Watched it. Can't see the issue. We can sometimes see what we want to see.
He was constantly looking over his shoulder looking to see if anyone was close - if he had a motor why would he do that? But we know Pogacar is hugely strong. I don't find it impossible that he could accelerate away from riders like Ben Healy like that on the steepest part. Wasn't breathing hard when he attacked, unlike the others.
Are you suggesting he was using a motor before he attacked and then switched to 'high power mode'??
We know he performs at a level waaayyy beyond everyone else currently. Whether he is hugely strong
and clean is another matter. I just look at what I see. A guy who doesn't really seem to have any physical limitations either in terms of performance or endurance. Sickness doesn't seem to be a factor. The rare off day is still a win or a podium. Who can seemingly win all types of races. He's a phenomenon. Ok, what else? Is there anything amongst all the noise and drama that gives us any signal that something might be off? Well, there are lots actually, if you are prepared to look. If you stop your brain from filtering them out. He races for UAE for starters. Sorry, but any rider who rides for a team managed by Giannetti and Maxtin already has a huge red flag against them. Particularly riders who, prior to joining UAE were quite good but not exactly world beaters. And then turned into world beaters. Tim Wellens anyone? Brandon McNulty? Nils Pollett, at 80KG a pure rouleur and Classics specialist whose contribution on mountain stages was limited and never structurally important before joining UAE? I digress. What else is concerning as regards Pogi? Well, Pogacar doesn't seem to have a red zone in the big hills, especially post 2023, and this is a huge concern. Remember red zones? Chris Froome does. And he had piss thrown all over him for winning mountain stages by the odd 10, 20, or 30 seconds in an apparent slow motion grindathon with his competitors at the end of a stage where the Sky Train kept everyone on the limit until near the end. Pogacar doesn't recognise such limits however and everyone is so relieved because that obviously means he's just a marvel. Then there's the accelerations in both the classics and in the big mountains. Almost as if he hits a switch, he takes off at a brutal rate and
without any apparent effort. Seated accelerations. No additional torque apparently being squeezed from the core through the legs. Even on extrememly steep slopes at the end of classic races. On cobbles. All very reminiscent of a certain Femke van de Dreiche or even a Cancellara. Very odd looking. Uncanny. And then we have perhaps the key giveaway, the tell. Pogacar is cruising his way to another easy GC win. Everything is cooking. And then a stage goes wrong. He looks suddenly vulnerable, human even. Usually it's a time trial where he loses a fair bit of time. The technique goes, or it's not as smooth as usual. What's going on bleats Orla? Is he sick Sean? UAE go silent. Nothing to see here. And indeed there isn't. Because the next day he's better than ever and he makes the peloton pay for having doubted him, rubbing their collective noses into the dust by attacking from 50KM out to solo home, arriving at the finish line all smiles as if he's just popped down to the shops for the papers. But maybe I'm just a cynical old fuddy duddy who has heard all the explanations before only to realise it was all a lie. Maybe I'm not down with the kids and the new food they eat and the new bikes they ride and the new training zone methods. Which everyone else does of course.
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