Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Berniece]

I wouldn't be too afraid of the TTT. What's the worst case scenario, that he loses 20s to Vingegaard or Evenepoel? Does that really matter?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Citing reasons as Feb, no altitude, and also no one besides Nuggets participating who also didnt ride full today what are we supposed to say? Bsides its understandable why people get surprised when emotions are this all over the place

They will probably end up winning it like in the Vuelta. But if not no one should cry for them, and who cares theyre not there to win the TTT anyway. Besides I reckon the top teams will probably hover around a gap of 15 seconds

As @Berniece says those small margins likely won't matter anyway and Pogi can smash the race on stage 6 already.

 

[Cycling111]

I wouldn't be too afraid of the TTT. What's the worst case scenario, that he loses 20s to Vingegaard or Evenepoel? Does that really matter?

Yes, of course. I'm not saying he´s going to lose the Tour for that TTT. I was simply referring to the stage and starting the Tour with a good feeling.

 

[Berniece]

Yes, of course. I'm not saying he´s going to lose the Tour for that TTT. I was simply referring to the stage and starting the Tour with a good feeling.

Oh, sure, but winning TT is difficult anyway for UAE against those powerhouses.

 

[James M]

As @Berniece says those small margins likely won't matter anyway and Pogi can smash the race on stage 6 already.

Indeed honestly wouldnt suprise me if top 4 howers around 15 sec its technical lets see. Wonder if Ineos will prioritize it heavily knowing they can win (since we dont know the team yet) since UAE and Pog will lobotomize this Tour

 

[Cycling111]

@Krzysztof_O
Do you expect many differences at this stage?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

@Krzysztof_O
Do you expect many differences at this stage?

If UAE set a brutal pace on Tourmalet then the second half of it will be carnage (see how gaps exploded in 2023). The peleton will be in shreds and there will be no organized chase (descent and that climb afterwards don't help). Pogacar can solo to the finish with a good margin. People who want a competitive race should hope someone (Vingo?) is able to match him, otherwise it will be the second Hautacam.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I wouldn't be too afraid of the TTT. What's the worst case scenario, that he loses 20s to Vingegaard or Evenepoel? Does that really matter?

Also a TTT is just weird, it's usually just who has practiced it more and absolutely nobody knows how to ride them, everyone will be hyping it and the gaps will be 10 seconds and Jayco will win for some reason.

 

[Netserk]

there can be huge gaps. just recall 2023

and back then they also only went full full at la mongie when keldermerckx took over

 

[Cycling111]

Also a TTT is just weird, it's usually just who has practiced it more and absolutely nobody knows how to ride them, everyone will be hyping it and the gaps will be 10 seconds and Jayco will win for some reason.

If it were a traditional TTT, I'd give Jayco a chance; they're very good. But in the Paris-Nice format, a good team with a stronger leader than O'Connor will win. Most likely Remco or Ayuso. It wouldn't be a surprise if Vingegaard wins ; Visma will have some good rouleurs.

But I'd say Remco or Ayuso because they have the best TTT teams and individually they're better than O'Connor.

 

[Cycling111]

Bingo. Anyone hoping for a close Tour early will already be fuming here(unless Jonas magicaly turns it around). Pogi alone on 3.7 gradients vs others most likely seperated 1 by 1 at the start atleast will rip the gap to pieces.

Honestly dont know why they chose to put this on stage 6 when theyre so desperate to keep the race close for a while.

Because they assume that in Gavarnie-Gédre, there won't be big gaps.

The route is very weak this year. It's understandable that they want Seixas to go. Until the final stages, everything will be very close for the podium, without collapses.

 

[Salvarani]

I wouldn't be too afraid of the TTT. What's the worst case scenario, that he loses 20s to Vingegaard or Evenepoel? Does that really matter?

Yeah, but apparently UAE cant TT now and the world is falling apart.

Cant wait to see and hear whats wrong on the next episode. To be continued, I guess.

 

[Red Rick]

there can be huge gaps. just recall 2023

and back then they also only went full full at la mongie when keldermerckx took over

Tbh I'm very convinced G2 just completely gave up and that's why they took 2 minutes in 5km.

 

[Netserk]

Tbh I'm very convinced G2 just completely gave up and that's why they took 2 minutes in 5km.

i also think many this year will have second thoughts before they light their legs on fire

a lipowitz potato chase could be quite costly

 

[canina82]

This will be a long season for Pogacar non fans. Unless he crashes, he will be 2 steps above everyone in his terrain.
I will just leave here some numbers:
Peyragudes - 2002 m/h (a fresh effort in 2025)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1946245562799382767

View: https://x.com/WattsinCycling/status/1946245562799382767


Pogacar in February (photo number 10):
VAM - 2010 m/h for almost half an hour (and looking to the speed, we are probably talking about a 8-9% climb.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUsPf0JCH8G/?igsh=MXR1eXZyOTl4enhxdg==


Yes, without any crash, the Tour will be over on Tourmalet.

