Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Mina.S]

Wasn't that more like bandage for his wound on the left leg?

Yea they are proper compression garments they are just to protect all the road rash while out riding.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Let's talk about the Flandres for a while, particularly about last two Kwaremonts by Pogacar. It seems this hill really suits him very well:
In 2022 he had a huge surge on the penultimate climb (over 50 km from the line) but a few guys managed to follow. On the last one only MVP followed (and on the Paterberg he barely managed to hold on).
In 2023 he performed a proper attack on the penultimate Kwaremont, went solo but was caught later (also probably realizing the chasing group was too strong to go solo for a long time). On the last Kwaremont he was unstoppable.
In 2025 he set a big pace on the penultimate Kwaremont but a few guys managed to stay with him. The last Kwaremont was deadly due to cumulative fatigue (despite being slower than the penultimate one).

There's a pattern of setting big pace on earlier climbs before launching. I don't think he wants to go solo over 50 km from the line as some suggest (the chase in this terrain would be very strong). Strong surges on Kwaremont and Kruisberg before trying to go solo on the last Kwaremont are expected. Obviously he must drop Van der Poel: if the Dutch has great legs and somehow manages to stay with Pogacar he will stomp the Slovenian at the end.

 

[canina82]

Let's talk about the Flandres for a while, particularly about last two Kwaremonts by Pogacar. It seems this hill really suits him very well:
In 2022 he had a huge surge on the penultimate climb (over 50 km from the line) but a few guys managed to follow. On the last one only MVP followed (and on the Paterberg he barely managed to hold on).
In 2023 he performed a proper attack on the penultimate Kwaremont, went solo but was caught later (also probably realizing the chasing group was too strong to go solo for a long time). On the last Kwaremont he was unstoppable.
In 2025 he set a big pace on the penultimate Kwaremont but a few guys managed to stay with him. The last Kwaremont was deadly due to cumulative fatigue (despite being slower than the penultimate one).

There's a pattern of setting big pace on earlier climbs before launching. I don't think he wants to go solo over 50 km from the line as some suggest (the chase in this terrain would be very strong). Strong surges on Kwaremont and Kruisberg before trying to go solo on the last Kwaremont are expected. Obviously he must drop Van der Poel: if the Dutch has great legs and somehow manages to stay with Pogacar he will stomp the Slovenian at the end.

But if he goes solo, no one can catch him so unless MVP doesn't cooperate at all with Pogacar, the winner will be Pogacar.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

But if he goes solo, no one can catch him so unless MVP doesn't cooperate at all with Pogacar, the winner will be Pogacar.

If he's solo after the last Kwaremont he's a very likely winner. Going solo from the penultimate Kwaremont could be too much to handle. It's not Liege, WC and Lombardy type route, his chief rivals won't have been dead by then.

 

[canina82]

If he's solo after the last Kwaremont he's a very likely winner. Going solo from the penultimate Kwaremont could be too much to handle. It's not Liege, WC and Lombardy type route, his chief rivals won't be dead yet.

3 km until Paterberg, then 7 km until Koppenberg, then 7 km until Taienberg. Too little kms of flat sections to catch him. Don't forget he would gain, at least 6/7" any time they go uphill in these cobbled hills. Other thing very important, this isn't 2023 anymore.

 

[canina82]

A little dig on WVA. He thinks he is like Pogacar.

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[Pantani_lives]

It wouldn't shock me if Pogacar wasn't entirely up to snuff in the Tour of Flanders. It's possible that the adrenaline boost after the crash gave him energy for that fantastic final in San Remo, but the morning after he might have felt some pain resulting from the crash, possibly with a swollen knee. Mentally he will be more occupied with Roubaix than with Flanders. So I wouldn't just assume his RvV will be another demonstration like last year. He's only human. But we'll see what happens.

 

[canina82]

It wouldn't shock me if Pogacar wasn't entirely up to snuff in the Tour of Flanders. It's possible that the adrenaline boost after the crash gave him energy for that fantastic final in San Remo, but the morning after he might have felt some pain resulting from the crash, possibly with a swollen knee. Mentally he will be more occupied with Roubaix than with Flanders. So I wouldn't just assume his RvV will be another demonstration like last year. He's only human. But we'll see what happens.

