Is The New Cannibal Getting Greedy At The Giro? | GCN Racing News Show

On this week’s GCN Racing News Show, we ask if Pogačar is getting greedy with stage wins as he continues his domination at the Giro d’Italia, as well as wrapping up week one of the race, the Itzulia women’s, the Tour du Finistere, and a Tour of Hungary in which Mark Cavendish OFFICIALLY became the best sprinter of all time... plus we learn what Sean 'The King' Kelly REALLY thought about AG2Rs classic brown shorts!
00:00 This week in the world of racing
01:55 Is Pogačar’s dominance of the Giro greedy?
04:50 Giro Review: Week 1
07:21 Giro D’Italia Classifications
09:14 Tour de Hongrie: Cavendish Breaks Cipollini Record
10:28 Itzulia Women’s: Vollering Masterclass
11:30 Tour du Finistère: Decathlon continue incredible season
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[@gcnracing]

What do you make of Pogačar's performance at the Giro so far? 🤯

[@yvvymo]

Exceptional performance, as expected and as it should be. Shame that no one can really compete, I hope he'll have opponents close to his level on the Tour.

[@trudgin62]

Excellent

[@CFCMahomet]

Amazing!

[@andrasszabo1570]

underwhelming

[@SB-nh7uv]

superhuman ;)

[@ryux]

Not letting others win is greedy ? I thought this was a competition... this is not secondary school basketball

[@healthcarethoughtleadership]

We are in the age of everyone gets a trophy .. ha ha

[@roadcyclist1]

Don't worry, the only ones who think this way are the mentally deficient; and they are a minority.

[@harimathur2191]

Wokey wokey wokey.....😉

[@leonardofabbri7930]

Unwritten rules of cycling world to avoid punishments of the system

[@jimrustle270]

Then cycling no longer gets to be considered a race for gentlemen.

[@_MattyG_]

No other sport are they giving handouts. If you can win, go for it.

[@gcnracing]

Can they keep it up for the whole tour though? 🥵

[@ceilingfan692]

@@gcnracingHe wouldn’t risk losing GC for some stage wins

[@lasq88]

People were complaining when we had a "Sky Train" controlling the race, and Froome winning le Tour, without even a stage win. Now they are complaining when we have a Pogacar show. Guess some people will never be content. I admired Sky tactics, but it was a tad boring. What Pogi and UAE are doing is so much more entertaining. I hope he keeps it up.

[@rderouck]

The first week was just a warm-up for Pog. He's simply squeezing some stage wins into his training

[@gcnracing]

Hahahaha are we yet to see the best from him?

[@cube730]

The fact that people are even arguing about it is a joke. Why on earth should anyone gift anybody stage wins. If UAE have the power to go for it like on Stage 8 they should do it every day of the week. It did not cost Pogi much energy to win so there is argument about the tour or whatever. I really hope he goes for every stage possible just because of this topic.

[@litespud]

I think it was Bernard “The Badger” Hinault who summed it up with “No gifts”. One of the great things about Pog is that he’s a born racer - he sees it and he reflexively goes for it. It doesn’t always work, but it’s great to watch

[@cilliankellygcn]

Think that was Lance Armstrong

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

You are absolutely 100% right, Conor. If you can win a stage, you are obligated to do so. Otherwise, re-imburse your sponsors and go home. Greed has nothing to do with it.

[@branislavtrninic4505]

As Tuco said "When you have to shoot, shoot, don't talk" If you're best at what you do what is greedy about it?

[@SMathai]

Tuco! - wow, that’s going back a ways for that quote! Fond memories.

[@thefrener794]

Nice.

[@philipaddyman7402]

Good points made. Also remember that the Italians are overjoyed that he is at their race. And he is truly honouring it by racing and winning whenever possible.

