2024 Pro thread

[spud]

^ Reality is that with best GC teams as strong as they are, it's always going to come down to a watts/kilo contest - that's the only place a difference can be made, unless of course you are TP, where you can launch with 50K to go and stick it. The only question is whether TP will be willing to try the tactic in a GT stage when has has to be good the next day too.

Let's say they'd ride Paris Roubaix oarcours as a stage - I'd be very much inclined to think Pigacar could take a chunk of time out of the other GC guys.

Quite possibly, but for the same reason he wins in the mountains right now. He's just stronger. Again I'm not sure how it disrupts the GC battle when (if nothing breaks) the best GC rider is nailed on to take time!

As an aside I remember reading an article during the Dumoulin era which theorised that pure climbers would die out as GC contenders because modern racing and team strength in depth was limiting the amount of time it was possible to gain in the mountains and TT specialists who can hang on in the mountains would beat them by too much on the flats. So that aged well!

TP isn't a climber, he's a freak. He can win climbs, TTs, sprints. I don't think he has the ability to beat VDP/WVA in Roubaix, but that's really about it. Everything else is in his wheelhouse.

[Requiem84]

^ Reality is that with best GC teams as strong as they are, it's always going to come down to a watts/kilo contest - that's the only place a difference can be made, unless of course you are TP, where you can launch with 50K to go and stick it. The only question is whether TP will be willing to try the tactic in a GT stage when has has to be good the next day too.

Let's say they'd ride Paris Roubaix oarcours as a stage - I'd be very much inclined to think Pigacar could take a chunk of time out of the other GC guys.

Quite possibly, but for the same reason he wins in the mountains right now. He's just stronger. Again I'm not sure how it disrupts the GC battle when (if nothing breaks) the best GC rider is nailed on to take time!

As an aside I remember reading an article during the Dumoulin era which theorised that pure climbers would die out as GC contenders because modern racing and team strength in depth was limiting the amount of time it was possible to gain in the mountains and TT specialists who can hang on in the mountains would beat them by too much on the flats. So that aged well!

When it comes to Pogacar, it doesn't really matter what you throw at him anyway. Not only is his w/kg the best, his absolute power is also among the best.

Based on the best TdF climb performances this year, his estimated FTP was around 450watts. That is pretty much the level of WvA and MvD.

[Karvalo]

TP isn't a climber, he's a freak.

Haha can't argue with that. Maybe JV can kick on to another level of pure mountain ability next year, otherwise course design won't matter much beyond what looks good for the next few seasons

[maquisard]

We can only hold out hopes that this is the case.

Remco and Vingegaard had limited 'polishing' time this year compared to last. So while Pogacar was maintaining and 'tuning' a strong base of fitness post Giro, the other two were still building. Pogacar had the additional time to focus on further specialisation around the course and specific areas of training, much like last year when Vingegaard went all in for prepartion on the TT course and utterly dominated Pogacar.

[ichobi]

When (and it's the question of when) he got tired of winning all the hilly monuments and grand tours, which is probably not too far in the future, he could add 2-3kgs and some more muscle mass and he will be right there with the best of them at Roubaix. Thing is at Roubaix, 40% of it is a crapshoot anyway. If things goes right and he can make some distance, he could probably stay away till the velodrome. In the same year, he might as well do the full classic campaign.

The hardest race for him I think is not Roubaix, but probably Milan San Remo. Alas, it's not like you need absolute power to do it, just the right timing. Exhibit A: Vincenzo Nibali.

[Karvalo]

When (and it's the question of when) he got tired of winning all the hilly monuments and grand tours, which is probably not too far in the future,

Like Novak Djokovic or Mikaela Shiffrin I don't think he would ever get tired of winning!

[tymon_tm]

Pog has had one ONE dominant season. not three or five. sure he's been the absolute top for few years now but it's not granted he'll go on repeating the stuff he's done this year over and over again.

as for Roubaix or MSR - i don't think he *needs* to do anything really to win them. he's good to go in any race he desires, perhaps save from pure sprinters' stuff (although who knows really...).

the biggest question IMHO if he keeps on dominating the sport is whether he'll go for the paycheck, prioritizing the Tour, or decide to have more fun and "win them all"

[Requiem84]

An interesting question also will be to what extent the other top guys are able to make a similar step as Pogacar did this year.

Some new things are being introduced in the training space, such as more structured heat training (which is shown to increase blood plasma volume and maintain altitude training benefits for a longer period) and the use of carbon monoxide etc. I'm sure there are a few more things we don't even know of right now.

I don't buy it that Pogacar made such a performance step only by changing his training program with the new coach. There must are some other additional things that also have helped him to make such a big leap in performance.

[ms6073]

the biggest question IMHO if he keeps on dominating the sport is whether he'll go for the paycheck, prioritizing the Tour, or decide to have more fun and "win them all"

Would think this would give us the answer to that question:
Tadej Pogacar's Record-Breaking $53m Contract With UAE

[tymon_tm]

I don't think so. it's only natural to sign a new contract after such a great year (and perhaps his deal was ending anyway sometime soon?) if both parties are happy with each other.

[TobinHatesYou]

Lefevre, Remco, Demi, Evita Muzic, Elise Chabbey, Vittoria Guazzini and probably others are all in the San Francisco Bay Area this week. I know a new Shiv (consolidating the tri and TT versions) and deep wheelset are imminent, so I’m guessing the riders are here for a sneak peak and wind tunnel testing.

[eins4eins]

Would confirm the rumours of Vollering bringing a new bike sponsor to FDJ.

[TobinHatesYou]

Would confirm the rumours of Vollering bringing a new bike sponsor to FDJ.

FDJ sponsor/partner presentation is December 7th. In the meantime Evita Muzic has been racing CX on a Crux.

[pastronef]

DSM-Firmenich will ride Lapierre bikes in 2025

Van Gils informed Lotto he terminates his contracts (despite having signed dor 2025-26)

[spud]

Velonews just posted a story about Vollering that's very interesting. She came across quite well, given what looked like a complete shit show at the Tour. I had no idea the extent of her crash injuries, she is one tough lady. Can understand why she looked pretty unhappy at the top of Alpe D'Huez after the stage.