Is Pogacar the real deal or is it all sus?

[jm714]

As a racing personality I enjoy watching him race, but I am now bored with him and I suspect Paceliners are too. I mean look at the lack of commentary on this past weeks WC’s, its like it was a forgone conclusion and everyone tuned out. He’s just at another level and the gap is huge. I used to think there was no way he could win Roubaix and now I think it’s his race if that’s what he decides to do next year.

[trener1]

I was thinking the same thing, I am pretty sure that if he wanted to he could win P-R.
I think the only thing that he can't win are big bunch sprints.

[prototoast]

Is your question whether or not? I think Pogacar is taking banned substance that none of other competitors are taking?

I think that's extremely unlikely.

Is your question that Pogacar is taking banned substances and his competitors are too?

I don't know.

Is your question that Pogacar is doing something that isn't banned now but will be in the future and none of his competitors are?

Again, extremely unlikely.

Is your question that Pogacar is doing something that isn't banned now but will be in the future, and lots of other riders are too? Seems likely.

Success at the highest levels of cycling, like most sports, is driven largely by genetics. But it's much less obvious who has the genes compared to a sport like basketball, and the number of people who even try the sport is very small compared to it's like running or soccer.

So it doesn't seem that unreasonable to think at any given point in time one athlete can stand substantially above the rest. If Peter Sagan could have dropped 20 lb without losing power, I think he would have had a similar career.

[Nomadmax]

Give me all Pogi all the time. I like watching him win, and frankly, don't care how he does it.

[TomP]

Originally Posted by Nomadmax

Give me all Pogi all the time. I like watching him win, and frankly, don't care how he does it.

I also really like him.

[mhespenheide]

Originally Posted by Nomadmax

Give me all Pogi all the time. I like watching him win, and frankly, don't care how he does it.

I like watching him win. He's definitely got panache.

I do care how he does it. Hopefully he's not doing anything outside the rules. While I acknowledge that most or all of them are probably on something, I just hope it's a relatively level playing field after that.

[Jaybee]

I wasn't really a fan in the past, but his devil may care racing style has brought me over. If anything, I'm glad he won everything he won this year, and saying it was boring because it was a foregone conclusion ignores all the races within the race and the choices that get him there. My thought when I saw Roglic powering up the base of the Witikon yesterday was "Pogi's not going from 100k is he?" and then "Wow. That's so dumb. But also so dumb not to mark him. What are you doing Belgium?" and then, when Tratnik dropped back and paced him to the break (how did Tratnik know?) "wow, Slovenia masterclass in tactics." That was amazing not just because he had the legs to do it, but because he read the race perfectly.

I'm looking forward to an on-form Jonas with a strong Visma going up against Pogi with a strong UAE next July.

Also, though a lot of people say a sport is boring when Pogacar/the Warriors/the Patriots/Alabama are dominant, TV ratings and other media engagement generally disagree. The presence of greatness inspires interest. You're either watching to appreciate the best being the best or because you want to see them taken down.

[jlwdm]

I love watching Pogacar race. He has a wonderful attacking mentality that does not always work to his advantage, but he makes things happen. It is like yesterday when he said he did not plan to go so early and then thought it was probably a mistake. As mentioned before in this thread if riders worked together better they probably would have caught him. He gives it his all.

Plus he is such a nice guy.

Jonas is a great rider but he does not get me excited.

Jeff

[adub]

I just enjoy the racing.

Funny/odd how JM714 is now bored with him??

[jm714]

Originally Posted by adub

I just enjoy the racing.

Funny/odd how JM714 is now bored with him??

Why is it funny/odd? The Giro was boring, the Tour was boring, I think the Vuelta would’ve been boring if he went to it, the last 100 k’s were boring yesterday too. Once he went it was over.

Last year the WC was exciting to watch. Now this year he is clearly the best bike rider on the planet.

I just have a hard time wrapping my head around Pogacar being so clearly better on whatever the terrraine is.

I think its ironic that any post on facebook from the cycling publications about Joans is filled with comments from Pogacar supporters saying he’s doped to the gills, but god forbid you question Pogacar.

[tellyho]

Originally Posted by jm714

Why is it funny/odd? The Giro was boring, the Tour was boring, I think the Vuelta would’ve been boring if he went to it, the last 100 k’s were boring yesterday too. Once he went it was over.

I kind of agree. Tadej has even said this - it's more fun when Jonas is up to his full capability. Pog is amazing, and it is usually inspiring to watch him kick, but I agree that if he's in the race, his win is a foregone conclusion.

[bigbill]

It depends on the course. He has a high W/kg ratio so multiweek tours with lots of climbing or a world championship race with 14K feet of climbing, they both allow him to play to his strength. A flatter course would likely mean a pack sprint, even if the pack is small, which won't play to his strength. Someone mentioned P-R, that race typically works out for powerful riders, not waifish climbers. If Pogacar was to stay with the front group, he would likely have a good view of the sprint as the front riders moved away.

[RonW87]

I'm enjoying the Pog show until there is a reason not to. Seems like a nice guy. Unlike whatisname.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by RonW87

I'm enjoying the Pog show until there is a reason not to. Seems like a nice guy. Unlike whatisname.

Vingegaard's not so bad. Just a little quiet.

[BRad704]

Originally Posted by RonW87

I'm enjoying the Pog show until there is a reason not to. Seems like a nice guy. Unlike whatisname.

Originally Posted by prototoast

Vingegaard's not so bad. Just a little quiet.

That made me actually laugh out loud.