[@cilliankellygcn]

I think a natural counter-argument to the idea of Pog getting greedy is 'this is professional sport, his job is to win, you wouldn't see this question asked in any other sport' etc. But the difference with cycling is that so often its participants, due to racing circumstances, are required to co-operate and work with rivals. It's the nature of the sport. A rider's breakaway companions are companions right up until the sprint for the line, if they don't co-operate they're goosed. Which means that in cycling, unlike other sports, alliances are *so* important. Cashing in favours, rounding up help from 'rivals' when you most need it is part of the game. Diplomacy can be as crucial as an extra 50 watts. I'm not saying one way or the other whether Pog is being too greedy or not. But the day might come when those Pog could have 'allowed' some more success, all of a sudden become those who Pog could do with a helping hand from. In cycling there *is* benefit in being generous. Miguel Indurain was a master at this.

[@jaspermeinema4830]

Well worded. Cycling is unlike any other sport. The only other example I can think of is when a game is dead in basketball, unwritten rules say no dunking or showboating kind of things. Not exactly the same, but in the same spirit perhaps. And as you say, you may need a hand in the future. Plenty of occasions where, due to some bad blood from the past, teams or riders can try their best not to let you win. It simply is a unique sport

[@MEB939]

The funny thing is that for every journalist that asks this question there’s a rider who is absolutely unbothered by this. Interviews can be found easily - the mood seems to be: If I had those legs I’d do the same/I like his style of racing.

[@user-bv8bc7hg3j]

If a premier league team won all their games, nobody would say this, same for a runner or F1 driver. Actually, most people are not saying this, we use the right term, he is getting too confident and we will see what happens. Opening the spring for Molano and being in the fight for the sprint must really have hurt the legs, that is unnecessary but he is doing so to help the team. I think he is getting ahead of himself and wasting too much energy especially having in mind that he is also aiming at the Tour.

[@stephenjames2690]

It's a race. It'd be boring if he just got a few minutes ahead and then coasted in for the rest of the tour. All it would take was few bad days, crashes, mechanicals, or loss of teammates, and the entire situation would change.

[@gcnracing]

very true, and why not win by the biggest margin?

[@feedbackzaloop]

Must be incorrect to call Pog a cannibal. Those known to eat same species. He's different from ordinary humans though

[@feedbackzaloop]

Also, for a full culinary picture he should ride for Bora

[@gcnracing]

🤣

[@arandombard1197]

Pogi actually going for wins when he could be taking it easy is actually based. That's what a real champion should be doing. Whether it's worth doing at the risk of possibly losing the GC later on is a strategic decision for them to make. The thing to remember is that they're also pushing everybody else to keep up, maybe they think that pushing everyone to the extreme benefits them.

[@DavidMackenzie]

Great show Conner. Loved the way you presented it!

[@iansingleton]

Totally agree Conor! Race to win! Everyone races on a level playing field, if they win every stage, so be it! People are comparing Pogacar to Merckx, I doubt it Merckx did other riders many favours! Can you imagine that happening in other sports like Boxing? No!

[@CoolGray7Man]

This is a lot of bull, saying that Pogacar is being greedy taking so many wins. Is this coming from the cry babies saying "please, please, let me win, can you ease up!" No! Pogacar is amazing why shouldn't he go for the wins if he has the opportunity. Think about all the cycling heroes of years gone by. Many people have said these races are boring, I definitely do not think so, these people are the cry babies. As I've said before it's up to other riders to try to reach Pogacar's level, they have to get stronger, yeah I know that's super hard; Pogacar is one of those rarer gifted riders that come along. I think most people and definitely other riders appreciate him and respect him for what he can do. Pogy knows going into the more mountainous stages there's the possibly of losing time, I'm sure once Pogy get a handsome time grab through these mountains he'll ease up. He knows his limits, he's not a top sprinter, but he tries. This Giro is very exciting, other riders/teams are trying different tactics. Enuf said!

[@cb6866]

Thanks Conor and crew....I'm surprised you don' t look like a snake that's eaten a wildebeest......distended stomach , etc ! You madman !

[@Liofa73]

People were moaning about the boring old Sky Train, now we are moaning about the most exciting racing and racer of the current generation by calling him greedy? It’s a bike race, anyone is allowed to try to win.

