World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28

[CyclistAbi]

Not really because he doesn't have his stomp anymore. There are other riders faster than him.

We'll see.

 

[Berniece]

Everyone will be doing less watts, and so the watts required to ride away will be less.

If the burden is much higher, it's easier to share it over multiple people.

We'll see.

We have seen this. All season long. If you really want Roglic to have a shot at winning the WC RR, then he has to attack like Alaphilippe did in Quebec.

 

[Cycling111]

A survey was conducted in France last year, just after Il Lombardia, on Pogacar's image. Of course, it was only a small survey, conducted at a time that undoubtedly corresponded to a peak in the battle between the pro- and anti-Pogacar camps.
The poll revealed that if 75% of cycling fans (who make up the population of this forum) appreciate him, 60% believe that his dominance detracts from the interest in the races he participates in.
It may not be a huge majority, but it is certainly a clear majority.

Well, the poll also revealed that 54% of cycling fans would belong to the clinic section of this forum.

These are numbers. Better than assuming.

Here is a link for those interested (in French)

Have you seen the audience data in France in the races where Pogacar has wone easy lik Dauphine and TDF? Record this year. I posted it on the previous page.

And this year's increase in Paris-Roubaix has been historic. Guess why?
The decline in Flanders audiences last year and the increase this year is another clear example
The reality is that the data doesn't support that theory.

Bad comments predominate on social media. They outweigh the good ones on everything else. X is a hotbed of haterism, but that's not a true reflection of what's out there.
The comments on X and forums aren't a reflection, especially those made by people who are huge fans of another cyclist they want to see dominate.

 

[YellowSocks]

The reality is that the data doesn't support that theory.

A poll isn't theory, it's data.

I find cycling quite popular in France these days, but I can't tell if it is thanks to Pogacar.
Even my (quite old) mother went back to watching it (she got rid of it when her children finally left home). She said she really liked the Tour de Suisse. Sceneries, I guess.

 

[CyclistAbi]

We have seen this. All season long. If you really want Roglic to have a shot at winning the WC RR, then he has to attack like Alaphilippe did in Quebec.

Indeed, most of the season Rogla was perfecting the art of long ranging but here he has Pogi and best to utilise that. That is Pogi can decide if he wants to launch on Kigali or if a break should go, then Rogla should join. If not on Kigali then at any latter point in the race. Meanwhile Rogla to suck, as in most scenarios he will likely be sprinting at the end, hence to save the bullet. But OK, if there would be really small break and Rogla in it and Rogla would feel good, peloton closing, near to the end, then of course to initiate early, just like Alaphilippe did. Some adapting to circumstances will be needed anyway, key here is to mostly suck.

 

[Berniece]

Have you seen the audience data in France in the races where Pogacar has wone easy lik Dauphine and TDF? Record this year. I posted it on the previous page.

I don't get where you get your sources from. The first week of the TDF had a lot less viewers than normally. While the second week was more stabilised.

Verontrustend: Wereldwijde daling van de tv-kijkcijfers in de Tour de France

Ontdek waarom de tv-kijkcijfers van de Tour de France wereldwijd dalen. Lees onze diepgaande analyse en blijf op de hoogte van wielernieuws. Bekijk nu!

www.wielerflits.nl

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I don't get where you get your sources from. The first week of the TDF had a lot less viewers than normally. While the second week was more stabilised.

Verontrustend: Wereldwijde daling van de tv-kijkcijfers in de Tour de France

Ontdek waarom de tv-kijkcijfers van de Tour de France wereldwijd dalen. Lees onze diepgaande analyse en blijf op de hoogte van wielernieuws. Bekijk nu!

www.wielerflits.nl

Well, duh, the first week also didn‘t have mountain stages. It did have more exciting parts than the GC battle later on, but a lot of casual cycling viewers won‘t watch less decisive stages. Or maybe it got so low viewing numbers because Pogačar wasn‘t winning by minutes. Would be an interesting twist.

 

[Berniece]

Well, duh, the first week also didn‘t have mountain stages. It did have more exciting parts than the GC battle later on, but a lot of casual cycling viewers won‘t watch less decisive stages. Or maybe it got so low viewing numbers because Pogačar wasn‘t winning by minutes. Would be an interesting twist.

Not sure what’s so “duh” about it. Are Pogacar fans the only ones watching cycling? Because that first week was very exciting.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Last year the route was much more conducive to a chase. And still a 100km attack worked, despite the fact that he attacked when the peloton was still really big and he had basically a full peloton chasing him for at least the first lap.

A similar attack at similar forms would lead to terminal G2 syndrome instantly on the Kigali route, and if they sat on domestiques that DNF'd Zurich with 3 laps to go they would ship multiple minutes super quickly

Pogacar was absurdly strong last autumn: from WC to Lombardy. I am not sure he will have this level this time to try crazy stuff plus his confidence should be dented a bit.

