"This year, when Tadej races, he races to win" - Joxean Matxin about keeping Tadej Pogacar 'hungry' throughout 2024
CyclingThursday, 25 April 2024 at 08:30
This summer, history books may be rewritten once again as Tadej Pogacar attempts the infamous Giro-Tour double. Something that not even some of the best GC riders, such as Alberto Contador or Chris Froome, could accomplish. His UAE Team Emirates boss Joxean Matxin spoke to Velo about the approach he and his team take to ensure the Slovenian's triumph.
"We knew this year was the year to do both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour. But we knew it would be extremely complicated, especially with the Tour de France and Vingegaard coming second," Matxin explained. "We had to completely rethink the program, and make sacrifices."
"The strategy we eventually decided with Tadej is based on freshness and motivation. We had to make two key decisions with Tadej’s schedule to save his form and keep him hungry. We decided no cobblestones in spring, which was very hard for Tadej. And we plan no races between the Giro and the Tour."
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"This year, when Tadej races, he races to win," Matxin pointed out. "He doesn’t race to train. There are no 'unnecessary' races. If any rider is capable of doing this double, it’s Tadej, and it’s with this program we have made."
"Tadej wanted a new challenge. He didn’t mentally want to do the same program, the same races, and the same calendar," Matxín said. "The ability to train and approach summer differently is good for his motivation and to prepare him for this challenge. We’ve seen Tadej is best with new stimulus. That’s how we have confidence in this double."
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- Good spot that, won't make Jonas happy 😁
leedorney12-06-2025 - For me, I was able to open up the hip angle allowing me to get a good bit more aero, not so much on the road bike, but some. Mainly you'll see the aero benefits on the TT bike. It took some time to get used to them as well, feels like you are pedaling a kids bike at first, and then they just look odd. I'm 5'11" and ran 172.5 and then 165's until I bit the bullet and went to 155. It took me about 500 miles to really get used to them. Now I wouldn't trade them for anything.awp12-06-2025
- Yeah, I guess.. Some guys are just so good, they win without thinking or planning. He didn't plan on winning TDF2020 on his debut either, or being the highest paid cyclist in the peloton at 22yo.. I think Tadej is just tired - tired of hearing pundits say races are more exciting when he's not around. He even sarcastically told a reporter, who queried if he is out to win again, that he treats the Dauphine as a validation race, and not to worry because he would retire as soon as his UAE contract expires.FredMan12-06-2025
- Don't you ever touch another man's bike, boyyyy!yuckly12-06-2025
- Maybe I'm wrong because I don't read anything about it but in my perception he had some symptoms of allergy: hyperventilation, throat itchy (It's impossible that he drank water because he was thirsty after few minutes to start, his throat would itch)
maria2024202412-06-2025 - No, no complots or sophisticated deceptions. Simply, things went bad for Tadej, while the others did very well (Remco) or well (Jonas). From the start, Tadej was breathing excessively (hyperventilating), strangely drinking water just minutes after starting out. I read that in a sector he couldn't control the bike properly... Maybe all of that, and maybe he's still not in shape. It happens.maria2024202412-06-2025
- Wasn’t it 10km? Always possible though he’s not much if a planner ;-)Mistermaumau12-06-2025
- We’ve seen the basis of this with other riders/teams (where less money was involved but UAE money is cheap) already, how can you exclude it? Happens in orher sports too.Mistermaumau12-06-2025
- Can you elaborate a bit on what difference you notice or feel or how it changes your perception of effort on various types of terrain/intensity? Any pain or stress relief for sensitive parts?Mistermaumau12-06-2025
- Hey, Mads is even contemplating altitude training. We oldies should know better, nothing like time to help a young mind mature ;-)Mistermaumau12-06-2025
This sounds a bit premature to say that though
Since you are the manager of the team, make him to manage his effort as much as possible in Giro. Prevent him from the unnecessary attacks, bonus second sprints, efforts for stage win,..... Giro is the key for these mission. If he manages his effort he can win both, the thing about tadej is his performance is growing every year. This year his climbing performances are much better than last year, he's much leaner which helps for(w/kg). Being brave is the key @Giro & make those races as a preparation for the tour.
Jonas won those TDFs with bravery; he knows how to manage his effort and when to use them. I think Tadej lacks that bravery, always he is aggressive and that paid off in the later stages. If he corrects that he became unbeatable. If I were him, I could use those TT stages in Giro as my advantage and take a minutes there. make the others work for other stages and use one stage from the third week to finish them off. 3 efforts on three stages for Giro win that's allll....
They knew THIS would be the year??? Why, based on what?
Lucky for them just about all the competition has been wiped out.
Roche and Pantani managed and they were not exactly some of the best GC riders ever. It’s partly luck remember, right place right time and luckily, Pogi is now in the right place at the right time, all he has to do now is make sure it stays that way for 3 months but will it really be an achievement if just about everyone expects it to happen?
I didn't see luck here. He wants to do the double before anyone starts their training, which means they have the opportunity to do the same. The fact is they fear to do both, that didn't pogacar problem (that's theirs). If he wins both whether there is a competitor or not, it is remarkable. Don't forget that Chris Froome won 4 tour without a competition, is that his fault? No. If you ask me what you want? I want the big GC riders to compete 2 monuments, 2 Grand tours and 2 one week stage races every year(it needs to be the same race). If Pogacar called you and you're not picking up, that is not his problem man.
Historically the big guns didn't do both, why? b/c it jeopardize their TDF ambition. Pogačar wants to try, so let it be...
Sorry, 7 have managed the Giro TdF double, 4 have even done it twice so an already no so exclusive 11x
Compare that to the number of times someone managed the Giro Vuelta double or even TdF Vuelta double, a meager 3 each.
The Giro used to be more competitive than the Vuelta, that’s no longer the case.
Fact is it’s FAR harder to be competitive ALL year round like some guys used to be and at least MvdP is today that to peak specifically for 3/4 moments in the year by not competing in much else.
He is a fantastic cyclist but when comparing him to other fantastic cyclists, he’s still got to show how tough he really is. Hopefully a few more like Jonas will push him occasionally so we can see. For those who found the Monuments boring, I’d hate to imagine what they’ll be posting after a week of the Giro.
It looks that way
“will it really be an achievement if just about everyone expects it to happen?”
That’s a bizarre standard. Using that standard most of Merckx’s wins were no achievement at all since it became expected that he would win. MvdP’s cyclocross wins? Hardly an achievement. Just meeting expectations!
Thank you 🙏