Is Pogacar the real deal or is it all sus?

[Red Tornado]

Originally Posted by cuda

there is nothing about him that I find boring. What is getting a little less interesting for me is watching races he's in. Once UAE decide it's time to launch Tadje it's game over and usually with 60+Km to go. No one even bothers to go with him and then it's a race for podium spots and listening to the commentators go on endlessly about what an amazing freak T.P. is. So, when I know from the start who will win and more or less how it will be done I'm less likely to watch the race until the end. Today when he took his flyer and no one even bothered to jump with him I completely lost interest. All of which is on me of course and probably for the best. Had a great ride today. Hope all of you did too.

You're not alone in your views. I've been back and forth on Pogacar, but my sentiments of late are summed up very nicely in what you wrote.

Unbelievably amazing rider, nice guy, and def making history. OTOH, growing tired of the battle for 2nd being where the head-to-head racing happens. The events he's in are both exiting and boring, or maybe exciting and anti-climactic is better way to put it, simultaneously, for me.

Innocent until proven guilty (r.e. doping), and it's up to the other teams/riders to come up with a way to knock him off the top rung. Until then, I'll watch with mixed emotions.

[Ewiser]

You are starting to see in the French cycling press. Questioning Pogi. This will continue I am sure.

[lunardds]

In my mind it only makes sense to have someone create this much separation from the field if they have some sort of physical attribute that the others do not. I am talking about a physical gift or anomaly. Michael Phelps had his freakish long limbs and apparently web like skin between his toes. Bolt had his height and amazing stride in running. There are physical limitations to how much you can train for cycling. I have a hard time believing his cardio, strength, or pain tolerance is just that much higher than the field. He's doing something. It may not even be illegal but they figured out something. Fecal transplant? I've heard this is one of the new ways to gain an edge.

[mhespenheide]

Originally Posted by lunardds

In my mind it only makes sense to have someone create this much separation from the field if they have some sort of physical attribute that the others do not. I am talking about a physical gift or anomaly. Michael Phelps had his freakish long limbs and apparently web like skin between his toes. Bolt had his height and amazing stride in running. There are physical limitations to how much you can train for cycling. I have a hard time believing his cardio, strength, or pain tolerance is just that much higher than the field. He's doing something. It may not even be illegal but they figured out something. Fecal transplant? I've heard this is one of the new ways to gain an edge.

And what if his freakish physical attribute is his heart, his ability to metabolize food, his ability for his body to flush lactic acid out of his muscles, or the like?

[jm714]

Originally Posted by lunardds

In my mind it only makes sense to have someone create this much separation from the field if they have some sort of physical attribute that the others do not. I am talking about a physical gift or anomaly. Michael Phelps had his freakish long limbs and apparently web like skin between his toes. Bolt had his height and amazing stride in running. There are physical limitations to how much you can train for cycling. I have a hard time believing his cardio, strength, or pain tolerance is just that much higher than the field. He's doing something. It may not even be illegal but they figured out something. Fecal transplant? I've heard this is one of the new ways to gain an edge.

Fecal transplant??? I had no idea.

Also Phelps had a longer than normal torso for a person his height and short legs. This was good for a few things; legs take a lot oxygen and produce little drive compared to the arms in swimming and the bigger torso helped create a more powerful stroke from his arms.

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