"It's like 'Gladiator', Pogi has got to make a show of it!" - Luke Rowe and Geraint Thomas advise Tadej Pogacar to keep the crowd entertained
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar has been so incredibly dominant in 2024 that some have even suggested the Slovenian's repeated, long-range solo attacks are making the sport boring. On the latest episode of Luke Rowe and Geraint Thomas' Watts Occurring podcast, the topic of keeping Pogacar's domination exciting was discussed.
According to the Welsh duo, Pogacar could take inspiration from Russell Crowe's character Maximus from Ridley Scott's iconic film Gladiator. "You know what we said about his long range attacks? And do you want to be loved, do you want to entertain? It's a bit like Gladiator," begins Rowe with a smile. "You know when he starts off in his first few fights and he just shanks them really quickly. Fight over. But then the guy goes 'You've got to win the crowd,' and he's shouting 'Are you not entertained?!' And he does some mad stuff. Pogi has got to do that."
Whilst perhaps not direct correlation, there is some sense in Rowe's comments as the experienced 34-year-old continues, because as noted, Pogacar's attacks have drawn criticism from some quarters for making for boring viewing. "He can't just stab people, he's got to ride horses and stuff," Rowe on the theme of the Roman epic. "He's got to make a show of it. Pogi has got to watch Gladiator and try and Maximus Decimus Meridius."
"Husband to a murdered wife, father to a murdered son and I will get my vengeance..." adds Thomas quoting the 2000 film. "Great film. Always cry to that."
What do you think? Are the repeated 40, 50, or even 100km attacks towards an inevitable victory for Pogacar boring or does the UAE Team Emirates leader's sheer brilliance ensure that you remain transfixed even though the drama has been somewhat removed? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section down below!
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- Avoiding him is a good strategy, you get more wins and then you can compete in the TDF relatively relaxed. Pit yourself against Pogi and not only there will be no wins, it will be considerable mental setbackabstractengineer21-12-2024
- If you hold onto then, you blowup in a minute and then you finish 5 minutes down like Ben O'Connorabstractengineer21-12-2024
- Based on what argument?Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Agreed except the length of climbs, pretty sure you can stretch that to about a km unless we’re talking about half a dozen in quick succession.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Lot of contradictory information floating around world cup contenders, someone should do some tidying up.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- A bit much to suggest that Pogacar is better than MvdP on most terrains. The only terrain Pogacar is clearly better is long climbs, on any other terrain they are pretty even except flat cobbles and short and steep climbs (max a few 100 mtrs) where MvdP is clearly better than Pogacar.Velovibes21-12-2024
- The likelihood of RE improving enough at this point to outclass TP or JV is less than zero.verve82521-12-2024
- That’s the most stupid thing I’ve read for a long time, did you not go to school and learn even the most basic physics? Aero depends on one thing only, drag, drag depends speed and the relationship is squared and apart from maybe at zero or the speed of sound or due to side winds that relationship is valid at all speeds, it dies not “suddenly” start at a magic number. Very simply, the faster you go the more the effect becomes important. If you think 25km/h is needed to have noticeable effects you’re delusional, athletic WR are cancelled as soon as winds top 2m/s that’s 7.2km/h, why because the assistance is already too important at that speed and the times prove it. You don’t even consider wind which can significantly increase the effective speed for aerodynamics and you underestimate speed of climbs, 6% is ridden more at 30 than 25km/h, a speed at which early generation high rims were considered to have more advantages than disadvantages. And finally, as in normal races you can’t just switch bikes according to terrain, it’s pretty pointless to discuss climbs as a separate situation, the aero will have justified itself plenty during the rest of the ride.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- If you look at how much TP progressed in that 1 1/2 years you can no longer say that’s nothing. If Remco improves as much he’s a challenger!Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Froome wishing to ride the Vuelta...he won't even be selected for the team!frieders320-12-2024