Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Peyroteo94]

I've read speculation that it was his other knee that bothered him, not on the side he landed on, due to his (compensating?) position on the bike in the MTT.

At least, he overcame this adversity and looked better than ever in the Fall.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

That crash is a big mistery to me.
He destroyed Vingegaard right after the stage where he fell.

Yes, it was weird. Two of his three best days at the Tour ( Hautacam, Peyreguades) followed the crash. He got worse later.

 

[James M]

The body still use some extra energy to heal wounds after a crash as hard as his, even if there were no injuries. That on top of I think its mostly understated that he was allegedly a little sick last week, that alone is enough to drop performance by a few percent.

After he spoke about his pain surrounding his knee short-term caused by compensating for his position post-crash, I dont find it strange anymore. It makes perfect sense unless hes lying for absolutely no reason imo.

 

[Cycling111]

Many blows hurt more after 48 hours, especially in the joints.

 

[scribers]

Sprains minimally are common in cycling accidents. Effects can linger for many weeks without rest

 

[Oldman]

I think there is a real chance Vingegaard will race Giro-Tour and for that reason I think Pogacar can have a more relaxed approach to the TdF.
I genuinely believe he was too hot in the Dauphiné (and he paid in the Tour) because he wanted to make a statement before the Tour.
Don't know if more people share the same opinion.

Didn't Jonas just go to team camps after Dauphine? Seems like he had full control over his efforts and should know that the Dauphine is not a statement win if you don't follow up at the Tour; particularly when the Tour is the prime goal for he and the team.
Pogacar is going to prepare the same either way as the Young Guns are pushing Vindegaard to the lower tier anyway.

 

[2WpK]

So much obsession with the Vuelta. If Pogi finishes his career with a bunch of Tours, Monuments and WC's, history will not care even if he never wins the Vuelta. Having said that, he will get it at some point but there is no rush.

 

[Monsi]

So much obsession with the Vuelta. If Pogi finishes his career with a bunch of Tours, Monuments and WC's, history will not care even if he never wins the Vuelta. Having said that, he will get it at some point but there is no rush.

Uhm I don't agree with that. As someone who is being compared to Merckx, history will care that he wins every GT at least once and wins every Monument, multiple WCs, etc.

I do agree there is no rush though. 2027 may be the last WC parcours to fully suit him so might as well go all in for Worlds until then. Any GT parcours will suit him anyway. I do kinda understand the rush for him to get the Vuelta out of the way because anything can happen.

 

[Oldman]

Uhm I don't agree with that. As someone who is being compared to Merckx, history will care that he wins every GT at least once and wins every Monument, multiple WCs, etc.

I do agree there is no rush though. 2027 may be the last WC parcours to fully suit him so might as well go all in for Worlds until then. Any GT parcours will suit him anyway. I do kinda understand the rush for him to get the Vuelta out of the way because anything can happen.

History just called and said it doesn't care if Tadej doesn't.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Uhm I don't agree with that. As someone who is being compared to Merckx, history will care that he wins every GT at least once and wins every Monument, multiple WCs, etc.

I do agree there is no rush though. 2027 may be the last WC parcours to fully suit him so might as well go all in for Worlds until then. Any GT parcours will suit him anyway. I do kinda understand the rush for him to get the Vuelta out of the way because anything can happen.

As long as he's at his peak Tour record (because of the sponsors), WC record (because of routes) and missing monuments (his own ambition) are biggest goals. When he's old and washed up he will ride Vuelta (after half a year of careful preparations) hoping top guys are tired/absent after the Tour.

 

[Tanakka]

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.

Yeah, but Pogi doesn't really care about winning multiple Dauphine.

Dauphine definitely isn't TdF, WC, a Monument... or even Strade Bianche.
Its prestige, for someone who won multiple TdF, is pretty relative.
Who even cares?
Now, winning multiple RVV, as a GT guy, is something actually prestigious.

