Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

« Là, je peux comprendre s’il arrête le vélo » : la mère de Tadej Pogacar se confie sur la fatigue mentale de son fils

Le double champion du monde et quadruple vainqueur du Tour a montré des signes de lassitude après sa nouvelle saison de dingue. En Slovénie,

www.leparisien.fr

 

[HashRouge]

If you’re Pog and you’ve acheived what you have it is natural you want to focus on MSR and Roubaix - it keeps the motivation. Going for the Tour is also a given for the next couple of years- maybe he will give the Tour a miss in 2028 if he wants to focus on LA depending on parcours.

I don’t see the Vuelta in the next couple of years. The worlds are a big objective and they suit him for the next 2 years. After that they probably won’t suit him for the rest of his careeer.

I was listening to the Lanterne Rouge podcast and they were hypothesising about what he might do next year. They reckoned he'd have done the Vuelta this year if he'd come out of the Tour the way he did in 2024 and I think they're probably right. Last year I think he'd have gone for it if it hadn't been for the internal politics of the team. So I don't think it's impossible that the Vuelta is on his schedule again next year, then it will depend on how the Tour goes.

 

[Monsi]

I was listening to the Lanterne Rouge podcast and they were hypothesising about what he might do next year. They reckoned he'd have done the Vuelta this year if he'd come out of the Tour the way he did in 2024 and I think they're probably right. Last year I think he'd have gone for it if it hadn't been for the internal politics of the team. So I don't think it's impossible that the Vuelta is on his schedule again next year, then it will depend on how the Tour goes.

I think the Vuelta will always be in consideration but it all depends on how he feels both physically and mentally coming out of the Tour. Now, if Jonas rides the Giro-Tour which could free up the possibility of Pogacar cruising through the Vuelta and still winning it, then it could increase the chance of Pogacar riding the Vuelta even with the Worlds as a target.

 

[Unchained]

It's super cool to see so many comments from all angles about some version of Tadej Pogacar's almost immortality.He is given an unbeatable God like status by some, but in his own words he is far from it, was suffering in pain he considered quitting the TDF.
Other riders too have discussed knee and back issues and at 27 if Pog is hurting that bad his discussion of possible retirement makes that much more sense.
Have not heard anything about issues with MVP in a while either.

 

[James M]

It's super cool to see so many comments from all angles about some version of Tadej Pogacar's almost immortality.He is given an unbeatable God like status by some.

Pogacar has 98 PCS points per race day he enters. Merckx's best year was 80 PCS points. I dislike PCS points, blah blah, but it somewhat showcases how dominant he really is at the moment in a historic perspective. Its another level of dominance.(Yes, Merckx rode alot more races, most of them small ones cause Pog covers every major race)

 

[AmRacer]

It's super cool to see so many comments from all angles about some version of Tadej Pogacar's almost immortality.He is given an unbeatable God like status by some, but in his own words he is far from it, was suffering in pain he considered quitting the TDF.
Other riders too have discussed knee and back issues and at 27 if Pog is hurting that bad his discussion of possible retirement makes that much more sense.
Have not heard anything about issues with MVP in a while either.

Maybe the crash had a bigger impact.

 

[James M]

In fact, hes cemented the greatest and most dominant run in cycling during 2024 through 2025. His current run/version is unmatched even if he's not unbeatable in every race, its the closest we've ever seen ever from a factual, numbers-based standpoint.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I took a quick look for the Tour's route next year and it's very possible Pogacar can lead the race for 21 stages.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I took a quick look for the Tour's route next year and it's very possible Pogacar can lead the race for 21 stages.

I dont think he would like to. Better to give it to other guys for a week or so.

 

[Monsi]

I took a quick look for the Tour's route next year and it's very possible Pogacar can lead the race for 21 stages.

He could very well lead for the first two stages but I expect the yellow jersey to be given away on Foix but then get it again on Gavarnie.

 

[andrew_s]

I was listening to the Lanterne Rouge podcast and they were hypothesising about what he might do next year. They reckoned he'd have done the Vuelta this year if he'd come out of the Tour the way he did in 2024 and I think they're probably right. Last year I think he'd have gone for it if it hadn't been for the internal politics of the team. So I don't think it's impossible that the Vuelta is on his schedule again next year, then it will depend on how the Tour goes.

I think he didn't do the Vuelta last year because the main priority was the Worlds, and doing the Vuelta wouldn't have left enough training time to switch from GT mode to Classics mode between the two.

Next year will depend on whether he views a 3rd Worlds as a higher priority than a 1st Vuelta or not.

 

[jmdirt]

The spirit itself is fun but a world champion should take wind for longer than 150 metres and not be totally reliant on their team setting them up for victory.

Unless the wind blows how many will tune in for more than the final couple of laps?

Even as a Brit with the novelty of a first road world champion in my lifetime Copenhagen was a deathly dull race unworthy of resulting in a rainbow jersey.

