Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

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It is not arrogant to show up to try and win a race, despite not being optimally prepared for it.

He has targeted classics, Dauphine and Tour. Then had to take a break to recover. He is human and the pressure he is constantly under surely takes it toll both mentally/physically.

Of course, he would like to win the WC again and Lombardia before the season is over. He will give it his best effort and surely still has a very good chance to win. Nobody is desputing that.

However, if he doesnt... it is not the end of the world.

Only a few are saying he will crush and "should" win by several minutes. I find it particularly interesting to read that from some experts. No doubt that Pog is amazing and could win, no shock if he does, but the chance is much lower in reality than what they are trying to build-up. I think from some experts that is simply done to be able to say "well, I was right" or be very gleeful and happy if it doesnt happen, after days/weeks of saying there should be no contest and whatnot. They know it is not going to be that easy.
 
It is not arrogant to show up to try and win a race, despite not being optimally prepared for it.

He has targeted classics, Dauphine and Tour. Then had to take a break to recover. He is human and the pressure he is constantly under surely takes it toll both mentally/physically.

Of course, he would like to win the WC again and Lombardia before the season is over. He will give it his best effort and surely still has a very good chance to win. Nobody is desputing that.

However, if he doesnt... it is not the end of the world.

Only a few are saying he will crush and "should" win by several minutes. I find it particularly interesting to read that from some experts. No doubt that Pog is amazing and could win, no shock if he does, but the chance is much lower in reality than what they are trying to build-up. I think from some experts that is simply done to be able to say "well, I was right" or be very gleeful and happy if it doesnt happen, after days/weeks of saying there should be no contest and whatnot. They know it is not going to be that easy.
I think this was clearly to me.
I never said he would win easily the WCRR. For many times this year, I said Pogacar would have a lot of troubles to win because of his weak team. I still think Slovenia can't control the race and most teams will attack before Mount Kigali and Pogacar will be forced to attack from far again and this can make him explode later.

If you are talking about the TT, then you're right (I said he would win easily). Not the RR.
 
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We can´t compare opinions about Pogacar and Ayuso either. Pogacar has won many long races, Ayuso none. Just because Ayuso wins this World Championship and Pogacar not, doesn't mean the same criteria should be considered before the race.

The preview to the ITT World Championships in Australia weren't the same for Tobias Foss as they were for Evenepoel. The Norwegian ended up winning, but that's obvious because the analyses were different for both in the preview.
 
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But do you think Del Toro can stay with Pogacar until the end?
I don't think so. I already gave my opinion weeks ago, and it wasn't very popular.

There are people who genuinely think he can win, so it will be a huge help to Pogacar if he can eliminate him later. If he arrives with him with 20 km to go, he'll have to worry more than if it were another teammate like Sivakovthat in a sprint of five rider would be sixth.
 
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Are we talking about the same Del Toro who ran out of gas in Clasica San Sebastian?

Realistically the most similar races he's even done is Strade Bianche twice, and he's got a DNF and a 33rd place 8 minutes down.
I think the same. But to be fair, he was a domestique at Strade Bianche.

I think the race will be so hard and long for him. But if they think Ayuso can win without having proven anything in more races lik this, Del Toro is more likely to surprise because we have less references of him.
 
I believe way more in Del Toro than Ayuso.
I don't know. Spain has a good team to help him. Del Toro is alone.
None of them have proven anything in long races, but Del Toro has had less opportunities because he's been less time as pro.

He was excellent in the Giro´s Strade Bianche stage, even though Van Aert overtook him in the sprint because he was on his wheel 50 kiolometers.
But 270 kilometers changes everything. Roglic has been very good in shorter races like Emilia, but a few days later in Lombardy, he has never been close to win.
 
I don't know. Spain has a good team to help him. Del Toro is alone.
None of them have proven anything in long races, but Del Toro has had less opportunities because he's been less time as pro.

He was excellent in the Giro´s Strade Bianche stage, even though Van Aert overtook him in the sprint because he was on his wheel 50 kiolometers.
But 270 kilometers changes everything. Roglic has been very good in shorter races like Emilia, but a few days later in Lombardy, he has never been close to win.
But Roglic doesn't have room to improve, Del Toro is 21 and everyone can see how much better he is compared to last year. Probably next year, he will target a GT and some long classics (without Teddy).
 
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I think this was clearly to me.
I never said he would win easily the WCRR. For many times this year, I said Pogacar would have a lot of troubles to win because of his weak team. I still think Slovenia can't control the race and most teams will attack before Mount Kigali and Pogacar will be forced to attack from far again and this can make him explode later.

If you are talking about the TT, then you're right (I said he would win easily). Not the RR.
Reading about the physical environment as a challenge it may define who can and cannot even sustain a gap. The effort to launch an escape will need to be carefully capped to recover and continue. If you get dropped by a group after an attempt it'll be tough to recover and the effort to regain contact already beyond what a rider is capable of. Those that did the TT have that information and should ride accordingly.
 
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