Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Krzysztof_O]

MvP came out of hibernation in Antwerp. There's hope there.

For like 2 races of the season! MVP is the only rider who beats Pog in big races nowadays. I meant other races, other guys' hope of course.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Only 13 seconds faster than a Unibet rider. Washed.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2002072399022600482

View: https://x.com/rockets_cycling/status/2002072399022600482?s=20

I know you’re joking but who is this guy? Just one climb mostly done in the offseason but still crazy to be that fast

 

[James M]

I know you’re joking but who is this guy? Just one climb mostly done in the offseason but still crazy to be that fast

I think its a thing where good amateurs devote their time specifically going after KOMs and nothing else. Thats the kind of guy Pogacar is, when the off‑season comes and he cant devour the pro peloton, he goes after the amateurs.

 

[proffate]

I think its a thing where good amateurs devote their time specifically going after KOMs and nothing else. Thats the kind of guy Pogacar is, when the off‑season comes and he cant devour the pro peloton, he goes after the amateurs.

Kinda mean to call pro conti an amateur

 

[James M]

Kinda mean to call pro conti an amateur

My apologies. Lets get into the christmas spirit.

 

[ZvitaFeltna]

Everybody who thinks that Pogi will do Vuelta26 should remember that 100% of the course is in the south of Spain, where the temperature will be 40+ for the 3 weeks.

 

[memyselfandI]

Damn sure he goes to Vuelta. He's got two rainbow jerseys after all, so Canada is further back in the grand plan, unless some problems happens in early season. He already lost OG by skipping Paris, he's not going to get another chance for that.

MSR, Tour, Vuelta must be his real targets....Wait a minute, did Spain design a blistering hot route to keep Pogi out?

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Everybody who thinks that Pogi will do Vuelta26 should remember that 100% of the course is in the south of Spain, where the temperature will be 40+ for the 3 weeks.

If you're suggesting that heat is still a problem for him it's not anymore. However it's not enjoyable to ride in that hotness snd is a bad preparation for the worlds, so I don't expect him to be there

 

[Oldman]

For like 2 races of the season! MVP is the only rider who beats Pog in big races nowadays. I meant other races, other guys' hope of course.

Correction: 3 out of 3 vs serious challengers after rest/buildup. The guy knows how to prep for important races and Tadej will appreciate the competition. Maybe those observers will quit whining about Pogi's dominance against this serious Guy. Win or lose they are on par with each other.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Correction: 3 out of 3 vs serious challengers after rest/buildup. The guy knows how to prep for important races and Tadej will appreciate the competition. Maybe those observers will quit whining about Pogi's dominance against this serious Guy. Win or lose they are on par with each other.

Obviously MVP is Pog's only real rival now and their competition should lighten up some spring classics. MVP on his own turf can beat Pog. The question is when anyone else will be able to break Pog's dominance during all those hilly/mountainous races constituting the majority of the WT. They shouldn't have too high hopes for the next year, it seems. At some point the decline will come though (maybe 2027 or 2028?).

 

[Cookster15]

If you're suggesting that heat is still a problem for him it's not anymore. However it's not enjoyable to ride in that hotness snd is a bad preparation for the worlds, so I don't expect him to be there

Agree. I think Pog debunked his bad reputation in the heat in the last two TdFs which were hot.

On doing the Vuelta, I hope he keeps in mind his age and doesn't leave that too late. IMO, the Vuelta is the big obvious omission in his palmarès for a rider of his capabilities - not another worlds, MSR or PR.

As mentioned above, we don't know when Pogacar might begin to decline. He is 27 now. By 2028 he will be 29. In 1996 at age 32 everyone thought Indurain would win his 6th tour.

 

[Cycling111]

Agree. I think Pog debunked his bad reputation in the heat in the last two TdFs which were hot.

On doing the Vuelta, I hope he keeps in mind his age and doesn't leave that too late. IMO, the Vuelta is the big obvious omission in his palmarès for a rider of his capabilities - not another worlds, MSR or PR.