I think that we need to be more specific:
-100 racer field sprint that starts with 5-10 K to go
-20 racers drilling it for 30+ K, attacking for the last 5 K and 5 racers sprinting at the end
-One of several other scenarios in between the two above
*I'll take choice two, and then maybe one from choice three.

Watching 2-5 climbers and then one climber destroy everyone is IMPRESSIVE, but less exciting than any sprint, IMO.

 

[jmdirt]

It's weird that the Olympics are being discussed in context to Tadej, but stranger still the Olympics is being discussed and the games evolution because of rampant cheating is not.
There appears to be another generation gap and that thing that happens, people just choose to forget.
The Olympics used to pride itself on being completely amateur and professionals were banned.
The Olympic police would voice anger at Eastern bloc countries and Chinese for having state sponsored athletic programs that for all intents and purposes were professional athletes.
All this talk of prestige of gold medals has completely misses the mark. Name a sport in the Olympics, cycling, basketball, hockey, endless.. everything was better before the Olympics gave up, completely rolled over and allowed professionals to come in and destroy the spirit of the games.
Countries that had a chance in some sports still do, but to a lesser degree because pros have ruined everything, not made it more prestigious.
It's like gravel racing, it started with all kinds of fellowship vibe, grassroots, have fun, self supported, you get it, not professional.
Now some of the discussion surrounding gravel racing is that it lost it's soul.
The idea that Remco or Tadej could contest an Olympic medal against some kid from Turkey, Malaysia or Iran is certainly soulless.
What a national dilemma for countries who still are training, thinking along some old school Olympic soul, having car washes and bake sales to raise money so their athlete can go to the Olympics and Tadej shows up to destroy them.
Many, many, too many federations will rethink spending enormous time and money to send a rider to the Olympics after witnessing Kigali.
Majority of countries it's completely symbolic, no long shot is going to happen. Tiny countries can use UCI WT standings to calculate their chances at Olympic games.
Maybe Tadej will lay in his Olympic village room or luxury hotel and ask himself the ugly question about Olympic bike racing.. Why would these guys even show up? They know that they have no chance of winning but they still show up.
Guys showing up to Kigali with rim brakes and aluminium box section rims..that's terrible but at the Olympics when riders like that show up and Tadej and the others destroy them it's shameful.
Olympics should be amateur.

While I completely understand what you are saying, should the Olympics be the best athletes, or the best 12-18 year olds? I prefer it being the best athletes.

I'm old so I can remember watching a lot of Olympics with the 12-18 year olds getting destroyed by the professional armatures.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I dont think he would like to. Better to give it to other guys for a week or so.

I agree with you. He probably just wants to gain time on his rivals and then let a big break fight for the yellow jersey in one MM stage.

 

[Lequack]

We have the GCN video.

How Did A 40 Year Old Lawyer Beat Pogacar?​

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSQp044GUI8

 

[Peyroteo94]

The move had a podcast talking about Del Toro and Pogacar and how can they coexist in the same team. For me it's clear they can't when Del Toro reaches Pogacar's level (a big if).
Del Toro looks to be a future contender in hilly monuments and he will never fight for them in the same of Pogacar. GTs is another story.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

The move had a podcast talking about Del Toro and Pogacar and how can they coexist in the same team. For me it's clear they can't when Del Toro reaches Pogacar's level (a big if).
Del Toro looks to be a future contender in hilly monuments and he will never fight for them in the same of Pogacar. GTs is another story.

Del Toro looks up to Pogacar so probably he'll not end up like Juanito in the near future. At some point he will have a problem but maybe Pogi will start declining in 2-3 years (which is Isaak's biggest chance to lead in this team).

 

[Peyroteo94]

Del Toro looks up to Pogacar so probably he'll not end up like Juanito in the near future. At some point he will have a problem but maybe Pogi will start declining in 2-3 years (which is Isaak's biggest chance to lead in this team).

Del Toro will probably be one of the biggest classics riders in the future but it won't be easy to fight for monuments when he has a teammate able to podium every single monument.

 

[James M]

Del Toro and Pogacar are very close friends, allegedly among his closest. As good as he is and as much as I like him he's as likely to reach Pogacars level as Remco is to beat him in the TDF aka almost non existing.

Its a what if' scenario down the line, purely made up for views and opposite of the reality today where he benefit greatly riding with him opposed to against him.

 

[Salvarani]

Just making up "problems" now, thats not there.

 

[HashRouge]

Del Toro will probably be one of the biggest classics riders in the future but it won't be easy to fight for monuments when he has a teammate able to podium every single monument.

