Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Red Rick]

Agent of Tadej Pogačar Explains His Tour de France Blues

‘The First Time You Don’t See the Smile on His Face’: Alex Carera speaks about Pogačar finding the joy again, and how to keep it.

velo.outsideonline.com

His agent speaks about why Pogacar was burnt out at the end of the Tour. As expected, heavy spring schedule and no time to rest at home (training camps straight after Liege) were the reason. He needs a lighter schedule next year to do the Vuelta: UAE, Amstel and maybe Fleche should be dropped from his calendar first. Still, cobbles monuments complicate things as this combo is by far the most difficult. As long as he does it he may feel like "screw the Vuelta" every August.

You won't convince me UAE is even a stressor. The flat stages are so easy you're probably detraining if you're a top level professional

 

[Krzysztof_O]

You won't convince me UAE is even a stressor. The flat stages are so easy you're probably detraining if you're a top level professional

It's about starting the season later (without going far away).

 

[Red Rick]

It's about starting the season later (without going far away).

Form timing I think is more about training volume timing than racing. It takes a lot of effort and load to be as good as he is in the spring. If you lighten the schedule do you reach the same level in the monuments?

Simplest cut is probably just cut Ardennes altogether.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Form timing I think is more about training volume timing than racing. It takes a lot of effort and load to be as good as he is in the spring. If you lighten the schedule do you reach the same level in the monuments?

Simplest cut is probably just cut Ardennes altogether.

I think Flandres+Roubaix double is the biggest problem as his margin is smaller there and he needs absolutely top form. Without it Tour + Vuelta double would be more manageable. Cutting Amstel + Fleche is the simplest improvement. Mental aspect seems as important as physical, that's why starting the season later and dropping travel to UAE.

 

[Red Rick]

I think Flandres+Roubaix double is the biggest problem as his margin is smaller there and he needs absolutely top form. Without it Tour + Vuelta double would be more manageable. Cutting Amstel + Fleche is the simplest improvement. Mental aspect seems as important as physical, that's why starting the season later and dropping travel to UAE.

One I forgot, ditch the Dauphine. And if you do it, don't go that hard in it

 

[Krzysztof_O]

One I forgot, ditch the Dauphine. And if you do it, don't go that hard in it

Yup. I think it's maybe more mental stuff than physical: so season start in March, longer home break after Roubaix and i.e. changing Dauphine to Tour of Slovenia (more relaxing race) could matter.

 

[HashRouge]

It's about starting the season later (without going far away).

Yeah, I'm certain he won't do UAE. They'll send del Toro or Almeida I'd imagine. I think Pog has got a bit of a get-out-of-jail-free card next year because they saw how difficult he found the Tour this year and will want to "look after" him a bit more next year.

I think he'll definitely do San Remo and Roubaix again. He'll run those until he wins them now I think (if he ever does win them, of course!). If he's doing Roubaix I assume he'll probably do Flanders again. I'd say skip Strade, but he seems to like having some sort of one day tune up before MSR. He should skip the Ardennes though. He's won them all already, and he doesn't need a fourth LBL. Let del Toro have a go.

One weeks I don't know. I think the Dauphine was a problem this year because it's so close to the Tour, it probably exacerbated that feeling of being non-stop.

 

[Cycling111]

Not so hot favorite. Still 1st favorite but not such obvious one like for Rwanda and 2027. Only end of the route seems like GP Montreal. With UAE that is different than with Slovenia. Next year he will 100% do Vuelta. He can't risk betting all on WC like this year.

If it's for the route, he was less favorite in Zurich.
In the women's category Lotte Kopecky won, in U23 men category a big rider.

 

[Cycling111]

Yup. I think it's maybe more mental stuff than physical: so season start in March, longer home break after Roubaix and i.e. changing Dauphine to Tour of Slovenia (more relaxing race) could matter.

It's also a physical issue. The training required to prepare for Paris-Roubaix is underestimated, especially for someone like him. Paris-Roubaix requires more training than competing in UAE Tour for 7 days, or even a harder one-week race.
It's oneday of competition, but it's backed by weeks of training and concentration.