 

[hayneplane]

Bingo. Anyone hoping for a close Tour early will already be fuming here(unless Jonas magicaly turns it around). Pogi alone on 3.7 gradients vs others most likely seperated 1 by 1 at the start atleast will rip the gap to pieces.

Honestly dont know why they chose to put this on stage 6 when theyre so desperate to keep the race close for a while.

Virtually no real flat for the last 80km of the stage presents the perfect opportunity to strike hard and then keep accumulating a steadily increasing lead as group 2 syndrome kicks in hard

 

[jotafap]

Yes, without any crash, the Tour will be over on Tourmalet.

Agreed. Somehow, I also have a strong feeling Poga will be even better this year. My only real doubt is whether he’ll manage to win either MSR or PR. For the rest, he’ll basically repeat the recipe from previous years.

Cannot w8 for SB.

 

[yaco]

If it were a traditional TTT, I'd give Jayco a chance; they're very good. But in the Paris-Nice format, a good team with a stronger leader than O'Connor will win. Most likely Remco or Ayuso. It wouldn't be a surprise if Vingegaard wins ; Visma will have some good rouleurs.

But I'd say Remco or Ayuso because they have the best TTT teams and individually they're better than O'Connor.

Think you'll find that in the TDF TTT they will ride for Plapp, matthews or Schmid. Not that I can see them beating Pogacar.

 

[canina82]

Agreed. Somehow, I also have a strong feeling Poga will be even better this year. My only real doubt is whether he’ll manage to win either MSR or PR. For the rest, he’ll basically repeat the recipe from previous years.

Cannot w8 for SB.

Like I posted earlier, he did an effort with a VAM of 953m in 28'27". Similar VAM to Peyragudes in 11 more minutes. Alien performance in February.

 

[Cycling111]

Like I posted earlier, he did an effort with a VAM of 953m in 28'27". Similar VAM to Peyragudes in 11 more minutes. Alien performance in February.

How did you calculate that?

 

[canina82]

How did you calculate that?

This will be a long season for Pogacar non fans. Unless he crashes, he will be 2 steps above everyone in his terrain.
I will just leave here some numbers:
Peyragudes - 2002 m/h (a fresh effort in 2025)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1946245562799382767

View: https://x.com/WattsinCycling/status/1946245562799382767


Pogacar in February (photo number 10):
VAM - 2010 m/h for almost half an hour (and looking to the speed, we are probably talking about a 8-9% climb.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUsPf0JCH8G/?igsh=MXR1eXZyOTl4enhxdg==


Yes, without any crash, the Tour will be over on Tourmalet.

Pogacar posted it.
VAM of 953m in 28'27" = VAM of 2010 m/h

 

[Red Rick]

Streets won't forget Contador doing 458 watts for 19'59 in the age of not knowing humans need food to do exercise.

 

[rafa92]

For now, team's performance hasn't been good at ITT.
They were average in the Mallorca TTT, although they weren't the best team. In UAE Tour bad, although Del Toro seemed to have a mover wind .

Today was disastrous, with McNulty's mechanical issue as an asterisk. But the fact that the first UAE rider was beaten by the third rider from LIDL, who is a rider from their development team, is striking.

They have a lot of work to do for the Tour de France TTT. I rule them out as having any chance of winning; teams like BORA and LIDL seem far superior in this discipline, and Visma is also very good.

Pogacar posted it.
VAM of 953m in 28'27" = VAM of 2010 m/h

please stop with the nonsense, VAM is already expressed as m/h in the computer, he was probably doing a zone 2 ride

 

[canina82]

please stop with the nonsense, VAM is already expressed as m/h in the computer, he was probably doing a zone 2 ride

His BPM were at 173. Impossible to be a zone 2 ride.
Edit: but maybe I'm wrong and he was 953m above sea level.

 

[rafa92]

His BPM were at 173. Impossible to be a zone 2 ride.

yes because in that precise moment he was pushing more than 400 watts (410 in the last 3 sec). Even in a zone 2 ride he probably does some short efforts, but I repeat you in the last 30 minutes his vam was 953, probably because the parcours was not all climbing but rather a mixed terrain (typical of the calpe area). If you really believe he was doing a 2010 vam for 30 minutes you are delusional and don't have any idea of how the measure is computed and shown on the computer