Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

glasgow 2023 is now distant memory.pog can produce all timers any moment he choses.hilarius talent.

I don't understand why people talk about Glasgow. His third place isn't an indicator of good shape. In fact, his shape was mediocre but due to heavy rain, attritional race, he was able to finish in 3rd.

 

[Rou]

In 2024 Giro he faced laughable competition (by his standards). This year he chose a bigger challenge: Flandres + Roubaix. No surprise he lost one of them. He he won both (and Lombardy) I would put this season ahead.

Roubaix was 'weakness' because MVDP destroyed him 1 vs 1.
Amstel was a show of slight weakness.
Dauphine TT (which I think he sandbagged) but can be considered weakness.
The second half of the Tour he was weaker (probably sick and he also had crashed)
Quebec - he was also weaker than 2024.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogacar's 2024 season for me is still better.
Not only the wins but the absolute dominance in GT's was unreal.
Multiple times this year Pogacar looked 'human'.
The only 'little moment of weakness' I remember from 2024 is Lioran.

In 2024, he never fought MVP in cobbled classics though. His schedule was oriented to his main strenght: stage races.
The main question is: 2025 Pogacar could win SB+Catalunya+Giro+Tour+WC+GdL? I think he could.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Roubaix was 'weakness' because MVDP destroyed him 1 vs 1.
Amstel was a show of slight weakness.
Dauphine TT (which I think he sandbagged) but can be considered weakness.
The second half of the Tour he was weaker (probably sick and he also had crashed)
Quebec - he was also weaker than 2024.

As I added in my post, 2024 was probably better because a GT is a GT. Cobbles classics and then Tour preparation is not easy peasy though, it demands focus changes during the season. No reason to think he would've done a better Roubaix in 2024. There's no sample and he faced a weak Giro competition instead.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Roubaix was 'weakness' because MVDP destroyed him 1 vs 1.
Amstel was a show of slight weakness.
Dauphine TT (which I think he sandbagged) but can be considered weakness.
The second half of the Tour he was weaker (probably sick and he also had crashed)
Quebec - he was also weaker than 2024.

I can't agree when you say MVP "destroyed" Pogacar when he gained 30" due to Pogacar's crash (his own fault). Destroying is more what Pogacar did to MVP in RVV IMO.

 

[Rou]

Notice I'm talking about my perception of his dominance and level and not overall wins.
A Liege won in a sprint has different weight compared to a dominant solo - for example.

 

[Peyroteo94]

@Rou
His MSR and WC wins were more impressive this year IMO.

 

[Rou]

I can't agree when you say MVP "destroyed" Pogacar when he gained 30" due to Pogacar's crash (his own fault). Destroying is more what Pogacar did to MVP in RVV IMO.

I fully expected (and I believe you too) for Pogacar to catch MVDP.
But he gassed out.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I fully expected (and I believe you too) for Pogacar to catch MVDP.
But he gassed out.

He likely went a bit too hard trying to catch MVP and cracked. Without the crash would've probably lost to MVP anyway (likely in a sprint).

 

[Peyroteo94]

I fully expected (and I believe you too) for Pogacar to catch MVDP.
But he gassed out.

I was suffering, my rational side goes out the window when Pogacar is racing eheheh. For some reason I make (normally) good predictions before the race but during I'm always changing my opinion.
I remember I thought he would catch MVP when the gap decreased 15" but I don't think Pogacar's engine is much better than MVP's engine on the flat, specially on cobbles.

 

[YavorD]

And being Giro+Tour+ WC winner? No one can even come close to win Giro-Tour in the modern era after Pantani. Let alone Giro+Tour+WC

Okay now, Dumoulin was quite close (even though he didn't win any). Froome wasn't far as well. Oh and Dumoulin sprinted for gold in the WCRR, so I'd say he was as close as it gets.
Mind you, that Giro was harder than 2024.

I really think that with the circumstances Pogacar had Contador, Froome and deffo Armstrong would do the double.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Okay now, Dumoulin was quite close (even though he didn't win any). Froome wasn't far as well. Oh and Dumoulin sprinted for gold in the WCRR, so I'd say he was as close as it gets.
Mind you, that Giro was harder than 2024.

I really think that with the circumstances Pogacar had Contador, Froome and deffo Armstrong would do the double.

Again, people always forget one very important detail.
Normally, Giro-Tour double has 5 weeks between them. In 2018, riders had 6 weeks. It was the perfect year for Giro-Tour. Froome wasn't close in the TdF, Dumoulin was actually the closest but he lost both (and you can't be close when you lose the first GT).

 

[Rou]

I think there is a possibility for Pogacar to combine Roubaix + Vuelta next year (if he cares about it).
Tirreno (as preparation for MSR)
MSR
Flanders
Roubaix
Liege
Tour de Suisse (would be easier and less tiring than Dauphine)
TDF (if Vingegaard does the Giro before that the TDF shouldn't be as exhausting as this year)
Vuelta
World's
Lombardy
60 Total Race days.

 

[Salvarani]

It is not about the race days.

He shouldnt combine racing all the classics and two GTs.

It would be the most stupid and foolish decision he could make.

 

[YavorD]

Again, people always forget one very important detail.
Normally, Giro-Tour double has 5 weeks between them. In 2018, riders had 6 weeks. It was the perfect year for Giro-Tour. Froome wasn't close in the TdF, Dumoulin was actually the closest but he lost both (and you can't be close when you lose the first GT).