Pogacar can win Volta Catalunya without being 100% shape while preparing for the Giro. According to what he said, he wasn't even 100% shape at the Giro to be able to 100% for the Tour. In contrast, in Paris-Roubaix, he had to be at 100% . He has to reach a 100% level tou Paris-Roubaix, take a break, and then be back at 100% for the Tour de France.
Last year was different; he was building his shape throughout the year until he reached 100% for the Tour. What he's done this year is more difficult, even though there have been less days of competition. We must forget about the days and analyze the intensity. Physically, this season has been tougher than last year because he had to be at 100% in the spring. Last year was a gradual growth period leading up to the Tour.

 

[Peyroteo94]

If Pogacar wants to race Tour-Vuelta, maybe this os the right schedule:

SB
MSR
RVV
PR
LBL
Tour of Slovenia - less stress than Dauphiné
Tour
Vuelta
WCRR
Emilia
GdL

I think after PR, he can start to recover and buuld for the Tour. Pogacar can win LBL without being 100% fit.

 

[Red Rick]

0 chance Pogacar is under obligation to race UAE. Probably it's just an appearance fee or it triggers a bonus clause in the contract.

 

[Peyroteo94]

0 chance Pogacar is under obligation to race UAE. Probably it's just an appearance fee or it triggers a bonus clause in the contract.

Maybe but I'm also pretty sure the sheik decided (after 2 consecutive losses in UAE Tour) Pogi needed to race UAE Tour, showing his rainbow jersey, in order to win the race.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

It's also a physical issue. The training required to prepare for Paris-Roubaix is underestimated, especially for someone like him. Paris-Roubaix requires more training than competing in UAE Tour for 7 days, or even a harder one-week race.
It's oneday of competition, but it's backed by weeks of training and concentration.

Pogacar can win Volta Catalunya without being 100% shape while preparing for the Giro. According to what he said, he wasn't even 100% shape at the Giro to be able to 100% for the Tour. In contrast, in Paris-Roubaix, he had to be at 100% . He has to reach a 100% level tou Paris-Roubaix, take a break, and then be back at 100% for the Tour de France.
Last year was different; he was building his shape throughout the year until he reached 100% for the Tour. What he's done this year is more difficult, even though there have been less days of competition. We must forget about the days and analyze the intensity. Physically, this season has been tougher than last year because he had to be at 100% in the spring. Last year was a gradual growth period leading up to the Tour.

That's what I also indicated in one of my previous posts. Flandres + PR double require him to be in top form, no margin exists there (plus the double is super-demanding physically). It's different in case of other stage races or Liege or Lombardy, where 90% Pogacar cleans up most of the time.

0 chance Pogacar is under obligation to race UAE. Probably it's just an appearance fee or it triggers a bonus clause in the contract.

Maybe he has to do it once in 3 or 4 years. It's more likely that the Tour is in his contract actually.

 

[Berniece]

Pogacar can win LBL without being 100% fit.

If Evenepoel isn’t fit either

 

[hayneplane]

Yeah, I'm certain he won't do UAE. They'll send del Toro or Almeida I'd imagine. I think Pog has got a bit of a get-out-of-jail-free card next year because they saw how difficult he found the Tour this year and will want to "look after" him a bit more next year.

I think he'll definitely do San Remo and Roubaix again. He'll run those until he wins them now I think (if he ever does win them, of course!). If he's doing Roubaix I assume he'll probably do Flanders again. I'd say skip Strade, but he seems to like having some sort of one day tune up before MSR. He should skip the Ardennes though. He's won them all already, and he doesn't need a fourth LBL. Let del Toro have a go.

One weeks I don't know. I think the Dauphine was a problem this year because it's so close to the Tour, it probably exacerbated that feeling of being non-stop.

I don’t think you would ever deliberately skip a monument so well suited to him.

 

[AmRacer]

Yeah, I'm certain he won't do UAE. They'll send del Toro or Almeida I'd imagine. I think Pog has got a bit of a get-out-of-jail-free card next year because they saw how difficult he found the Tour this year and will want to "look after" him a bit more next year.

