Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

According Pauwels this is how Belgium will beat Pogacar

Control, don't react, support: National coach Pauwels has sophisticated battle plan to beat Pogacar at the World Championships

On Monday, the Belgian federation announced its selections for the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, with Remco Evenepoel, unsurprisingly, named the clear team leader. To go for a second rainbow...

www.idlprocycling.com

 

[QueenStagiaire]

According Pauwels this is how Belgium will beat Pogacar

Control, don't react, support: National coach Pauwels has sophisticated battle plan to beat Pogacar at the World Championships

On Monday, the Belgian federation announced its selections for the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, with Remco Evenepoel, unsurprisingly, named the clear team leader. To go for a second rainbow...

www.idlprocycling.com

Control the race for him and then just try to follow him and see how it goes. Doesn‘t convince me

 

[Valv.Piti]

Tour team should see a complete overhaul

Pog
Yates (Majka role, and please dont screw it up by overracing him)
Almeida or Toro depending on who does the Giro (I'd prefer Del Toro doing Tour, and Almeida leading the Giro). Maybe you bring both do, Almeida could easily do 2 GTs back to back.
Wellens is the safest card on the roster
Narvaez, very close to Wellens status

Thats the core. Lets say you only bring one of Toro/Almeida:
Vine, pure climbing dom alá Poels/Kuss
Vermeersch for positioning with Wellens
Last one could be either Bjerg, Politt, Soler, Sivakov, Mcnulty, Arrieta or Baroncini. Would rather not see the old guard, I like Baroncini, but he does the same as Florian I think. I think Bjerg is always a nice balance who can do it all pretty well, and theres a TTT.

So:
Pog
Yates
Del Toro
Vine
Wellens
Narvaez
Vermeersch
Bjerg

I think is the most balanced all well rounded roster. But depends on the route, maybe you dont need Vermeesch or a similar rider like that when you have Wellens. But the 2024 was really bad IMO, and Soler and Sivakov was of no use. Politt as well. You should probably bring McNulty then instead of Veermersch, that would be a team of a team, but would solely rely on Wellens for positioning again.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Tour team should see a complete overhaul

Pog
Yates (Majka role, and please dont screw it up by overracing him)
Almeida or Toro depending on who does the Giro (I'd prefer Del Toro doing Tour, and Almeida leading the Giro). Maybe you bring both do, Almeida could easily do 2 GTs back to back.
Wellens is the safest card on the roster
Narvaez, very close to Wellens status

Thats the core. Lets say you only bring one of Toro/Almeida:
Vine, pure climbing dom alá Poels/Kuss
Vermeersch for positioning with Wellens
Last one could be either Bjerg, Politt, Soler, Sivakov, Mcnulty, Arrieta or Baroncini. Would rather not see the old guard, I like Baroncini, but he does the same as Florian I think. I think Bjerg is always a nice balance who can do it all pretty well, and theres a TTT.

So:
Pog
Yates
Del Toro
Vine
Wellens
Narvaez
Vermeersch
Bjerg

I think is the most balanced all well rounded roster. But depends on the route, maybe you dont need Vermeesch or a similar rider like that when you have Wellens. But the 2024 was really bad IMO, and Soler and Sivakov was of no use. Politt as well. You should probably bring McNulty then instead of Veermersch, that would be a team of a team, but would solely rely on Wellens for positioning again.

You forgot Politt. And Soler will race the Tour. They start in Barcelona.

Tour 2026
Pogacar
Almeida (Giro-Tour)
Narvaez
Wellens
Soler
Politt

These 6 will be there for sure.

 

[Valv.Piti]

No I didn't forget Politt. I don't want a rouleur who's afraid of riding for positions in a full peloton. Politt sits either at the front or is nowhere to be seen. And Soler was trash, so there's more deserving riders

 

[Peyroteo94]

No I didn't forget Politt. I don't want a rouleur who's afraid of riding for positions in a full peloton. Politt sits either at the front or is nowhere to be seen. And Soler was trash, so there's more deserving riders

Soler was decent. Not good, not bad. Sivakov and Yates were way worse.
Politt can ride 100 km without losing time for a break, he is great. Pogacar doesn't need teammates to be at the front.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Soler was decent. Not good, not bad. Sivakov and Yates were way worse.
Politt can ride 100 km without losing time for a break, he is great. Pogacar doesn't need teammates to be at the front.

Agree to disagree. Sivakov was horrible, but Soler was already really bad. And Politt was just a complete non-factor. The only think he's good at is controlling breaks, and he failed to do that this year

Team needs no blood. Don't want to see any of these three riders when you have such good riders to replace them like Vine, Mcnulty, Bjerg, Baroncini, Vermeersch etc.

 

[Cycling111]

Soler was decent. Not good, not bad. Sivakov and Yates were way worse.
Politt can ride 100 km without losing time for a break, he is great. Pogacar doesn't need teammates to be at the front.

