Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[fenns]

Probably the only real certs for next year are MSR, PR, Tour, WCRR, GdL

He'll need some prep for the WCRR - if he doesn't do the Vuelta then he'll need to do the Canada classics which will necessitate 3 weeks in the country.

 

[James M]

I think its likely he will do Dauphine again for the race days and it is more prestigious than Suisse. I can rather see Del Toro doing Suisse next season if he goes Tour.

I agree about the rest, I also think this year's schedule was harder both physically and mentally than 24 for him.

I disagree on this, tho. I rather think he will opt for Suisse, as hes been on record stating he wants all one-week events, no?

 

[Salvarani]

Just saying he will do Dauphine again is wrong. He hinted it already he wants just ticked it and that is it. He will rather ride tour of Slovenia if he needs preparation race. But tdSuisse looks easy choice for next year.

We will see.

 

[Salvarani]

I agree about the rest, I also think this year's schedule was harder both physically and mentally than 24 for him.

I disagree on this, tho. I rather think he will opt for Suisse, as hes been on record stating he wants all one-week events, no?

Lets see what happens. Doing Suisse or Dauphine aint a huge deal. But I think he will opt for Dauphine to see where others are at. As Dauphine usually has way more of the riders that will be at the Tour and a better field.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He is physically spent as well from riding these races and always preparing inbetween for 6 months, having to be focused for so long. Every detail. It is hard to stay in form for so long. Like Maxtin said. March to end of Tour is a long time already. Mishaps and problems can derail things.

I think its likely he will do Dauphine again for the race days and it is more prestigious than Suisse. I can rather see Del Toro doing Suisse next season if he goes Tour.

He will do pretty much the same as this season, with the exception of UAE Tour (hopefully). Maybe something else to replace it or just spend more time preparing for the what he wants to win. MSR and PR.

I think TdS is better now for top TdF contenders with less racing days.

 

[Salvarani]

I think TdS is better now for top TdF contenders with less racing days.

Definitely not.

 

[red_flanders]

Probably the only real certs for next year are MSR, PR, Tour, WCRR, GdL

He'll need some prep for the WCRR - if he doesn't do the Vuelta then he'll need to do the Canada classics which will necessitate 3 weeks in the country.

PR a certainty? That’s interesting. Risky race but I could obviously see where he feels like he can win it.

 

[Salvarani]

PR a certainty? That’s interesting. Risky race but I could obviously see where he feels like he can win it.

He wants to try to win all the monuments and it is better to continue to try now while still in or close to his peak.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Lets see what happens. Doing Suisse or Dauphine aint a huge deal. But I think he will opt for Dauphine to see where others are at. As Dauphine usually has way more of the riders that will be at the Tour and a better field.

TdS can give him more time to rest after LBL. I think he was too hot in the Dauphiné.

 

[Salvarani]

TdS can give him more time to rest after LBL. I think he was too hot in the Dauphiné.

Cool, I dont agree but ultimately he decides. They probably know best.

 

[The bald fraud]

It seems Pogacar will ride a similar schedule in 2026 as this year, of course without UAE Tour and likely Amstel (maybe Fleche as well).

It seems likely he will not go to the Vuelta, because he himself said he will target the WC in Montreal - the best preparation for that are Canadian classics surely (he also wants to win elusive GP Quebec once). Add to that his desire to defend EC title in his native Slovenia, and targeting record sixth consecutive Lombardia. Vuelta just does not fit in - I think Vuelta could be on the schedule for 2027 (WC in 2027 will end in early September and Vuelta is likely to be scheduled to begin mid-September).

And I am pretty sure Pogacar will not be back at the Dauphine, but will participate in one of the other "big 7" one-week races - either Romandie or Suisse. Maybe even both if he does not go to the Vuelta.

 

[Peyroteo94]

It seems Pogacar will ride a similar schedule in 2026 as this year, of course without UAE Tour and likely Amstel (maybe Fleche as well).

It seems likely he will not go to the Vuelta, because he himself said he will target the WC in Montreal - the best preparation for that are Canadian classics surely (he also wants to win elusive GP Quebec once). Add to that his desire to defend EC title in his native Slovenia, and targeting record sixth consecutive Lombardia. Vuelta just does not fit in - I think Vuelta could be on the schedule for 2027 (WC in 2027 will end in early September and Vuelta is likely to be scheduled to begin mid-September).

And I am pretty sure Pogacar will not be back at the Dauphine, but will participate in one of the other "big 7" one-week races - either Romandie or Suisse. Maybe even both if he does not go to the Vuelta.

I don't know if UAE Tour is out of his schedule.
He doesn't decide that.

 

[scribers]

The sheikh has to understand he has to care for his investment and allow a schedule that suits results over a sustained period of time

 

[James M]

I also agree with those saying different GT and not only Tour will be prioritized in a few years opposed to WC, and we'll even see him attempt all three in the same year at some point imo, which he's mentioned he wanted later in his career.

Methodically prepared specifically for that, without the buildup of flemish/PR etc and his unprecedented long classics season, which makes it a lot more complicated with just 1 GT as the training literall contradict itself.

Still its crazy but good luck…to everyone else.