I think he'll definitely do San Remo and Roubaix again. He'll run those until he wins them now I think (if he ever does win them, of course!). If he's doing Roubaix I assume he'll probably do Flanders again. I'd say skip Strade, but he seems to like having some sort of one day tune up before MSR. He should skip the Ardennes though. He's won them all already, and he doesn't need a fourth LBL. Let del Toro have a go.

One weeks I don't know. I think the Dauphine was a problem this year because it's so close to the Tour, it probably exacerbated that feeling of being non-stop.

No way Pogi would skip a monument.

 

[Peyroteo94]

That's what I also indicated in one of my previous posts. Flandres + PR double require him to be in top form, no margin exists there (plus the double is super-demanding physically). It's different in case of other stage races or Liege or Lombardy, where 90% Pogacar cleans up most of the time.



Maybe he has to do it once in 3 or 4 years. It's more likely that the Tour is in his contract actually.

I think Flandres + PR require a different body composition and this doesn't help for the Tour. He probably needs to sacrifice more things (nutrition and training) to be at his best in the Tour.

 

[HashRouge]

No way Pogi would skip a monument.

I don't think that's necessarily true. He skipped Flanders in 2024, because it was too much with his schedule. I agree that LBL suits him really well and he clearly likes to race it, but I don't think it's inconceivable that he'd skip it every now and then if they decide he's going to keep trying for Roubaix. Plus I think it would really suit del Toro, so they might want to give him a shot.

 

[Peyroteo94]

No way Pogi would skip a monument.

Yup, Pogacar will not skip an easy win in LBL. Like I said earlier, he can win LBL without being 100% fit. The same can't be said for PR and RVV

 

[Cycling111]

That's what I also indicated in one of my previous posts. Flandres + PR double require him to be in top form, no margin exists there (plus the double is super-demanding physically). It's different in case of other stage races or Liege or Lombardy, where 90% Pogacar cleans up most of the time.



Maybe he has to do it once in 3 or 4 years. It's more likely that the Tour is in his contract actually.

Yes, in 2023, he arrived at the end of the season exhausted after the injury and the Tour. We saw him collapse at the finish in Glasgow. The previous races to Lombardia were truly mediocre for him, but he still managed to win Lombardia.
Lombardia is the race that best suits his qualities, so much so that he also won it in his worst autumn. That year, Vingegaard couldn't even be competitivo in Lombardia, which is the difference between Pogacar and Vingegaard in one-day races. Pogacar won Lombardia in a difficult situation; Vingegaard didn't even have a chance.

 

[Charlyghoul]

Trying to win Roubaix and Flanders and winning the tour no wonder Pogi is tired.
Even Merckx only won Roubaix or Flanders once in tour winning years.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I don't think that's necessarily true. He skipped Flanders in 2024, because it was too much with his schedule. I agree that LBL suits him really well and he clearly likes to race it, but I don't think it's inconceivable that he'd skip it every now and then if they decide he's going to keep trying for Roubaix. Plus I think it would really suit del Toro, so they might want to give him a shot.

He skipped Flandres in 2024 because he was doing the Giro. In 2022, 2023 and 2025 he did Flandres and I doubt it'll change next year. It would make more sense to skip Roubaix but he's too obsessed with it so the cobbles double is on the cards again.

 

[Cycling111]

Yup, Pogacar will not skip an easy win in LBL. Like I said earlier, he can win LBL without being 100% fit. The same can't be said for PR and RVV

In 2024, he skipped Flandres. It may not be as easy as Liège for him, but he's won 2/3 times, and in the first one, he almost did it without experience, significant without experience on a cobbles monument.
He sacrificed Flandres for the Giro, and if he wants to do the Tour-Vuelta without giving up on Roubaix, I think he'll have to sacrifice Liège because it means starting his rest three weeks earlier and starting to plan his training block earlier. It makes a big difference not to disrupt a training camp for a single day of competition.

 

[Charlyghoul]

He skipped Flandres in 2024 because he was doing the Giro. In 2022, 2023 and 2025 he did Flandres and I doubt it'll change next year. It would make more sense to skip Roubaix but he's too obsessed with it so the cobbles double is on the cards again.

He has to win it to have any chance of being the goat imo

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He has to win it to have any chance of being the goat imo

Sure, San Remo and Roubaix are his huge career goals. Vuelta has been marginalized for years.