He stated in that past he'd like to win all of the 7 major 'one week stage races':

List of career achievements by Tadej Pogačar - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And even that isn't high on his list.

Anyway, in 2026 TdS will also only be 5 days, opposed to the usual 8 of Dauphine.
So pretty convenient.
Dauphine ending one week earlier might be a factor, but other than that, between the two, I don't know why he'd pick Dauphine instead of TdS in 2026.

 

[Salvarani]

Yeah, but Pogi doesn't really care about winning multiple Dauphine.

Dauphine definitely isn't TdF, WC, a Monument... or Strade Bianche.
Its prestige, for someone who won multiple TdF, is pretty relative.
Who even cares?
Now, winning multiple RVV, as a GT guy, is something actually prestigious.

He stated in that past he'd like to win all of the 7 major 'one week stage races':

List of career achievements by Tadej Pogačar - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And even that isn't high on his list.

Anyway, in 2026 TdS will also only be 5 days, opposed to the usual 8 of Dauphine.
So pretty convenient.
Dauphine ending one week earlier might be a factor, but other than that, between the two, I don't how he'd pick Dauphine instead of TdS in 2026.

It just makes more sense as the quality is usually better and it is good to see where your rivals are.

Why would he care more about TdS? I dont think it being 5 days is a huge selling point for him.

From many standpoints, Dauphine is the best race to choose. Whether he cares or not.

Racing TdS simply because of a collecting perspective... ok. Up to him.

But from a prep perspective Dauphine makes more sense.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Perfect race for him in the Tour. Small chances of crashes and very good opportunity for a long range attack on Tourmalet where he is historically very good there. Even the TT looks great for him with a 10 km climb at 4%

 

[Salvarani]

Perfect race for him in the Tour. Small chances of crashes and very good opportunity for a long range attack on Tourmalet where he is historically very good there. Even the TT looks great for him with a 10 km climb at 4%

You cant predict crashes...

Havent seen the stage to comment if Tourmalet is an opportunity for a long range. It doesnt really sound smart to do that in Tour, when he has a strong team and multiple stages with MTFs.

And 4% is not very steep. He would have preferred steeper compared to his rivals.

4% sounds like it suits Remco very well.

So all-in-all, no on your take for me. IMO.

 

[Monsi]

You cant predict crashes...

Havent seen the stage to comment if Tourmalet is an opportunity for a long range. It doesnt really sound smart to do that in Tour, when he has a strong team and multiple stages with MTFs.

And 4% is not very steep. He would have preferred steeper compared to his rivals.

4% sounds like it suits Remco very well.

So all-in-all, no on your take for me. IMO.

There's no flat valley at all between Tourmalet and the final climb to Gavarnie, which is like 20 km at 4%. It's a very good chance for Pog to kill the fight for yellow there. If Jonas gets dropped on Tourmalet, there's a good chance Pog will gain 2-3 minutes by the end with that shallow final climb.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

There's no flat valley at all between Tourmalet and the final climb to Gavarnie, which is like 20 km at 4%. It's a very good chance for Pog to kill the fight for yellow there. If Jonas gets dropped on Tourmalet, there's a good chance Pog will gain 2-3 minutes by the end with that shallow final climb.

First UAE need to make sure Visma doesnt get satelite riders in the break. That's historically not been one of UAEs strengths...

 

[Salvarani]

There's no flat valley at all between Tourmalet and the final climb to Gavarnie, which is like 20 km at 4%. It's a very good chance for Pog to kill the fight for yellow there. If Jonas gets dropped on Tourmalet, there's a good chance Pog will gain 2-3 minutes by the end with that shallow final climb.

I think the long ranger may not be needed and unnecessary if it doesnt call for it, but ok. In Tour, it should really only be a last resort. Otherwise, use your team and use the MTFs.

 

[Peyroteo94]

You cant predict crashes...

