Tadej Pogacar and Mauro Giannetti

[markene2]

Nice seated attack while everyone stands on the pedals for dear life, very froome-esque

 

[FrontHeadlock]

Nice seated attack while everyone stands on the pedals for dear life, very froome-esque

...to gain like 12 seconds when winning by over 4 minutes lmao. What a loser. I mean honestly.

 

[SorelyBoy]

Pogacar wisely kept the power boost option until the end. Just accelerates seated up a huge slope at altitude like he’s peddling along a canal towpath in Holland. Breathing like he’s just stepped out of the shower. Totally normal.

 

[AttaqueDeRolland]

...to gain like 12 seconds when winning by over 4 minutes lmao. What a loser. I mean honestly.

Insecurity and greedy entitlement seem to be deeply ingrained in UAE as a team. The way that his domestiques sometimes look like they're in utter disbelief when another team tries to take the front from them, those situations are where the greedy entitlement really shines through, like when Decathlon tried launching Gall a few days ago. Add to that a ridiculous hypocrisy, like when Nils Politt talks about the peloton in 2025 not having the same decorum as a few years ago, when he's always been one to attack through feed zones, or when Pogi complains about people attacking downhill, like he didn't try to use the exact same tactic against Vingegaard on Spandelles three years ago. And now Pogi has been out for "revenge" on all the climbs where he was previously dropped. That's a frankly ridiculous level of teenage-like insecurity when you're in his position.

 

[FrontHeadlock]

Insecurity and greedy entitlement seem to be deeply ingrained in UAE as a team. The way that his domestiques sometimes look like they're in utter disbelief when another team tries to take the front from them, those situations are where the greedy entitlement really shines through, like when Decathlon tried launching Gall a few days ago. Add to that a ridiculous hypocrisy, like when Nils Politt talks about the peloton in 2025 not having the same decorum as a few years ago, when he's always been one to attack through feed zones, or when Pogi complains about people attacking downhill, like he didn't try to use the exact same tactic against Vingegaard on Spandelles three years ago. And now Pogi has been out for "revenge" on all the climbs where he was previously dropped. That's a frankly ridiculous level of teenage-like insecurity when you're in his position.

It's just NAUSEATING to watch someone sprint for literal seconds when they are winning by so much. If he were winning by 45 seconds, all good you have to grow the lead. But 4:15? Lmao. Like, just cross together with your rival at that point. Is he really trying to ensure he wins the polka dot jersey when going for his fifth GC? Goodness.

People with that big of a chip on their shoulder will surely do anything to win.

 

[Revelation]

Robbie McEwen on Lenny Martinez taking very stricky bottles - "the worst thing is not talking about it", given how blatant it was.
While him and all the media constantly glaze Pogacar's blatantly enhanced performances all year.

That comparison would only work, if you've seen Pogacar dope on live television.

 

[Revelation]

This thread seems almost performative at this point.

 

[ivanic]

I can understand the fanboys, but no one else can believe he's not cheating, just looking at the names of his entourage

Can anyone tell me when he will end? In three weeks, he'll win the Vuelta with a cigar in his mouth

 

[Pantani Attacks]

Pogi the merciful gifting stages. Free my man Pog.

 

[Abedfo]

It's just come to my attention that the WC course is perfect for Pogacar. Ffs, another event I'm not watching.

 

[DONCA]

Insecurity and greedy entitlement seem to be deeply ingrained in UAE as a team. The way that his domestiques sometimes look like they're in utter disbelief when another team tries to take the front from them, those situations are where the greedy entitlement really shines through, like when Decathlon tried launching Gall a few days ago. Add to that a ridiculous hypocrisy, like when Nils Politt talks about the peloton in 2025 not having the same decorum as a few years ago, when he's always been one to attack through feed zones, or when Pogi complains about people attacking downhill, like he didn't try to use the exact same tactic against Vingegaard on Spandelles three years ago. And now Pogi has been out for "revenge" on all the climbs where he was previously dropped. That's a frankly ridiculous level of teenage-like insecurity when you're in his position.

