Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[hayneplane]

What he said after the Tour could have been some kind of a game, a hidden threat to the sponsors: release me from the Tour duty or there will be an earlier retirement.

Maybe not quite as specific as that but certainly a bit of a power play to wrestle near full control over his schedule eg riding whatever he wants in the cobbled classics.

 

[Extinction]

Pogacar would definitely like to skip the Tour for a change. He doesn't like it indeed: the pressure is huge, it's physically draining and one has to be careful for 3 weeks. However, my point is that the sheikhs won't allow him to. He can do almost whatever he wants (even ride Roubaix against the will of Gianetti and co) but the Tour looks to be a must every year.

Pog doesn't like the Tour? Reverse psychology kills the competition. Imagine if he liked it.

 

[Extinction]

What he said after the Tour could have been some kind of a game, a hidden threat to the sponsors: release me from the Tour duty or there will be an earlier retirement.

The run is up?

 

[Berniece]

What he said after the Tour could have been some kind of a game, a hidden threat to the sponsors: release me from the Tour duty or there will be an earlier retirement.

I don’t think it was a game and just the truth. He was tired. He too needs some rest mentally which is completely normal.

 

[fenns]

This year he clearly didn't enjoy the Tour after the crash - probably in discomfort for a long time and riding 200k a day is not conducive to healing.

But the Tour is so far above other races in prestige one can't see him skipping it before he has 6 .

 

[ingsve]

Pogacar would definitely like to skip the Tour for a change. He doesn't like it indeed: the pressure is huge, it's physically draining and one has to be careful for 3 weeks. However, my point is that the sheikhs won't allow him to. He can do almost whatever he wants (even ride Roubaix against the will of Gianetti and co) but the Tour looks to be a must every year.

Would the sheikhs be more open to it perhaps if they had someone else that was as much of a sure thing to win the Tour. Or at least someone they believed in enough. Perhaps Del Toro eventually.

 

[Cycling111]

These months until the start of the new season are going to be so long. Pogacar will definitely go to the 2026 Tour, but we'll read a thousand rumors that he won't, even though he said in Lequipe interview after the Tour that he will go next year.

 

[Berniece]

even though he said in Lequipe interview after the Tour that he will go next year.

And schedules and opinions can never change

 

[James M]

This is so overhyped I feel. Lets not forget the vast majority of cyclists enjoy other races over the Tour, and the stress that comes with it. And its not exclusive to Pogacar at all.