 

[Salvarani]

Tbf. UAE worked as a training camp and warm-up race for him. However, you would like to not do the travel and maybe do another race closer to home before SB.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Tbf. UAE worked as a training camp and warm-up race for him. However, you would like to not do the travel and maybe do another race closer to home before SB.

UAE is not good, period. He is almost detraining there. Better to be at home training with Urska.

 

[James M]

Didnt Dracula say next year he hoped he raced a little easier/postponed start to the season? Im pretty certain his season next year starts in Strade. Can either send Almeida or Torito for easy W in almost all scenarios to UAE now.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Didnt Dracula say next year he hoped he raced a little easier/postponed start to the season? Im pretty certain his season next year starts in Strade. Can either send Almeida or Torito for easy W in almost all scenarios to UAE now.

Easy win without Pogacar? Hum...

 

[The bald fraud]

I don't know if UAE Tour is out of his schedule.
He doesn't decide that.

I think that this year, Pogacar needed to race the UAE Tour in order to put the rainbow jersey on show. It could have even been an arrangement with Pogacar and the Slovenian cycling federation: UAE offers you full support in the WC in Zurich (including staff, masseurs, team bus), but if you win the WC, Pogacar has to show it off in the UAE Tour. Especially since the team could not win for a few years in between without Pogacar.

Sure, he won in Rwanda as well, but he was already in UAE this year and they will not request it again, I think. They can also now win the UAE Tour with Almeida or Del Toro, and leave Pog to fry some bigger fish (as e.g. in 2024). Will Pogacar ever return to UAE Tour? I think he will, in a season he decides to skip the TdF - as a courtesy gift to the sheik for skipping the Tour. If he ever does that, of course. My bet is on 2028 if Tour is too close to the Olympics (which Pog will target).

 

[red_flanders]

Tbf. UAE worked as a training camp and warm-up race for him. However, you would like to not do the travel and maybe do another race closer to home before SB.

2 weeks + between those races. 6.5 hour flight and 2 hour time difference. Meh.

It's a fairly long flight (depending on where he's flying to) but to someone in the US, doesn't seem like a blocker one way or the other.

 

[Peyroteo94]

I think that this year, Pogacar needed to race the UAE Tour in order to put the rainbow jersey on show. It could have even been an arrangement with Pogacar and the Slovenian cycling federation: UAE offers you full support in the WC in Zurich (including staff, masseurs, team bus), but if you win the WC, Pogacar has to show it off in the UAE Tour. Especially since the team could not win for a few years in between without Pogacar.

Sure, he won in Rwanda as well, but he was already in UAE this year and they will not request it again, I think. They can also now win the UAE Tour with Almeida or Del Toro, and leave Pog to fry some bigger fish (as e.g. in 2024). Will Pogacar ever return to UAE Tour? I think he will, in a season he decides to skip the TdF - as a courtesy gift to the sheik for skipping the Tour. If he ever does that, of course. My bet is on 2028 if Tour is too close to the Olympics (which Pog will target).

The ORR will start one week after the Tour.
I'm curious to know if he will race the Tour. Normally the Tour is a very good prep but jetlag will play a role.

 

[YavorD]

The ORR will start one week after the Tour.
I'm curious to know if he will race the Tour. Normally the Tour is a very good prep but jetlag will play a role.

As someone explained, jetlag isn't that bad when you're flying to the west.
If you leave 10AM ot Monday from Europe, you arrive around noon in LA.
That's much better than Tokyo.

 

[Salvarani]

2 weeks + between those races. 6.5 hour flight and 2 hour time difference. Meh.

It's a fairly long flight (depending on where he's flying to) but to someone in the US, doesn't seem like a blocker one way or the other.

I think it is other aspects involved in the travel, more than just the time.

I also assume there are a lot of other things and commitments he would have to attend as well in that time, outside of just the racing.

Plus he would have to start ”earlier” again.

At the same time he dealt with it this season and it didnt affect him.

But if he can do another race or just skip it, he might opt for that.

We will see.

 

[Monsi]

I think Vuelta could be on the schedule for 2027 (WC in 2027 will end in early September and Vuelta is likely to be scheduled to begin mid-September).

I actually completely forgot that the 2027 Worlds start one month after the Tour and before the Vuelta. The Vuelta could fit in to his 2027 schedule but it likely still heavily depends on whether he’s riding a heavy Classics campaign or not.

If Pogi is willing to skip a year of Classics in 2027, it would make sense to tick off Itzulia and Romandie that year.

 

[The bald fraud]

Normally the Tour is a very good prep but jetlag will play a role.

In Glasgow 2023 (WC took place soon after TdF), Pogacar was tired as hell after the RR. And there was no jetlag. So I do not think he will ride the Tour if it ends just a few days before the OGRR.

Besides, the TdF dates are not known yet (they could even overlap with the Olympics), and it is also possible Pogacar might want to ride the OG TT as well, if the profile will suit him (the TT will take place a few days before the RR in the 2028 Olympics).

If the Tour ends just days before the OGRR, I think Pogacar will skip it in 2028. He said himself the 2028 Olympics are a big career goal. He will not want to compromise that goal by tiredness because of Tour. But that is just my opinion.