Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[hayneplane]

Do we expect anything from Van Gils in Strade? He was impressive in 24 and throughout, but more or less ghosted last year. Do we expect him to have some kind of renaissance this year?

My CQ team would like to think he can top 5 which, at his best, is possible.

The usual suspects like Simmons/Pidcock/Healy should all be good but most excited to see Seixas and what Ayuso and Jorgensen can do along with seeing where Van Aert is at.

 

[James M]

My CQ team would like to think he can top 5 which, at his best, is possible.

The usual suspects like Simmons/Pidcock/Healy should all be good but most excited to see Seixas and what Ayuso and Jorgensen can do along with seeing where Van Aert is at.

Indeed. Is Ayuso confirmed for Strade? I share the curiousity about the rest of the riders you mentioned. Simmons will be good this year even stronger than last season throughout is what I think, lets see. And ofc Seixas too is interesting to watch. Strade is very stacked this season, love to see it.

Glad he will ride it, but i dont have high expectations to WVA. I kind of feel the typing is on the wall there. In terms of his own standards, I think those days are long gone, and Id be very surprised if he finishes second for instance.

 

[Cycling111]

My CQ team would like to think he can top 5 which, at his best, is possible.

The usual suspects like Simmons/Pidcock/Healy should all be good but most excited to see Seixas and what Ayuso and Jorgensen can do along with seeing where Van Aert is at.

Ayuso won´t be at Strade Bianche.

 

[Red Rick]

Pogi will win easily (Ewen will die during Z2 "easy" ride).

Pog will rig everything to delude the cult he's a good sprinter.

 

[hayneplane]

Ayuso won´t be at Strade Bianche.

I got that wrong. He is currently listed for Paris-Nice.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Pog will rig everything to delude the cult he's a good sprinter.

Teddy's mythical Z2 makes me think he should try smashing Everesting record.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Teddy's mythical Z2 makes me think he should try smashing Everesting record.

He could probably do it on Jebel Jais or Hafeet. Let's see those mountains used for something interesting for once.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

He could probably do it on Jebel Jais or Hafeet. Let's see those mountains used for something interesting for once.

Steeper climb is needed to convert watts to VAM more efficiently. Preferably 10+ % gradient close to sea level with good surface and non technical descent.

 

[Cycling111]

Bye to San Remo. Pogacar needs other rider to launch him in Cipressa.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014997283574599738

View: https://x.com/i/status/2014997283574599738

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Bye to San Remo. Pogacar needs other rider to launch him in Cipressa.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014997283574599738

View: https://x.com/i/status/2014997283574599738

Del Toro will have to step up big time if Narvaez cannot go

 

[hayneplane]

Bye to San Remo. Pogacar needs other rider to launch him in Cipressa.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014997283574599738

View: https://x.com/i/status/2014997283574599738

Probably increases the chances of Jan Christen being selected. He did a great turn as last man on Mur de Huy in 2025. Not the most loyal of lieutenants in general but he does lay it all out for Pogacar.

 

[rafa92]

nobody on uae roster can replace narvaez on cipressa, he's perfect for that effort and he's the only one who is explosive enough to create gaps on those gradients even before pogacar's attack (in '24 he managed to create a gap to everybody except 3-4 riders)

 

[James M]

nobody on uae roster can replace narvaez on cipressa, he's perfect for that effort and he's the only one who is explosive enough to create gaps on those gradients even before pogacar's attack (in '24 he managed to create a gap to everybody except 3-4 riders)

Narvaez is kind of unique in what he can do there. Very, very few riders in the world can do lead‑outs like him on slopes like that or even in the mountains now. So yeah it sucks for Pogi for MSR.

Speedy recovery he seemed to be in good shape aswell, but he will be back.

