Question What's the best way winning GC?

[AmRacer]

It's about time to bump this thread. I've closed the poll but we can continue discussing how a GC should be won.

Roglastomp last 300 meters
Long range attack
TT dominance
Doesn't matter

 

[CyclistAbi]

I like on how Rogla does it. A true blend of skills embodied in a single package. Being an ITT, stomp or an attack from the far, when needed. Utilizing his team to the fullest, as a proper GC rider should.

 

[AmRacer]

So, the first week of the Tour has showed us different ways of riding for GC.

 

[CyclistAbi]

So, the first week of the Tour has showed us different ways of riding for GC.

I liked the approach from that guy Rogla, saving himself for week three.

 

[jmdirt]

Win Every Stage

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I liked the approach from that guy Rogla, saving himself for week three.

Rogla is saving himself for the post-race ceremony.

 

[Mayomaniac]

There's only one way:

 

[Monte Serra]

There's only one way:

Fully agree with Conan's sentiment. But if you "see your enemies driven before you", they'll probably finish ahead of you?

 

[Miha81]

In recent memory I really liked 2020 and 2022 editions.

2020 edition with Pogi crushing the final ITT was just phenomenal.

Eventhough I am not a big fan of Visma and Jonas I must say that stage 11 in 2022 Tour was absolute masterclass. Pogi's overconfidence and Visma's smart strategy with Jonas's power and reserves at the end of the stage were "must see TV".

 

[CyclistAbi]

This i guess is on where some confusion comes from. For example in real world one goes out to make a living, after a honest day of work he then gets praised by community, or taken for granted, either way. In pro peloton one being a great stage racer, that comes down to going out to make a living, losing no time and doing absolutely nothing for it. This is on how it's done on the best day. Some people hence find it hard to grasp the concept.

As for that "crushing the opponent". This one is more age related, younger baboon usually very vivid in its approach, older baboon usually settling it with giving it a look.

 

[Netserk]

In recent memory I really liked 2020 and 2022 editions.

2020 edition with Pogi crushing the final ITT was just phenomenal.

Eventhough I am not a big fan of Visma and Jonas I must say that stage 11 in 2022 Tour was absolute masterclass. Pogi's overconfidence and Visma's smart strategy with Jonas's power and reserves at the end of the stage were "must see TV".

What do you think the biggest difference was between 2020 and 2023? Both were decided in the only ITT of the race when one of the riders did a phenomenal ride and the other one disappointed a bit.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

What do you think the biggest difference was between 2020 and 2023? Both were decided in the only ITT of the race when one of the riders did a phenomenal ride and the other one disappointed a bit.

There are three big differences, actually:
1) Roglic and Visma had spent all race stifling GC action and therefore, it blowing up in their faces in that TT felt like karmic justice to many of us, whereas Pogacar had raced as aggressively as ever in 2023
2) Pogacar winning was a hugely unexpected underdog story in 2020, that doesn't apply at all to Vingegaard in 2023
3) Pogacar winning it in the TT was the most exciting thing that could still have happened going into the 2020 TT, again that doesn't apply at all to 2023

 

[Miha81]

What do you think the biggest difference was between 2020 and 2023? Both were decided in the only ITT of the race when one of the riders did a phenomenal ride and the other one disappointed a bit.

My guess would be that in 2023 Pogi's preparations were limited so base was just not there, he burned a lot more matches prior to ITT compared to 2020 and also faced opponent that was in phenomenal shape.

I also think that in 2020 Pogi was holding wheels most of the time. He did not have the team around but because he was not viewed as big threat he did not need one. TJV acted as his team most of the time.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

The two best ways to win GC:

-The nibali method of destroying all your rivals in a first week cobble stage

-the contador method of making as many friends as possible along the way

 

[slim charles]

Being behind [preferably due to awful TTing] and then doing a hail mary long range attack

 

[ingsve]

The best race is a mix of all of them.

You want some real attacking climber types who can accelerate well but then needs to slow down in between. Then you also want the opposite of that in someone who doesn't have the kick to follow attacks but they ride a straong steady pace so eventually they get back second after second and then make up the difference in the ITTs. Then you want to fill out with everything in between pretty much.

At that point it doesn't matter who wins as long as there is competition and fighting going on.

Right now the main rivals are too strong so it takes some thrill out of it. When Pogacar attacks only Vingegaard and possibly Evenepoel can follow right now. It should ideally be that one or two of the rest who has the best legs at the time should also be able to follow but the gap down to the rest is a little too much right now.

 

[CyclistAbi]

1) Roglic and Visma had spent all race stifling GC action and therefore, it blowing up in their faces in that TT felt like karmic justice to many of us, whereas Pogacar had raced as aggressively as ever in 2023

We asked Karma and the answer was clear no, Karma had nothing to do with it, Karma actually likes Rogla. So it was more about as you say, some of you gloating. That is all there is to it. Rogla got up and already at it again!