Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[yaco]

yes but he wants to skip the tour one year, he has said so multiple times and 2028 is perfect because olympics would be difficult to win doing the tour, plus he could also do vuelta if he skips the tour

The whole peleton will ride the Olympics and the the TDF. Few, if any, will only focus on the Olympics.

 

[ingsve]

How long do you think Pogacar will have the motivation to keep going with the same dominance and winning everything? I'd imagine that the same thing might happen as with other athletes who have won everything they desire, that their motivation to keep training the same way goes down and they find new challenges for themselves.

For example if Roubaix keeps eluding him, do you think at some point he would try and bulk up and sacrifice GTs in order to have a better shot at a race like P-R?

 

[AmRacer]

How long do you think Pogacar will have the motivation to keep going with the same dominance and winning everything? I'd imagine that the same thing might happen as with other athletes who have won everything they desire, that their motivation to keep training the same way goes down and they find new challenges for themselves.

For example if Roubaix keeps eluding him, do you think at some point he would try and bulk up and sacrifice GTs in order to have a better shot at a race like P-R?

The year Mathieu's motivation is fading, Pogi will win PR without bulking up.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

How long do you think Pogacar will have the motivation to keep going with the same dominance and winning everything? I'd imagine that the same thing might happen as with other athletes who have won everything they desire, that their motivation to keep training the same way goes down and they find new challenges for themselves.

For example if Roubaix keeps eluding him, do you think at some point he would try and bulk up and sacrifice GTs in order to have a better shot at a race like P-R?

Pogacar started big successes very young for a cyclist. He won his 2nd Tour when he was still 22 yo. It's not just a normal prime: we are talking about a guy who is #1 for 200 weeks without any break. The pressure and expectations to win every race take their toll. He mentioned something about 2028. If he ends his career then most people will perceive it as early but this would probably mean 8-9 consecutive years at the absolute top of cycling (it's really a lot) and retiring before decline phase.

 

[Cycling111]

Pogacar started big successes very young for a cyclist. He won his 2nd Tour when he was still 22 yo. It's not just a normal prime: we are talking about a guy who is #1 for 200 weeks without any break. The pressure and expectations to win every race take their toll. He mentioned something about 2028. If he ends his career then most people will perceive it as early but this would probably mean 8-9 consecutive years at the absolute top of cycling (it's really a lot) and retiring before decline phase.

He didn't mention retiring in 2028, but rather that he'd already be thinking about it because he only has two years left on his contract. In 2030.

 

[HashRouge]

It's interesting, I see a lot of posters saying things like "well he won't get close to Mercx's palmares if he doesn't do x, y, z". But I wonder how much Pogacar cares about that, especially at the moment when he seems to be feeling a bit down and burnt out. It must be quite exhausting to always be compared to someone else when, as Pogacar says, if he stopped now he would be happy with what he's achieved. His palmares is ridiculous.

 

[YavorD]

He didn't mention retiring in 2028, but rather that he'd already be thinking about it because he only has two years left on his contract. In 2030.

I wouldn't call it sure that he will complete his contract. If he is able to win everything big, he may even retire in 2028.

I'm not surprised though.. Around February I shared an opinion that he will retire at 30 or 31.

 

[iBanesto]

 

[Peter von]

How long do you think Pogacar will have the motivation to keep going with the same dominance and winning everything? I'd imagine that the same thing might happen as with other athletes who have won everything they desire, that their motivation to keep training the same way goes down and they find new challenges for themselves.

For example if Roubaix keeps eluding him, do you think at some point he would try and bulk up and sacrifice GTs in order to have a better shot at a race like P-R?

It's really tough, there are so many factors.

I think he was quite happy with this years P-R performance. He was very much in contention and probably fancies his chances at getting to the velodrome with MVP and beating him in the sprint, he knows he won't win every sprint but probaly backs himself to win 1/2 or 2/5.
So i think he will try this formula a few years or until he succeeds.

So I don't think he will willingly sacrifice the Tour as it stands now.
Maybe he will make some changes he hope won't loose him the Tour, like adding a little bit of extra weight for the classics and dropping them again before July or maybe doing more cobbled races.

 

[P4rthen0n]

The stars aligned last year. His level in the mountains was overrated. He made the difference in two medium mountain stages (stage 11 and stage 17) and both TTs. In the high mountain stages, he gained less time to the "first human".

Galibier - 0"
Pla d'Adet - 9"
PdB - 1'03"
Isola - 18"
Couillole - 35"

MM stages and TTs:
Stage 11 - 1'22"
Stage 17 - 2'13"
Flat TT - 52"
MTT - 56"

He was clearly the third best climber but he was closer to humans than closer to Pogacar or Vingegaard in the high mountains (I will repeat, in the high mountains).

You can compare time differences to others, but i think it makes more sense to evaluate W/kg, like you mentioned in the previous post (W/kg generally is the deciding factor to win a GT).

In that sense, you can't get anybody else (other than Vingegaard or Pogacar) with better numbers than Remco had in the 2024 Tour.