A swollen knee in 3 days is gone (if there isn't any damage). I'm pretty sure he is already training hard after a couple of easy days.

 

[yaf2]

Let's talk about the Flandres for a while, particularly about last two Kwaremonts by Pogacar. It seems this hill really suits him very well:
In 2022 he had a huge surge on the penultimate climb (over 50 km from the line) but a few guys managed to follow. On the last one only MVP followed (and on the Paterberg he barely managed to hold on).
In 2023 he performed a proper attack on the penultimate Kwaremont, went solo but was caught later (also probably realizing the chasing group was too strong to go solo for a long time). On the last Kwaremont he was unstoppable.
In 2025 he set a big pace on the penultimate Kwaremont but a few guys managed to stay with him. The last Kwaremont was deadly due to cumulative fatigue (despite being slower than the penultimate one).

There's a pattern of setting big pace on earlier climbs before launching. I don't think he wants to go solo over 50 km from the line as some suggest (the chase in this terrain would be very strong). Strong surges on Kwaremont and Kruisberg before trying to go solo on the last Kwaremont are expected. Obviously he must drop Van der Poel: if the Dutch has great legs and somehow manages to stay with Pogacar he will stomp the Slovenian at the end.

I’m 100 % sure vdp isn’t working with pogacar in flanders, otherwise he has to be the most naive person in the world. Alpecine camp have seen pogs level this year & analyzed vdps numbers & relaying with this pogacar in flanders is suicide. I think we will see a different race dynamics this year with pog making a selection on penultimate Kwaremont & as a result of vdp refusing to relay, pog decides to drop him on kopenberg & solos to the finish. From what I’ve seen this year & 🤞he’s alright after sanremo, pog’s 2026 level drops vdp on kopenberg without too many fatigue settling already

 

[canina82]

I’m 100 % sure vdp isn’t working with pogacar in flanders, otherwise he has to be the most naive person in the world. Alpecine camp have seen pogs level this year & analyzed vdps numbers & relaying with this pogacar in flanders is suicide. I think we will see a different race dynamics this year with pog making a selection on penultimate Kwaremont & as a result of vdp refusing to relay, pog decides to drop him on kopenberg & solos to the finish. From what I’ve seen this year & 🤞he’s alright after sanremo, pog’s 2026 level drops vdp on kopenberg without too many fatigue settling already

He will work because he can't win in other way. I also think Pogacar will drop him in Koppenberg.

 

[yaf2]

He will work because he can't win in other way. I also think Pogacar will drop him in Koppenberg.

There is no chance he is winning. Either he has to play it like an underdog as wout & Pedersen do & hope pog works too much or he follows all out & blows his chances of podium.

 

[canina82]

There is no chance he is winning. Either he has to play it like an underdog as wout & Pedersen do & hope pog works too much or he follows all out & blow his chances of podium.

This is why he will work with Pogacar. It's better to have a 20% chance than a 5% chance (if he allows other riders to be in contention, his odds will probably be lower than that since Pogacar will not let him go away). No way, he can decide to not work with Pogacar and get away later in the race with a wildcard rider (Stuyven for example).

 

[yaf2]

This is why he will work with Pogacar. It's better to have a 20% chance than a 5% chance (if he allows other riders to be in contention, his odds will probably be lower than that since Pogacar will not let him go away). No way, he can decide to not work with Pogacar and get away later in the race with a wildcard rider (Stuyven for example).

