Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[AmRacer]

After watching Tadej’s entire interview, which gives a completely different feeling than just reading an article, I’m even more convinced that he’s a pure cycling fanatic and that his schedule will always be unpredictable. This forum focuses only on how his schedule will affect the TdF, even though he’s still expected to do everything else as well. In the interview he directly says that he would rather win Roubaix than the Tour and hints that if the two races were held at the same time(!), he would probably go to the Tour de France because the team would decide that (BUT NOT HIM ).
This year’s schedule is brilliant from several perspectives, especially because it can be adjusted very easily. In my opinion, this will be the first year he goes all-in on Milan–San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris–Roubaix. He’ll take Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Romandie seriously, but it won’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t win. I’m convinced that if Jonas goes to the Giro, Pogačar will cancel either Romandie or Switzerland. I think he wants to go to the Vuelta but not race against Jonas, because that takes too much energy out of him.
People here comment a lot that the Vuelta would exhaust him for the WC, but they don’t understand that if his only real competition is the current Roglič (whom I otherwise respect immensely) and Mas, with Almeida covering his back behind them, that’s not the same as racing against Jonas.

If Jonas goes to the Giro, Jonas won't race the Vuelta. TdF is always on his schedule.

 

[HashRouge]

I don't think he'll go to the Vuelta. He's been doing the Canadian classics for two years, and he won't do them when the World Championships are in Canada?

Yes, if he has a good Tour, I think he'll do the Vuelta. His schedule before the Tour is so light, it suggests that they're saving something for the Autumn. And much as it's nice to ride the Canadian classics, he doesn't need to race them and they would also mean staying in Canada for quite a long time period, which might not appeal if he doesn't ride the TT.

 

[Jan the Man]

That’s true, but then he’ll have an extremely weak season

I would not count it as a ‘weak’ schedule per se - he’s riding all 5 monuments - competing for the win in each. 2 world Tour Stages races and the WC as well as a couple of other WT one day races and of course the Tour.

It is definitely low on the pure number of races days but high on intensity. For what it’s worth i’d be surprised if he rides the Vuelta. The best prep for WC would be the Canadian one day races.

 

[Mina.S]

Suisse makes sense because the women’s and men’s overlap this year.

 

[Cycling111]

Yes, if he has a good Tour, I think he'll do the Vuelta. His schedule before the Tour is so light, it suggests that they're saving something for the Autumn. And much as it's nice to ride the Canadian classics, he doesn't need to race them and they would also mean staying in Canada for quite a long time period, which might not appeal if he doesn't ride the TT.

Once again, it's undervalued what do the cobbles races mean for someone of Pogacar's weight.

Competing 2 days in Flanders and Roubaix is far more demanding than a week in Paris-Nice. Pogacar can win Paris-Nice without being at 100% and gradually improve his shape to the Tour, but he needs to be at 100% for Roubaix.

2 days at Flanders and Roubaix > one-week stage race.
And the training required is also much more demanding.

 

[Cycling111]

Suisse makes sense because the women’s and men’s overlap this year.

Yes. I think she chose that schedule because Urska will be there.

 

[Berniece]

He is the only cyclist who will race all 5 Monuments to win them.

So if he only rides 5 monuments and nothing else that’s a great schedule? Okay then, you must really like cycling

 

[AmRacer]

So if he only rides 5 monuments and nothing else that’s a great schedule? Okay then, you must really like cycling

If he wins them all....

 

[vappaxbipmv]

So if he only rides 5 monuments and nothing else that’s a great schedule? Okay then, you must really like cycling

Is there any other rider in recent memory that did that, for the win, and was also a favourite for the Tour, WC and EC? No

This schedule leaves room to do Vuelta after Tour

 

[Berniece]

Is there any other rider in recent memory that did that, for the win, and was also a favourite for the Tour, WC and EC? No

This schedule leaves room to do Vuelta after Tour

Has nothing to do with it. I’m saying it’s a boring schedule if he doesn’t do Vuelta

 

[pastronef]

Has nothing to do with it. I’m saying it’s a boring schedule if he doesn’t do Vuelta

boring for who? him? you? us? would you enjoy him winning, say, Roubaix instead of an usual Tirreno/UAE/Catalunya?

