"He's not making a lot of friends right now" - Is Tadej Pogacar's desire to win every stage available causing issues within the peloton?
CyclingWednesday, 27 March 2024 at 13:37
Tadej Pogacar continued his dominant start to 2024 at the Volta a Catalunya last week, winning four stages and three jerseys as he claimed overall victory. Could the UAE Team Emirates' leader's intense desire to win every stage come back to bite him though?
This is a question debated by a pair of American ex-pros, Christian Vande Velde and Tejay van Garderen on NBC Sports Cycling. "He just made them all look like children to be honest. It was kind of frustrating," admits van Garderen, who now works as sports director for EF Education-EasyPost. "Obviously he wants to win and he should win because he's the best in the world I get that but it was a foregone conclusion and you've got guys 10 minutes down in the breakaway, yet his team is still keeping them at a minute because he wants to win again."
As a clear leader in the UCI Rider Rankings, Pogacar can confidently stake a claim to the title of best rider in the world. Could this desire to win each and every stage available come back to haunt him though as frustration from others in the peloton grows? "Again on stage 6, we had two guys up the road half an hour down and he's just giving them a minute," van Garderen analyses frustratedly.
"If the break is pulled back by another team, because tactically they think they can win it and the stage is up for grabs. Then yeah, go ahead and win it!" he continues. "But when a group who's half an hour down and it makes no sense tactically to pull... He's not making a lot of friends right now by bringing them back."
"Listen, usually in one week stage races, things go down to time bonuses and things are won by small margins. It's not until you get to the Grand Tours that you see the big gaps. Right now, we're seeing huge gaps in one week stage races because he's so dominant," van Garderen concludes.
"I'm not saying soft pedal to the line and gift someone a win because that's shit for everyone. Don't do that, bluff a little bit, act as if you don't want to chase it and see if someone else does. But he just rides his team into the ground as says 'I'm going to make sure no breakaway gets anything because I want to win everything.'"
It's an interesting debate for sure. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
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- I guess that I'll need to find another sport to follow then.
santiagobenites05-06-2025 - Agreed, this sprint s is not woethy of a religation penalty! This should be re examied ou tof fairness.sam05-06-2025
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- If this story ftom Del Toro's father is accurate. It is quite shameful to hear and very sad to read. The U.C.I. need to sort these shoddy goings on in Mexican cycling now!Cyclingsbestfan05-06-2025
- He was evidently not considered a threat by Carapaz and del Toro, either, until it was too late.velodan05-06-2025
- Insane that Yates lost the Giro seven years earlier when he was winning stages for fun in first two weeks.singleta05-06-2025
- Luck is when Issac Del Toro and Carapaz get a puncture and Yates gets 30 s. Stupid tactics of others is not considered luck. Yates won by 4 minutes. There is not way he gets 4 unless the people behind him acting out.abstractengineer05-06-2025
- Corruption is the secret ingredient. Otherwise, the only other explanation for the poor state of cycling is they're not funded.
KerisVroom05-06-2025 - Giro 2025 is like Tour 2008 when Carlos Sastre won atop Alpe d'Huez. He should like ride Cadel Evans winning in Tour 2011.
James2631805-06-2025 - If they have to say that is not afraid, actually they may be afraidAlanCristian0205-06-2025
Is this a joke?
So what is that suggesting, he should hide in bushes longer?
Start with the rest of the elite bunch with a handicap to catchup the peleton like I once joked?
Fake mechanicals or lack of form?
He also doesn’t win every race or stage, especially when better riders compete.
Besides, 80% of the peleton have no chance of winning even if he’s not there, it’s only some 20% who might feeel they missed out on a chance. If winning is so important to them, pick other races.
It’s his job to win. Period.
CVV is a joke with his comments as is his commentary on bikes races with Bob Roll (Bobbie!) on NBC Peacock ! By far the two worst bike commentators out there only because Chris Horner isn't on ! thankfully!
He's the best rider in the world and he likes to win. It's hard to hold that against him, and it's kind if silly to do so as well.
No way, Pog did everything he could to let Soler or JA win a stage and only tried when it was obvious that they couldn't.
Yes it might make sense for lesser riders like them. But Pog is the best rider in the world and his team is the strongest. So why would he not win. Its his job. Is any of the riders in the breakaway help him on a mountain. Very unlikely. In the TDF also when he was suffering he got his teammate to help him. He doesn't need friends, other need to be friends with him.