Look, let’s assume at the top of penultimate kwaremont pog makes a selection & brings vdp, van aert, Pedersen & stuyven with him. We know that the last 3 i mentioned will never work, and if vdp is also refusing to relay, pog is in a difficult situation with kopenberg being 10 kms away from that point. But if vdp somehow works naively till that point, he is in the same situation as last year where the other 3 are having an armchair ride behind him as a result they are fresher for the final. The best situation for vdp is to gamble, make pog do all the work b/ c he is the favorite & hope pog makes a mistake of riding all of them to the foot of kopenberg. Imo pog will likely put someone in a late breakaway to wait for him on top of penultimate kwaremont or waits for Vermeersch at the top of kwaremont if vdp refuses to relay

 

[Tanakka]

It wouldn't shock me if Pogacar wasn't entirely up to snuff in the Tour of Flanders. It's possible that the adrenaline boost after the crash gave him energy for that fantastic final in San Remo, but the morning after he might have felt some pain resulting from the crash, possibly with a swollen knee. Mentally he will be more occupied with Roubaix than with Flanders. So I wouldn't just assume his RvV will be another demonstration like last year. He's only human. But we'll see what happens.

If we were talking about E3, ok.
Perhaps Gent too, or even Dwars...

... but MSR and RVV are 15 days apart.
Hard to really know, but he should be fine.

 

[canina82]

Look, let’s assume at the top of penultimate kwaremont pog makes a selection & brings vdp, van aert, Pedersen & stuyven with him. We know that the last 3 i mentioned will never work, and if vdp is also refusing to relay, pog is in a difficult situation with kopenberg being 10 kms away from that point. But if vdp somehow works naively till that point, he is in the same situation as last year where the other 3 are having an armchair ride behind him as a result they are fresher for the final. The best situation for vdp is to gamble, make pog do all the work b/ c he is the favorite & hope pog makes a mistake of riding all of them to the foot of kopenberg. Imo pog will likely put someone in a late breakaway to wait for him on top of penultimate kwaremont or waits for Vermeersch at the top of kwaremont if vdp refuses to relay

Last year, MVP and Pogacar dropped everyone in Paterberg. There is only 3 km between Kwaremont and Paterberg.

 

[YavorD]

Look, let’s assume at the top of penultimate kwaremont pog makes a selection & brings vdp, van aert, Pedersen & stuyven with him. We know that the last 3 i mentioned will never work, and if vdp is also refusing to relay, pog is in a difficult situation with kopenberg being 10 kms away from that point. But if vdp somehow works naively till that point, he is in the same situation as last year where the other 3 are having an armchair ride behind him as a result they are fresher for the final. The best situation for vdp is to gamble, make pog do all the work b/ c he is the favorite & hope pog makes a mistake of riding all of them to the foot of kopenberg. Imo pog will likely put someone in a late breakaway to wait for him on top of penultimate kwaremont or waits for Vermeersch at the top of kwaremont if vdp refuses to relay

On the other hand if VdP and Pogacar go clear, he (VdP) has as much incentive to work as Pogacar to stay away from the better sprinters.

And I don't see a world where Pogacar is the only one doing the job with such a good riders on his wheel, unless all of them have a team mate ahead.

 

[Tanakka]

Look, let’s assume at the top of penultimate kwaremont pog makes a selection & brings vdp, van aert, Pedersen & stuyven with him. We know that the last 3 i mentioned will never work, and if vdp is also refusing to relay, pog is in a difficult situation with kopenberg being 10 kms away from that point. But if vdp somehow works naively till that point, he is in the same situation as last year where the other 3 are having an armchair ride behind him as a result they are fresher for the final. The best situation for vdp is to gamble, make pog do all the work b/ c he is the favorite & hope pog makes a mistake of riding all of them to the foot of kopenberg. Imo pog will likely put someone in a late breakaway to wait for him on top of penultimate kwaremont or waits for Vermeersch at the top of kwaremont if vdp refuses to relay

Yeah, let's see how UAE does this year at RVV.
Last year they were stronger on paper but then Wellens and Narvaez crashed, so...

Because, indeed, this year, opposed to years in the past, I'm afraid that the likes of WVA, Pedersen, or even MVDP, won't relay with Pog at RVV.
Attacking again at -56km (/on the penultimate Kwaremont) and leaving him alone with 4-5 top guys on his wheel, might not cut it.

Therefore, yeah, either have someone in the breakaway waiting for him or attack later.
Though, you'd need a decent team.