[@robbchastain3036]

Nice work, Conor, and about Tadej, and tho' I am cheering for him to win the double, my take is I'd rather see cool and regal than wild and wacky, which is what WVA showed us a couple of years ago at the Tour when he was all over the road, front and back and no more Yellow, no worries. It makes no sense and the top riders should be above silliness. And no, not sure I want gifts handed to other teams, but nobody wants to see a beatdown of the lone guy who just might win the biggest race of his career, either. There is a balance and they know that balance keeps the show entertaining and it is sport and that's entertainment. 😀

[@derickcastillo9083]

Dude! The guy is paid to win races! A reporter asked him, "What do you do to say thank you to your teammates?" He resounded, "I win". Enough said.

[@tomreid9779]

It's a race. The best man should win. No gifts. My only concern is I'd rather him not waste any energy. I want him to win the double!!!

[@corcoranger]

I believe he chased Narvaez down because he stopped Pog from taking the pink jersey on day one. I believe he wanted to take it and keep it for the duration of the entire Giro.....

[@AlexAyoub_]

“Wire to wire” is shorthand for that. Great sports phrase and uncommon to boot. Agreed though!

[@MatthewMachuDidge]

Ooooh Revenge! Even better than greed

[@davidheffernan3829]

Nonsense, he was riding for Molano.

[@caniggiaful]

I really don't know much about racing. But I had that impression too.

[@russellhagy]

As was said in the video...Pogacar has said on more than one occasion that he is paid to win races. That's what he does. I enjoy watching him dominate.

[@toshman696969]

people: tadej tadej tadej wins a few same people: tadej sucks he wins everything boo hoo he is having an incredible season, enjoy the history in front of your eyes root for your other favorite rider. i will say that with the big name riders, tadej, jonas, matthew its been an incredible year. matthew absolutely dominating cyclecross, tadej dominating the classics, and unfortunately jonas got hurt because i wanted to see a battle like last year in TDF

[@Ajayyadav54321]

What if he gets cracked on one stage like it happened in last 2 TDF. Will other teams gift him win? Jumbo won all grand tours in 23, Phelps used to win all swim events.. were they also greedy.. If someone is training hard to win, he deserves to win.. If I was at his position I would win all 21 stages, nothing to be greedy about

[@dorothyb.]

I have to put it out there. I liked the brown shorts 😂

[@robertdavenport6705]

As for Pogacar ,he is a superb athlete who has arrived at a grand tour finely tuned. If he sits in the wheels too much he will probably lose form .He probably needs to push himself ( i.e.,win) in order to maintain his sharpness. And , he likes winning.How can you not enjoy a generational athlete doing such amazing stuff?

[@colinlittlewood9613]

The aspect of the UAE debate which isn't being commented on much is that there's still a possibility slots open up on the Tour team due to injury or illness. They will be wanting to make sure they are the first reserve, which means giving everything for Pogi in the Giro.

[@jade4805]

It's a RACE....win is the name of the game, get it there when you can. Do y'all say that to the sprinters? to the MTN KOM blokes? NOOO. This is race, winning when possible is what's up 👊🏾💥💪🏾

[@TheSlowoldman]

It's a race.....by definition you're there to win. noun : a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, boats, etc., to see which is the fastest in covering a set course. verb : compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective.

[@calvin1148]

All sports are about WINNING, that’s the very nature of it, it’s up to the LOOSERS to find a way to WIN, it’s not up to the WINNERS to LOOSE to make them feel better

[@petesis7934]

Cycling is like that.... You have to make hay while the sun shines...... win when you can because there are surely many times when you cannot.

[@robertgray5216]

Dominance in the mountains/gc is more boring for spectators than dominance in the sprints. Still can't tell who's winning a sprint until last few seconds of a stage as opposed to multiple ks on mountain stages or days at a time in the GC.

