Tirreno - Adriatico 2021, March 10 - March 16

[Volderke]

Van Aert pushing 85W less than Ganna, and still beating him comfortably.

I wonder why.
Does WvA have a better aero position?
Did he already have a big advantage so he could (or he had to) push a bit less in the end?
Was the wind a big variable?

 

[Mayomaniac]

Van Aert pushing 85W less than Ganna, and still beating him comfortably.

I guess the higher the average speed gets the more important aerodynamics get compared to raw power output.
Still, Imagine if Ganna was actually able to unleash that kind of Power on Roubaix cobbles or even just the Poggio...

 

[search]

That was a part with long straight sections, so they likely were pushing full gas. It's quite likely this is a good indicator of what they had to push. Van Aert weighs quite a few kg less and he's a bit shorter too. Also, van Aert was faster than Ganna in the 2nd part of the TT.

wind conditions changed as well (according to Ballan, on Rai), meaning van Aert had less favourable conditions in the first part, but not that much of a headwind as Ganna on the final stretch

 

[Volderke]

In fact he will win every stage race he enters.

This reply has been brought up too many times, but still, if you claim Pogacar will win every stage race he enters:
What about Evenepoel?

 

[Red Rick]

This reply has been brought up too many times, but still, if you claim Pogacar will win every stage race he enters:
What about Evenepoel?

He'll win every stage race he doesn't enter or doesn't finish, hypothetically

The last time Evenepoel even rode a race, half the fans still thought Pogacar was overrated @Gigs_98

 

[Lequack]

 

[topcat]

I wonder why.
Does WvA have a better aero position?
Did he already have a big advantage so he could (or he had to) push a bit less in the end?
Was the wind a big variable?

Italian cooking, best in the world.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He'll win every stage race he doesn't enter or doesn't finish, hypothetically

The last time Evenepoel even rode a race, half the fans still thought Pogacar was overrated @Gigs_98

So far that's 2 world champ titles, 2 monuments and 3 GT's. On top of a dozen of 1 week GC's. Pogacar's got some catching up to do.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Here are some fun statistics:
Jumbo hasn't won a stage race in which van Aert participated since the 2016 Ster ZLM Toer.
Also everytime van Aert has entered a stage race outside of Denmark, someone from another team has won it.

 

[RedheadDane]

Here's some fun statistics:
Jumbo hasn't won a stage race in which van Aert participated since the 2016 Ster ZLM Toer.
Also everytime van Aert has entered a stage race outside of Denmark, someone from another team has won it.

So, you're saying it would be tactically smart to not bring Van Aert to the Tour? And instead have him go do the Tour of Denmark?

 

[Bolder]

Yea he will give some beating to others. How can you beat him? He is the strongest in TT and on climbs. Only way to lose is by mechanical in worst possible stage of a race, or by fall and DNF. In fact he will win every stage race he enters. If you are that dominant over other GC guys in TT and in the same time you distance them in climb, you just can't lose. Only one close is Roglic but he is behind in TT. We will get some answers in april at Tour of the Basque Country.

Roglic looked as strong if not stronger as last year in P-N. And he's a damn good TT'er, PDBF notwithstanding.

Pogacar's weakness is he won't have a team (although as noted we've seen TJV bollix up pursuits in the Vuelta and maybe P-N this year). He's probably strong enough that he can freelance his way to a win, but if JV bring the same train as last year he won't be able to dictate the pace. I'd say Pogi is the favorite but if Roglic had just gotten a better night's sleep last year before the final TT we'd probably have them at even odds right now.

 

[Bonimenier]

Roglic looked as strong if not stronger as last year in P-N. And he's a damn good TT'er, PDBF notwithstanding.

I think it's hard to say that. He obviously looked very strong, but there were very few of the absolute top riders present in PN.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

So, you're saying it would be tactically smart to not bring Van Aert to the Tour? And instead have him go do the Tour of Denmark?

That would at least secure one Tour victory for them this year.

 

[tobydawq]

The time gaps in the GC are ridiculous for a 1-week race.

Not the biggest gap to number 10 in WT history, though.

Tour de Pologne 2016

www.procyclingstats.com

But yes, this race had a much better field and has generally been insane.

 

[Eeslliw]

I'd say Pogi is the favorite but if Roglic had just gotten a better night's sleep last year before the final TT we'd probably have them at even odds right now.

Roglic didn't have bad day that TT, Tadej just demolished everyone.