 

[Cycling111]

I wouldn't call it sure that he will complete his contract. If he is able to win everything big, he may even retire in 2028.

I'm not surprised though.. Around February I shared an opinion that he will retire at 30 or 31.

That's speculation.

You're overanalyzing statements made in the third week of the Tour. And yet, even in that contexte, hasn't even considered retiring in 2028, but in 2030.

 

[Peyroteo94]

You can compare time differences to others, but i think it makes more sense to evaluate W/kg, like you mentioned in the previous post (W/kg generally is the deciding factor to win a GT).

In that sense, you can't get anybody else (other than Vingegaard or Pogacar) with better numbers than Remco had in the 2024 Tour.

That's stupid to compare w/kg in different races, different climbs, etc. Remco did better numbers than Pogacar/Vingegaard 2023. Would he beat them? Hell no.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It's interesting, I see a lot of posters saying things like "well he won't get close to Mercx's palmares if he doesn't do x, y, z". But I wonder how much Pogacar cares about that, especially at the moment when he seems to be feeling a bit down and burnt out. It must be quite exhausting to always be compared to someone else when, as Pogacar says, if he stopped now he would be happy with what he's achieved. His palmares is ridiculous.

He said 2 years ago he wanted to be the best ever

 

[YavorD]

That's speculation.

You're overanalyzing statements made in the third week of the Tour. And yet, even in that contexte, hasn't even considered retiring in 2028, but in 2030.

No necessarily 2028, maybe 2029.
I think the only chance he fulfills (and eventually extends) his contract is both:

• He is strong enough to win a lot of races
• He still hasn't won MSR/PR/Vuelta.

If he wins everything and the OG by 2028, he could retire and I would say it's rather likely. If he finds it hard to win races he will probably retire as well. I don't see him continuing Sagan style or even Valverde.

 

[Red Rick]

It's interesting, I see a lot of posters saying things like "well he won't get close to Mercx's palmares if he doesn't do x, y, z". But I wonder how much Pogacar cares about that, especially at the moment when he seems to be feeling a bit down and burnt out. It must be quite exhausting to always be compared to someone else when, as Pogacar says, if he stopped now he would be happy with what he's achieved. His palmares is ridiculous.

It's lived experience versus fans living vicariously through an athlete. Fans get only the races and results to live through but not the process and struggles of getting there.

 

[BubbaChuck]

They made goat retire at 27,cause we live in softest era possible.Trully cooked times.

 

[scribers]

I would have retired at 19. But I didn’t know it was an option.

 

[AmRacer]

They made goat retire at 27,cause we live in softest era possible.Trully cooked times.

He can retire after next Olympics

 

[Peyroteo94]

Last year Wellens said Pogacar is feeling the pressure of being very famous.

 

[Shortcut]

I see that most forums are paying huge attention to Pogacar’s latest statements, even though he only said that he will START thinking about retirement after the 2028 Olympics. So, not that he will retire then, but that he will start thinking about it. He has a contract until 2030, and he will definitely fulfill it because there is too much money at stake.
I personally see the problem in motivation, because every one of his defeats is portrayed as the biggest tragedy, and immediately the narrative shifts to “he’s not the same anymore.” But if he wins, then it’s suddenly boring. In the spring, he dominantly won “only” FW, even though it is extremely difficult to win it in the other way he did, along with LBL.Yet right after that, people started talking about “boring racing.” The incredible battles between him and MvDP across three monuments were immediately forgotten.
He dominated the Tour, and when he started winning stages with ease, it was “boring” again. If he doesn’t win, then the problem is that he’s not attacking and that it’s dull. Basically, whatever he does, it’s never right.
Because he’s in the GOAT discussions, he’s expected to be in top form all the time and peak three times a year, which is psychologically extremely hard—especially when he’s the only one doing that and still getting criticized for it.
Doing the Vuelta would have been way too exhausting, which I’ve been saying since the start of the year. Winning the World Championships time trial is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because he will never get a better course profile, and the same goes for the road race. Also, winning a monument five times in a row is a unique achievement.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I see that most forums are paying huge attention to Pogacar’s latest statements, even though he only said that he will START thinking about retirement after the 2028 Olympics. So, not that he will retire then, but that he will start thinking about it. He has a contract until 2030, and he will definitely fulfill it because there is too much money at stake.
I personally see the problem in motivation, because every one of his defeats is portrayed as the biggest tragedy, and immediately the narrative shifts to “he’s not the same anymore.” But if he wins, then it’s suddenly boring. In the spring, he dominantly won “only” FW, even though it is extremely difficult to win it in the other way he did, along with LBL.Yet right after that, people started talking about “boring racing.” The incredible battles between him and MvDP across three monuments were immediately forgotten.
He dominated the Tour, and when he started winning stages with ease, it was “boring” again. If he doesn’t win, then the problem is that he’s not attacking and that it’s dull. Basically, whatever he does, it’s never right.
Because he’s in the GOAT discussions, he’s expected to be in top form all the time and peak three times a year, which is psychologically extremely hard—especially when he’s the only one doing that and still getting criticized for it.
Doing the Vuelta would have been way too exhausting, which I’ve been saying since the start of the year. Winning the World Championships time trial is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because he will never get a better course profile, and the same goes for the road race. Also, winning a monument five times in a row is a unique achievement.

