Is Tadej Pogačar Unbeatable? | Il Lombardia 2024 | THEMOVE

Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin break down Tadej Pogačar's dominant ride to win his fourth straight Il Lombardia and discuss what, if anything, his rivals could have done to stop him at the final one-day Monument of the 2024 season. Afterward, Johan gives his thoughts on the drama between Ineos and their star rider, Tom Pidcock, which exploded into public view after Pidcock was pulled from Lombardia on the eve of the event.
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[@BruthaVIII]

The combination of Johan's wisdom, experience, and analysis is second to none. So incredibly thankful for him.

[@johngillis7625]

Your joking right.....YB knows he is not clean.....and says nothing.

[@hondasaurusrex6998]

Johan is a beast when it comes to cycling knowledge. Love to hear what he has to say "offline". Lot of wisdom with that one as well.

[@JosepAlberchVila]

L'anecdota de Johan hablando del Tour de l'Avenir '18 de Tadej en la ultima etapa (cuando tiene un salida de carretera) , muy muy interesante lo que explica sobre las capacidades de Pogacar desde joven... Fabuloso Tadeo 🇸🇮🐻😎💪👌🏼

[@jacquesdemolay5171]

I was looking forward to this one. Great recap as always. As fans, we're all fortunate to be witnessing such greatness. Tadej is a truly historic rider, and it's amazing to see all the top competitors race all season long. Twenty years ago I never would've imagined that we'd be returning to old-school racing with new-school approaches to training. What a time for this sport.

[@rayjasicki685]

Thank you guys so much for GS1!!! And yes Spencer, when I found out I was shocked and will remember it the rest of my life.

[@johanbruyneel7723]

Congrats Ray!

[@gypsybrother-z8q]

In 2023 Tade broke his wrist, which affected his training. Didn't have the best year. 2024 Jonas, Remco, Wout and Primoz crashed which affected their training. Next year I vote for no crashes (there will be). Either way, it was a great season and next year will be too 💫🙌💥 thanks guys, the two of you are great!🙏

[@71CMM]

Van Aert has no global titles and a single monument 5 years ago. 15 percent of his career wins have come in the Tour of Britain. Remco is 5 years younger and has a far superior palmares with more wins, more monuments and 5 global titles. Pog is 4 years younger and way ahead. MVDP is the same age and has 5 monuments and a world title. If MVDP, Pog, Jonas and Remco are the equivalent of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, then Van Aert is Andy Murray, a fantastic athlete, but not in the same class as the best of his era.

[@oliverleigh9854]

Right now no one has the physical condition to beat Pogi. Its quite simple. This is a combination of everything. Like team sky said marginal gains.

[@brianmchugh3757]

@@71CMM I’m a WVA fan, but your analogy is a fair assessment of his palmares. To his credit, he has shined in the Tour, more so than MDVP, but as a one-day rider, MDVP crushes him.

[@i_guess_i_need_anaccount8708]

@@71CMM Yes. That said Van Aert's tour 2022 with winning on the Ventoux, a time trial and on the Champs Élysées is something special that reminds of the likes of Hinault, Mercx and Co. Has Murray ever achieved anything comparable? (Calling it the Big 4 with Murray always seemed overly generous to me)

[@jb-rx2ig]

yes Murray won Wimbledon and the Olympics

[@AlexWatson-t1f]

That harmonica is just awesome.

[@nazgulzg]

What everyone forgot to mentions is that NO ONE from inside peleteon/pro cycling ever accused Pogacar of doping and that was not the case in EPO era. On the other hand, the Ineos situation is just what you described - Ratcliffe wants out, but who wants Pidcock and his entourage with statement that "he will not work for anyone other then himself"?

[@exriodonorte67]

Maybe they are all on it.

