Tadej Pogacar and Mauro Giannetti

[James M]

I want to watch a race with unpredictability, competition and suspense. Especially, I want a race where I don't know the outcome in advance and I have to delude myself into watching saying maybe, just maybe.

I liked that one - theres a few doing that tact, granted a handful.

Just enjoy that your witnessing history and the greatest rider to ever race a bike right in front of your eyes as we speak, thats rare, you can always do that too. But got no problem understanding the suspense part for someone, people are different in that regard which are totally understandable.

 

[Forever The Best]

He dominated 2021, but was unable to drop his rivals in Liège. Now he can go solo from wherever he wants to and win.

Lombardia was also a sprint against Masnada.

 

[Salvarani]

He dominated 2021, but was unable to drop his rivals in Liège. Now he can go solo from wherever he wants to and win.

He was 23 and is 26 now.

He is also using his team perfectly these days in almost every race. Tactics to perfection. While being very strong, of course.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Lombardia was also a sprint against Masnada.

Actually Lombardy'21 was his strongest Lombardy so far IMO: he dominated the climb but was caught by crazy-descending Masnada. Last year he won solo but after an attack on the descent (on the ascent Vlasov looked equally strong, Rogla also managed to catch them on the top).

 

[topcat]

Lombardia was also a sprint against Masnada.

Masnada's local knowledge of the descent. Pog has learned how to descend now too.

 

[E_F_]

The point is that his jump in 2018 is super weird.

 

[Zen Master]

Just enjoy that your witnessing history and the greatest rider to ever race a bike right in front of your eyes as we speak…

You should be a comedian, and what we're all witnessing is actually beyond any parody. But hey, there are always enough naive people to believe in this kind of Riccardo il Cobra Ricco 2.0 "greatness"…

 

[Netserk]

The point is that his jump in 2018 is super weird.

I don't think it was particularly weird. He went from first year U23 to second year U23, and his 2017 was already quite impressive (for the standard of the 2010's). I and many others paid attention to his performance in the 2017 Tour de Slovénie.

Quintana also stepped up from his first to second year in U23, it's totally normal.

EDIT: Or look how Gaudu stepped up in 2016 from 2015. Totally normal for a big talent.

 

[Forever The Best]

I thought he and Masnada went clear on the climb. Thanks for the details @Krzysztof_O and @topcat.

 

[Salvarani]

But he had many good results in his first U23 year...

4th in Istarsko Proljece - Istrian Spring Trophy.
5th in Carpathian Couriers Race U-23.
5th in Tour de Slovenia (pro race).
3rd in Tour de Hongrie (pro race).
2nd in Int. Raiffeisen Grand Prix Judendorf/Straßengel.
7th in Il Piccolo Lombardia.

And a bunch other top 10s in races.

That is very good! Then improved in his second year, which isnt too farfetched that he could do with showing the above in the previous one.

What he did in 2017... it doesnt make the jump weird.

He finished 4th Trofej Porec - Porec Trophy and 3rd overall in Istarsko Proljece - Istrian Spring Trophy in beginning of 2018.

8th Giro del Belevedre (a highly regarded one-day race, where he finished 10th the year before as well btw). 2nd in G.P. Palio del Recioto.

13th in Tour of Croatia against pros.
13th in Fleché du Sud against pros.

This is where he then really started to hit his stride during 2018, after showing every sign possible that his tradjectory was going up.

He won Grand Prix Priessnitz spa.
4th in Tour of Slovenia. Just behind Roglic, Uran and Mohoric!

Huge surprise that he could be a rider that could win Tour de l'Avenir? I think not.

Continued with good results after his win there in the last few races.

This just good progression through every season from a talented rider during formative years. It is impossible at this stage to say how far it could take him, but that he was gifted and very talented... that there is no question about.

 

[GuntherL1]

What he did in 2017... it doesnt make the jump weird.

He finished 4th Trofej Porec - Porec Trophy and 3rd overall in Istarsko Proljece - Istrian Spring Trophy in beginning of 2018.

8th Giro del Belevedre (a highly regarded one-day race, where he finished 10th the year before as well btw). 2nd in G.P. Palio del Recioto.

13th in Tour of Croatia against pros.
13th in Fleché du Sud against pros.

This is where he then really started to hit his stride during 2018, after showing every sign possible that his tradjectory was going up.

He won Grand Prix Priessnitz spa.
4th in Tour of Slovenia. Just behind Roglic, Uran and Mohoric!

