Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Salvarani]

I think he might be a bit sick of MSR to be honest. He posted on Instagram this morning and his final comment was promising Urska that now he wouldn't insist on riding those roads all the time. I think he prepared for it this year more than he ever has before, but if he doesn't do that, his chances of winning diminish massively.

He has definitely wanted this one a lot. Worked very hard and learning through each attempt. It must feel really rewarding to finally achieve that in this race. In that way, with everything that happened, was incredible. One for the ages.

Now PR is what becomes the next big goal.

However, I wouldnt be surprised if he comes back in the future... but he might not go from Cipressa anymore. He might race it and be one of many who could be in contention on Poggio, its descent and the finish on Via Roma. He could win that way, it just becomes a bit more unpredictable but he will be less pressured.

 

[canina82]

Any chance he adds E3 or AGR/FW to his schedule?

I hope he doesn't and leave the Vuelta card open. I can definitely see him (without misfortunes) winning the Tour in cruise control.

 

[Salvarani]

I hope he doesn't and leave the Vuelta card open.

Still.... he wont do it this year with this schedule. He needs rest after Tour.

 

[the asian]

I don't get it. MSR is very easy to put on his schedule and since he won, he doesn't need to prepare this race like a madman!

Yes, but he races to win, and for him to win MSR, he needs to prpeare like a madman. Less presssure certainly.

 

[canina82]

Still.... he wont do it this year with this schedule. He needs rest after Tour.

You don't know. Every Tour is different, las year was very tough, this year can be much easier (even if I tend to agree with you).

 

[Salvarani]

You don't know. Every Tour is different, las year was very tough, this year can be much easier (even if I tend to agree with you).

It is not just about the Tour though... which you keep missing. He has been racing and preparing from Jan to end of July.

Doing Vuelta is pushing it too hard and a dumb move either way.

 

[canina82]

It is not just about the Tour though... which you keep missing.

Maybe you didn't read my last sentence. The Tour can be much easier. I also think he will not race the Vuelta but why having a lighter schedule (without AGR, E3, FW, Dauphiné), if the Vuelta is not an option in the future?

 

[Salvarani]

Yes, but he races to win, and for him to win MSR, he needs to prpeare like a madman. Less presssure certainly.

To win it this way, he may have to.

But he could still win it other ways with less pressure on himself to do so.

 

[Salvarani]

Maybe you didn't read my last sentence. The Tour can be much easier. I also think he will not race the Vuelta but why having a lighter schedule (without AGR, E3, FW, Dauphiné), if the Vuelta is not an option in the future?

He wont do the Vuelta because the Tour is much easier. The Tour will always be hard for many different factors.

He will have to remove Tour or dont do as much classics/monuments in the spring, if going Tour- Vuelta.

It makes sense to target Vuelta, when WC is not suiting him.

But the point is he has to remove other races and AGR, E3, FW and Dauphine is neither here nor there in that regard. It is not those that matters for that.

2 years later and it is still the same conversation with you.

 

[canina82]

He wont do the Vuelta because the Tour is much easier. The Tour will always be hard for many different factors.

He will have to remove Tour or dont do as much classics/monuments in the spring, if going Tour- Vuelta.

It makes sense to target Vuelta, when WC is not suiting him.

But the point he has to remove other races and AGR, E3, FW and Dauphine is neither here nor there in that regard. It is not those that matters for that.

2 years later and it is still the same conversation with you.

Yeah, just like he would never do TdS because Dauphiné was a better prep race. No one is saying for him to race the Vuelta, just to leave the Vuelta option open. If he is not fresh, just don't race it. Doing a heavy classics schedule doesn't help him for sure, this is why I don't want him to race those additional classics.

 

[Salvarani]

Yeah, just like he would never do TdS because Dauphiné was a better prep race. No one is saying for him to race the Vuelta, just to leave the Vuelta option open. If he is not fresh, just don't race it. Doing a heavy classics schedule doesn't help him for sure, this is why I don't want him to race those additional classics.

Who said never do TdS?

That Dauphine is the better prep race is a fact imo.
That doesnt mean one cant do TdS, if they want to.

Understand the difference.

You been arguing for classics, Tour + Vuelta for a long time. Failing to understand the complications.