There is no such thing as starting to think on retirement in 2028. If he is saying this, it means he is already thinking about this. Not in 2028 but in 2025.

 

[Cycling111]

There is no such thing as starting to think on retirement in 2028. If he is saying this, it means he is already thinking about this. Not in 2028 but in 2025.

You're overinterpreting something he said on the final day of the Tour. And yet, what he said points more to 2030. The rest of the year, his attitude and statements have been different.

When Healy asked him about this in Liège, he alluded to 2030.

 

[Unchained]

I also wonder about the logistics. It's one thing to ride the Olympics in Paris immediately after finishing the TDF, but how much time would you need between the two races crossing the Atlantic?

Great points, and Los Angeles is a completely different animal.
Top riders will need travel days and will need days ( plural) for acclamation..I don't know for sure but 4,5 days before your first event and if cyclists can train in an Olympic village..
But if someone is getting driven from the airport, changing your clothes for the Olympics or TDF is going to be disastrous!!
I say that in jest of couse but its sort of true..There is great support for racers in LA but wondering about rider volume? In most of the US, but especially Los Angeles law enforcement has zero understanding, consideration for follow cars or traffic disruption without extensive permitting process.. So you can have a follow and camera car, just can't do it as impromptu as in Spain, rural France or Italy..
There is great riding immediately outside of Los Angeles, even as close as Malibu, Pasadena, Angeles National Forest.. but if there are dozens of splinter groups doing it ,sounds like chaos.. And with big riders, federations will be working with trade teams.. Mexico, Slovenia,Denmark likely to have hybrid representation.. Pog is not going to be taking daily instructions from national team coach..
There might be some hybrid lodging situation for bike racers but for TT and road race candidates living in the Olympic Village and riding in and out for decent training is not possible, hotels located outside are best solution and get shuttled to the races.

 

[Peyroteo94]

You're overinterpreting something he said on the final day of the Tour. And yet, what he said points more to 2030. The rest of the year, his attitude and statements have been different.

When Healy asked him about this in Liège, he alluded to 2030.

He was worse in 2023 and he didn't say something like this.
I think he has 4 more years in him.

 

[Cycling111]

I see that most forums are paying huge attention to Pogacar’s latest statements, even though he only said that he will START thinking about retirement after the 2028 Olympics. So, not that he will retire then, but that he will start thinking about it. He has a contract until 2030, and he will definitely fulfill it because there is too much money at stake.
I personally see the problem in motivation, because every one of his defeats is portrayed as the biggest tragedy, and immediately the narrative shifts to “he’s not the same anymore.” But if he wins, then it’s suddenly boring. In the spring, he dominantly won “only” FW, even though it is extremely difficult to win it in the other way he did, along with LBL.Yet right after that, people started talking about “boring racing.” The incredible battles between him and MvDP across three monuments were immediately forgotten.
He dominated the Tour, and when he started winning stages with ease, it was “boring” again. If he doesn’t win, then the problem is that he’s not attacking and that it’s dull. Basically, whatever he does, it’s never right.
Because he’s in the GOAT discussions, he’s expected to be in top form all the time and peak three times a year, which is psychologically extremely hard—especially when he’s the only one doing that and still getting criticized for it.
Doing the Vuelta would have been way too exhausting, which I’ve been saying since the start of the year. Winning the World Championships time trial is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because he will never get a better course profile, and the same goes for the road race. Also, winning a monument five times in a row is a unique achievement.

Everything around him is being exaggerated, and at the Tour, everything is being blown out of proportion more than ever. Therefore, I would take his statements for what they are: something said in a moment of fatigue, but not something representative of his intentions. For that, you'd have to pay more attention to what he says in a few weeks.
I'm disappointed that he won't be going to the Vuelta, but I think he's blowing his words out of proportion at a very contextual moment. He hasn't spoken like that the rest of the year, and when he rests for a few days, he probably won't either.

As they've said, last year he said he wanted to be the best in history, and on the last day of the Tour de France, he said he doesn't care about numbers or how many Tour de France wins.
This contradiction is fueled by the typical exhaustion of the Tour de France. What matters is what he thinks when he rests and clears his mind, and the rest of the year his statements haven't been along those lines.

On Slovenian television, already more relaxed, he said his goals for 2026 were Paris-Roubaix, and the Tour de France, but many people on internet are already saying he won't be going to the Tour de France.
He himself has said that he will go to the Tour in 2026 to defend the title, but it is a widespread comment on X that he probably won't go.

Everything is being exaggerated too much. It's a disappointment that he's not going to go to the Vuelta when last year he said he'd be doing 2 GTs a year for at least another 2/3 years, but everything else is being exaggerated.