Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread

[Salvarani]

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.

TDU and Olympics dont really matter here.

 

[vappa]

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

I feel like he was 90% and full sprint

 

[The bald fraud]

Of course Pogačar did not want to win that prologue. Neither did the organizers want him to win it. If he won, he would have not showcased the rainbow jersey for a single stage in the race!
What would be the point of having the world champion racing in the race and not showing a single glimpse of the rainbow jersey?

 

[Brullnux]

This is a strange cope, he's just not the absolute best at absolutely everything all the time. He'd also lose to Merlier and Milan in a sprint

 

[MariaB]

This is a strange cope, he's just not the absolute best at absolutely everything all the time. He'd also lose to Merlier and Milan in a sprint

Yeah, stick a fork in him.

He is washed for good. A fraud!

Retire for your fans, Pogi.

 

[canina82]

This prologue also came after a very demanding race. Godon was flying!

 

[Tanakka]

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.
... ...

Itzulia Basque Country is so "oddly" placed for someone who is highly competitive at RVV and PR.

Imagine not doing RVV and PR simply because Basque is missing from your collection.
I mean, I'd understand it but it's such a pity.

Idk, perhaps he could - potentially at least - still pull-off doing RVV and then Itzulia Basque if the first, first couple even better, stages are easy.
But even that only because he's Pog, and assuming no Top-Dog (Vingo, Seixas, ...) would be racing it that year.

 

[canina82]

Itzulia Basque Country is so "oddly" placed for someone who is highly competitive at RVV and PR.

Imagine not doing RVV and PR simply because Basque is missing from your collection.
I mean, I'd undestand it but it's such a pity.

Idk, perhaps he could - potentially at least - still pull-off doing RVV and then Itzulia Basque if the first, first couple even better, stages are easy.
But even that only because he's Pog, and assuming no Top-Dog (Vingo, Seixas, ...) would be racing it that year.

This. I don't want to race PV in a near future. Cobbled classics are my favorite races of the year.

 

[Taxus4a]

Itzulia Basque Country is so "oddly" placed for someone who is highly competitive at RVV and PR.

Imagine not doing RVV and PR simply because Basque is missing from your collection.
I mean, I'd undestand it but it's such a pity.

Idk, perhaps he could - potentially at least - still pull-off doing RVV and then Itzulia Basque if the first, first couple even better, stages are easy.
But even that only because he's Pog, and assuming no Top-Dog (Vingo, Seixas, ...) would be racing it that year.

And it is such a pity that he is not at Basque country

 

[Shortcut]

Itzulia Basque Country is so "oddly" placed for someone who is highly competitive at RVV and PR.

Imagine not doing RVV and PR simply because Basque is missing from your collection.
I mean, I'd understand it but it's such a pity.

Idk, perhaps he could - potentially at least - still pull-off doing RVV and then Itzulia Basque if the first, first couple even better, stages are easy.
But even that only because he's Pog, and assuming no Top-Dog (Vingo, Seixas, ...) would be racing it that year.

I can see him going MSR, RVV, Itzulia, LBL, TdF, Vuelta, WC, GdL next year.

 

[The bald fraud]

I can see him going MSR, RVV, Itzulia, LBL, TdF, Vuelta, WC, GdL next year.

He already said he won't do MSR next year. And if he rides neither Roubaix nor Giro, I can see him doing Ardennes treble in full.

 

[MariaB]

I can see him going MSR, RVV, Itzulia, LBL, TdF, Vuelta, WC, GdL next year.

I cannot see Pogi going to MSR anymore.

Maybe replace it with Strade.

 

[onefortheroad]

This just seems like an absolutely bonkers take to me. A 19 year old who has never ridden a grand tour is not beating Pogacar at the Tour de France unless he is sick or crashes. It is amazing that he was able to follow Pogacar on La Redoute, but he dropped fairly quickly on Roche-aux-Faucons. The Tour is a different thing all together, with three weeks of racing and multiple hard, high mountain stages. I expect both Pogacar and Vingegaard to put considerable time into Seixas in the week three mountain stages if he does ride the Tour. There is a limit to how much an individual can improve in the space of one year, and Seixas has already spent considerable time at altitude this year, so I think what we are seeing his probably him at his current peak level. I don't expect that to change considerably between now and July.

Yes, looks like an easy ride for Pogačar. The only real question is how many minutes Vingegaard loses. Seixas vs Remco doesn’t even need discussing. Already! Obviously assuming no crashes, injuries or illness. Unless Seixas completely blows up on a few stages. But I doubt it.

 

[onefortheroad]

They let the breakaway gain time even with Remco there. I thought the race was over but treated a break with Remco like a normal break.