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Has nothing to do with it. I’m saying it’s a boring schedule if he doesn’t do Vuelta

It's a boring schedule (to you), because they're leaving the door open for the Vuelta

 

[Fos]

Has nothing to do with it. I’m saying it’s a boring schedule if he doesn’t do Vuelta

I assume you consider him a demigod; anyone else with that calendar would be a paradigm of boldness.

 

[Berniece]

boring for who? him? you? us? would you enjoy him winning, say, Roubaix instead of an usual Tirreno/UAE/Catalunya?

He rides 5 races this spring and Romandie...

It's a boring schedule (to you), because they're leaving the door open for the Vuelta

It's not a boring schedule IF he rides the Vuelta. If at the end of the season he didn't ride the Vuelta, he rode what 40-45 races? If you as a fan are happy with that, go ahead.

 

[AmRacer]

He rides 5 races this spring and Romandie...


It's not a boring schedule IF he rides the Vuelta. If at the end of the season he didn't ride the Vuelta, he rode what 40-45 races? If you as a fan are happy with that, go ahead.

I'm happy if he wins. Didn't know you are a Pogi fan.

 

[Cycling111]

If the only cyclist who does all 5 Monuments, while also being a favorite for the Tour, has a boring schedule, I don't want to say how boring the others' schedules are.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

He rides 5 races this spring and Romandie...


It's not a boring schedule IF he rides the Vuelta. If at the end of the season he didn't ride the Vuelta, he rode what 40-45 races? If you as a fan are happy with that, go ahead.

It's possible that he wins every single race he does. I don't see this as boring

 

[Berniece]

I'm happy if he wins. Didn't know you are a Pogi fan.

Also has nothing to do with it.

 

[James M]

Riding and taking on all the monuments within the same season will never be boring. The big boys ride the biggest races, and hes kingkong. Leave the second-tier races to second-tier riders, perspective.

 

[Valv.Piti]

He rides 5 races this spring and Romandie...


It's not a boring schedule IF he rides the Vuelta. If at the end of the season he didn't ride the Vuelta, he rode what 40-45 races? If you as a fan are happy with that, go ahead.

Brother its not about the race days. People still out here stuck obsessing over race days when everybody knows that training for and riding just two races like Flanders and Roubaix is just harder than racing T-A and Catalunya for a rider like Pog. The level is more even there and he needs to be at absolute 100% to win, where as he's casually strolling around at 85-90% in these other races and winning 3 stages for fun.

Adding Romandie and Suisse to his schedule on top of quadra monument and Strade Bianche is a perfectly fine and reasonable schedule with the autumn undecided. Imagine actually complaning about a Tour winner does this.

 

[Cycling111]

Brother its not about the race days. People still out here stuck obsessing over race days when everybody knows that training for and riding just two races like Flanders and Roubaix is just harder than racing T-A and Catalunya for a rider like Pog. The level is more even there and he needs to be at absolute 100% to win, where as he's casually strolling around at 85-90% in these other races and winning 3 stages for fun.

Adding Romandie and Suisse to his schedule on top of quadra monument and Strade Bianche is a perfectly fine and reasonable schedule with the autumn undecided. Imagine actually complaning about a Tour winner does this.

+1000

It's not just the level of competition. The physical demands of Roubaix and the specific training require more effort and time.

UAE Tour has more days, which for some means it's better to have it on the calendar because of the days 🙄

 

[saunaking]

Yes, if he has a good Tour, I think he'll do the Vuelta. His schedule before the Tour is so light, it suggests that they're saving something for the Autumn. And much as it's nice to ride the Canadian classics, he doesn't need to race them and they would also mean staying in Canada for quite a long time period, which might not appeal if he doesn't ride the TT.

wtf is wrong with Canada???

 

[Red Rick]

So if he only rides 5 monuments and nothing else that’s a great schedule? Okay then, you must really like cycling

Would make a lot of races he would skip better.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Has nothing to do with it. I’m saying it’s a boring schedule if he doesn’t do Vuelta

If Remco rides only 2 monuments, WC and Tour out of big races, tell me how exciting this schedule is? I'm really hoping he will do MSR and RVV though.

 

[Red Rick]

If Remco rides only 2 monuments, WC and Tour out of big races, tell me how exciting this schedule is? I'm really hoping he will do MSR and RVV though.

Evenepoel has picked the perfect NPC schedule.