 

[red_flanders]

Yea he will give some beating to others. How can you beat him? He is the strongest in TT and on climbs. Only way to lose is by mechanical in worst possible stage of a race, or by fall and DNF. In fact he will win every stage race he enters. If you are that dominant over other GC guys in TT and in the same time you distance them in climb, you just can't lose. Only one close is Roglic but he is behind in TT. We will get some answers in april at Tour of the Basque Country.

Agreed for the most part, but anyone can have a bad day. Scary thing is he's only going to get better with more experience and physical maturity.

 

[titan31]

Roglic looked as strong if not stronger as last year in P-N. And he's a damn good TT'er, PDBF notwithstanding.

Pogacar's weakness is he won't have a team (although as noted we've seen TJV bollix up pursuits in the Vuelta and maybe P-N this year). He's probably strong enough that he can freelance his way to a win, but if JV bring the same train as last year he won't be able to dictate the pace. I'd say Pogi is the favorite but if Roglic had just gotten a better night's sleep last year before the final TT we'd probably have them at even odds right now.

The team PCS have for Pog for the Tour is Oliveira, De La Cruz, Majka, Formolo, Kristoff, Hirschi and Polanc. Now that's not Ineos or Jumbo strong but it's still pretty strong if they're all in form. Should probably bring someone like Bjerg over Oliveira though.

 

[RedheadDane]

The team PCS have for Pog for the Tour is Oliveira, De La Cruz, Majka, Formolo, Kristoff, Hirschi and Polanc. Now that's not Ineos or Jumbo strong but it's still pretty strong if they're all in form. Should probably bring someone like Bjerg over Oliveira though.

Oliveira is two people, so...

 

[Mayomaniac]

Roglic looked as strong if not stronger as last year in P-N. And he's a damn good TT'er, PDBF notwithstanding.

Pogacar's weakness is he won't have a team (although as noted we've seen TJV bollix up pursuits in the Vuelta and maybe P-N this year). He's probably strong enough that he can freelance his way to a win, but if JV bring the same train as last year he won't be able to dictate the pace. I'd say Pogi is the favorite but if Roglic had just gotten a better night's sleep last year before the final TT we'd probably have them at even odds right now.

If they bring McNulty, Majka, Polanc , De La Cruz and Hirschi to support him he's got a decent team.

 

[Keram]

So WVA completed an incredible week with a TT win. Let's remember that he also won a sprint, was top3 on hilly stages and was 8th on a difficult MTF. There's nothing he can't do. Still, Pogacar won the race comfortably showing great strength with two solo rides in the mountains and hills and (as I expected) concluded the race with a very strong TT. Congrats to both on a great week. BTW time gaps are indeed huge (GT like)! Two aliens while the rest are humans.

You said it for me. I am obviously watch cycling too short but I didnt see such an all rounder. He is mix of peak Kwiatkowski and peak Sagan in one person. Pogacar is another generational talent though. With Evenpoel, Pogacar, Van Aert and Van der Poel it is like we live in an era of Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo and Messi together.

 

[titan31]

Oliveira is two people, so...

Ivo Oliveira then. Id imagine he's just the water carrier anyway so not a huge deal but do think UAE could have someone better there who can contribute more. Kristoff be the road captain I guess, and I'd imagine Hirschi is just ahead of them and then probably Polanc, Dr La Cruz, Formolo and Majka as the mountain doms.

It's still not Jumbo but that's cos Jumbo have WVA who's probably the strongest domestique at the Tour, but its still a pretty good team to have around Pogacar.

 

[IndianCyclist]

The gaps in TA is like its been raced over three weeks and made Quintana at almost 10 min down look pretty old

 

[RedheadDane]

Ivo Oliveira then. Id imagine he's just the water carrier anyway so not a huge deal but do think UAE could have someone better there who can contribute more.

But if they bring them both, they can swap them out when needed.

 

[ice&fire]

Who is that dude with the red jersey? Who invited him to the party?

 

[Offline]

Ivo Oliveira then. Id imagine he's just the water carrier anyway so not a huge deal but do think UAE could have someone better there who can contribute more. Kristoff be the road captain I guess, and I'd imagine Hirschi is just ahead of them and then probably Polanc, Dr La Cruz, Formolo and Majka as the mountain doms.

It's still not Jumbo but that's cos Jumbo have WVA who's probably the strongest domestique at the Tour, but its still a pretty good team to have around Pogacar.

I. Oliveira can stay home. They need to bring M. Bjerg. I said that before. He showed why in UAE tour.

Strongest team would be:

Tadej Pogacar
Rafal Majka
Marc Hirschi
Davide Formolo
David de la Cruz
Jan Polanc
Matteo Trentin
Mikkel Bjerg