My point stays. You can't convince me that with the circumstances Pogacar had (very weak competition, very easy route, the best team for both races and main opponent suffered a nasty crash) Froome, Contador and Armstrong couldn't do the double.

And as far as Dumoulin goes, he had a weak team. If he had the team Pogacar has, I'm convinced he wins that Giro.

 

[Rou]

It is not about the race days.

He shouldnt combine racing all the classics and two GTs.

It would be the most stupid and foolish decision he could make.

At some time he would need to find a way to do it.
He can't rely his GT season on Paris - Roubaix. The race with the most chaos, crashes, flats.
He should take this into account.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think there is a possibility for Pogacar to combine Roubaix + Vuelta next year (if he cares about it).
Tirreno (as preparation for MSR)
MSR
Flanders
Roubaix
Liege
Tour de Suisse (would be easier and less tiring than Dauphine)
TDF (if Vingegaard does the Giro before that the TDF shouldn't be as exhausting as this year)
Vuelta
World's
Lombardy
60 Total Race days.

For me it's clear his 2026 schedule:
SB
MSR
RVV
PR
LBL (if he is fresh, FW or/and AGR)
TdS (just 5 days of racing next year)
TdF
Canadian classics
WC
EC
GdL

If he feels fresh after the Tour, maybe he can race the Vuelta. It's his decision.

 

[Peyroteo94]

My point stays. You can't convince me that with the circumstances Pogacar had (very weak competition, very easy route, the best team for both races and main opponent suffered a nasty crash) Froome, Contador and Armstrong couldn't do the double.

And as far as Dumoulin goes, he had a weak team. If he had the team Pogacar has, I'm convinced he wins that Giro.

I'm not saying I disagree with you. I'm sure they wouldn't be so dominant like Pogacar but I can't say they wouldn't win both. But my argument still stands, Pogacar had good circunstances but in 2018 they had one more week of rest and this is huge.

 

[Salvarani]

At some time he would need to find a way to do it.
He can't rely his GT season on Paris - Roubaix. The race with the most chaos, crashes, flats.
He should take this into account.

He will some day.

But he isnt stressed about it. Neither should you be.

And sure PR is a risk, but so is any race really. You can crash when you least expect it. If he wants to win PR, he has to race it. Cant let fear of maybe crashing stop him.

But if he wants to give Vuelta a go... he should race lighter in the spring and no cobbles.

However, this obsession with him doing the Vuelta just needs to stop or the idea that he can or should combine it with all the other races. Something gotta give and he needs a break at some point. Taking it after the Tour just makes the most sense if he races all the monuments in the spring and also be able to go for Worlds and Lombardia.

Not doing the Vuelta is such a small sacrifice, if you can do the other races as good as Pog.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He will some day.

But he isnt stressed about it. Neither should you be.

And sure PR is a risk, but so is any race really. You can crash when you least expect it. If he wants to win PR, he has to race it. Cant let fear of maybe crashing stop him.

But if he wants to give Vuelta a go... he should race lighter in the spring and no cobbles.

However, this obsession with him doing the Vuelta just needs to stop or the idea that he can or should combine it with all the other races. Something gotta give and he needs a break at some point. Taking it after the Tour just makes the most sense if he races all the monuments in the spring and also be able to go for Worlds and Lombardia.

Not doing the Vuelta is such a small sacrifice, if you can do the other races as good as Pog.

So for you is something like this:
SB
MSR
Ardennes treble
TdS/Dauphiné
TdF
Vuelta
WC
GdL

Am I right?

 

[Salvarani]

So for you is something like this:
SB
MSR
Ardennes treble
TdS/Dauphiné
TdF
Vuelta
WC
GdL

Am I right?

Yes, pretty much the same as this season.

Not do UAE and start with SB as his first race.

Maybe TA or PN if he wants to.

It all depends on if he goes back to cobbles or not, but it seems likely he will. So therefore his schedule should be pretty much the same.

It also opens up a lot of races for Almeida, Del Toro, Yates, McNulty, Vine and so on to target.

It is good for morale in the team.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Yes, pretty much the same as this season.

Not do UAE and start with SB as his first race.

Maybe TA or PN if he wants to.

It all depends on if he goes back to cobbles or not, but it seems likely he will. So therefore his schedule should be pretty much the same.

It also opens up a lot of races for Almeida, Del Toro, Yates, McNulty, Vine and so on to target.

It is good for morale in the team.

More GTs and stage races. Classics, they (Pogacar's teammates) don't have any chance of leading the team.

 

[snipeheem]

For me it's clear his 2026 schedule:
SB
MSR
RVV
PR
LBL (if he is fresh, FW or/and AGR)
TdS (just 5 days of racing next year)
TdF
Canadian classics
WC
EC
GdL

If he feels fresh after the Tour, maybe he can race the Vuelta. It's his decision.

No way 5 monuments +2 GT, its too much even for goat

 

[Peyroteo94]

No way 5 monuments +2 GT, its too much even for goat

I don't believe too but we never know with him and I would not race UAE Tour, AGR and FW next year.

 

[Lurkerman]

Does Pogacar/UAE have the best bike? How much of a bike downgrade would it take for him to lose a race to Remco? I recall Tom Boonen headline from long ago about how Pog would finish all races two minutes faster if he got a better bike. I was just thinking about this since I listened to the Rwanda recap on The Move, a podcast I'm generally unfamiliar with, and this Spencer Martin guy said it's just game over for everyone else once you have two guys (Pog and del Toro) in front on Colnago bikes taking turns, as if it's a big UAE superweapon