"He had the legs to take a bunch of time but he decided to win the stage in a very economical fashion" - Experts surprised by Tadej Pogacar's conservatism
CyclingSunday, 12 May 2024 at 10:15
Tadej Pogacar triumphed in dominant fashion on the stage 8 summit finish at the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Rather than putting the hammer down with a big attack though, this time the Maglia Rosa saved himself for the sprint.
"It's not surprising (that Pogacar won), but it's quite surprising the way they did it... it was fairly dominant," Adam Blythe analysed afterwards for Eurosport on 'The Breakaway'. Pogacar seemed to be riding well within his limits on the final climb, marking moves without getting out of the saddle and destroying the spirit of his rivals despite barely putting a pedal down in anger.
EF Education-EasyPost boss Jonathan Vaughters impressed by Pogacar's new, more conservative attitude. "I don't really know what to make of it. Clearly he was fresh enough, clearly he had the legs to take a bunch of time out of everyone else and clearly he wanted to win the stage. But he decided to win the stage in a very economical fashion," points out the American. "It might mean he's already thinking ahead to the third week and saying 'I can win the stage without expending any extra energy and I don't need the extra time.'"
Many had thought this stage would be one for the breakaway but UAE Team Emirates kept things on a tight leash throughout the day. "They turned themselves inside out to keep that gap down and it's an interesting call," Vaughters assesses. "They're going to be tired in the third week."
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- Almeida led UAE at the Giro 2023. He would have led at the Vuelta last year if he wasn’t sick and had to withdraw. He has had chances for sure. Problem is if Pogi rides two GT per year then there is only one other opportunity per year.mobk28-05-2025
- He looked soo great but could only push 60w 🥱
leedorney28-05-2025 - when he says hit the trails, is that with his wrist, head or some other body part?mij28-05-2025
- Maybe they’re all domestiques, great performers in the background who crack under the spotlight? There are personality traits that matter required to perform well under differing conditions, like the smartest people who mess up during exams when it really matters, am sure teams test for and know this and decide accordingly.Mistermaumau28-05-2025
- Yes, Almedia is brilliant but if you're a fan of Almeida, his slow build up on the climb will put you on the edge of the chair. You just don't know if he is being dropped or doing his own pacing.
KerisVroom28-05-2025 - Ok, you’ve said it 7 different ways but what about adding some journalistic value to opinion and actually going to interview a relevant person about this? Try asking some revealing questions like whether he feels/ felt up to the task, why he sticks around if he’s hungry for leadership, whether his recent spate of rare wins has changed his outlook, whether he has ever asked or been refused leadership, etc. It’s all very well pointing out the obvious but usually there IS a reason for it, maybe a more interesting discussion and opinionising subject would be the REASON and not the fact?Mistermaumau28-05-2025
- Almeida is like Landa. Dignified and brilliant and impossible not to admire.Renz28-05-2025
- Thank you
santiagobenites28-05-2025 - True Fighter - respect!averagecyclist28-05-2025
- Wish Joao Almeida was in this UAE team for the Giro instead of Ayuso.Lobz7728-05-2025
Lost my Dad in 2019, but should I take all my grief on here? It makes no difference anyway. You always troll on here, while I'm mostly on Men's Tennis forum, so defend yoursrlf all you want, but it will not change anything⬇️
He could've let Rafal Majka win.
The 3rd week will will be interesting...
Why would he attack. None of the others did except for Tiberi in the last few ks. He is 2:30 ahead. The Giro is over. There is no suspense, but the TV people got to keep people watching by making up any absurd reason they want even if it is contradictory to common sense
When Pogacar races one day classics, he has to play it like a middle distance runner, but when he does a Grand Tour, he has to pace it more like it's the 10,000 metres.
Or more like a marathon or a cross continental race? What these men do over three weeks is incredible.
It's like theater with over fifteen acts in the play. And yes it can get "boring" yet any day can upend the race.
For me the guys doing cross continentals are far more impressive, that’s a TdF in around 5 days and then another half TdF for desserts in the next 2-3 days, all on your own, no peleton or drafting.
But, it is pretty boring, even for the riders ;-)
Experts surprised by someone behaving logically? Couldn’t ask for a better example of a paradox.
So much for gobbling what the experts (and their fanboys) tell you to.
Just clickbaits from media people, duh!
Like I’ve implied, the media will say anything to attract viewers and 80% of viewers accept and fall for it
Interesting
First they say that he's wasting his energy with unnecessary attacks, then they say that they're surprised that he's not attacking more. It's all rather amusing.
Spot on, the guys wasting there energy are the rest of the field. The ease he won the sprint, need we say any more.
Agreed and Majka didn’t even have to kill himself whittling down the field
Majka is a good rider on his own. If there weren't teams, many domestiques would occasionally have a win and there would be way more breakaways.