Why is Pogacar riding the Giro?

[Elos Anjos]

Even before the Tour 2022 and 2023 were lost to Vingo, Pogacar was already in a path of attempting to win in every ground and style like the legends of the past. By exploring his capabilities to the maximum, he has bended the sport script again, and all this thanks to his sheer will and acumen. The Giro is part of that solitary path where race variety is more important than a single objective.

 

[Poursuivant]

He keeps saying he wants to win Giro, Vuelta and Worlds. To win them, you have to race them.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

Imagine the counter-factual where Vingegaard had a similar condition and incident after the Tour last year as Van Hooydonck had after the Tour of Britain. Vingegaard would not only end his season then, but announce before the season was over that he would retire permanently from the sport.

Would Pogi still ride the Giro this year then?

Yes.

 

[Blanco]

After today's ride, he can ride whatever he want!

 

[Cookster15]

I don't think he is too scarred to ever face him again. I think he prefers to win a GT and doubts that he can win the Tour against Vingegaard.

Likely you are right he doubts he can beat Vingegaard, but you never know. He also competes to win every race he enters. So why not give the double a go. He has nothing to lose and there is only one Pogacar in the peloton.

Nobody else can do what he is showing across such versatile races and for most of the season. I think Valverde was closest in the recent past but not anything like Pog's level.

 

[Wyndbrook]

MvdP can't ride for a GT GC.
Pog won't do so well in CX, but I might be wrong on that.

Perhaps my comment did not come over clearly.
My point was not that they could win particular races, but that due to their status and standing they can decide their own races.

 

[AmRacer]

Perhaps my comment did not come over clearly.
My point was not that could win particular races, but that due to their status and standing they can decide their own races.

That's what 🌟 do. But I think Poggi has to race UAE tour next year.

 

[Tonton]

I'm going with "Other" = He just wants to..

This.

"Why is Pogacar riding the Giro"? Why was he riding La Strade today? He wants to win everything.

After wearing his first pink jersey, Tadej will want more. He can beat all sorts of records and he's young. Why not make Italy his kingdom and only race Le Tour when the conditions (route, opposition,strength of his team...) are perfect.

He won't forget La Vuelta. And that will be epic.

Pog wants to win everything. Multiple times .

 

[tobydawq]

Some people are underthinking it.

Oh, the arrogance...

 

[Nick2413]

It seems like a no brainer. Prioritizing the Tour is not smart when he knows he can win the Giro and wants to do it in his career anyway. Then take a stab at the Tour likely with a similar level to his normal peak and see what happens. His team will have pushed for him to do this but he will want it as well. Plus appearance fees etc.

 

[Netserk]

Oh, the arrogance...

Why is it more arrogant to say that others underthink it than to say that they overthink it?

If you believe there is an optimal level of thinking, you should be able to end up both too low and too high.

 

[iBanesto]

Pogacar has said he wants to win everything before his career ends e.g. Giro, Vuelta, WC and Olympics.

A complete golden palmares.

Imagine if he also won M-S (which is very possible) and somehow P-R, that would be ridiculous.

He doesn't want to be a LA and just win the TdF.

 

[tobydawq]

Why is it more arrogant to say that others underthink it than to say that they overthink it?

If you believe there is an optimal level of thinking, you should be able to end up both too low and too high.

Because it gives the impression that people who disagree with you must be cognitively impaired.

 

[Netserk]

Because it gives the impression that people who disagree with you must be cognitively impaired.

It was a simple retort to the remark that most are overthinking it, not a response to a difference of opinion on the subject.

I don’t feel responsible for anyone’s possible sense of inferiority. I also see under-/overthinking as being distinct from aptitude, and closer to how long you allow a train of thought to run.

 

[Forever The Best]

Imagine the counter-factual where Vingegaard had a similar condition and incident after the Tour last year as Van Hooydonck had after the Tour of Britain. Vingegaard would not only end his season then, but announce before the season was over that he would retire permanently from the sport.

Would Pogi still ride the Giro this year then?

Late response, but without Vingegaard I think he would have the best chance to do the Giro-Tour double in 21st century, higher than Contador 2011 or Froome 2018 in my opinion.

But I think he also decided to go there to not be winless in GTs for a 3rd straight year. Also, all great GT riders have ridden and won Giro except Armstrong (well, and Vingegaard for now but I think he will go there in a few years too), so that plays a part too.

 

[AmRacer]

Late response, but without Vingegaard I think he would have the best chance to do the Giro-Tour double in 21st century, higher than Contador 2011 or Froome 2018 in my opinion.

But I think he also decided to go there to not be winless in GTs for a 3rd straight year. Also, all great GT riders have ridden and won Giro except Armstrong (well, and Vingegaard for now but I think he will go there in a few years too), so that plays a part too.

Poggi wants to win everything and now is a good time to win the Giro. That's why.

 

[Froome]

Poggi wants to win everything and now is a good time to win the Giro. That's why.

It would be better starting for trying Tour/Vuelta.

 

[AmRacer]

It would be better starting for trying Tour/Vuelta.

He tried the Vuelta already.

 

[Unchained]

Perhaps my comment did not come over clearly.
My point was not that they could win particular races, but that due to their status and standing they can decide their own races.

Lots of these discussions on why..almost never factor in the start money he got for the race, so overall purse is probably not a big factor for a rider like Pogacar but he is probably making money win or lose from these events.
TDF is a bit of a perpetual motion machine w super high demand, Giro and Vuelta and many others benefit from World Champion and TDF champion racing in their event.

 

[Andre]

I voted "other". He just wants to win the Giro...that's all.

 

[noob]

Other; he's going for Merx record

 

[Cookster15]

Until Vingegard's crash at Itzulia he was hedging his bets. Now he has a real chance at the double. His ride on today's stage to Prati di Tivo also suggests he is learning to temper his normal exuberance.