Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Samu Cuenca]

fx Tour of Slovenia (like he did twice before) I don't see TdR as prep for Tour.

It is generally rare to see riders include this race after the Ardennes. Normally, riders take a break before tour buildup at this point.

Usually those riders have done more racing at this point and are in need of the rest, like Grégoire this year for instance. That is clearly not the case for Pogačar, who will still have had fewer race days at the end of Romandie that Grégoire had before the start of LBL.

 

[vappa]

It should be a good early benchmark against riders like Lipowitz. If he doesn't destroy them in the same way that Vingegaard did earlier this season, questions will be raised though.

I mean, he just did the strongest 4 minutes ever, I think no questions should be raised even if he "only" wins it by 1 minute, on the last stage

 

[Taxus4a]

So did yoy really change opinions or you're still not sure that Pogacar is better than Remco in 3' hills?

I answered to that in this forum before.
In general I think, and now more, that Pogacar is better than Remco at everything except flat ( and ITT Flat and quite hilly as well )
Remco is better at summer and autumm, he is lighter, and the difference is closer, and Remco could play his chances if there are the flat parts latter.
Anyway , when everything is not perfect for Remco, his head play a bad role.
Remco disssapoint me at La Redoute.

 

[Pozzovivo]

I will be shocked if Pogacar doesn't gain over 1'15" on Roglic and Lipo in stage 1.

This is what I mean.

Curious to see Pogacar decide to race an irrelevant stage race that typically has bad weather and zero prestige. The result is also of course a foregone conclusion.

 

[canina82]

This is what I mean.

Curious to see Pogacar decide to race an irrelevant stage race that typically has bad weather and zero prestige. The result is also of course a foregone conclusion.

Weather looks good at least. Almost every race is a foregone conclusion with Pogacar racing. Even RVV with MVP there was very predictable.

 

[Pozzovivo]

Weather looks good at least. Almost every race is a foregone conclusion with Pogacar racing. Even RVV with MVP there was very predictable.

Yeah, but RVV was a good race and MVDP was pretty close imo. Speaking of forgone conclusions, Pog should replace Almeida at the Giro. Make that a race to remember instead. Romandie is just pointless. Let Roglic take the crumbs.

 

[Berniece]

Agree, but is it a meaningful box to check? The race is so unprestigious that 4 or 5 WT teams decided that they'd rather go to Guangxi, China than do this race.

He wants it all so... Is it meaningful that I finished Assassin's Creed Origins at 100% when it wasn't even fun to do. No, but sometimes we just want to finish the list and check it all off.

He only needs:
* Vuelta
* Tour de Romandie
* Tour de Suisse

* Basque
* Tour Down Under
* Roubaix
* Olympic Gold.

Those first 3 he might do this year, then he can easily do the next 2 in 2027. Roubaix he can try every year until he stops, he'll eventually get it. Olympic Gold might be the hardest because there's only 1 chance left. Would be surprised if he still races in 2032, and no one is better.

 

[MariaB]

He wants it all so... Is it meaningful that I finished Assassin's Creed Origins at 100% when it wasn't even fun to do. No, but sometimes we just want to finish the list and check it all off.

He only needs:
* Vuelta
* Tour de Romandie
* Tour de Suisse

* Basque
* Tour Down Under
* Roubaix
* Olympic Gold.

Those first 3 he might do this year, then he can easily do the next 2 in 2027. Roubaix he can try every year until he stops, he'll eventually get it. Olympic Gold might be the hardest because there's only 1 chance left. Would be surprised if he still races in 2032, and no one is better.

He does not need Tour Down Under, it's a minor race.

Getting the 7 more prestigious 1-week stage races, PR, Vuelta and Olympics should do it.

And of course, getting at least 6 TdF, 11 GT and 19 Monuments.

Then he shall retire.

 

[Berniece]

He does not need Tour Down Under, it's a minor race.

I think he does, but it doesn't define his career. He'll definitely start there at least once in his career, and will go for the win. If he fails, it doesn't matter, but he'll definitely want it.

 

[MariaB]

I think he does, but it doesn't define his career. He'll definitely start there at least once in his career, and will go for the win. If he fails, it doesn't matter, but he'll definitely want it.

Yeah, if he wants it, he will get it.

For me, this year he will win Romandie + Suisse.
Vuelta, I don't think he will go for it. He will focus on Worlds + Lombardia.


Maybe next year he will focus on winning the 3 GTs, so no Roubaix (and regarding the monuments, I think only LBL and Lombardia next year).

 

[the asian]

fx Tour of Slovenia (like he did twice before) I don't see TdR as prep for Tour.

It is generally rare to see riders include this race after the Ardennes. Normally, riders take a break before tour buildup at this point.

He had 10 race days before the Giro in 24. It was fine, and they can simulate race efforts perfectly in training these days.

Sure, but why is this better than just riding hard on the long climbs where he lives?

Agree, but is it a meaningful box to check? The race is so unprestigious that 4 or 5 WT teams decided that they'd rather go to Guangxi, China than do this race.

It's still regarded as one of the seven main one week stage races.

Cadel, Wiggins , Froome all won Romandie in Tour winnig years. Many riders use this a Tour Prep Race, specially if you skip Catalunya and Itzulia as well. And winning a WT race is always better than winning Tour of Slovenia.

 

[Brullnux]

fx Tour of Slovenia (like he did twice before) I don't see TdR as prep for Tour.

