Tadej Pogačar Smashes the Strava KOM on Coll de Rates | GCN Racing News Show

[@gcnracing]

What's the most impressive Strava KOM you've seen so far? Share your favorite!

[@Thorsten-cv7zf]

Pogi Plateau de Beille

[@timballenger1416]

He's not the "best" because he hasn't raced me yet. Then, after he beats me, he can call himself the best. For that reason, I'm not racing him.

[@davidhocevar8510]

I live like 10km away from Pogačars home, and he has most of KOMs in xx km radius, most of them from 2017... once you ride a 10% 2km hill and doing 10km/h average and you almost die, and then see that Pogačar averaged 20kmh is just surreal... The amount of power and fitness thos guys have is crazy :)

[@josiahkatomd6149]

They are so small yet incredibly fit

[@Vise_4]

Where does he live?

[@plantbasedethos5726]

If you take POD your times will also improve, but never like them of course, you need to put in the hours of training

[@rlm4471]

I am the same height and weight as Pog, but I put out like 65% of his power. Hard to fathom.

[@andrasszabo1570]

@Vise_4 Monte-Carlo

[@cb6866]

Thanks Dan and crew . Happy Holidays , be safe !

[@markhall6026]

It Christmas

[@michaelw.lassalle1716]

We all know why he did it, Vingegaards latest videos, showing that he is getting back in form, needed a response, showing us that both are getting ready for the fight against each other. Great days for us cycle fans.

[@JustOneWolf]

Pogi was obviously slowed down by his teammates in the first section 🤣

[@mayalman]

Pog and MVDP are gods on the bike…

[@andyjk5974]

Would like to see another combo on milano sanremo. Im suspecting Poggy will take it this year

[@NoahWinkler-f8i]

Take into mind that Tadej Had been riding over a 100 kilometers before he got to Coll de rates.

[@stevocanuck]

2025 hasn’t even started yet and he’s kicking off the year with a bang

[@tasty_fish]

Merry Christmas Dan and the GCN team. Thanks for fabulous insight and coverage in 2024, all the best for 2025 🎄🎅🏼🚲🚴🏼‍♂️🚴‍♀️

[@DurianriderCyclingTips]

That new colnago so heavy you need a WT team to get the KOM from a local racer hehe.

[@SystemParanoia]

My daughter idolises Ceylin Alvarado, seeing someone that could be her actually winning is a huge inspiration and motivation

[@notreally2406]

I think what's more impressive is that some obscure name only got beaten by Pogacar by 17sec over 12.5min

[@ninibur]

It was a planned KOM attempt for Hansen (and a team effort btw) and Pogacar just did it casually on a 200km ride.

[@rlm4471]

​@@ninibur Also, Pog is probably at his lowest form of the year right now.

[@michael1]

@@rlm4471 Yep, recharging his batteries

[@DAMJANIGLICAR]

And more kg

[@pompeymonkey3271]

Dan, I miss your race commentaries too. :(

[@badodnk]

we are living in the era of the goat of cycling Pogacar. We are so lucky

[@markhill9275]

Not even close, Eddy is the absolute greatest by a huge margin, next is Coppi, Hinault, Binda. Pog has a long way to go.

[@badodnk]

@@markhill9275 okei grandpa. Everyone of those rode in a era where cyclnig was not even competetive. Pogacar doing it in modern day cycling its like night and day they wouldnt even come close to him and they arent. Pogacar already the greatest at age 26. Common knowledge even as easy that logic is.

[@Mike0]

Eddie was full to gills with special medicine, was 50-80watts weaker than modern pros, at 8kg heavier than Pogacar

[@johnnycab8986]

Living in the most doped era of cycling ever.

[@miatomi]

@badodnkPogi himself calls Merckx the goat. Everyone has to compete in the era they’re in

[@krehme]

Thanks Dan, got a giggle about being mentored by a legend of the sport! It will be tough for anyone she is mentoring to question her advice! 😂

[@bhpng1970]

This is from the Parcent side… The other side of the Coll de Rates is much more interesting… Castelle de Castells - Castell de Tàrbena - Coll de Rates - Parcent… the descent to Parcent is great! 😅😊

[@johnnycab8986]

"Similar leadout"....bro you're comparing 5 teenage amateurs leading out a teenage Vingegaard to a full on 60 million dollar train of like 15 dudes leading out peak Pogacar...not exactly 'similar'...Sivakov was doing nearly 480w for the first 2 miles for him.