 

[EvansIsTheBest]

I don't get where you get your sources from. The first week of the TDF had a lot less viewers than normally. While the second week was more stabilised.

Verontrustend: Wereldwijde daling van de tv-kijkcijfers in de Tour de France

Ontdek waarom de tv-kijkcijfers van de Tour de France wereldwijd dalen. Lees onze diepgaande analyse en blijf op de hoogte van wielernieuws. Bekijk nu!

www.wielerflits.nl

Overall numbers were much better than 2024 : https://www.francetelevisions.fr/gr...r-de-france-2025-une-edition-historique-46087.

 

[Red Rick]

Pogacar was absurdly strong last autumn: from WC to Lombardy. I am not sure he will have this level this time to try crazy stuff plus his confidence should be dented a bit.

Montreal says hi.

There's several dozen data points to suggest he's gonna destroy everyone, and only the time trial says otherwise. It makes no sense to me people are putting so much stock in that time trial.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Montreal says hi.

There's several dozen data points to suggest he's gonna destroy everyone, and only the time trial says otherwise. It makes no sense to me people are putting so much stock in that time trial.

I am not saying he wont win, just that his attack will be considerably later this time. It was an anomaly and not the best tactic.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I am not saying he wont win, just that his attack will be considerably later this time. It was an anomaly and not the best tactic.

I mean if Pogi won't go then Rogla will.

 

[Berniece]

Overall numbers were much better than 2024 : https://www.francetelevisions.fr/gr...r-de-france-2025-une-edition-historique-46087.

In France. My source talks about globally

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I mean if Pogi won't go then Rogla will.

Rogla will go early as a bait. Belgians and co will chase him down and then Pogi will strike deadly 2-3 laps to go. Rogla will be an important part of the rainbow campaign!

 

[Red Rick]

In France. My source talks about globally

Pretty impressive to tank ratings when last year had the Euro's

 

[Berniece]

Rogla will go early as a bait. Belgians and co will chase him down and then Pogi will strike deadly 2-3 laps to go. Rogla will be an important part of the rainbow campaign!

If Hermans or Van Wilder doesn't join them, Belgium made a tactical mistake

 

[CyclistAbi]

Rogla will go early as a bait. Belgians and co will chase him down and then Pogi will strike deadly 2-3 laps to go. Rogla will be an important part of the rainbow campaign!

Realistically, who would help Pogi chase Rogla down?

 

[Krzysztof_O]

If Hermans or Van Wilder doesn't join them, Belgium made a tactical mistake

Maybe you are right but its not just 2 nations. Maybe other teams will chase as well. Its also possible that the forming breakaway is too strong for Pogs liking and he decides to join ( Evenepoel will have to react as well).

 

[Berniece]

Maybe you are right but its not just 2 nations. Maybe other teams will chase as well. Its also possible that the forming breakaway is too strong for Pogs liking and he decides to join ( Evenepoel will have to react as well).

Would make the most sense to me. That Pogacar just joins those early attacks, or bridges once he notices that important riders are part of it. Just not sure how those riders would then react.

 

[Cycling111]

@Berniece
Where did I get this news from? From the company that broadcasts those races in France.
I don't think what a Dutch media outlet says is more reliable than what the French company that broadcasts the race in France says.
And for Paris-Roubaix, the rating in't even necessary. This interest in the preview of the race hasn´t been seen in years. But if you look at the audiencias figures, confirm a historic increase.

There's no point in arguing about something for which there's data. No matter how much you don't like a cyclist, it's refuting objective data.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1934525021046669769

View: https://x.com/francetvpro/status/1934525021046669769

 

[CyclistAbi]

 

[Berniece]

@Berniece
Where did I get this news from? From the company that broadcasts those races in France.
I don't think what a Dutch media outlet says is more reliable than what the French company that broadcasts the race in France says.

Yeah your figures are for France. Mine are global. Cheers.

 

[Cycling111]

There's a lot of talent among all these Rwandan delivery men. Consider the bicycles they're riding and the loads of milk, bananas, and other weights they carry

https://twitter.com/x/status/1970821427717894586

View: https://x.com/lucasaganronald/status/1970821427717894586

 

[Samu Cuenca]

@Berniece
Where did I get this news from? From the company that broadcasts those races in France.
I don't think what a Dutch media outlet says is more reliable than what the French company that broadcasts the race in France says.
And for Paris-Roubaix, the rating in't even necessary. This interest in the preview of the race hasn´t been seen in years. But if you look at the audiencias figures, confirm a historic increase.

There's no point in arguing about something for which there's data. No matter how much you don't like a cyclist, it's refuting objective data.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1934525021046669769

View: https://x.com/francetvpro/status/1934525021046669769

Don't forget that Bardet rode his last race in Dauphiné which may also have affected the viewing figures in France.