Again, doesnt mean one cant do it. Just that it would be a bad idea, perhaps not in the moment... but maybe the aftermath. That is what one gotta consider.

 

[hayneplane]

Hi won't surely ride MSR next year. But he may return someday. He might want to be the first guy to win all Five Monuments at least thrice.

I think he will be back but now able to ride it without the obsessive preparation all winter of recon training rides up Cipressa and Poggio so can ride it as far more of a free hit.

 

[fenns]

his first priority will be to put the Tour record to bed - 6 or 7

next will be the Vuelta and PR

I'd say there's a good chance he's do the Vuelta this year because no Jonas looks guaranteed which will make it much easier that it might be. I think he would have done it last year if Jonas had not been in it.

 

[canina82]

Who said never do TdS?

That Dauphine is the better prep race is a fact imo.
That doesnt mean one cant do TdS, if they want to.

Understand the difference.

You been arguing for classics, Tour + Vuelta for a long time. Failing to understand the complications.

Again, doesnt mean one cant do it. Just that it would be a bad idea, perhaps not in the moment... but maybe the aftermath. That is what one gotta consider.

You said he would not race TdS.
Regarding his program, in any point I have been saying he should race the Vuelta. Can you understand the difference between Vuelta must be on his schedule and he should race less in classics to leave the card Vuelta open?

 

[Salvarani]

his first priority will be to put the Tour record to bed - 6 or 7

next will be the Vuelta and PR

I'd say there's a good chance he's do the Vuelta this year because no Jonas looks guaranteed which will make it much easier that it might be. I think he would have done it last year if Jonas had not been in it.

I dont think he should/will, but who knows.

 

[Salvarani]

You said he would not race TdS.
Regarding his program, in any point I have been saying he should race the Vuelta. Can you understand the difference between Vuelta must be on his schedule and he should race less in classics to leave the card Vuelta open?

I didnt say never or that he wouldnt. I just think Dauphine is the better prep race, regardless. Dont misquote me.

He is not racing "less" in classics by doing all four monuments. Adding E3, AGR, FW doesnt matter in this regard.

It doesnt open up the chance for Vuelta more, whether he rides them or not.

Thats exactly where we disagree. You thinking it must be on his schedule and not understanding it is a dumb idea given what he has already taken on in the first half of the season and after riding the Tour.

You keep being wrong about a lot of things though, Im good on that.

 

[canina82]

I didnt say never or that he wouldnt. I just think Dauphine is the better prep race, regardless. Dont misquote me.

He is not racing "less" in classics by doing all four monuments. Adding E3, AGR, FW doesnt matter in this regard.

It doesnt open up the chance for Vuelta more, whether he rides them or not.

Thats exactly where we disagree. You thinking it must be on his schedule and not understanding it is a dumb idea given what he has already taken on in the first half of the season and after riding the Tour.

No you didn't say that. You said he doesn't care about winning all one week stage races and for that reason he would race the Dauphiné.
And no, I don't think Vuelta should be on his schedule, it's actually you who are misquote me.
Again (for the third time), he should leave the Vuelta card open. If he feels good and fresh after the Tour, why not race the Vuelta if he wants too?
And yes, racing E3, AGR and FW make his spring schedule heavier. Having to explain seems a little bit wild.
But let's move on.

 

[canina82]

I'm looking forward to see his team in RVV.
They have a lot of injured riders, 3 of them are normally in RVV. But at this point, Pogacar just needs the gap to be lower than 3 minutes and he will do the rest.

 

[Salvarani]

No you didn't say that. You said he doesn't care about winning all one week stage races and for that reason he would race the Dauphiné.
And no, I don't think Vuelta should be on his schedule, it's actually you who are misquote me.
Again (for the third time), he should leave the Vuelta card open. If he feels good and fresh after the Tour, why not race the Vuelta if he wants too?
And yes, racing E3, AGR and FW make his spring schedule heavier. Having to explain seems a little bit wild.
But let's move on.

I dont think I have ever said that.

You keep bringing up Vuelta every time you get the chance.

And all I am saying is, it is probably a bad idea to do Vuelta after the Tour given what he has prepared and raced for Jan to July. This and last season. He is entitled to do whatever he wants though, you keep missing that part as well.