It is generally rare to see riders include this race after the Ardennes. Normally, riders take a break before tour buildup at this point.

He had 10 race days before the Giro in 24. It was fine, and they can simulate race efforts perfectly in training these days.

Sure, but why is this better than just riding hard on the long climbs where he lives?

Agree, but is it a meaningful box to check? The race is so unprestigious that 4 or 5 WT teams decided that they'd rather go to Guangxi, China than do this race.

I'm sure Pogacar thinks racing is a different kettle of fish compared to training. You can go as hard as you like in training, but all you are doing there is mimicking race conditions – so may as well do it in Switzerland against good opposition. It'll tell him more clearly what he needs to work on this next month.

Even for the Giro, one of those races was Catalunya which gave him race data for training for the Giro/Tour.

And tbf, they chose Guanxi over Romandie mostly because they need somewhere to punish riders at the end of the year

 

[vappa]

Yeah, if he wants it, he will get it.

For me, this year he will win Romandie + Suisse.
Vuelta, I don't think he will go for it. He will focus on Worlds + Lombardia.


Maybe next year he will focus on winning the 3 GTs, so no Roubaix (and regarding the monuments, I think only LBL and Lombardia next year).

If he does 3 GTs next year, I could see him adding LBL and Lombardia as you said, but also Itzulia and WC. I don't believe it will happen tho

 

[yaco]

Taday will not ride 3 GT's in a year. There is too much wishful thinking in this forum.

 

[the asian]

Taday will not ride 3 GT's in a year. There is too much wishful thinking in this forum.

If he rides, it will only be after winning both PR and Vuelta. Perhaps in 2029

 

[vappa]

If he rides, it will only be after winning both PR and Vuelta. Perhaps in 2029

He most likely won't be dominant enough in 2029 to win a triple of GTs. His option was 2024 but he didn't do it and next year. If he doesn't try it I think he'll never attempt it

 

[jotafap]

Taday will not ride 3 GT's in a year. There is too much wishful thinking in this forum.

I don't think he will do it either, but I understand why people are talking about it.

First, Pogi could actually pull it off; second, he wants challenges that no one can achieve; and third, I'm convinced he was seriously thinking about it in 2024, when he would most likely have succeeded.

But the truth is that I think that ship has already sailed. Maybe it could still happen next year, but with the other objectives involved, especially PR, I really doubt he will.

 

[the asian]

He most likely won't be dominant enough in 2029 to win a triple of GTs. His option was 2024 but he didn't do it and next year. If he doesn't try it I think he'll never attempt it

He'll want to win Roubaix first and doing both it and the Giro will be pretty tough. Don't think he'll atempt it in 2027.

 

[Taxus4a]

So did yoy really change opinions or you're still not sure that Pogacar is better than Remco in 3' hills?

I always changing opinion according what I see or what I heard. but I didnt say that, I said that we had to see both of them in a race like lieja at his best.
I know how good is Pogacar
What I changed most my analysis, is not just the bad performance of Remco at la Redoute, but to know he use to ride spring with more kilos than the rest proporcionaly.
I think he has his chances in a race like Lieja if Pogacar and him where at the samelevel than in 2025 Lombardia, European,...if he find someone to cooperate once Pogacar attack. I think the difference is no so big as we watched this Lieje. ( but anyway important becouse at Liege was huge)
This Liega I said will answer some questions---about Remco, about Siexas. But i didnt say I had the answer.
After this performance from Remco I rate him below I though for this kind of races. For MSR, we dont know, he has to race ir...but acording what I have seen this weekend, Pogacar could drop him at Cipressa. It is a race with lot of flat, so I dont know lot of answers to say more. But for sure he has his cgances to win.
For Flanders, today Pogacar is better, but he has just to be in a bettr position starting second passage for Kwaremont, and he wopuld have lost less time after Paterberg. If MVDP, as I thibk is logical, decides stop collaborate with Remco the same way he did with Pogacar, they could have chase Pogacar ( he didnt have the help of MVDP and play the race at the sprint, were MVDP would be the favourite, bur Remco has his chances as well. what I mean is that with some circunstances of race Remco even today copuld win flanders to the best. But it is difficult, and MVDP nevers going to do that. He prefers to be second than try to win by giving an oportunity to Reco and annoy Pogacar, IMO.

 

[Oldman]

Checking boxes. Do it once, and it's done. It's not like he had a busy schedule up until now

Good scenery and roads. Best way to train if the weather stays nice.

 

[AlfaLum]

Pogacar is washed

 

[saunaking]

He wants it all so... Is it meaningful that I finished Assassin's Creed Origins at 100% when it wasn't even fun to do. No, but sometimes we just want to finish the list and check it all off.

He only needs:
* Vuelta
* Tour de Romandie
* Tour de Suisse

* Basque
* Tour Down Under
* Roubaix
* Olympic Gold.

Those first 3 he might do this year, then he can easily do the next 2 in 2027. Roubaix he can try every year until he stops, he'll eventually get it. Olympic Gold might be the hardest because there's only 1 chance left. Would be surprised if he still races in 2032, and no one is better.

pfff. Only if the Great One decides not to defend

 

[Taxus4a]

Normal performance after to ride Liege.
But no more ITT and lot of good climbers in this race. His team cant let people goes.
But it wiil be difficult he is not the winner.

 

[Monsi]

5th today. His worst result this year. He's clearly washed!

 

[Rasto]

he looked like he didnt even try but thats not what it was