Tadej Pogacar and Mauro Giannetti

[Epicycle2]

Probably on the lugworm hemoglobin.

 

[Valv.Piti]

This guy is jumping around with his teammates straight after, not even a slight grimace. It's beyond taking the piss.

He was rolling the last kilometre. If you are an elite athlete, or even just an amateur cyclist, taking it easy for a few minutes will dramatically drop your bpm. But of course you probably know that.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Probably on the lugworm hemoglobin.

For all we know there could also be Hobgoblins involved.

 

[Saint Unix]

Sure, that's a valid take. But, cycling was a "sport" probably during 2008 and around between 2010-2019, it's now a freakshow like during 1990-2007.

There's no flipping way cycling was a sport during the Sky years. That whole operation was as insulting as anything we've seen in the last three decades.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

The worse part of it ,its never gonna change :/

I'm hoping there will at least be a reset because how much better can Pog get from now on?

 

[JosefK]

Teddy's got to ride the Vuelta, yes? ... He'd easily win it by 10 minutes. This "form" would not suddenly evaporate.

 

[snipeheem]

I'm hoping there will at least be a reset because how much better can Pog get from now on?

I dont know but i think we are enter the scary era of cycling…

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I dont know but i think we are enter the scary era of cycling…

I think we're smack in the middle of it right now, how can this possibly go on much longer?

 

[snipeheem]

I think we're smack in the middle of it right now, how can this possibly go on much longer?

I am afraid it will go on for many years :/

 

[Divergence]

Hey, he just said he a bad stage in the Giro.

Any ideas which stage that might be, or is he just throwing it out there to gain some sympathy?

 

[burning]

There's no flipping way cycling was a sport during the Sky years. That whole operation was as insulting as anything we've seen in the last three decades.

The power levels were a lot lower during the Sky era even though they were a bigger farce overall with their anatomic jock strap races, swimming coaches, garbage retrospective explanations like Badzilla or whatever inane nonsense that they came up with. I definitely prefer Pogacar over these guys as he knows how to ride his bike unlike Froome who learned how to ride his bike at a pro level when he was around 32

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Any ideas which stage that might be, or is he just throwing it out there to gain some sympathy?

Could be all the stages he didn't win, and Prati di Tivo.

 

[meat puppet]

Cycling is stuck with a Lance 2.0 who is "likable", instagrammable, and also does the classics.

In principle someone who loves racing and watching racing should be excited to observe a very complete rider do their thing but to me this is just ridiculous. Regardless of who is the kingpin.

As for how long will this era last - well, as long as the cash keeps flowing, everyone gets their cut and the boat is not rocked too much. Probably only to get crazier from here.

 

[Shakes]

Sky years, despite issues known now from then, were at lot more believable. Having a train do the pacing, knowing your own limits perfectly to slowly strangle others might not be exciting but it's a lot more realistic. Sure, attacks all over do well on TV but for getting the best out of yourself it's not. Up hill cycling is more like a TT. Let domestiques put others just above threshold while you are just below and cord will break and you gain time. Boring? Probably. Realistic? More so than Pog and Vingegaard in recent years. So do you want entertainment or best human performance?

 

[Rackham]

Sky years, despite issues known now from then, were at lot more believable. Having a train do the pacing, knowing your own limits perfectly to slowly strangle others might not be exciting but it's a lot more realistic. Sure, attacks all over do well on TV but for getting the best out of yourself it's not. Up hill cycling is more like a TT. Let domestiques put others just above threshold while you are just below and cord will break and you gain time. Boring? Probably. Realistic? More so than Pog and Vingegaard in recent years. So do you want entertainment or best human performance?

This is absolutely true.

When people call long distance attacks & huge margins 'real ciclismo', what they're really saying is they're nostalgic of the 1990's EPO & coke addicts shooting up the cols like they were on the flat.

It's bread & circuses.

 

[ashhutch1997]

He was rolling the last kilometre. If you are an elite athlete, or even just an amateur cyclist, taking it easy for a few minutes will dramatically drop your bpm. But of course you probably know that.

Come on, the fact he 'rolled' the last km and still won by over a minute is hilarious

 

[burning]

Sky years, despite issues known now from then, were at lot more believable. Having a train do the pacing, knowing your own limits perfectly to slowly strangle others might not be exciting but it's a lot more realistic. Sure, attacks all over do well on TV but for getting the best out of yourself it's not. Up hill cycling is more like a TT. Let domestiques put others just above threshold while you are just below and cord will break and you gain time. Boring? Probably. Realistic? More so than Pog and Vingegaard in recent years. So do you want entertainment or best human performance?

In a vacuum, sure. Sky folks were pushing way less power compared to today. However, considering who were in the Sky train, I think these guys are more realistic than former track riders or nobodies who could not ride in a straight line before joining the Sky train.

 

[Nick2413]

The last few years have been pretty offputting, but now it’s downright disgusting. No point really watching anymore if the sport has turned into a video game.

 

[46&twoWheels]

I'm hoping there will at least be a reset because how much better can Pog get from now on?

wait until they hit 7.5 w/kg on 30 minutes with avocado, pineapple and kale..."modern" nutrition

 

[ashhutch1997]

I'm very close to given up on watching cycling if this continues, I've watched cycling for over 20 years, through the so called 'dark years'. But this makes the Armstrong years look somewhat believable compared to this..

 

[Psycat]

He must have something because this is just unreal.

I really need a break from Pog now.

I mean you have a break just not for long, he will be back fistbumping the losers at the finish line at the Olympics soon enough.

 

[Divergence]

Sure, it seems like it is impossible to be so much better than all the rest... But then I sometimes remind myself of, e.g., Magnus Carlsen. He seems to be dominating chess on a similar level. So, at the end of the day, I do not quite know what to think...

 

[Saint Unix]

Pog delivering his victory speech in English, especially for the people that don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. He's sorry for them. He's sorry they can’t dream big and he's sorry they don’t believe in miracles...

 

[JWTS]

All of the Pog hate shows that people have really lost the plot. Yes, I realize this is a Pog thread, but the current state of the peloton doesn't really have to do much with him. He's just one part of the machine.

I found this pretty telling: https://velo.outsideonline.com/road...t-goodbye-pushing-best-numbers-finish-top-20/

This isn't sour grapes of a guy who's getting dropped, the times on the climbs pretty much bear this out. Bernal also seems to be back to his tour-winning level, or very close. He's getting destroyed.

I seriously doubt that Pog has any special dope or protection that other top rider's don't. I mean, finishing 2nd in THIS tour at these speeds on 6 weeks of training? That's equally unbelievable. But the list goes on. There are some guys putting out career power numbers pretty late into their careers.

 

[SHAD0W93]

If Pogacar does ever test positive, this whole era will crumble. Even more so if Vingegaard gets a positive as well. Next year it’ll be interesting if he keeps this performance or levels off a little.