I have learned a lot from all your coverage this past Spring and Summer. It would be great if you could have a "mailbag" section at times to your column where you take and answer questions from readers regarding team/rider strategy, stages, etc. Thanks again.
Thanks Carl. This is a good idea. Let me get a plan together and I will try to debut this in the off-season. Substack has also launched a live video feature, so I guess I could also do live video Q&As with readers.
As to career road wins for Pogie vs. MVDP and Wout, isn't it fair to point out that the latter two also race partial cyclocross seasons? After all, MVDP currently wears two rainbow jerseys. Pogie will ride away the world rainbow this year but let's give MVDP and Wout their due.
Yes, that is fair. I may just be getting grumpy in my old age, but I find myself less and less impressed by Wout and MvdP's CX exploits. At the end of the day, I want to see the best riders at their best at the biggest races, and MvdP using the Tour as a training camp is absurd.
We also shouldn't lose sight of the fact that Pogačar is winning Grand Tours while also challenging Wout and MvdP in the races they spend their entire year focusing on. This is almost incomprehensibly impressive (obviously Wout and MvdP are still generational talents and are likely better World and Olympic racers than Pogačar on most courses).
Wait a minute...how does the strategy of having his UAE team deliver Pog to his launch point work in the World's, where it's national, not trade teams. Slovenia has a great stable, but are there enough of them at the level needed to string out the field, and will they even subordinate themselves?
Worlds tends to be strung out and extremely hotly-paced no matter what, so it won't be as critical to have UAE controlling the race and, remember, just because riders are wearing different uniforms, they still remember who pays their salaries and who will be sharing their trade team-issued bonus with them.
Also, its slightly boring analysis, but the presence of a fairy-long climb on the Worlds course means that Pogačar doesn't need a strong team since he can simply use the climb to bridge a gap if a dangerous group gets clear. It is only on faster, flatter courses where things can get away from him.
The team shuffle is one of the things that makes Worlds a fun and unpredictable race to watch. The last two years Evenepoel and MVDP have made long-range moves after the bunch was whittled down to a smaller group of mostly the elite contenders. In essence, riders desire to make their own big move served to ramp up the pace for the strongest rider to make the move that no one could follow. A race that sets up like that would be a great chance for Tadej to get his rainbow jersey.
I’m a big Pogacar fan, I have been since I watched him claw back the time he lost due to crosswinds in the 2020 Tour that led to that astonishing TT effort. That being said, I’m also grateful Jonas is around otherwise Grand Tour cycling would be extremely repetitious. We’re very lucky to be in an era with two superstars at the top of their game (hopefully Jonas is 100% next year). If Remco can also make the leap, and they can all manage to avoid accidents or injuries, then we should witness some incredible Grand Tours over the coming years.
Has Pogs given a reason why he’s so strong and fresh this year. What’s different. He was exhausted at both TdF and worlds last year but this year despite dominating the Giro he was fresh as a daisy to dominate the Tour too. Is he training better? More rest (can’t be). More ketones? Has his camp said anything. I want to believe but it’s kind of a joke right now.
Good question. He got a new coach and there was a massive training overhaul behind the scenes at UAE. My friends at The Cycling Podcast went to their training camp and did a deep dive (paywalled) episode on this process. It is pretty interesting.
Also, keep in mind that due to the soft field, Pogačar was able to ride the Giro as if it was his own (highly paid) training camp. He was never pressed and never had to ride at a pace he didn't determine.
I have learned a lot from all your coverage this past Spring and Summer. It would be great if you could have a "mailbag" section at times to your column where you take and answer questions from readers regarding team/rider strategy, stages, etc. Thanks again.
Thanks Carl. This is a good idea. Let me get a plan together and I will try to debut this in the off-season. Substack has also launched a live video feature, so I guess I could also do live video Q&As with readers.
Just saw your latest newsletter and circled back to this comment I had left. Thanks for incorporating it into your coverage! Looking forward to it.
Great idea. Especially since my list of questions is endless- ;)
Outstanding analysis. Go Pogie!
As to career road wins for Pogie vs. MVDP and Wout, isn't it fair to point out that the latter two also race partial cyclocross seasons? After all, MVDP currently wears two rainbow jerseys. Pogie will ride away the world rainbow this year but let's give MVDP and Wout their due.
Yes, that is fair. I may just be getting grumpy in my old age, but I find myself less and less impressed by Wout and MvdP's CX exploits. At the end of the day, I want to see the best riders at their best at the biggest races, and MvdP using the Tour as a training camp is absurd.
We also shouldn't lose sight of the fact that Pogačar is winning Grand Tours while also challenging Wout and MvdP in the races they spend their entire year focusing on. This is almost incomprehensibly impressive (obviously Wout and MvdP are still generational talents and are likely better World and Olympic racers than Pogačar on most courses).
Wait a minute...how does the strategy of having his UAE team deliver Pog to his launch point work in the World's, where it's national, not trade teams. Slovenia has a great stable, but are there enough of them at the level needed to string out the field, and will they even subordinate themselves?
Worlds tends to be strung out and extremely hotly-paced no matter what, so it won't be as critical to have UAE controlling the race and, remember, just because riders are wearing different uniforms, they still remember who pays their salaries and who will be sharing their trade team-issued bonus with them.
Also, its slightly boring analysis, but the presence of a fairy-long climb on the Worlds course means that Pogačar doesn't need a strong team since he can simply use the climb to bridge a gap if a dangerous group gets clear. It is only on faster, flatter courses where things can get away from him.
The team shuffle is one of the things that makes Worlds a fun and unpredictable race to watch. The last two years Evenepoel and MVDP have made long-range moves after the bunch was whittled down to a smaller group of mostly the elite contenders. In essence, riders desire to make their own big move served to ramp up the pace for the strongest rider to make the move that no one could follow. A race that sets up like that would be a great chance for Tadej to get his rainbow jersey.
I’m a big Pogacar fan, I have been since I watched him claw back the time he lost due to crosswinds in the 2020 Tour that led to that astonishing TT effort. That being said, I’m also grateful Jonas is around otherwise Grand Tour cycling would be extremely repetitious. We’re very lucky to be in an era with two superstars at the top of their game (hopefully Jonas is 100% next year). If Remco can also make the leap, and they can all manage to avoid accidents or injuries, then we should witness some incredible Grand Tours over the coming years.
Has Pogs given a reason why he’s so strong and fresh this year. What’s different. He was exhausted at both TdF and worlds last year but this year despite dominating the Giro he was fresh as a daisy to dominate the Tour too. Is he training better? More rest (can’t be). More ketones? Has his camp said anything. I want to believe but it’s kind of a joke right now.
Good question. He got a new coach and there was a massive training overhaul behind the scenes at UAE. My friends at The Cycling Podcast went to their training camp and did a deep dive (paywalled) episode on this process. It is pretty interesting.
Also, keep in mind that due to the soft field, Pogačar was able to ride the Giro as if it was his own (highly paid) training camp. He was never pressed and never had to ride at a pace he didn't determine.
Link to deep dive: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1725CkrFudNDCBgZczN9RS
Thanks for the insight.