I think next year won't be too much of a problem, because it seems like Pogacar will have a slightly lighter classics schedule and obviously del Toro is still very young. Flèche and Amstel could be exciting targets for him if Pog skips them, and he will have a good chance of leadership in a couple of decent one week races and probably a grand tour.
However, I do think that longer term it could become an issue, depending on how well del Toro develops and, crucially, how ambitious he turns out to be. The grand tour issue will rise its head again if Pogacar wants to do two, because then Almeida and del Toro would have to share leadership in the one that remains. I know people say Pog won't ride the Vuelta till 2028 because of the world championships, but I think he will ride it if he comes out of the Tour feeling good. I'm inclined to think he'll be reluctant to leave it until 2028, just in case.

 

[Shortcut]

Del Toro will be great domestique for Pogacar in next two-three years but i have doubts he will be GT winner in near future. At giro he was extremly lucky with Ayuso, Roglic even Landa all had crashes/illnes+ Jonas, Remco, Almeida, Lipowitz not being there. Carapaz and Yates being on podium is just really weak. Even route was till Stage 20 perfect for him. He is average in big mountains and ITT (not even close to Pogacar at 21). I think he will even have problems with Seixas who is 3 years younger. Also he still didn't show anything special at races longer then 220km.

 

[Salvarani]

Del Toro will be great domestique for Pogacar in next two-three years but i have doubts he will be GT winner in near future. At giro he was extremly lucky with Ayuso, Roglic even Landa all had crashes/illnes+ Jonas, Remco, Almeida, Lipowitz not being there. Carapaz and Yates being on podium is just really weak. Even route was till Stage 20 perfect for him. He is average in big mountains and ITT (not even close to Pogacar at 21). I think he will even have problems with Seixas who is 3 years younger. Also he still didn't show anything special at races longer then 220km.

Del Toro will be a great rider on his own and win many races. Already doing it.

He wont just be a "great domestic".

Most likely he will line-up with Pog for many big races. Sort like an understudy, rather than domestic, and it gives the team cards to play tactically if they ever need to. Either way, it can intimidate other teams with them both being present. They can both benefit from that.

Nothing special in long races? Yeah, 7th at Worlds and 5th in Lombardia is terrible.

 

[Cycling111]

The move had a podcast talking about Del Toro and Pogacar and how can they coexist in the same team. For me it's clear they can't when Del Toro reaches Pogacar's level (a big if).
Del Toro looks to be a future contender in hilly monuments and he will never fight for them in the same of Pogacar. GTs is another story.

Think that is to underestimate Pogacar. It's the same as when in Remco´s thread suggests he can beat him in a Tour with what he's shown in GT. Remco first has to be able to be second best in the Tour, and then think about being first.

In Monuments, Del Toro first has to be close to Remco and then dream of getting close to Pogacar.

Del Toro will be great domestique for Pogacar in next two-three years but i have doubts he will be GT winner in near future. At giro he was extremly lucky with Ayuso, Roglic even Landa all had crashes/illnes+ Jonas, Remco, Almeida, Lipowitz not being there. Carapaz and Yates being on podium is just really weak. Even route was till Stage 20 perfect for him. He is average in big mountains and ITT (not even close to Pogacar at 21). I think he will even have problems with Seixas who is 3 years younger. Also he still didn't show anything special at races longer then 220km.

You're absolutely right. When I read Mexicans on social media comparing Del Toro to the achievements of his second season (the TDF alone is worth the entire Del Toro season) without putting it into context...

Del Toro this yerar has had the best team in the Giro and the best team in every race he's competed in. Pogacar spent his first years as a professional racing completely alone, racing a Tour de France alone. Even so, in his first GT, he won three mountain stages alone. It's incomparable to Del Toro's situation, and yet he hasn't won anything close to a TDF.

By the way, they're actually comparing Del Toro's season with Pogacar's first, and they're making a mistake because they consider this year his neopro year, while Del Toro's neopro year was last year. Pogacar's was also far superior, with two one-week races, three stages in a GT, and a podium.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think next year won't be too much of a problem, because it seems like Pogacar will have a slightly lighter classics schedule and obviously del Toro is still very young. Flèche and Amstel could be exciting targets for him if Pog skips them, and he will have a good chance of leadership in a couple of decent one week races and probably a grand tour.
However, I do think that longer term it could become an issue, depending on how well del Toro develops and, crucially, how ambitious he turns out to be. The grand tour issue will rise its head again if Pogacar wants to do two, because then Almeida and del Toro would have to share leadership in the one that remains. I know people say Pog won't ride the Vuelta till 2028 because of the world championships, but I think he will ride it if he comes out of the Tour feeling good. I'm inclined to think he'll be reluctant to leave it until 2028, just in case.

Yeah, I don't think it's bad for Del Toro to have Pogacar in his team. But when he reaches his ceilling (probably in 2027) he will need to change teams. I hope he changes team, it will be good to see Del Toro against Pogacar in hilly classics (specially FW) even if I think Pogacar is on another level and will always be, for some reason he is the best ever and we can't expect other rider to reach Pogacar's level.