You can just see how he is still a little offended child that Vingegaard has to show at every opportunity that he is stronger. No matter how ridiculous it is. Pogacar still hasn't gotten over the fact that VIngegaard made sure he didn't win the Tour de France.

For me, the biggest losers in this Tour are clearly Pogacar and UAE, who are becoming more and more arrogant and making cycling boring. On top of that, their big-headed behavior towards other riders and teams.

 

[daking123]

Man, it’s honestly so obvious when he hits the mechanical boost. You could even see him suffering and looking tired breathing through his mouth on those first two climbs. You can tell he’s just trying to hold on waiting to flip on boost mode when Vingegaard attacks or when he goes himself.
Then boom perfectly timed seated surge.
The device he’s using has to be really small. Makes sense though he’s not using it all race just in those key moments when it really counts. That’s what makes it so hard to catch. It’s not about using it all day it’s about making sure no one can follow when it actually matters. I don’t even think it’s some grand conspiracy between UCI and UAE just a well engineered small hidden motor.

 

[pelotonIQ]

I can understand the fanboys, but no one else can believe he's not cheating, just looking at the names of his entourage

Can anyone tell me when he will end? In three weeks, he'll win the Vuelta with a cigar in his mouth

Don't forget the WC too, oh no, what do we do? wether one believes he dopes or not, just enjoy the entertainment.

 

[AlpRaid]

It's just come to my attention that the WC course is perfect for Pogacar. Ffs, another event I'm not watching.

only way is if another national team has two players. and they need to launch one of them from about 150 kms and make Slovenia and Pog chase. don't get me wrong, probably only 10% chance of success.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Don't forget the WC too, oh no, what do we do? wether one believes he dopes or not, just enjoy the entertainment.

Mate it was entertaining from 2020 - 23, but from 2024 it just got ridiculous and predictable.
I was a fan boy of his but last year was just too much.

 

[ashhutch1997]

I can understand the fanboys, but no one else can believe he's not cheating, just looking at the names of his entourage

Can anyone tell me when he will end? In three weeks, he'll win the Vuelta with a cigar in his mouth

I actually reckon he'll win all three GT's in a year, and people will still tell you it's because of nutrition.

 

[FrontHeadlock]

You can just see how he is still a little offended child that Vingegaard has to show at every opportunity that he is stronger. No matter how ridiculous it is. Pogacar still hasn't gotten over the fact that VIngegaard made sure he didn't win the Tour de France.

No kidding. Look at how many stages this year Pog has finished 1 spot ahead of JV. That's neither by accident nor normal.

Stage	2	6	7	9	10	11	12	13	14
Pog	2	9	1	26	9	35	1	1	2
JV	3	10	2	27	10	36	2	2	3

Stage	16	18
Pog	5	2
JV	6	3

And by the way, this is not including stages where Pog beat him by more than one place. Just where there was a 1-place difference.

For reference the only stages this year where JV finished ahead of Pog are:

• Stage 3 (JV - 70, Pog - 71)
• Stage 8 (JV - 38, Pog - 42)

 

[Tim Cahill]

Mate it was entertaining from 2020 - 23, but from 2024 it just got ridiculous and predictable.
I was a fan boy of his but last year was just too much.

Yes, unfortunate, some of the casual fans who I speak to irl who watch once a summer seem a little annoyed at the lack of spectacle too, along with many longtime viewers on here, some who have mostly given up.

Tour de France TV Viewership Declines Globally - Insights & Causes

Explore the global drop in Tour de France TV ratings and key reasons behind it. Discover the impact on cycling fans and sponsors. Read more now!

cyclingflash.com

Giro viewership was up by quite a bit too apparently.

 

[meat puppet]

Don't forget the WC too, oh no, what do we do? wether one believes he dopes or not, just enjoy the entertainment.

I might regret asking, but what entertainment? Everyone and their dawg knows for sure that in races he targets poga does whatever he pleases when he chooses to, and that's that.

For me unpredictability is one of the defining characteristics of road racing, and now it's all but gone.