Soler was better today than he had been in the entire Tour. For me, he was horrible.

Pogacar lost two stages due to the poor sahpe of Soler and Sivakov.

Next year, they should take those who are at 100% in the Tour. Soler is always at his best in the Vuelta. Sivakov can't go to another Tour in that shape.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Agree to disagree. Sivakov was horrible, but Soler was already really bad. And Politt was just a complete non-factor. The only think he's good at is controlling breaks, and he failed to do that this year

Team needs no blood. Don't want to see any of these three riders when you have such good riders to replace them like Vine, Mcnulty, Bjerg, Baroncini, Vermeersch etc.

Vine and McNulty would be great assets but I don't believe in their work ethic. You are clearly underestimating Politt, specially when he had to pull more km due to Sivakov, Soler and Yates being weaker than usual.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Soler was better today than he had been in the entire Tour. For me, he was horrible.

Pogacar lost two stages due to the poor sahpe of Soler and Sivakov.

Next year, they should take those who are at 100% in the Tour. Soler is always at his best in the Vuelta. Sivakov can't go to another Tour in that shape.

There is a big difference in what we are saying (me vs you and ValvPiti). I'm saying the Tour's team based on what I think UAE will bring to the Tour, not what I want.

If I was a manager, UAE would look like this:
Pogacar
Almeida
Del Toro
Narvaez
Wellens
Politt
McNulty
Jay Vine/Yates

But I'm pretty sure Soler will be there. We also don't know if Sivakov (or Yates) can regain his 2024 level.

 

[Cycling111]

There is a big difference in what we are saying (me vs you and ValvPiti). I'm saying the Tour's team based on what I think UAE will bring to the Tour, not what I want.

If I was a manager, UAE would look like this:
Pogacar
Almeida
Del Toro
Narvaez
Wellens
Politt
McNulty
Jay Vine/Yates

But I'm pretty sure Soler will be there. We also don't know if Sivakov (or Yates) can regain his 2024 level.

I wouldn't take Vine because of the crashes. He isn't having them in the Vuelta because there are no descents . The route is too easy, the breakaway rivals are much weaker than in the Tour, and there isn't nearly the tension.

Unfortunately, Vine wouldn't make it through the first week of the Tour without crashes.

McNulty celebrated a top-10 at the Giro the same day they lost. And he didn't help at all.
He´ll probably help Pogacar in Canada, but he doesn't seem willing to sacrifice 21 days.

I'd remove Vine and McNulty from your team for the reasons explained.

I'd include other riders depending on the route. If there's mid-mountain riding, maybe Bjerg.

I wouldn't know who to give the other spot to.

I miss an experienced climber. Before it was Majka, now it was Yates, but he's losing form.
They need to compensate for Del Toro's inexperience.
The team has no natural replacement for Majka/Yates. They should sign a domestique like Majka, a veteran who maintains good shape. Instead of signing so many young players who would cause ego problems. They already have enough.

Something impopular. In the future, when he has more experience, I'd take Christen. He did an excepcional work in Lombardia and FW. With Pogacar, he's not selfish.

 

[Valv.Piti]

You don't bring Christen. Christen is similar to Narvaez, and you don't need any more puncheurs. Narvaez is doing that job quite fine. Need more horsepower in the mountain and positining/echelons/TTT

 

[Peyroteo94]

I wouldn't take Vine because of the crashes. He isn't having them in the Vuelta because there are no descents . The route is too easy, the breakaway rivals are much weaker than in the Tour, and there isn't nearly the tension.

Unfortunately, Vine wouldn't make it through the first week of the Tour without crashes.

McNulty celebrated a top-10 at the Giro the same day they lost. And he didn't help at all.
He´ll probably help Pogacar in Canada, but he doesn't seem willing to sacrifice 21 days.

I'd remove Vine and McNulty from your team for the reasons explained.

I'd include other riders depending on the route. If there's mid-mountain riding, maybe Bjerg.

I wouldn't know who to give the other spot to.

I miss an experienced climber. Before it was Majka, now it was Yates, but he's losing form.
They need to compensate for Del Toro's inexperience.
The team has no natural replacement for Majka/Yates. They should sign a domestique like Majka, a veteran who maintains good shape. Instead of signing so many young players who would cause ego problems. They already have enough.

Something impopular. In the future, when he has more experience, I'd take Christen. He did an excepcional work in Lombardia and FW. With Pogacar, he's not selfish.

My opinion is based on ceilling. Of course, there are more reliable riders than McNulty and Vine IMO. McNulty could be the perfect domestique though. Very good for the TTT, strong tempo climber, good on rolling terrain but he has his own goals.

 

[Cycling111]

You don't bring Christen. Christen is similar to Narvaez, and you don't need any more puncheurs. Narvaez is doing that job quite fine. Need more horsepower in the mountain and positining/echelons/TTT

I'm not talking about 2026, I'm talking about the future.