Huge surprise that he could be a rider that could win Tour de l'Avenir? I think not.

Continued with good results after his win there in the last few races.

This just good progression through every season from a talented rider during formative years. It is impossible at this stage to say how far it could take him, but that he was gifted and very talented... that there is no question about.

Wow, some amazing results in 2017:
5th in the Slovenian ITT behind team mates Penko and Groselj
67th in Gent-Wevelgem, 5 minutes behind a complete unknown
57th in GP Izola won by the super talented, uh, Filippo Fortin.
41st in Grand Preissnitz Spa, right behind the well known Vadim Pronskiy, only 17 minutes behind the winner.

I guess you're right. These are clearly the results of an intergenerational talent ready to conquer the world.

 

[James M]

You should be a comedian, and what we're all witnessing is actually beyond any parody. But hey, there are always enough naive people to believe in this kind of Riccardo il Cobra Ricco 2.0 "greatness"…

No need to name call.

"He takes the piss!" - Geraint Thomas & Luke Rowe in awe of 'better than Merckx' Tadej Pogacar

Geraint Thomas has had a few battles against Tadej Pogacar over the years, finishing on the final podium of both the 2022 Tour de France and the 2024 Giro d'Italia alongside the Slovenian. As such, th...

cyclinguptodate.com

But thanks for advice maybe ill just join Rowe, Thomas, Evans, Contador, Gilbert etc and every other 97% and we can make a circus im sure it would generate bucks. Just enjoy it its rare appriciate it, lifes good.

 

[Salvarani]

Wow, some amazing results in 2017:
5th in the Slovenian ITT behind team mates Penko and Groselj
67th in Gent-Wevelgem, 5 minutes behind a complete unknown
57th in GP Izola won by the super talented, uh, Filippo Fortin.
41st in Grand Preissnitz Spa, right behind the well known Vadim Pronskiy, only 17 minutes behind the winner.

I guess you're right. These are clearly the results of an intergenerational talent ready to conquer the world.

So you are saying he should have quit or what is your point?

Does everyone has to win every race at a young age? How is that a good measure?

He showed enough good results, consistently, and improved by every year. If anything his progression and improvement is more "normal" and "natural" than others in this regard.

I thought you said bye earlier? Welcome back.

 

[Peyroteo94]

This is it folks. Today is the day, The clinic will go wild just like in Plateau de Beille, popcorns are ready and waiting for "The Pogenheimer"!

Well well...

 

[Cookster15]

You should be a comedian, and what we're all witnessing is actually beyond any parody. But hey, there are always enough naive people to believe in this kind of Riccardo il Cobra Ricco 2.0 "greatness"…

Nice insult to compare Tadej Pogacar with Riccardo Riccò. Are you serious? For all his blatant cheating Riccò was nothing special anyway, he disappeared as fast as he appeared out of nowhere. Cadel Evans never took Riccò seriously in 2008 and I sure as hell would never put Cadel in the same universe as Pogacar.

 

[Monoxidator]

No need to name call.

"He takes the piss!" - Geraint Thomas & Luke Rowe in awe of 'better than Merckx' Tadej Pogacar

Geraint Thomas has had a few battles against Tadej Pogacar over the years, finishing on the final podium of both the 2022 Tour de France and the 2024 Giro d'Italia alongside the Slovenian. As such, th...

cyclinguptodate.com

But thanks for advice maybe ill just join Rowe, Thomas, Evans, Contador, Gilbert etc and every other 97% and we can make a circus im sure it would generate bucks. Just enjoy it its rare appriciate it, lifes good.

Like clockwork, another alien performance, and Pog fans coming to defend their hero. Life is good when your hero wins! Enjoy your time living your life through someone else, because eventually it will come out what's happening. The money / jealousy will be too much for the truth to be buried forever.

The two things we can predict before every race these days: Pog making an attack from 50k + from the finish, the entire peloton unable to gain a second (losing time every km in fact) and secondly his fans coming here to defend Gianetti and his clean record by saying 'What about Remco, what about Jonas???'

Great arguments guys. What's next, extolling his record in the juniors and u23's? Oh wait...

P.S. What's happening is not rare, it happens every time a new type of PED is introduced into sports.

 

[AmRacer]

Like clockwork, another alien performance, and Pog fans coming to defend their hero. Life is good when your hero wins! Enjoy your time living your life through someone else, because eventually it will come out what's happening. The money / jealousy will be too much for the truth to be buried forever.