[@MattGilmourCycling]

I don't know why people are so surprised about pog getting a kom, he's the best rider in the world and can get whatever kom he wants 😂

[@chaiinspace2]

Not entirely true. It's like expecting marathoner kipchoge to be the best in the 800m as well. Am sure he will be super fast but there are specialists

[@Toby-Martin71]

already a banger

[@AndrewTaylor-b2t]

Looks like Pg and the team are getting ready for the Poggio - It's one he really wants to win

[@xwatzzz]

dan looks like he was partying at a wedding yesterday 😇

[@stubestrong]

i bet visma will be testing without posting about the ride on same climb in feb

[@giordani64]

If you're a competitor and wasn't afraid og Pogo before -which you should be - you better ber afraid now. Pogi takes no prisoners

[@professorcalculus5315]

Is Poggie the quickest just due to his genetics? (assuming top pros have roughly same training and approach)

[@matt_acton-varian]

I can ride at 31kph on a 5% climb - for the first 30 seconds at least....

[@oceanedetotes]

it is huge if you can reach 31kph on 5% climb for 30s. Few people can do that

[@matt_acton-varian]

@oceanedetotes It's usually the first thirty seconds after flat or downhill section and I crawl to a stop at second 31 😉

[@DanielGonzalez-td4mo]

I average 38 km/h on the flat tho... every descent is like 45 and above. About the KOM: I think is not about speed, watts, and so, in my opinion Pogacar was sending a clear message to Vingegaard, who was seen doing the same climb starting his season

[@randallflat2010]

that message is "my peds are better than ever".

[@DanielGonzalez-td4mo]

@randallflat2010 exactly, and Pogi perfectly knows how to turn the heat on hehehe

[@discbrakefan]

“I average x on the flat” is the sign of a rookie

[@DanielGonzalez-td4mo]

@@discbrakefan every devoto roadie knows how much is averaging on the flats, climbs and descents

[@Milkywayboy]

@@randallflat2010100% He has found the best cocktail

[@1987MX]

What about Hulst on Saturday? When there are no road news then at least put the cyclocross world cup in the show and not only the MVP show.

[@feedbackzaloop]

Apparently it's "whatever GCN is allowed to get pictures of" show. Quite ironic to promote Discovery+ they parted ways in that exact segment.

[@johnwestwell2241]

@@feedbackzaloop The rights for the World Cup races are owned by the UCI. It's the UCI that licences the races, presumably for a fee.

[@Andy_ATB]

@@johnwestwell2241 It's Flanders Classics for CX World Cup; WB/Discovery for MTB World Cup......

[@feedbackzaloop]

@@johnwestwell2241 presumably? Guess who got granted the exclusive rights up till 2030 then.

[@wizkidcyclist9968]

Merry Christmas everyone!

[@GdF420]

Gee I am soooo surprised

[@supakidgalaxy]

It would be cool if the pros would tackle the KOMs solo like most of us normies do

[@TheHalo14aus]

Yeah, what's the record solo I wonder...

[@marylandflyer5670]

Really, how is anyone surprised Tadej takes KOM crowns??

[@mrcha0s]

WvA said he wasn't doing Mol d/t illness

[@dominicbritt]

He got this KOM at the end of a 200km training ride...with a leadout... No point in getting a Discovery+ subscription for 2025...

[@gcnracing]

It was after 50km of the ride that he took it.

[@madmick9205]

Guarantee I'm able to do the same hill faster! OK, so long as I'm going down it!!!

[@kavumapatrick]

jonas was still a almost And now i think his form is better than that

[@jacakopl]

As amazing athletes as they are - record does not count with team lead out.

[@jeffreydavis3426]

Dropping?

[@Milkywayboy]

454w average 😱

[@fernandosegui1]

Finally well pronounced!!!! R.A.T.E.S.!!!! GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! COLL DE RATES IN THE ALICANTINIAN ALPS WHERE THE PROS TRAIN AND LOTS OF THEM LIVE!!!! THE LAND OF CYCLING "PAR EXCELLENCE"!!!!!!

[@arnoldmuller1703]

Racers putting on 10 kg in the Winter break is a thing of the past, you say. I agree. Strange though it is. It was also known in the past that it is bad for you nevertheless a few maybe just 5% of the pro riders took on that weight, since full weight control over the whole year is simply for some athletes a very tough thing. I think it is no coincidence that we live to see the dissapearance of the problem in times of the big advent of GLP-1 mimetics drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound. Especially since none of these drugs are yet on the WADA bann list AND they most likely are beneficial for a susutained fat-metabolism at higher power output. This all is no opinion it is just facts. In my opinion however this might be the reason for all the fuzz about Zone-2. If you take these drugs you not only loose the drive to overeat but also stay longer at higher watts in fat metabolism, and this is what Zone-2 is all about, right?