 

[Cycling111]

My opinion is based on ceilling. Of course, there are more reliable riders than McNulty and Vine IMO. McNulty could be the perfect domestique though. Very good for the TTT, strong tempo climber, good on rolling terrain but he has his own goals.

McNulty has the problem of not wanting to be a domestique in a GT.

I forgot there's a team time trial next year. They'll probably bring him in for that, but we'll see if he wants to go to work.

It's too risky to take Vine to a Tour. With the stress and obstacles on French roads, he won't survivet the first week.
Besides, he's a rider who would be left behind on some descents. He can't be a team player on the Tour routes, with the stress of the Tour.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Vine is prone to crashes but what is the danger of riding the Tour at the back of the peloton? I also fear for Vine but being at the back (like Yates did in this year) is the safest spot to not crash.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Politt's task of managing the black list is more important that other doms' work. Plus he's a good cyclist.

 

[Cycling111]

Spain has a strong team for the World Championships because they have several riders to the break.

It remains to be seen what France will bring. They're another team without a favorite but have several riders ready to break away.
Switzerland also.

Do you think Belgium will control the attacks from other teams? If Belgium doesn't control them and they give the responsibility to Slovenia. it'll be difficult for Pogacar. Ironically, Belgium, the strongest team, should be Pogacar's greatest ally in controlling the breaks.


Ecuador only has Narvaez and Carapaz. They'll attack with one, and the other in the wheel. Cepeda cousins will be the team's domestiques. They really don't have a worse team than Slovenia . Two good riders, and the domestiques aren't any worse. Slovenia only has Novak.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Spain has a strong team for the World Championships because they have several riders to the break.

It remains to be seen what France will bring. They're another team without a favorite but have several riders ready to break away.
Switzerland also.

Do you think Belgium will control the attacks from other teams? If Belgium doesn't control them and they give the responsibility to Slovenia. it'll be difficult for Pogacar. Ironically, Belgium, the strongest team, should be Pogacar's greatest ally in controlling the breaks.


Ecuador only has Narvaez and Carapaz. They'll attack with one, and the other in the wheel. Cepeda cousins will be the team's domestiques. They really don't have a worse team than Slovenia . Two good riders, and the domestiques aren't any worse. Slovenia only has Novak.

I hope they attack with Narvaez in order to help Pogacar later eheheh.

 

[Cycling111]

I hope they attack with Narvaez in order to help Pogacar later eheheh.

I don't think Narvaez would be as helpful as Sivakov. Narvaez is fast; he'll try to stay on the wheel as long as he can to win. Sivakov is very slow in the sprint; it was his only chance of a medal. Besides, Sivakov is Pogacar´s friend. Narvaez not going to collaborate with stronger riders and wait for the sprint.
It´s a world championship, unless you're Sivakov, who has no chance of winning the sprint, his only chance of a medal is that, and he is Pogacar´s friend. Narvaez will only think about his options.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I don't think Narvaez would be as helpful as Sivakov. Narvaez is fast; he'll try to stay on the wheel as long as he can to win. Sivakov is very slow in the sprint; it was his only chance of a medal. Besides, Sivakov is Pogacar´s friend. Pogacar not going to collaborate with stronger riders and wait for the sprint.
It´s a world championship, unless you're Sivakov, who has no chance of winning the sprint, his only chance of a medal is that, and he is Pogacar´s friend. Narvaez will only think about his options.

In fact, I believe he only needs the race controlled until the last 70-80 km. I think Belgium will be important for that.

 

[Cycling111]

It looks like Tratnik will be at the World Championships.
A few days ago, they said no because he had gotten married.

Anyway, his shape this year has been very poor. Last year, he was very important, but given this season, I doubt he'll be this year.
Although Slovenia doesn't have many good cyclists, so he will always be better than a continental rider

 

[Shortcut]

It looks like Tratnik will be at the World Championships.
A few days ago, they said no because he had gotten married.

Anyway, his shape this year has been very poor. Last year, he was very important, but given this season, I doubt he'll be this year.
Although Slovenia doesn't have many good cyclists, so he will always be better than a continental rider

Tratnik would be great. If he is there then Slovenia could be relaxed as a team. Novak and Tratnik is great duo for first 170 km to keep breakaway close.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It looks like Tratnik will be at the World Championships.
A few days ago, they said no because he had gotten married.

Anyway, his shape this year has been very poor. Last year, he was very important, but given this season, I doubt he'll be this year.
Although Slovenia doesn't have many good cyclists, so he will always be better than a continental rider

He still is a worldtour rider and can be there after 130 km

 

[Peyroteo94]

Tratnik would be great. If he is there then Slovenia could be relaxed as a team. Novak and Tratnik is great duo for first 170 km to keep breakaway close.

No way. There are much weaker slovenian riders to do the dirty work