As mentioned above, we don't know when Pogacar might begin to decline. He is 27 now. By 2028 he will be 29. In 1996 at age 32 everyone thought Indurain would win his 6th tour.

Holding the WCrecord would be a unique achievement. And for Pogacar, that seems to be a priority.

In a recent interview, he already said that winning the Vuelta wouldn't be an obsession for him.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Holding the WCrecord would be a unique achievement. And for Pogacar, that seems to be a priority.

In a recent interview, he already said that winning the Vuelta wouldn't be an obsession for him.

I think a sensible thing would be to skip the Tour in 2028 and go for Olympics and the Vuelta. Del Toro (and Almeida) will want a chance and he should already have 6 by then, if Isaac develops as we all expect him to, he should be a legitimate candidate to win the Tour, and a very strong Almeida, that should be enough for UAE to let him have a free summer

 

[Cycling111]

I think a sensible thing would be to skip the Tour in 2028 and go for Olympics and the Vuelta. Del Toro (and Almeida) will want a chance and he should already have 6 by then, if Isaac develops as we all expect him to, he should be a legitimate candidate to win the Tour, and a very strong Almeida, that should be enough for UAE to let him have a free summer

Although this isn't the point of the debate, I've always said that this shouldn't be a factor for the best number one.

If they reach that situation, they should change team. The number one in a sport should never make decisions based on external factors. And it's not selfish, it's natural, it´s a proffesional sport. Anyone who can't accept that should change team.

I didn't like it when I read that he didn't do the Vuelta because Almeida and Yates should be leaders (they later failed). That probably wasn't the reason, but just thinking that is a mistake. Pogacar should only think about himself. If he wants to give Montreal, fine, but the number one should only think about his own.
That decision should never be influenced by Del Toro and Almeida.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Although this isn't the point of the debate, I've always said that this shouldn't be a factor for the best number one.

If they reach that situation, they should change team. The number one in a sport should never make decisions based on external factors. And it's not selfish, it's natural, it´s a proffesional sport. Anyone who can't accept that should change team.

I didn't like it when I read that he didn't do the Vuelta because Almeida and Yates should be leaders (they later failed). That probably wasn't the reason, but just thinking that is a mistake. Pogacar should only think about himself. If he wants to give Montreal, fine, but the number one should only think about his own.
That decision should never be influenced by Del Toro and Almeida.

Well, according to Pogacar, he didn't attempt the Vuelta last year because of his teammates. And will probably never try to win all 3 GTs because of his teammates

My point is more this that he is not super excited about riding the Tour and if UAE has 2 very willing and very good candidates he could skip it as a result, everyone is happy, except maybe the team if they don't win

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, according to Pogacar, he didn't attempt the Vuelta last year because of his teammates. And will probably never try to win all 3 GTs because of his teammates

Which "last year" are you talking about?
Because last year doing the Vuelta would maybe have been a bit much... even for him.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Which "last year" are you talking about?
Because last year doing the Vuelta would maybe have been a bit much... even for him.

2024, the year he had a chance to win the 3 GTs and didn't go to give other teammates the chance and keep good spirit (I'm paraphrasing his words)

 

[RedheadDane]

2024, the year he had a chance to win the 3 GTs and didn't go to give other teammates the chance and keep good spirit (I'm paraphrasing his words)

I recall his reason for not going simply being that he was - you know - tired...
He is human. He can still get tired.

 

[vappaxbipmv]

I recall his reason for not going simply being that he was - you know - tired...
He is human. He can still get tired.

He didn't look anywhere near tired enough for that to be the reason to skip Vuelta

 

[Põhja Konn]

He didn't look anywhere near tired enough for that to be the reason to skip Vuelta

Looks are often deceiving and fans inevitably draw overly far-reaching conclusions based on them . Going for the win in all three in the same season is just completely unrealistic. Pog hasn't even done Tour-Vuelta back-to-back yet, indicating that he does feel the need to choose between Vuelta and Worlds+Lombardia after the Tour. The fact that Pog is rather trying to win Sanremo and Roubaix against he likes of MVDP, and is not even flirting with the GT triple idea shows quite conclusively what he himself considers realistic and what not.