I found Pog way more 'endearing' (if one can use such a word to describe these guys) last year tbh. Aka when he actually had to 'fight'.
What's happened in 2024 is something I've never seen before, ever. All prior notions about peaking etc. have gone completely out the window. And when people mention Pog being a great natural talent, maybe so, I won't dispute that, but what's also true is UAE have absolutely smashed everyone this season. Sivakov was sh*tting all over the guys spat out behind Pog's attack today in Lombardia after he'd pulled to set up Pog's attack himself. I mean... come on guys, this has sophisticated and organized team doping written all over it.
BTW there's no 'lsser of two evils' or anything here, i.e. what Pog has done this season is basically take Vingegaard's impossible, laughable & grotesque Combloux performance... and do that practically all year. With some performances standing out versus others on the WTF am I watching scale.