[@lilbruin]

Let the man do his job. There would be plenty of whinging if he weren't winning. And if winning is greedy, what about TJV taking 1st, 2nd, 3rd at the '23 Veulta?

[@michaelskelton8516]

UAE are an elite team, whilst it is a bit of a drag to see same winners all the time, it is up to the rest to organise themselves!

[@markush7001]

What’s most notable is Pog and UAE is so dominant all we have to talk about is are they winning too much

[@abikeesclerosada]

If he wants, I think he can win at least 3 more stages, maybe more!

[@chrisridesbicycles]

The beeps over Sean Kelly is why you have to watch live. 😂

[@neilwheel]

Oi mate! Yer hat's on back-to-front! 🤪

[@FredrikGranlundkayaker]

No win in over 6 weeks? Olav Kooij won stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia yesterday. 😉

[@Craweats]

GC racers are necessarily (and boringly) conservative in their efforts. Tadej loves and wants to win every stage, GC be damned. He just happens to be able to bring it every day. Love his passion and talent.

[@ffskierdune6226]

Pogi is the strongest rider in this year's Giro. His goal and the team's goal are to win the GC. That should be their focus, not chasing stage wins. In a single day race, barring any misfortune, Pogi should win. A grand tour is something completely different. In the last two TdF's, Pogi has gone off book and had bad days. He is so gifted that he tends to get away with it most of the time in the shorter stage races or the one-day races. In last year's TdF, he forgot to eat, a rookie mistake. (Stage 17). His teammates are not at the same level. Perseve them for the third week. Stick to the plan.

[@tonybaihao4178]

6:16 The last time must have been Julian Alaphilippe during the 2019 Tour de France (stage 4).

[@gcnracing]

We think we need to get our Statman on this 👀

[@arthuraubanton576]

Yves Lampaert for Fabio Jakobsen on stage 2 of the 2022 TDF

[@tonybaihao4178]

@@arthuraubanton576 Not possible, he crashed before he could do a leadout.

[@timez9663]

Brendewold, Cosnefray and Narvarez? Oopsie on some of the names, no harm intended!

[@thefrener794]

He may get overconfident and push himself too hard. It has happened before so he should be careful. When it happens it is always a shock. You feel great and then on a climb you simply cannot push and it is over.

[@Noowhere]

Its a race if u are good u will win. Go for it Pogacar n Team UAE. Show the world what u guys can do. LOVE

[@gcnracing]

Can they do it at the tour? Visma leas-a-bike might have something to say 👀

[@mrtnt1996]

@@gcnracing Of course Visma biased GCN

[@sldulin]

I remember, not long ago, between the time Tadej announced he would be riding the Giro and the carnage at the Basque country when it was a widely held belief that would realistically end his hopes at the Tour. And right now a Giro/Tour double looks to be the most likely outcome, at least to me. I really don't see Jonas or Remco back to 100% and that Bora team hasn't proven themselves to be top grade yet. Tadej and UAE look to be unstoppable unless they do something foolish like bring Soler and Almeida to the Tour.

[@johndoe-nh9sh]

Not greedy. It's up to the other teams to attack Pog, if they don't that's on them. Seems to me Bora and Visma are focusing on the TdF hence the over Giro field appearing weaker and as mentioned in commentary by Dan it might all be part of a masterplan to fatigue him ahead of the TdF. Visma probably hold all the cards if they field Jonas and Kuss as they can effectively bully him as Jonas and Primos did. At the end of the day he's the best GC rider to watch as he just want's to ride and go for it, more on emotion and feeling.

[@nathanhunter449]

Win and enjoy watching this phenomenon

[@Tequila_Brad]

Anyone else curious why he is the only one winning 2 stages in a row and almost winning a 3rd? All 3 different disciplines. TT, climbing mountain & flat sprint.

[@rulifaller8474]

Things did not unravel for Bredewold, everything went exactly to script for her and the team.

[@hawkeye5035]

Didn't Olav just win stage 9?! Visma may have been in a dry spell for 6 weeks, but that was just fixed...