Even if we put dope, aesthetics, nationalities, sportwashing etc aside, it's very difficult to draw entertainment from this. But horses for courses I guess.

 

[Abedfo]

Man, it’s honestly so obvious when he hits the mechanical boost. You could even see him suffering and looking tired breathing through his mouth on those first two climbs. You can tell he’s just trying to hold on waiting to flip on boost mode when Vingegaard attacks or when he goes himself.
Then boom perfectly timed seated surge.
The device he’s using has to be really small. Makes sense though he’s not using it all race just in those key moments when it really counts. That’s what makes it so hard to catch. It’s not about using it all day it’s about making sure no one can follow when it actually matters. I don’t even think it’s some grand conspiracy between UCI and UAE just a well engineered small hidden motor.

I've been skirting the conspiracy theories of X. One that is going around is that Jumbo have been soft banned from motors by "the UCI" after they took the piss with Kuss and the Vuelta. Jerome Pineau called it at the time.

But seriously I want someone with more skill than me to make a Pogacar motor montage. It's so obvious, the Mur de Huy earlier in the season will always be the cherry on top.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Yes, unfortunate, some of the casual fans who I speak to irl who watch once a summer seem a little annoyed at the lack of spectacle too, along with many longtime viewers on here, some who have mostly given up.

Tour de France TV Viewership Declines Globally - Insights & Causes

Explore the global drop in Tour de France TV ratings and key reasons behind it. Discover the impact on cycling fans and sponsors. Read more now!

cyclingflash.com

Giro viewership was up by quite a bit too apparently.

This what I thought might happen, Pogacar isn't the draw the media make him out to be, and the figures will get worse.
The Giro had it's highest viewing figures for almost 10 years, despite there being no top Italian riders, and guess who wasn't there....
What contradicts this is the crowds on the roadside seem huge this year, biggest I've seen since the later Armstrong/ Ullrich years.

 

[dr.eve]

Don't forget the WC too, oh no, what do we do? wether one believes he dopes or not, just enjoy the entertainment.

Which entertainment exactly?

 

[SorelyBoy]

I've been skirting the conspiracy theories of X. One that is going around is that Jumbo have been soft banned from motors by "the UCI" after they took the piss with Kuss and the Vuelta. Jerome Pineau called it at the time.

But seriously I want someone with more skill than me to make a Pogacar motor montage. It's so obvious, the Mur de Huy earlier in the season will always be the cherry on top.

By this stage it’s so obvious. In the same way it now seems obvious that Van den Driessche was motor doping. We look at the footage and the reaction now is to laugh because of the way she carries out a seated acceleration to leave her rivals for dead. Well, that’s what Pogacar is doing some nine years on. It’s doesn’t account for everything of course. He’s on a top class programme as well. But it’s the thing that allows him to be almost unbeatable, to guarantee wins across a wide range of races on a consistent basis. To cross the line while hardly breathing and able to give an interview thirty seconds later while his world class opponents are on the floor dying from their efforts. And, implemented across a season, it allows him to mostly avoid the fatigue everyone else inevitably succumbs to .

'Getting away with it is shockingly easy': Five reasons why motor doping suspicions won't go away

Having spent over a year investigating motor doping, Chris Marshall-Bell examines the rumours and unanswered questions that remain

www.cyclingweekly.com

 

[Cookster15]

Stage 15 at 98 Tour till this day is greatest stage ever. I dont know how many times i watched it. Marco was God that day

I still have the VHS recording. 98 was when we were accustomed to big strong time triallists dominating (Indurain and Ullrich). That this little humble guy could do what he did that was was a classic story of David and Goliath.

 

[AlpRaid]

any team that was already going into the very grey area of carbon-monoxide clearly was willing to go beyond altitude camps.

pog was ap[arently very deflated after combloux.

my guess is the real arm race started there -- similar to when armstrong quit P-N in his 1998 return -- finding that the peloton had not changed -- still two speeds. he disappeared for a few months and some decision happened that he returned even more chemically enhanced.