[@amundvandvikskogrand6430]

In that case, the whole performance argument goes out the window. You cannot simultaneously argue that hes too dominant to not be doping, and say that hes not called out because everyone's doping. So you're left with nothing. The only reason to argue pog is doping is to say hes the only one cheating. But then you must explain how it is possible hes the only one doing it and noone has anything on him. To not speak of the fact that such dominance literally cannot be explained by the relatively marginal gains of undetecable doping methods. Hes not full of fresh hemoglobin or epo ​@@exriodonorte67

[@mikeoc217]

I'd hate to say it but like I said on Out Comes, three minutes plus! He's incredible to watch. The best part is you watch his interviews, he just loves cycling. He's having fun (I'm sure his opponents aren't). I hope &🙏🏼 we're in for years of incredible history making races. 👍🏼🚵🏼🫅🏼💯🇸🇮

[@gordonbarnes8229]

On social media there are photos of Pogacar crossing the line at each of his Lombardia wins and it`s noticeable how each year he looks progressively thinner!

[@Bill-cy2cy]

Incredible insights as always. Shame to see so many complain about the sponsorships - especially when it’s so easy for anyone to fast forward!

[@Wds__99]

I love fast forwarding the ads

[@Egooktamuck]

Tadej is simply a talent of the century!

[@linuxmaster9679]

He has a great team behind him. When he takes off, his pretty fresh .

[@brianmchugh3757]

@@linuxmaster9679 All the haters conveniently forget this & focus only on the solo aspect of the race. He just turned 26 and is hitting his prime years.

[@royanderson3478]

How is he this good? It's too good to be true 😊but it just might be.

[@linuxmaster9679]

@@brianmchugh3757 yeap!

[@djsaintb]

The difference is massive when using professional microphones in sound treated vocal booths vs a presenter in standard untreated room. Please get everyone on the same audio level. 🙏🏻 great content (as always).

[@sirrex-ug3ug]

Wedü podcast. short version. Pogacar did exacctly what everybody expected, goodnight.

[@jfreck]

Wow thanks man

[@i_guess_i_need_anaccount8708]

Thx for spoiling :(

[@oliverleigh9854]

Finally someone telling the incompetent people in world the truth about Pogi.

[@J-cz7yv]

UAE has gotten better with riders and with tactics. As has Tadej. Scary for everyone else. Don’t forget the 1st tour he lost, UAE had 4-5 riders for half the stages.

[@ryankeels4661]

I think we can't really compare Eddys 525 wins to current day... lots of those wins were basically training races with little to no competition. I think to evaluate it we should look at Tours, Grand Tours, Monuments, Worlds... Eddy (5/11/17/3) vs Tadej (3/4/7/1)... if Tadej by end of his career can get close to those and beat 2 of them then I think we can call him that... probably more so due to the increase in competition.

[@ArnyRimmer]

There are 9 or 10 big races a year. Grand tours, Monuments, World Championships and possibly the Olympics. Pogačar won 5 of them. Merckx also won 5 of these races in a single year, even twice. But Pogačar is the only one who has won Giro, Tour and the World Championship and even a Monument.

[@jsquire5pa]

Vastly more competitive now .. harder achievement now

[@petedog9581]

Pidcock is a tremendous talent and as young as Tadej, but his first love is XCO mountain biking. He doesn't want to give it up and commit to being a full-time GC rider. That is probably the dilemma. If he wants top GC pay, he's going to have to commit to the road.

[@JensThomasNepper]

Pogi is perhaps the best rider in all cycling history, we just need to enjoy his cycling , we will most likely never see anything like him again...

[@mustafajoseph134]

If Pog goes out and wins Roubaix..... Shut the freaken door, that's a wrap. GOAT.

[@christianmatheron6444]

As predictable as the last few races have been, Jonas will demand the highest level from Pogacar in July. Visma will have to make improvements to its team, but with a fit Kuss and a motivated Simon Yates, they will be a force again.

