Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[jotafap]

The numbers from Jonas are higher and I think this performance is better than Pogacar in 2024 Catalunya.
If Jonas goes through the Giro unscathed he will Give Pogacar a serious fight once again in July.

That’s way too many ifs. And this new theory that doing the Giro can be good for the Tour is far from proven (just because Poga did it doesn’t make it true). For now, with the information we have, Pogacar most likely will dominate the Tour.

 

[Peyresourde]

Vingegaard did not ride everyone off into a headwind. It is not like a climb is just a long straight line, there are changes in direction. His level is indeed similar to Pogacar in Catalunya 2024.

But people tend to lump together Pogacar's level in 2024 which is not true. In Catalunya he was still at his 2023 Tour level (or even slightly lower). He then improved for the Giro and then made his big jump in level for the Tour.

 

[YavorD]

That’s way too many ifs. And this new theory that doing the Giro can be good for the Tour is far from proven (just because Poga did it doesn’t make it true). For now, with the information we have, Pogacar most likely will dominate the Tour.

Let's wait until, say, Romandie so we can have some info about his level on long(er) climbs?
So far we have zero data to compare levels.

 

[Extinction]

That’s way too many ifs. And this new theory that doing the Giro can be good for the Tour is far from proven (just because Poga did it doesn’t make it true). For now, with the information we have, Pogacar most likely will dominate the Tour.

Although I think you must consider that Jonas and his team did not have unproblematical build-ups to the Tour in 2024-2025, whereas Vingegaard seems to be having his best early season. Unfortunately for him Pog is also incredibly strong. The level of he a Jonas means the Giro-Tour double may have come back, although this Giro will be harder than the 2024 version Pog won. So Vingegaard may need to expend more energy to win it, plus the competition will be tougher than what Pog faced. With the information we have now we can't really say much, as Pog is not racing in mountains or stage races. Had he done Tirreno, for example, present comparison would be somewhat more revealing.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Vingegaard isn't doing Dauphine.

He'll be so strong after the Giro that such small detail won't stop him.

 

[jotafap]

Let's wait until, say, Romandie so we can have some info about his level on long(er) climbs?
So far we have zero data to compare levels.

Yeah, true, but last year was basically the same, and he went on to absolutely destroy all his biggest rivals in the Dauphiné. UAE and Pogacar clearly knew what they were doing last year, so I’m not expecting them to suddenly mess it up for some reason.

And let's put it this way, Vingegaard had such injuries in 2024, in April, and still managed to have the best numbers of his life in July. Pogacar will have more than time to prepare it after the classics, just like he did last year.

 

[YavorD]

Yeah, true, but last year was basically the same, and he went on to absolutely destroy all his biggest rivals in the Dauphiné. UAE and Pogacar clearly knew what they were doing last year, so I’m not expecting them to suddenly mess it up for some reason.

I don't think the gap was soo massive on a first place. I think Narvaez had a huuuge role in Vingegaard being destroyed. Both, in Dauphine and the Tour.
Without his acceleration(s), I don't think Vingegaard bonks so much that he is almost caught by Lipo (both times as well).
So some improvement from Visma/Vingegaard and a small drop from Pogacar and it may go both ways.

Now, admittedly, I may be misjudging some things, but that's my opinion.

 

[Bratone]

I don't think the gap was soo massive on a first place. I think Narvaez had a huuuge role in Vingegaard being destroyed. Both, in Dauphine and the Tour.
Without his acceleration(s), I don't think Vingegaard bonks so much that he is almost caught by Lipo (both times as well).
So some improvement from Visma/Vingegaard and a small drop from Pogacar and it may go both ways.

Now, admittedly, I may be misjudging some things, but that's my opinion.

Agree, Narvaez was crucial, so this year Del Toro will have to fill that gap.

 

[Peyresourde]

Pogacar may have just done the best performance in the history of cycling and you are panicking...

 

[canina82]

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...

Pogacar will smoke Vingegaard.

 

[canina82]

honestly very disappointing performance from the opposition, especially almeida, did he crash?

Almeida crashed and was sick before the PN. His shape doesn't look good at all.