"Honestly we never panicked" - Cosnefroy explains UAE confidence behind Pogacar’s Liège victory

Benoît Cosnefroy reflected on UAE Team Emirates - XRG tactical calm after helping guide Tadej Pogacar to victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, insisting the team never lost faith despite a dangerous move g...

cyclinguptodate.com

On these stage profiles, Remco doesn’t even count against Pogačar. He goes and gets him whenever he wants and destroys him how he wants. We need more ITTs like Kigali.

 

[onefortheroad]

I cannot see Pogi going to MSR anymore.

Maybe replace it with Strade.

Only PR is missing...
And, obviously, doing all five in one year. Hopefully it stays that way, though I’m not convinced this wasn’t the last year he decided to let it slip.

 

[onefortheroad]

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.

Ahahaha. Imagine Vingegaard dealing with Pogačar replacing Almeida at the Giro. Ultimate frustration. Insane. LOL

 

[jibbo90]

I really hope he avoids Itzulia Basque Country until he finally takes a win at Paris–Roubaix.

I also doubt he will ever attempt to win all three Grand Tours in a single season. In fact, I cannot see him targeting the Vuelta a España until the UCI Road World Championships are held in Abu Dhabi, where the course would suit sprinters more. Overall, it seems clear that he prioritizes one-day races over Grand Tours.

In my view, winning Paris–Roubaix would mean more to him than winning the Vuelta. At the same time, he does appear to pay close attention to records and statistics. This could explain why he is targeting races like the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse this season, as he looks to get closer to winning the biggest one-week stage races.

 

[onefortheroad]

D

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).

Doubts aren’t about the effort of doing three Grand Tours, but about whether he has the patience for 3×3 weeks. I thought he’ll prefer to finally target PR and all five in one year. Odd if he’s already confirmed skipping a Monument in 2027.

 

[AmRacer]

D

Doubts aren’t about the effort of doing three Grand Tours, but about whether he has the patience for 3×3 weeks. I thought he’ll prefer to finally target PR and all five in one year. Odd if he’s already confirmed skipping a Monument in 2027.

The training for MSR is kind of dangerous and now he doesn't need to do it anymore. It's not like he will win MSR anymore. Better to skip it and focus on something different.

 

[yaf2]

Of course Pogačar did not want to win that prologue. Neither did the organizers want him to win it. If he won, he would have not showcased the rainbow jersey for a single stage in the race!
What would be the point of having the world champion racing in the race and not showing a single glimpse of the rainbow jersey?

It’s better to put it this way; Since this is his first stage race since last years tour, he is activating the “give as many stages as possible to the mortals in the peleton.” we shouldn’t forget week 2 & 3 of last years tour. You know the pog behavior in stage races has made a big shift since last year. He is kind you know..🤣 & don’t be surprised if he gifts a couple more stages this week

 

[onefortheroad]

The training for MSR is kind of dangerous and now he doesn't need to do it anymore. It's not like he will win MSR anymore. Better to skip it and focus on something different.

Ok but I still get the feeling that his biggest real challenge these days is PR (finally) and winning all five in one year, more than doing the Giro and the Vuelta. The Tour is always the Tour, and he clearly wants to be the only one to win it six or seven times.

 

[YavorD]

It’s better to put it this way; Since this is his first stage race since last years tour, he is activating the “give as many stages as possible to the mortals in the peleton.” we shouldn’t forget week 2 & 3 of last years tour. You know the pog behavior in stage races has made a big shift since last year. He is kind you know..🤣 & don’t be surprised if he gifts a couple more stages this week

We don't forget them. He had his team controlling, trying to win (in) 4 more stages.
He wasn't strong enough.

 

[AmRacer]

Ok but I still get the feeling that his biggest real challenge these days is PR (finally) and winning all five in one year, more than doing the Giro and the Vuelta. The Tour is always the Tour, and he clearly wants to be the only one to win it six or seven times.

PR is number one priority. Winning 19 monuments, 6 TdF, one Vuelta and Itzulia and another WCRR.

 

[yaf2]

We don't forget them. He had his team controlling, trying to win (in) 4 more stages.
He wasn't strong enough.

But he was strong enough to out sprint vingegaard on top of ventoux yet he didn’t want to cooperate with him to close a 30 second gap for the win lol

 

[Monsi]

I still do not buy that Pogi won’t be coming back to MSR anymore. Doing MSR isn’t really in conflict with any other race he might want to do. The Cipressa attack does wonders for him and really elevates his chances to win. Why not come back and go for more wins? Maybe he gets another chance to do the Monument sweep in one year. He just doesn’t need to train as hard for it anymore.