You just dont understand that he prepares for days and weeks before each monument. Adding these races does nothing for the work load. You not understand anything about this is the wild part.

Sure, stop mentioning the Vuelta every day though.

 

[canina82]

I dont think I have ever said that.

You keep bringing up Vuelta every time you get the chance.

And all I am saying is, it is probably a bad idea to do Vuelta after the Tour given what he has prepared and raced for Jan to July. This and last season. He is entitled to do whatever he wants though, you keep missing that part as well.

You just dont understand that he prepares for days and weeks before each monument. Adding these races does nothing for the work load. You not understand anything about this is the wild part.

Sure, stop mentioning the Vuelta every day though.

So I will stop mentioning Vuelta because you don't like? This must be a joke.

 

[Salvarani]

So I will stop mentioning Vuelta because you don't like? This must be a joke.

No, I just dont understand your obsession with it. It is peculiar.

And not really understanding what it really means to add it on, given what has been raced beforehand.

He will get to Vuelta when it makes more sense. One just gotta be calm about it.

 

[KZD]

Regarding Pogačar coming back to Sanremo, I think he will eventually because its a monument and fits well in the calendar, however he might not be as well prepared as this season because he has clearly put on some muscle which probably made the difference in the sprint yesterday against Pidcock.

He is also looking good to become the first rider ever to win 4 monuments in the same season and even 5 its not impossible but obviously more difficult because of Roubaix. To connect with the discussion above, if he does win all 4 monuments this spring, there is no way he rides the Vuelta, because he will want to be the freshest possible for Il Lombardia.

 

[Red Rick]

Regarding Pogačar coming back to Sanremo, I think he will eventually because its a monument and fits well in the calendar, however he might not be as well prepared as this season because he has clearly put on some muscle which probably made the difference in the sprint yesterday against Pidcock.

He is also looking good to become the first rider ever to win 4 monuments in the same season and even 5 its not impossible but obviously more difficult because of Roubaix. To connect with the discussion above, if he does win all 4 monuments this spring, there is no way he rides the Vuelta, because he will want to be the freshest possible for Il Lombardia.

Why worry about Lombardia, he can go on a 3 week bender and win that.

 

[canina82]

Regarding Pogačar coming back to Sanremo, I think he will eventually because its a monument and fits well in the calendar, however he might not be as well prepared as this season because he has clearly put on some muscle which probably made the difference in the sprint yesterday against Pidcock.

He is also looking good to become the first rider ever to win 4 monuments in the same season and even 5 its not impossible but obviously more difficult because of Roubaix. To connect with the discussion above, if he does win all 4 monuments this spring, there is no way he rides the Vuelta, because he will want to be the freshest possible for Il Lombardia.

But those muscles will probably be important to PR too. So if he doesn't win this year, he will comeback bulky again.

 

[Salvarani]

Regarding Pogačar coming back to Sanremo, I think he will eventually because its a monument and fits well in the calendar, however he might not be as well prepared as this season because he has clearly put on some muscle which probably made the difference in the sprint yesterday against Pidcock.

He is also looking good to become the first rider ever to win 4 monuments in the same season and even 5 its not impossible but obviously more difficult because of Roubaix. To connect with the discussion above, if he does win all 4 monuments this spring, there is no way he rides the Vuelta, because he will want to be the freshest possible for Il Lombardia.

I also do think... he really just wants/needs to take a break after Tour for himself. Even if he wins Tour "easy", it is taxing mentally and he has been going non-stop for months.

I think he enjoys targeting one-day races, WC and Lombardia after that break rather than going pretty much directly to Vuelta. Another 3 weeks.

It just makes more sense to do Vuelta if he skips classics in the spring, mainly the cobbles, and the WC not suiting him in the year he think it is viable to go Vuelta. Tour-Vuelta could be done if no classics (cobbles) and WC not suiting him.

Or that he doesnt do Tour for whatever reason.

An alternative is also if he has to abandon Tour first-second week. Vuelta becomes an after-thought.

Trying to do absolutely everything in one year could come back to haunt one, even if it goes well, that has always been my main point to those who says go for the Vuelta as well when the schedule is as it is now. Unless things changes because of abandons or injuries on short notice.

Nobody can know for sure though, but it is just my view on it.