at minimum finish at the podium, including at Tour 2025.