I think you've heard this from me and others before. Pogacar may be ready to ascend to a level never before seen. I haven't watched much of him this season because I don't care for desert races so I won't offer any opinion if he is trending that way.Yes, winning a stage or two, particularly because he indicated that is why he was there. The closest he came was a 2nd in a field sprint. Ganna was able to chase him down after one of his attacks, and when he bridged to Pidcock after one of Pidcocks attacks, he didn't appear to be able to keep going. Those things don't give me confidence that he can withstand an attack by Pogacar, and even if he withstands an initial attacke, Pogacar will drop him later anyway.
Like I said, I could be wrong, but everything I have seen from Pogacar in the last year, suggests to me that he has reached a completely different level that any cyclist who has ever been a pro, even past a freak of nature like MVDP. I truly believe that in the coming races in which Pogacar is racing, there will be a point where he just destroys everyone, and goes it alone to the finish. Maybe not, and certainly descending the Poggio will be a challenge for him, if he is not alone at that point, but I still think he might have enough to get away on the flat. Pogacar clearly has an ability to maintain power after sustained effort, more than any rider I have ever seen. I think that factor is still improving in him.
I'm geniunely mystified why this opinion has caused so much conseternation? If I'm wrong and MVDP wins, so be it. But everybody here is pontificating on what MVDP will do this spring, I have a different opinion, so evidently, that means I've never watched a cycling race before, and don't understand the dynamics of professional cycling sufficienty to have that opinion. I certainly don't have anyone who agrees with me, apparently. If I'm wrong, I'm sure that people will want to see me eat a humble pie, but I won't because I have no issue being wrong about anything. If I hadn't been wrong on may occasions and learned from that, I wouldn't be as good at what I do for a living as I am, and I am pretty damn good at it.
You guys take this sh!t way too seriously. All this sh!t is just a diversion for me. I have no ego or need to be right, wrapped up in this. It's just a thing I enjoy watching, and I have opinions about things that relate to that. In real life, I have strong opinions about the things that garner my attention, and in which I am interested, but I am always open to being wrong and learning differently.
You do you.
As for MVDP I believe he's at Tirreno for the same reason as ever: to prepare for his spring. The one time he truly tried to compete he went too deep and clearly compromised his early season (2021). He probably did hope to win a stage this year, but even if he doesn't really care he's not going to do an interview and outright say he's treating it as a training race.
But whether or not MVDP is on track to be as good as 2024, if Pogacar is on some astral plane of form it doesn't matter. Even if van der Poel matches last year's level and Pogacar doesn't ascend it would be surprising if he matches last spring's results (2 monument wins and setting up his teammate for another by being the strongest rider in the finale). There are simply too many moving parts.
I think this is as clear as I can be and I don't see this as at all disrespecting anyone's ability to watch and evaluate a race or rider.
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