[@glen4392]

I absolutely love Jonas, but let's be real, rn he is nowhere near Tadej's level and its not even close.tadej is on a completely new level

[@mto3009]

One attribute that I find so intriguing about Tadej Pogacar and why his future seems limitless is that he really seems to love the sport of cycling and being on the bike all the time. I just wonder if there were other champions in the past with that much enthusiasm for cycling in the purest sense. Maybe Peter Sagan or Laurent Jalabert??? Thoughts?

[@thecellulontriptometer4166]

If the only evidence his accusers have is that he is the best, maybe of all time, then it comes across as jealousy and sour grapes. To me, the risk to his career combined with the likelihood that someone on the inside would profit by outing him is just too much. It seems far more likely to me that he is combining modern training, nutrition, equipment and reaching his peak age to accomplish this.

[@ytyehyeh]

Speculation I've heard regarding Pidcock getting pulled is that the team big wigs were sending a message that they want everyone to be a team player in road racing and they felt Tom is not enough of that. His cyclocross and MTB background suits the lone wolf well, but road racing does not. Team above individual ambitions...

[@danielmacdonald4005]

Very true. Although with this ineos lineup, pidcock ought to be the rider that the team works for. I think he knows that and probably feels frustrated that he doesn’t get the support. The guy has definitely developed an ego over the past few seasons of success’s and it’s probably a good thing that he has to move and re-establish himself elsewhere.

[@Andy_ATB]

They knew that when they signed him back in autumn 2020 that he was a multi discipline talent - he hasn't sprung it on them. And they gave him that salary - he didn't threaten them to give him it.

[@ytyehyeh]

@@Andy_ATB it's not just the road vs MTB/cross issue, but riding as a domestique in, for example, Le Tour when the team has designated GC riders, but you as a hot up and comer might have different goals, and especially if you talk about it in the press. UAE may have had similar issues with Ayuso.

[@dickieblench5001]

TP team player 😂

[@ShawnStradamus520]

The Tadej Pogacar era has fully arrived! “Pogi” needs a proper nickname for such a boss…like Campionissimo, Cannibal, Badger, Alien, Pirate, and Livestrong. I shall call him, Tadej “The Tiger”! 🚴🐅 🌈🇸🇮🤙💯

[@dizyaster7700]

In Slovenia we call him the Wolf from Komenda.

[@GaiusPrimusMatius]

​@@dizyaster7700Mountain Wolf 😊

[@ivanramos8795]

Ruben Dario Arcila lo llama el EMPERADOR

[@SARGEinc]

I think Pogi is pretty sweet nickname, but also being called the Poga-car sounds fast too.

[@dzamirokvaj]

poga tsar!

[@Requiredfields2]

Tadej did 6.74 w/kg for 24 mins. after he attacked at Lombardia. How long can you hold 6.74w/kg? Looking at my strava power curve, I did it for 80 seconds this year. But if I tried really hard, I could probably hold out for 2 minutes!

[@shirleyarnott7822]

A very interesting programme thank you

[@johnalves2765]

One of my bikes got stolen this summer and I ended purchasing a used bike to replace that bike. The new used bike came with 170mm cranks but all other bikes that I have included the one that got stolen have 172.5mm. After riding the bike with 170mm for a few days I noticed that my knee was sore. Also found that I was running out of gears faster and felt I needed either a bigger chainrings or a smaller cassette.

[@climacus7118]

Jonas is an enigma. 2025 will be the time of reckoning between the two. Right now, Tadej will be the outright favourite for the big one.

[@Swampster70]

Shortening your crank from 172.5 to 165mm is right around 4.5% difference. Not enough to really worry about excess knee pressures and the rest of the hoopla.

[@cyclepowered8799]

Poor Asbjørn Hellemose had the Colma da Nesso KOM, before the race, @ 35.11, 398watts. Tadej beat the KOM by 5 minutes!!!

[@Montrealcycling]

First!!! tadej is the GOAT 🐐

[@robertombetta]

GOAD

[@dickieblench5001]

Damn that's a lot of radiators for that size of room

[@mirko637]

Check also that Tour de l'Avenir last stage: 38th place😁😁

[@Pipe_JL]

The last stage is unimportant if you are in yellow.