[@craighumphreys9482]

Get a bit bored with this , but Pogacar is paid to win. He is making the most of peak performance that he may never enjoy again, it only takes one accident to knock you off the top. Look back at the last big crash that took out some big names including Vingegaard. That accident could affect the tdf results as riders are still recovering. Pogacsr not exactly playing it safe, its not in him to. Think we just to remember this era as one of the best.

[@justdknoobs]

been a while, cough cough, under a year ago by G for Cav lol

[@agnelt]

I think it would be unfair to the fans if teams traded stage wins in favor for help in other stages, etc. Racers should race and try to win as much as possible based on their strategy... although no one other than the racers know what it feels like to ride against Tadej, that must be rough

[@stanislaogerman3743]

Greedy, NO but I would have saved my teammates on Saturday's stage and let the break go and if one of the other GC teams wanted to control just have my team sit in the wheels and in the event the break was brought back Pogi would still have ended up with the stage. I predict six stages wins.

[@MrSuperql]

What else can he do prepare for the tour?Go for some intervals on his turbo after hole day of zone 2??😂

[@timmaloney3587]

Its very likely I have no clue what I talking about, but I think we will see UAE pay for these early efforts on stage 20 if Pogs gap isnt big enough by then.

[@ninnak-ve5ko]

His gap is already big enough 😂

[@tomveve09]

I do think he’s making a mistake being so aggressive now and aiming for the Giro-tour double, he should be aiming to expend as little energy as possible to win the Giro to maximize his matches for the TdF.

[@rm0876]

If you can win, then win. If others have a problem with that, they should get better.

[@WithMyHeartUponMySleeve]

who is team leader. pogacar or berg. and what is team manager doing? beeing greedy is okay but being nudged by team mates is not good.

[@TopgunB]

I thought the idea is if you can win you do. No one wants to see gifts to lesser riders. G said Pog said riders had a go at him for winning and not letting the breakaway win Lets hear Pog who were those guys we fans will sort them out on social media!!😂

[@keeganburns1538]

He can win every stage if he wants it’s a race

[@Sutlore007]

I wish Pogi would fight for more stage wins like Max Verstappen is doing in Formula 1. Personally, I do not like the way Max and RedBull dominate the F1. However, Pogacar is different, most of his performance comes from himself, whereas RedBull's F1 car has more influence on Max's winnings.

[@steffenandersensahl9443]

"Visma hasn't taken a win for over 6 weeks"? Olaf Kooij would like a word.

[@sj6656]

In a sport where one crash can alter the trajectory of your career and/or life, everyone should race as if any race could be their last. It's insane to criticize someone who is capable of being one the sports all-time greatest. Go Pog go!!!

[@KelvinSuddith]

We will only know if Pogi and UAE are being greedy if they lose the maglia rosa

[@JoeOsborne-nq4sc]

Something is wrong. I dont think its possible that a pro athelete can be that much better than the others. Hes up to something and its working.

[@aynrand4288]

what would Merckx do ?

[@deanabt]

No Gifts!!

[@russellpaulsson]

It's disrespectful to other riders for not giving the best of yourself and not win if you have a chance.

[@healthcarethoughtleadership]

Name another sport where anyone would believe athletes would not try to win every event? ....I'll wait.

[@markhill9275]

Not even close to a Cannibale! Pog is awesome, but only an uneducated buffoon would try to compare him to Le Cannibale! He cant win big bunch sprints, cannot drop everyone downhill, he wins by maybe 2mins on his own, Eddy would win by 5! Granted he has the same instinct to win, the attacking mentality, the love of pure racing, but he has a long way to go to reach Le Blaireau, let alone Coppi, and then theres Eddy.I love watching Pog, he is a breath of fresh air in the peloton, hope he wins many more classics and tours!

[@whatwelearned]

I'm sorry but it's just comical at this point. If you see him racing and don't think "hmmm" then I don't know where you've been for the last 30 years.

[@beetrootpro]

It’s up to competitors to figure out a way to beat Pog. Not his job to give away wins.