On the other hand if VdP and Pogacar go clear, he (VdP) has as much incentive to work as Pogacar to stay away from the better sprinters.
And I don't see a world where Pogacar is the only one doing the job with such a good riders on his wheel, unless all of them have a team mate ahead.

Last year, when MVDP and Pogi where alone I don't think that the former was pulling that hard, given that the other 3-4 guys kept coming back from behind after the "murs".

I expect this year to be even worse: top dogs not pulling at all if they are in a small group with Pog at RVV.

 

[canina82]

Yeah, let's see how UAE does this year at RVV.
Last year they were stronger on paper but then Wellens and Narvaez crashed, so...

Because, indeed, this year, opposed to years in the past, I'm afraid that the likes of WVA, Pedersen, or even MVDP, won't relay with Pog at RVV.
Attacking again at -56km (/on the penultimate Kwaremont) and leaving him alone with 4-5 top guys on his wheel, might not cut it.

Therefore, yeah, either have someone in the breakaway waiting for him or attack later.
Though, you'd need a decent team.

Don't forget his team was destroyed in RVV due to crashes. Wellens, Narvaez and I think another one was also hampered.

 

[yaf2]

Last year, MVP and Pogacar dropped everyone in Paterberg. There is only 3 km between Kwaremont and Paterberg.

Paterberg is a little short for pog. He might get rid of the others but vdp can stay with him.
Overall, It depends on what vdp is thinking going into the race. If he is happy with 2nd which I doubt, he will relay once both got a gap but if his only goal is to win, his best strategy should be refusing to relay at any moment unlike last year

 

[yaf2]

On the other hand if VdP and Pogacar go clear, he (VdP) has as much incentive to work as Pogacar to stay away from the better sprinters.

And I don't see a world where Pogacar is the only one doing the job with such a good riders on his wheel, unless all of them have a team mate ahead.

He almost rode them to paterberg last year though. It was only on the left corner after the big long road from kwaremont where vdp started to relay.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I’m 100 % sure vdp isn’t working with pogacar in flanders, otherwise he has to be the most naive person in the world. Alpecine camp have seen pogs level this year & analyzed vdps numbers & relaying with this pogacar in flanders is suicide. I think we will see a different race dynamics this year with pog making a selection on penultimate Kwaremont & as a result of vdp refusing to relay, pog decides to drop him on kopenberg & solos to the finish. From what I’ve seen this year & 🤞he’s alright after sanremo, pog’s 2026 level drops vdp on kopenberg without too many fatigue settling already

Working or not, there'll be a few strong guys, not just MVP. Last year a few guys withstood Pogacar's acceleration on the penultimate Kwaremont (and it was strong). Pogacar's goal will be to tire those guys when going up the bergs and obviously drop at some point: the longest one suits him well (and takes place after 260 km of racing), you can call him Mr Kwaremont actually.

 

[yaf2]

Working or not, there'll be a few strong guys, not just MVP. Last year a few guys withstood Pogacar's acceleration on the penultimate Kwaremont (and it was strong). Pogacar's goal will be to tire those guys when going up the bergs and obviously drop at some point: the longest one suits him well (and takes place after 260 km of racing), you can call him Mr Kwaremont actually.

He might not have that luxury of vdp working anymore + there will be more chaos by the 2nd tier riders from 2nd kwaremont to the last one in the hope of exposing pog. There is only a small chance of the same scenario as last year is happening.

 

[canina82]

He might not have that luxury of vdp working anymore + there will be more chaos by the 2nd tier riders from 2nd kwaremont to the last one in the hope of exposing pog. There is only a small chance of the same scenario as last year is happening.

The problem is: what better option does MVP have?

 

[yaf2]

The problem is: what better option does MVP have?

Paterberg is a little short for pog. He might get rid of the others but vdp can stay with him.
Overall, It depends on what vdp is thinking going into the race. If he is happy with 2nd which I doubt, he will relay once both got a gap but if his only goal is to win, his best strategy should be refusing to relay at any moment unlike last year

 

[Bratone]

Hope that he is not focusing too much on the classics this year. Vingegaard looks his best ever version and with him focusing only on GT training he may surprise everyone like Pog did in 2024...