Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[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.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

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 troubled by Vingo.

That depends on whether Vingegaard called the team car strike and/or manipulated his (alleged) future teammate at Uno-X to cause a crash.

 

[yaf2]

Don’t see how you can extrapolate anything from today for Roubaix in particular. MvP will still rightly be heavy favourite for Roubaix.

He misjudged the length and effect of his solo that is all. Pog did it at Amstel. Whatever anyone says about the weight Pog is carrying, Roubaix heavily favours a rider like MvP

Well I’m not sure about that “heavy” adjective. Last year they were equal in roubaix & if not for pogs crash it could have been a nail biting final.

 

[Extinction]

Well I’m not sure about that “heavy” adjective. Last year they were equal in roubaix & if not for pogs crash it could have been a nail biting final.

I'd still have put my money on MvdP had they entered the velodrome together.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I'd still have put my money on MvdP had they entered the velodrome together.

Of course. Pogacar has to drop MVP way before the velodrome. Him bulking up more than in previous year (if that's really the case) could give him PR victory. Maybe that's also what Vingo should hope for: that Pogacar has gained too much weight for the spring races and will have less w/kg in July (but now it would be more like wishful thinking unless Pogacar underperforms in his prep. stage-races).

 

[yaf2]

I'd still have put my money on MvdP had they entered the velodrome together.

Ofc I would also bet on vdp for a sprint. But I was talking about in terms of levels, which imo they were equal in roubaix or in other words wouldn’t have dropped each other

 

[Extinction]

Of course. Pogacar has to drop MVP way before the velodrome. Him bulking up more than in previous year (if that's really the case) could give him PR victory. Maybe that's also what Vingo should hope for: that Pogacar has gained too much weight for the spring races and will have less w/kg in July (but now it would be more like wishful thinking unless Pogacar underperforms in his prep. stage-races).

Looking at MvdP and Pog here doesn't seem he's gained too much weight.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/zvCQrvByBeo?is=uZyLEzBlHva9daVI

 

[James M]

When Pogi cooks MvdP off the wheel in the drag on 3.8%, its kinda self‑explanatory that its going to be BBQ chicken for the rest of this season...Power and all numbers the discrepancy is off the charts. PR will be exciting tho.

 

[yaf2]

Of course. Pogacar has to drop MVP way before the velodrome. Him bulking up more than in previous year (if that's really the case) could give him PR victory. Maybe that's also what Vingo should hope for: that Pogacar has gained too much weight for the spring races and will have less w/kg in July (but now it would be more like wishful thinking unless Pogacar underperforms in his prep. stage-races).

I don’t know why this bulking up thing is messing around atm. Vingegaard was a lot heavier in 2025 tdf(this are his quotes at the start of tdf last year) compared to the past years & he said the gains were focused on muscles & not on getting fats. It’s not like pogacar is gaining 4 or 5 kilos. 2 kg more of muscle isn’t gonna lose him the tour

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I don’t know why this bulking up thing is messing around atm. Vingegaard was a lot heavier in 2025 tdf(this are his quotes at the start of tdf last year) compared to the past years & he said the gains were focused on muscles & not on getting fats. It’s not like pogacar is gaining 4 or 5 kilos. 2 kg more of muscle isn’t gonna lose him the tour

Vingo was like 58 kg during Tour 2024, apparently he lost too much muscles after the crash. I think last year they tried to regain muscles mass to match previous Tours levels, not to bulk up even more.

 

[Peyresourde]

One important factor for Roubaix is his bike. Last year he was on the V4Rs (last ever race for the bike). If he had just used the V5Rs that everyone in the team had magically available just days later, he might have caught back up with MvdP after the crash.

Rumours are that he will use the Y1Rs with 35mm tires this year. This setup is much superior and could easily save 10-15 watts (in the wind). If he is also half a kilo heavier and a little bit stronger, it could be enough.

Although he was overall still quite lucky in PR last year and many things can go wrong there.

 

[yaf2]

Vingo was like 58 kg during Tour 2024, apparently he lost too much muscles after the crash. I think last year they tried to regain muscles mass to match previous Tours levels, not to bulk up even more.

I think this “regain muscle matching previous tour levels” was nonsense PR play from visma & ving. His San Luca & Galibier accelerations at 2024 tour were his highest ever accelerations & you can refer pogs comments afterwards which he said at sanluca climb he broke his 5 minute power & that was the most optimized pog(A pog under sola if you like) same goes to galibier.

 

[yaf2]

One important factor for Roubaix is his bike. Last year he was on the V4Rs (last ever race for the bike). If he had just used the V5Rs that everyone in the team had magically available just days later, he might have caught back up with MvdP after the crash.

Rumours are that he will use the Y1Rs with 35mm tires this year. This setup is much superior and could easily safe 10-15 watts (in the wind). If he is also half a kilo heavier and a little bit stronger, it could be enough.

Although he was overall still quite lucky in PR last year and many things can go wrong there.

Good analysis, I think Y1 could save at least 30 secs in this flat race plus, people are getting carried away with the gap at the finish being big. Pog had to ride 20kms with a spare bike which was braking in its front wheel. That killed his legs as he said to vermersch at the finish + the 24 secs he had to stop after the crash.

View: https://youtu.be/FqvC9Ae1mSU?si=STgFEQ3WEtAd8LoJ

Listen pog from 8:23

 

[canina82]

One important factor for Roubaix is his bike. Last year he was on the V4Rs (last ever race for the bike). If he had just used the V5Rs that everyone in the team had magically available just days later, he might have caught back up with MvdP after the crash.

Rumours are that he will use the Y1Rs with 35mm tires this year. This setup is much superior and could easily safe 10-15 watts (in the wind). If he is also half a kilo heavier and a little bit stronger, it could be enough.

Although he was overall still quite lucky in PR last year and many things can go wrong there.

His preparation will be way better this year for PR compared to last year. Last year, it was a test and he was close to MVP.

 

[SHAD0W93]

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.

And lost his best climbing domestique.