Tadej Pogacar and Mauro Giannetti

[Ripper]

I can't agree with the notion that he was stronger this year because:

1. he cracked too hard on Granon
2. didn't have a thermonuclear performance

Sure, JV made him work hard on Galibier but I think peak Pog should have handled the stage better. Look, last year during Le Grand Bornand stage he climbed at a superb rate of 1750-1800 m/h for almost an hour. On PDBF stage he had like 6.3 w/kg for almost an hour. We are talking about monstrous efforts and he withstood them.

In Stage 11 he paid a price that was related to - racing like a tool for 10 stages (sprinting for chump change like it would not impact his overall reserves), chasing Roglic as well as vingo (and there was no need to put the full chase on Roglic ... that's been discussed), and not taking in proper nutrition. His team and his freakin' gf have said he is the same or stronger than last year. Yes, people can BS, but there's not much point in even talking about that if you were weaker. Stage 17 was pretty decent and likely would have been better as well if he had not tried attacking literally everywhere else. Finally, he was nuclear the first 10 stages and it was beginning to look like he would obliterate everyone ... which, other than vingo who one-upped him, he did! You could say he peppered his race with tactical nukes

 

[Red Rick]

BTW I don't understand why Vingo is being discussed in the Pog's thread.

Because Vingegaard is the only guy that makes Pog seem normal.

 

[noob]

Last year we all said that Pog only cracked to pretend he was human. Now we've seen it a couple of times.

 

[Riek s]

Last year we all said that Pog only cracked to pretend he was human. Now we've seen it a couple of times.

HIs performance is very similar as in 2019 right before he almost dominated the vuelta... but yeah he was very human today.

 

[Ricco']

So, Alexys Brunel... a few weeks after breaking his contract with UAE to focus on new goals, he is back racing the Tour de la Guadaloupe after doing an Iron Man.

Strange goals for someone who achieved this year the biggest tier of the sport.

 

[GuntherL1]

Maybe I should start a new topic: Mauro Gianetti and Juan Ayuso. His talent is undeniable (as reflected in the 2021 baby Giro) , but 4th after two weeks of a gruelling Vuelta? Somehow these UAE talents like Pogacar and Ayuso make giant leaps forward in their first year as a pro.
If he rides a really good third week in this Vuelta, I'll know enough. That will be Pogi 2019 all over again.

 

[yaco]

Maybe I should start a new topic: Mauro Gianetti and Juan Ayuso. His talent is undeniable (as reflected in the 2021 baby Giro) , but 4th after two weeks of a gruelling Vuelta? Somehow these UAE talents like Pogacar and Ayuso make giant leaps forward in their first year as a pro.
If he rides a really good third week in this Vuelta, I'll know enough. That will be Pogi 2019 all over again.

Except this is Ayuso's second year as a pro.

 

[hrotha]

It's his first full year as a pro.

Not that I find it a very compelling argument. Talent showing early is what you want, and saying "4th place at the Vuelta with one week to go" as if it's some kind of Herculean task is pretty funny to me.

 

[hrotha]

Like right after "winning 7 Tours in a row" and "winning all five monuments in the same season", the next improbable feat in the list of unbelievable exploits is "4th after two weeks at the Vuelta"

 

[Mayomaniac]

Maybe I should start a new topic: Mauro Gianetti and Juan Ayuso. His talent is undeniable (as reflected in the 2021 baby Giro) , but 4th after two weeks of a gruelling Vuelta? Somehow these UAE talents like Pogacar and Ayuso make giant leaps forward in their first year as a pro.
If he rides a really good third week in this Vuelta, I'll know enough. That will be Pogi 2019 all over again.

Both are working/getting coached by Dr Millan, Ayuso has been for the last 1.5 years (already in the u23 ranks at Colpack where he improved a ton). He's one year younger than Pogacar when the later rode his first Vuelta, but if his career develops the same we can probably say that Dr. Millan a crucial element in the equation.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Both are working/getting coached by Dr Millan, Ayuso has been for the last 1.5 years (already in the u23 ranks at Colpack where he improved a ton). He's one year younger than Pogacar when the later rode his first Vuelta, but if his career develops the same we can probably say that Dr. Millan a crucial element in the equation.

Dr Inigo Millan is good at tuning big engines and he will make sure to finetune his compatriot as well as possible. JV, watch out. Or, should I say, Teddy, watch out!

 

[noob]

If there is this special UAE program why is it that Almeida hasn't miraculously improved too?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If there is this special UAE program why is it that Almeida hasn't miraculously improved too?

Still riding pan y agua but in the last couple of days they probably experimented a bit with him

 

[noob]

Still riding pan y agua but in the last couple of days they probably experimented a bit with him

But they should've experimented for the giro in that case and he was only at a slightly better level there. He didn't get covid until at the most 2 days before his DNF I believe.

 

[Nick2413]

If there is this special UAE program why is it that Almeida hasn't miraculously improved too?

It’s probably on a spectrum and individual talent still plays a big role. You can give all weightlifters the same steroids but some will still be stronger than others, even aside from super responders etc.

 

[F_Cance]

Looking at Almeidas previous team it is not easy to improve when you leave

 

[noob]

Looking at Almeidas previous team it is not easy to improve when you leave

Mas beg to differ...

 

[hrotha]

Mas beg to differ...

Is this the same Mas who came 2nd in the Vuelta at 23 while riding for Quick Step?

 

[Netserk]

It's his first full year as a pro.

Not that I find it a very compelling argument. Talent showing early is what you want, and saying "4th place at the Vuelta with one week to go" as if it's some kind of Herculean task is pretty funny to me.

How early? Earlier than the new normal of the 90's and early 00's, but this is not the return to the old normal from before then. This is different.

 

[SafeBet]

Like right after "winning 7 Tours in a row" and "winning all five monuments in the same season", the next improbable feat in the list of unbelievable exploits is "4th after two weeks at the Vuelta"

I would say that podiuming a GT as a teenager (or even being in contention) is indeed an unbelievable exploit. How many times has it happened before?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I would say that podiuming a GT as a teenager (or even being in contention) is indeed an unbelievable exploit. How many times has it happened before?

Henri Cornet was 19 years and 11 months when he won the Tour in 1904. He won cause top4 were DQ-ed for train doping though (better than EPO!)

 

[noob]

Ayuso has just convinced me that he's not shy of anything. (And there's a reason I'm writing this in the clinic).

 

[noob]

From the Almeida thread

Just to give some insight about what to expect from Almeida in 2023...

Just read a chronicle made by Gonçalo Moreira (Portuguese Eurosport commentator) in a Portuguese cycling site about Almeida´s future as a GT contender.
He is someone close to Almeida, went to Sierra Nevada UAE preparation camp last April (preparation camp towards "Il Giro") to be a few days around him and shared something he witnessed between Almeida and his Performance coach San Millán just after Almeida finished a climb at Hazallanas.
After San Millán collected and viewed Almeida's lactate threshold results he said (quote):

- You are very good atm but next year will be the year! Just wait for our comeback at the preparation camp next year and you will see how much better you will be!

... and the arms race continues...

And Almeida will go to Giro again 2023.

 

[rm2021]

From the Almeida thread



... and the arms race continues...

And Almeida will go to Giro again 2023.

He's not going to the giro. Just tour de france.

 

[pastronef]

He's not going to the giro. Just tour de france.

in Almeida's thread I id read he'll go for the Giro as captain.