 

[Panda Claws]

Watching Pogacar is just power fantasy

 

[Cycling111]

Without Narvaez, crossing a motorway... Getting harder and harder.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015752235091632303

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/2015752235091632303

 

[vappaxbipmv]

Without Narvaez, crossing a motorway... Getting harder and harder.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015752235091632303

View: https://x.com/laflammerouge16/status/2015752235091632303

It's irrelevant change, way before the final starts, still Z1 for almost everyone

 

[TheHammibal]

Narvaez is kind of unique in what he can do there. Very, very few riders in the world can do lead‑outs like him on slopes like that or even in the mountains now. So yeah it sucks for Pogi for MSR.

Speedy recovery he seemed to be in good shape aswell, but he will be back.

Tim Wellens -> Benoît Cosnefroy -> Del Toro ?

 

[Lorzenz08]

Tim Wellens -> Benoît Cosnefroy -> Del Toro ?

Del Toro isnt as explosive I think, might be wrong though

 

[Tim Cahill]

A little too shallow for Del Toro or Cosnefroy to drop Van Der Poel and Ganna, the loss of Narvaez is a disaster, should've signed Big Kaden Groves when they had the chance.

They could perhaps try and improvise to make the race longer by going on Capo Berta but that would be suicidal.

 

[TheHammibal]

Pog is the only one that can drop MVDP. If Cosnefroy gets back to his peak form or takes a step forward, he is coming from a French team, he could be the last man to launch Pog.

Last year was a pretty ideal lead out and it didn’t work out. Eventually MVDP won’t be 100% or he is out of position. I think Pog just has to keep trying.

 

[Cycling111]

Pog is the only one that can drop MVDP. If Cosnefroy gets back to his peak form or takes a step forward, he is coming from a French team, he could be the last man to launch Pog.

Last year was a pretty ideal lead out and it didn’t work out. Eventually MVDP won’t be 100% or he is out of position. I think Pog just has to keep trying.

Looking at his CX season, there's no sign of decline.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Looking at his CX season, there's no sign of decline.

Yes, maybe UAE should drop brute force tactics and try attacking with multiple riders. MVP is going to be great and undroppable, it seems.

 

[HashRouge]

He will only try again on the Cipressa if it's a tailwind afterwards, right? Otherwise it would be too hard for him to stay away from the peloton on his own anyway.
I'm surprised people are saying del Toro wouldn't be any good for a Cipressa lead out. Wasn't their original plan last year for him to be the last man? It's on their behind the scenes video, and it's Pog explaining it! The plan was for del Toro to do 20-25 seconds flat out, then for Pog to launch. Obviously losing Jhonny is a big blow, but they do have the team strength to put something together. It's just getting everyone in position that is difficult. It will be even harder this year, because everyone knows he will try to launch on the Cipressa again if the conditions are favourable.

 

[Monsi]

He will only try again on the Cipressa if it's a tailwind afterwards, right? Otherwise it would be too hard for him to stay away from the peloton on his own anyway.
I'm surprised people are saying del Toro wouldn't be any good for a Cipressa lead out. Wasn't their original plan last year for him to be the last man? It's on their behind the scenes video, and it's Pog explaining it! The plan was for del Toro to do 20-25 seconds flat out, then for Pog to launch. Obviously losing Jhonny is a big blow, but they do have the team strength to put something together. It's just getting everyone in position that is difficult. It will be even harder this year, because everyone knows he will try to launch on the Cipressa again if the conditions are favourable.

Funnily enough, the original plan last year was for Narvaez to not do any leadout and to simply let the wheel of Pogi go to force the others to close the gap.

 

[Cookster15]

Looking at his CX season, there's no sign of decline.

I think Pogacar has a chance in the next two years albeit slim - MVDP is 31 now?

As others have mentioned, MSR seems to be zone 1 for these guys for 5 1/2 hours then Cipressa followed by Poggio - a one two punch. Maybe Pogacar and UAE should try again a full on attack on Cipressa and follow that up on Poggio with another full on attack from the bottom. When the last UAE teammate is dropped on Poggio (no Narvaez) Pogacar to launch another full bore attack. It was already tried and failed in 2025 but what other way is there? He should have better recovery than MVDP. And if MVDP isn’t at 100% for any reason?

But it is a great rivalry between these two at MSR in particular where their strengths overlap.