Havent seen the stage to comment if Tourmalet is an opportunity for a long range. It doesnt really sound smart to do that in Tour, when he has a strong team and multiple stages with MTFs.

And 4% is not very steep. He would have preferred steeper compared to his rivals.

4% sounds like it suits Remco very well.

So all-in-all, no on your take for me. IMO.

Tourmalet is followed by 2 flat stages.
I'm not predicting crashes... I just think the first week is way less stressful compared to this year for 2 reasons:

1 - the first weekend will create gaps and will eliminate tension in the fight for yellow jersey.
A TTT will probably put GC riders already ahead (individual times will be taken) and the second stage is probably a stage for Pogacar. Way harder than stage 4 in the 2025 TdF.

2 - First week of 2025 was full of stages similar to chaotic classics. This year, you had a proper mountain stage very early and will tire many legs.

 

[Peyroteo94]

He can go all in on Tourmalet and rest until stage 15. If he doesn't want to go deep, he needs to create a big gap early and then just cruise for the GC win.

 

[Cycling111]

The favorite is favored by hard routes, and this one isn't. He has less terrain to make difference.

Besides, Pogacar has always been much more dominant in the Pyrenees, and they've removed them .
They have created a route with the intention of arriving tied for stage 20.

The route is rubbish.

 

[Peyroteo94]

You cant predict crashes...

Havent seen the stage to comment if Tourmalet is an opportunity for a long range. It doesnt really sound smart to do that in Tour, when he has a strong team and multiple stages with MTFs.

And 4% is not very steep. He would have preferred steeper compared to his rivals.

4% sounds like it suits Remco very well.

So all-in-all, no on your take for me. IMO.

C'mon man, you know Remco is not close to Pogacar. Why are you talking about Remco? Pogacar will probably put 2 minutes at the top of Tourmalet to Remco. After a hard race, Remco can’t gain time on Pogacar on flat roads let alone in 4% gradients.

 

[Salvarani]

C'mon man, you know Remco is not close to Pogacar. Why are you talking about Remco? Pogacar will probably put 2 minutes at the top of Tourmalet to Remco. After a hard race, Remco can’t gain time on Pogacar on flat roads let alone in 4% gradients.

Bla bla.

 

[Salvarani]

Tourmalet is followed by 2 flat stages.
I'm not predicting crashes... I just think the first week is way less stressful compared to this year for 2 reasons:

1 - the first weekend will create gaps and will eliminate tension in the fight for yellow jersey.
A TTT will probably put GC riders already ahead (individual times will be taken) and the second stage is probably a stage for Pogacar. Way harder than stage 4 in the 2025 TdF.

2 - First week of 2025 was full of stages similar to chaotic classics. This year, you had a proper mountain stage very early and will tire many legs.

Cool, I dont agree with your previous take and I said why. Thats really all I had to say. Moving on.

 

[Monsi]

First UAE need to make sure Visma doesnt get satelite riders in the break. That's historically not been one of UAEs strengths...

It isn't but if they are able to keep the break close, it is fine. They can also elect to put Wellens in the break like they did on Hautacam this year.

I think the long ranger may not be needed and unnecessary if it doesnt call for it, but ok. In Tour, it should really only be a last resort. Otherwise, use your team and use the MTFs.

It's his specialty. If he kills the Tour there, he can just follow Jonas' wheel from there on.

Unless you mean just control that stage until Gavarnie MTF, in which case it would just be a small group sprint because the climb is so shallow.

 

[Salvarani]

It's his specialty. If he kills the Tour there, he can just follow Jonas' wheel from there on.

Unless you mean just control that stage until Gavarnie MTF, in which case it would just be a small group sprint because the climb is so shallow.

They will think about stages and moments that could be decisive.

As said, I havent looked at the route and know every detail.

If this is a viable and smart choice, given what other stages can provide.

Doing a long ranger just sounds more like a wish, as of now, rather than the smartest strategy. Imo.