The two things we can predict before every race these days: Pog making an attack from 50k + from the finish, the entire peloton unable to gain a second (losing time every km in fact) and secondly his fans coming here to defend Gianetti and his clean record by saying 'What about Remco, what about Jonas???'

Great arguments guys. What's next, extolling his record in the juniors and u23's? Oh wait...

P.S. What's happening is not rare, it happens every time a new type of PED is introduced into sports.

Whatabout RemcoJonasMathieu?

 

[James M]

Like clockwork, another alien performance, and Pog fans coming to defend their hero. Life is good when your hero wins! Enjoy your time living your life through someone else, because eventually it will come out what's happening. The money / jealousy will be too much for the truth to be buried forever.

The two things we can predict before every race these days: Pog making an attack from 50k + from the finish, the entire peloton unable to gain a second (losing time every km in fact) and secondly his fans coming here to defend Gianetti and his clean record by saying 'What about Remco, what about Jonas???'

Great arguments guys. What's next, extolling his record in the juniors and u23's? Oh wait...

P.S. What's happening is not rare, it happens every time a new type of PED is introduced into sports.

Life is great regardless who wins a bike race or not if you only take advantage what it offers thats the whole point. Lol I dont need defend anyone I try to help you guys, I do hope you get your the 1%?

I dont need to tell myself things or try to convince you to believe anyhing your free to believe what you want - thats totally fine and granted. Im a fan of everyone who performs at their sport, why bother watching it if not thats the only question you should ask yourself if you ask me but Im sure there was a few grown up men crying when Merckx dominated and spanked their fav riders too. Hf all the best ill just leave this part of the forum on mute and you guys too it. Im not the conspirocy guy when it suits my need kinda guy.

 

[ivanic]

A cycling fan cannot believe this. Clearly and I repeat CLEARLY he is not clean, 99.9%. The name GIANETTI is enough.


Armstrong has never won so much (7X) and they could be tied on popularity now. Pogacar is now known as Armstrong in his prime.


It would be a disaster, I just don't know how and when they can stop him.
And most importantly, what substance he is using.

 

[Cookster15]

P.S. What's happening is not rare, it happens every time a new type of PED is introduced into sports.

Its rare. Name other comparable examples in cycling? There are zero in cycling since Merckx. Ricco was mentioned up thread. Ricco used a new type of PED - Cera EPO. But Ricco is not comparable to Pogacar in results.

 

[Blobs]

He is also using his team perfectly these days in almost every race. Tactics to perfection. While being very strong, of course.

Even Pog himself called todays tactics stupid.

 

[Cookster15]

A cycling fan cannot believe this. Clearly and I repeat CLEARLY he is not clean, 99.9%. The name GIANETTI is enough.


Armstrong has never won so much (7X) and they could be tied on popularity now. Pogacar is now known as Armstrong in his prime.


It would be a disaster, I just don't know how and when they can stop him.
And most importantly, what substance he is using.

Pogacar is way beyond Armstrong who was only Tour de France. Armstrong won the worlds in 1993 pre cancer when he was relatively chubby. I really doubt Pog is using any substance unless there is corruption - always a possibility as we saw with Armstrong. But they will have to destroy the samples in case there is retrospective testing.

But even if I accept this "oil money" meme, what is in it for the UAE government? Oil money can buy big European football teams. Why a 2nd string sport like cycling? Makes no logical sense.

 

[Salvarani]

Even Pog himself called todays tactics stupid.

Havent heard that yet.

If you just hear it or think about it... maybe that is how one could feel about todays tactics.

But the scenario that played out in the race because of it and that they had Tratnik to tow him up. He could use Sivakov until 50km, who helped him, as the others behind burned through their tired teams and then was left with a group where no-one cooperated with each other... it couldnt have played out any better.

 

[Ulle97]

So it seems that most guys here are certain that Pog is on something special that the others aren't on....... has anybody any idea??

Could motors be at play??? The attacks this man puts in are just bat-*** crazy.

 

[Netserk]

So it seems that most guys here are certain that Pog is on something special that the others aren't on....... has anybody any idea??

Could motors be at play??? The attacks this man puts in are just bat-*** crazy.

He could be on a similar cocktail as what Vingegaard, Van der Poel, Evenepoel is on, but more dialled in and with greater resources behind him.