[@buzzman4860]

👍 Johan

[@gn4368]

What happened to Lance and George?

[@LadyBird-n2t]

Who cares? They do not bring anything positive to the show anyway!

[@ACMEpowersports]

Can we finally please talk about how the bunch is content riding for second and how directors are not marking him like a TDF stage.

[@J-cz7yv]

What would you do differently to prevent it)

[@JensThomasNepper]

Super show

[@chillermiller7929]

Tadej was born in 98…not 00. Loved the episode but this kinda triggered me in the end😂

[@keatonhanson]

I LOVE listening to Johan. But I don’t love how many ads are in such a short pod. Y’all need to figure something out, so much good media these days with fewer ads. Besides that keep up the great work!

[@GaiusPrimusMatius]

Yep...those ADS are so annoying....

[@Bill-cy2cy]

Come on. Small price to pay to get insights from these guys. Johan in particular is worthy of serious $$$ for his time.

[@10ktube]

The whole longer lever thing is true, but not when there is 80 percent soft tissue around the levers. If we were all bone, sure thing long lever.

[@silverarrowslk]

No need to shorten cranks to pedal at higher RPM. I use 175 mm and can ride @95 no problem. So actually spinning a bigger gear = more power but still employing cardio instead of neuromuscular. So need to shorten cranks to utilise higher cadence

[@glen4392]

Guess you know something that tadej and UAE doesn't, good for you 🤡

[@nickjohnson710]

So why do track sprinters use short cranks ? ......sliverarrow, you're a complete balloon head ! 🤡

[@BikefitMatt]

We would love to know what you have to say about the new coach “offline” ? 😂

[@michaelmottlau5941]

"Pas normal" as a American rider used to say 21 years ago

[@TheNyxmaster]

OMG! the amont of ads in that podcast is crazy...

[@glywnniswells9480]

I am really dissappointed with Portugal they have two talented riders who just will never get there it seems.

[@markrushton1516]

Of course he is not unbeatable under the right circumstances but letting him go and everyone looking at each other means his chances get better as the clock runs down. Once he gets that gap he has only himself to race. Looks great tho.

[@thomastero4662]

How's he doing it? He's doping. And a super responder at that.

[@81caasi]

Do riders dope at age 17yrs old? Because he was already 2 levels above the rest of the top riders at Tour de l'Avenir. He has consistently ridden 2 levels above his competition every year since while developing further... And this year is the first he paid attention to nutrition.

[@pawewiktor6861]

Pogacar is 26. In 2017 he was 19.

[@DevilsUnited-re8nh]

Yes.

[@Wds__99]

Pidcock will go to Redbull BH. Hes already a redbull athlete.

[@sveng5319]

Hope not. Would be a waste of money for Bora, if he would go there for 4mio EUR…

[@Andy_ATB]

@@sveng5319 What's people's issue with him being paid mega money? He's a double Olympic champion, former XCO & CX World champion, and winner of WT road races....... It seems as though road fans don't think off-road cyclists deserve big money.......

[@sveng5319]

@@Andy_ATB he won 5 road races in 4 years but gets paid like a GT GC winner. Simply too expensive. Huge talent… not anymore after 4 yrs in the WT. Ahh yeah MTB… as said, he gets paid like a GT GC winner. MTB contracts are much lower…

[@Requiredfields2]

Nudge, nudge, wink wink.

[@thomaspetersen9991]

I Dont think pogi is clean im sorry

[@ivanramos8795]

TADEC EL EMPERADOR DEL CICLISMO

[@wilvinj026]

I wish Pogi wins so much the Peloton is forced to step it up and close the Gap.