 

[canina82]

I think Jonas is favourite for the Tour this year. People are underestimating a lot the difference between training only for GTs and long climbs for more than half a year vs bulking and training for classics like MSR and Roubaix.

Where was the last time Vingegaard didn't build his season only for GTs? Did he practise efforts similar to classics before? I don't think so.

 

[Extinction]

He'll be so strong after the Giro that such small detail won't stop him.

Well, it would be suicide to do Giro, Dauphine and Tour.

 

[James M]

Imagine if anyone just thinking Jonas can come close to challenging Pogacar in 26 after what we’ve just seen from him this year and last year..

I dont know if its that those people dont understand basic numbers or something else idk what to say besides might want to look into some kind of assistance of sort asap

Vingegaard wont even be within 5 minutes of Pogacar. Not close. And thats not even shade toward him, because no one else will be either. Just relax with the copium.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Well, it would be suicide to do Giro, Dauphine and Tour.

Having to sleep with the fishes is not something that scares him.

 

[Extinction]

Where was the last time Vingegaard didn't build his season only for GTs? Did he practise efforts similar to classics before? I don't think so.

Yea, but the last two years he had injuries, which make a difference. I'm curious to see what a clean run to and during the Giro means for the Tour. As opposed to Pog focusing later on the Tour.

 

[James M]

In fact Jonas shouldnt even be judged against Pogacar constantly like i see all over social media people throwing shade at him.

He deserves praise without having shade thrown at him just because he isnt close to the level Pogacar is cause thats simply a fact. But no one else is either, so this is definitely not shade toward him from me. But there are levels to this

 

[jotafap]

Yea, but the last two years he had injuries, which make a difference. I'm curious to see what a clean run to and during the Giro means for the Tour. As opposed to Pog focusing later on the Tour.

I might be forgetting something, but are we really using his crash at PN as detrimental to his Tour preparation? Come on now.

 

[AmRacer]

Having to sleep with the fishes is not something that scares him.

A fish called Jonas

 

[canina82]

Yea, but the last two years he had injuries, which make a difference. I'm curious to see what a clean run to and during the Giro means for the Tour. As opposed to Pog focusing later on the Tour.

Yes, but let's not pretend he was close to Pogacar last year. The gap is significant and since you are talking about Vingegaard's crash in PN, I can also say Pogacar had problems in the Tour and still wasn't threatened by Vingegaard.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Yea, but the last two years he had injuries, which make a difference. I'm curious to see what a clean run to and during the Giro means for the Tour. As opposed to Pog focusing later on the Tour.

Last year he had all the time in the world to prepare for the Tour and his winter was good as well. According to himself the preparation was very good (and yet he lost convincingly). You shouldn't really put that 2-week setback in March and the disaster in Basque Country one year earlier in the same basket.

 

[Extinction]

Yes, but let's not pretend he was close to Pogacar last year. The gap is significant and since you are talking about Vingegaard's crash in PN, I can also say Pogacar had problems in the Tour and still wasn't threatened by Vingegaard.

We know that, but each year is different. I have know idea how Jonas will do at the Tour, only that his current status looks good. So does Pogacar's of course, but the curious thing resides in a couple of classics seasons at full tilt, to then transition into stage racing GT mode. Will two seasons of this effect him against a Jonas who is really good and only thinks of stage racing?

 

[Extinction]

Last year he had all the time in the world to prepare for the Tour and his winter was good as well. According to himself the preparation was very good (and yet he lost convincingly). You shouldn't really put that 2-week setback in March and the disaster in Basque Country one year earlier in the same basket.

I don't, but the March crash wasn't ideal. When you want to beat Pog, it all has to go perfectly and then maybe that's not enough.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I don't, but the March crash wasn't ideal. When you want to beat Pog, it all has to go perfectly and then maybe that's not enough.

It's always the best to have perfect race and preparations but did last Tour go perfectly for Pogacar? A high-speed crash right before the Pyrenees and some knee problem later in the race. And yet never dropped by Vingo.

 

[Extinction]

It's always the best to have perfect race and preparations but did last Tour go perfectly for Pogacar? A high-speed crash right before the Pyrenees and some knee problem later in the race.

No, but that's just Pog and he was already in top shape, not building towards it.