[@jeanholt9633]

I find this continuous conversation ludicrous. Eurosport has had same banter. It's a race! He's the best in the world. It's up to teams and young riders to solve the puzzle to beat him. We saw him crack in the Tour.

[@Andre12yt]

I would not be happy to receive the gold medal knowing that my competition did not give it their all

[@galoeduardocardenas6340]

Is Narvaez, not Navarez!

[@sldulin]

Well, let's skip the nonsense that every moment of every race is a pure competition. Top riders get deferred to in all sorts of ways by the peloton, from getting back on after a piss break to making their way to the front, to actually slowing down after a crash. And gifting stage wins is not uncommon when there has been a deal struck for cooperation in the final k's. The weaker rider gets a stage win, the stronger gets the overall win... seen it happen many times.

[@maddb3457]

Let's face it at the end of the day this is a business and the goal is to make money. If they (sponsors, media, teams) don't get paid the athletes don't get paid. People watch for the competition. The sponsors of the sport as a whole probably needs a little love from TV time. If the brands that make this all happen can't get on TV what is the incentive to keep paying? Why can't anyone else produce a top talent. Pogi is on another level and still wins without winning every stage. The Giro could use a couple new stage winners.

[@denisesayer9225]

Pogi is paid to race and if he can win, he should. As he said, his first responsibility is to his team and his sponsors.

[@thecellulontriptometer4166]

I think it is not fair to the fans and the integrity of the sport to sandbag and not do everything you can to win. If other riders or teams think it's greedy, then they have to get better. If they can't do it then they should simply accept that they are witnessing greatness and move on.

[@primoztrilar6846]

If you don't have title for new GCN racing episode yet, let me help you: Who let the Pog's out? Who, who, who??!

[@PepeDalinShow]

Well it's not his fault the others are not fast enough to beat him.

[@linhrom7227]

Imagine Novak Federer Nadal just let others win some of their GS...... We wouldnt have the best 20 years of tennis ...😂

[@pr7070]

No such thing as 'being greedy' in a bike race. You've trained your ass off, you're there to win, not 'gift' time/points/stages to lesser riders.

[@Bultish]

What is greedy? Its up to others to beat him...

[@36sportsawall]

Jon Milan is the cannibal

[@williamtetrault1300]

A question like that has no place in professional sports!

[@mlucienteCycling]

If he wins everything, goes for the sprints too, and has no rivals within sight, isn't it fair to ask whether his performance is enhanced? Cycling has, whether we like it or not, a political aspect. If one rider wins everything, he will certainly earn the ire of his fellow competitors and fans. If Pogacar wins the next three stages, and has a 10 min lead, I will also have little interest in continuing to watch the race. Plus, people will start asking questions about his performance too. Like me.

[@tejaay]

The backlash was crazy when Vingegaard and Roglic rode away from Kuss that one stage in the Vuelta. Even the normal bigger cycling channels were calling for a Kuss win. Vingegaard was clearly better and gifted Kuss a whole grand tour.

[@user-bl6kx5ev7x]

Isn’t the object to win??

[@robertcamillucci1133]

Just win bambino!

[@fujiman7]

I think people are forgetting that Pogacar is on Stage 8 of 42, Giro + Tour. If he finishes the Giro, he'll win. It's more about how much he'll have left in the tank for the Tour and these sprint lead-outs are unnecessary energy expenditures.

[@Liofa73]

He’s won the Tour twice. I’m sure he’ll be happy whatever happens. He’s always smiling.

[@MPLoura]

The 80's and 90's rotted peoples brains.

[@rafacanical]

It must be an Irish thing to pronounce Navarez instead of Narvaez 😂

[@gcnracing]

a Conor thing

[@dantegarcia878]

Greedy? Pogi was always let go. If other teams would just let UAE chase any breaks as it was their loss as big favorite if others win. Ok Pog was head and shoulders above others. BUT uae is not a super team!

[@Carmelo-vr5rg]

Because he have a motor dope bike......