[@colingibbons1757]

I think Pidcock might go to Astana cause the Chinese are putting a ton of money in and he would get full leadership wherever he wants

[@markgrenier6787]

Frustrating oh yeah try being Cyndi Lauper coming out with an album right when Madonna comes out with her album that’s like being in a band called fog hat with Edgar Winter is just getting started. Good luck with all that. That’s like being Dick Van Dyke a great dancer when Fred Astaire is killing it in Hollywood.

[@Chunky246]

Ineos imploding.... The money is going elsewhere, football and boat racing - he's bored with the lack of performance by the team. Gone after next year.

[@simonjagassar]

I don't know why you are not talking about Pogi doping? One of the greatest DS 's who was well known for systematic doping not calling out UAE on doping is hypocrisy. Why don't you talk about it? His rides are not normal and you know it. You know he can't be clean

[@dizyaster7700]

Same reason we dont talk that you are a bad person, there is no proof.

[@WisseSpring]

They did talk about it in this very episode.

[@drouleau]

UAE Postal is doing quite well this year

[@glywnniswells9480]

Slovenia never produced a good rider suddenly two of the best Roglic and Pog

[@nomdaploom]

Same for Eritrea.

[@dizyaster7700]

We had good riders before, Jani Brajkovič, Andrej Hauptman...Slovenia has a long cycling history, was just a matter of time before someone like Rog or Pog showed up.

[@81caasi]

Slovenia has always been a very athletic country.

[@andrewsandoz8005]

The show is much better without JB Haggar.

[@veterinarius7646]

Slovenian Mega doper

[@glen4392]

Prove it

[@nathanmitchell4146]

And your evidence is what?

[@81caasi]

If you look at his history, he's always been 2 levels above the rest and very consistent since 17yrs old, unlike other dopers of the past.

[@dzamirokvaj]

i bet that you live somewhere near kobenhavn

[@thingsxx]

The greatest of all time....is beginning to be boring to watch, the fight, the excitement is gone.

[@sirrex-ug3ug]

Remco sat on his bike at the end of the race, wishing he'd stayed a footballer

[@Wds__99]

Things can change fast. Someone could have a break out year next year and start pressuring TP

[@mproentertainment8792]

Vingegaard we need you, the last time you got up from the wheelchair and got tension far into the tour race and even as the only one to beat Pogacar in a two man pro sprint... ever, stop for a while to have more children and come back

[@Bill-cy2cy]

Not at all! Loving every race

[@Montrealcycling]

@@mproentertainment8792need you were??? A part for the tour the France…

[@dennisjohnston3180]

Do we have to go through this doping shit again, 7 years of Lance was enough, I have never failed a doping test really.

[@dizyaster7700]

Lance failed it, it was covered up. Give this generation a chance if you gave it to Lance era, where everyone knew they were doped.

[@cooldude.1811]

Pog joined UAE in 2019 when they were a mid-tier team and turned it into a super team. I would like to see him move to another team after his contract with UAE expires (or even before that), just for the challenge. It would have to be one that can afford the salary he would expect and deserves. Maybe Ineos???

[@danielmacdonald4005]

UAE have the money. It would be like Froome leaving sky (who had the money at the time) and going to a mid-tier team. People would call it madness! Let’s hope visma can mount a solid challenge next season by avoiding injuries. I don’t think anyone else can afford to compete.

[@johngillis7625]

You have never seen something like this. We all know why.....and yet noone wants to touch the fact that he is doped! He makes them look poedestrian with doping. And you both know it! Why everyone feeds the lie is beyond my understanding. YB you know the watts/kg he is pushing and the level he maintains with out the need for recovery can only be done with "help" Lance had the best program and doctors and he could never approach these numbers even when enhanced, let alone clean. Omerta is stronger then ever.

[@dizyaster7700]

Lance was 36th on his first tdf, enough said.

[@81caasi]

If you look at Pog's history, he's always been 2 levels above the rest and very consistent since 17yrs old, unlike other dopers of the past.

[@douglasmavarez5341]

johan, pogachar uses fabian cancellara's bike and floyd landis' diet.

[@rafalpruszynski6129]

Your mind is broken