"Visma is just focusing on me and underestimating the other GC contenders" - Tadej Pogacar frustrated by rival's tactics at 2024 Tour de France
CyclingMonday, 08 July 2024 at 09:39
Despite repeated attacks at the front of the GC group on the stage 9 gravel of the 2024 Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar was unable to snap the elastic to his Maillot Jaune rivals, with almost all general classification riders crossing the line together.
“It was pretty fun racing. There was lots of sand and dust all over the place, so it was impossible to get a clear picture of the race and you just had to ride on instinct and power," reflected the Maillot Jaune in his post-stage interview. "I had great legs, which is great news as this was one of the hardest stages of this Tour de France."
As the Tour reaches its first rest day, Pogacar stands with a lead of just over half a minute in the general classification to Remco Evenepoel and just over a minute to Jonas Vingegaard, who lays in third. "I’m really happy with how this start of the Tour has gone for me. I feel very confident, as I am in great shape and have a very good team around me," assesses the UAE Team Emirates leader. "So far, I have enjoyed this Tour de France a lot."
The tactics of Team Visma | Lease a Bike have been questionable in this first week according to Pogacar. "Visma led, then us, then Remco (Evenepoel) attacked, then me… At some point, Remco, Jonas Vingegaard and I went up the road. I think it was a great opportunity for us to put some time on the rest of the GC favourites and secure the podium, but Jonas refused to cooperate," he recalls. "I think Visma is just focusing on me and underestimating the other GC contenders. They just follow me, without thinking of Primoz Roglic or Remco. Afterwards, it was a shame that there were some headwind towards the finish, as that made it impossible for me to break away in the closing kilometres.”
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- Seems Mr VdP is only in competition with his head...
leedorney26-05-2025 - Lazy comment. Proof?
Front24226-05-2025 - GC Pidcock far behind the main contenders. Classics Pidcock is too tired due to GC Pidcock. Hence no wins and no top 5. First he needs to win a one week WT race with climbs before thinking of competing with the favs.abstractengineer26-05-2025
- I thought his recent absence from 1 week tours were due to the concussion delaying his build up. I don't see how that is considered avoidance. He's going head to head with Tadej in Dauphine soon.
KerisVroom26-05-2025 - Del Toro's on the same gear as Pog.leedorney26-05-2025
- No idea what it is but they must be doing something right.Mistermaumau26-05-2025
- Nothing surprising except that it’s so different from the pre-race discourse.Mistermaumau26-05-2025
- 3 and the race isn’t over yet, must be a record (at least for him), no? I’d say (apart from any physical damage) that he’s just basically totally fed-up and has lost personal motivation to continue.Mistermaumau26-05-2025
- Sorry Maria but you’ll have to do better than that, show with facts that he’s racing less one weekers ( except obviously in the direct reasonable time after injury). I am not particularly a fan of his, he’s not on my podium of current riders, it serms more you are an anti-fan.Mistermaumau26-05-2025
- You’re absolutely right but that doesn’t mean « fans » should have the right to behave with total impunity and have the excuse of remaining ignorant about the consequences of their actions. If we all agree that collective pressure can be damaging then we must also accept that each of us risks being a contributor if we don’t reflect on how we act. It’s always easy to say it wasn’t me, but then who was it that applied the pressure? It starts with an event commented by enough fans, pundits and critics which gives media an excuse to amplify and search for a broader base for discussion and when that occurs, the entourage starts reacting and eventually the athlete notices too and changes their natural attitude. This leads me on to a new topic I was thinking about, when riders dedicate a performance or win to a certain event that they say inspired them, like Verona riding for Cicco. That basically implies that when there isn’t some specific occasion (family birthday or death, injured team mate, etc.) these guys don’t feel line, manage to push themselves to their limit? Or is it just because there’s little else of interest to say at such a moment?Mistermaumau26-05-2025
Pogacar and Remco took huge risk there. If they had any mechanical issue while attacking with the other GC contenders without their teammate around to exchange bikes in the gravel sector, their GC goals might be done for good.
Pogacar sounds a little rattled. I just think he's afraid of week 3 Jonas and hopes to play some mind games and get Jonas to do something stupid. It would also be best for him if Jonas is concerned about the others. But Jonas knows Remco and Roglic won't be able to keep up in the mountains. It will always be him versus Pogacar.
I bet the biggest winner of this stage is Roglic. He probably knew Jonas is going to neutralize any GC attack and he didn't have to waste energy chasing.... Or he's simpy on the limit.
No matter the tactics, great racing today!
Even on a group ride, I'm not splitting the work equally with the strongest riders. I would get tired and dropped and would be riding back alone.
It is interesting that the strongest man in the race is interested in the welfare and podium places of his direct competitors. LOL
The difference with this analogy is that Jonas is as strong as both tadej and remco...
Only 3 kg lighter than remco, who is also returning from injury and was also dropped due to mechanical and had to be pulled back?? Remco also does not race mixed surface classics and doesn't have much exp with gravel/cobbles. All 3 of them could've put some damage into roglic and barring any disastrous performances, guaranteed a podium.
Remco didn't have a mechanical. He just got stuck in the gravel.
Jonas doesn't care about the podium. He only cares about being close enough to launch an attack when the terrain is best for him. Whether it will be enough against Pogacar, we will see.
Of course, the others are beatable. The focus will always be Pogi. Nobody will work with the favorite. Just because nobody wants to use their team, doesn't mean Visma will not. An attack from 70k out is suicide in a 3 week GT
I wonder if Pog will pay for those wasted efforts in the 3rd week?
I am sure he is wondering that too, and that's why he's getting increasingly frustrated about not winning more time on Jonas.
He's got 4 'easy' stages leading up to the Pyrennees this next weekend plus a rest day. He has plenty of time to recover. He wouldn't be burning matches to today if he didn't have good legs.
75 seconds lead on the first rest day is not bad. Not unassailable but not bad. Bigger than the final winning margin in 7 tours since 2006