[@adamgurule1458]

All the top times on Strava are windblown. Everyone knows that GCN

[@oaklabsoundsystem2305]

I can’t do that on flat.

[@Von45Rose]

OK, I’m gonna be a Buzzkill. I’m sorry but this guy can’t always be smashing every record never getting fatigued. It’s the preseason for God sakes.

[@AndyCapp-q9v]

Pogocar is fast cos Brailsford is not sporting director, remember him from Sky, marginal gains lol

[@chrisko6439]

I like Pogacar and he is a beast on the bike, but beating a 12 and a half minute KOM by 17 seconds is hardly SMASHING it.

[@matkrek]

I don’t think you understand how big that is compared to the top times…

[@DR_1_1]

Agree, and he was "launched" by his team starting the climb at...50+ km/h!!! Well, even without his mates he would have beat the record probably, but even shorter lapse.

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

@@DR_1_1 Almost every KOM is beaten by a group ride or bike race. The very few that are solo are the steepest or niche ones.

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

17 seconds at that pace and at the pointy endis insane. You have to go a load faster just to gain seconds on these climbs, even more so for a flat sprint or tt segment. Think about how often you see two top football teams score more than 3 past each other. Tight margins at the top.

[@DR_1_1]

@@hendrixinfinity3992 The point is he started the race 10-20 km/h faster than the KOM holder, ie more "momentum"... also they are really a top team, and riding at 30 km/h it helps a lot, even in a climb, that's another advantage on some of the previous KOMs.

[@tomkompareus]

Tadej saw that a “Hansen from Denmark” held the KOM on Coll de Rates and had to take it.

[@johnshort4421]

Leadouts do not count, gotta be solo!

[@riropeatr3581]

Pourquoi tous le monde montre les watts sauf lui?? C est de la pourriture ce sport

[@MTBExtraordinaire]

With temperatures getting hotter and hotter .... why on Earth would you ever make a team jersey out of dark colors ???? It's simply stupid. Bora Red Bull being the worst of the bunch. YOu can always put on more clothes but you can't escape a dark jersey in the searing sun when it's 100 degrees. Give me UAE's kit all. day. long.

[@PaulMapstone]

Sorry if you have a train pulling you, not a record in my eyes.

[@plantbasedethos5726]

All on the juice in my opinion, that's why many lost interest in watching cycling. No variations or anything, like most things these days everything looks shallow despite all the advancements in nutrition and technology

[@roadracer1584]

Pogacar has to be juiced.

[@tolstoyed]

because you say so?

[@candacereynolds1723]

Poggy is starting to remind me of what lance armstrong's did, for some years...???...I don't like it...J/S

[@dorianfilho900]

I like GCN content most of the Time. But they dont have the guts to call Bollocks on all those bloddy dopers destroying the honest cyclists out there. And BTW, the honest cyclists should get together and blow the whistles about all this cheaters and there's bonkers performances stronger them those of Lanc'es era. Man, these hypocrisis just drive me mad! I Love Cycling and I can't watch this BS no more!

[@tikilanichols8023]

Is his performance because of doping?

[@Stevehatesgravel]

Can pass anything except a chemist 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@seanadamson280]

Poggie is doped to the eyeballs. If you don't think so you haven't watched enough cycling or you're too young.

[@rubenmartinez4555]

(Ignorant) Troll alert🦧

[@fthrswtch]

Everyone is so who cares?

[@jontywarnetto7127]

How do you know this?

[@Andi_ch]

I won't say he's not... but who are you to tell? Probably never did highest level sports, experienced drug testing and also grogress in training and R&D. You are venom to every sport, claiming being so clever -stay home and shut your mouth

[@stevenmeyer9674]

@@fthrswtch You are wrong on multiple points.

[@dennisjohnston3180]

Everybody is talking about the Pog, what the hell is this guy on, well we will find out, all will be revealed. In the mean time enjoy the show.

[@tolstoyed]

what if whatever you think will be revealed, won’t be?

[@rider65]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 #Ropa-Dope #JuiceBoy

[@plantbasedethos5726]

💯👍

[@steveb.1967]

Pogacar is the new Armstrong. Not saying he's a doper (he probably is). But he just sucks all excitement out of the sport which is PFB to begin with.

[@WilliamWalsh-gd7ju]

I feel like his dominance is quite entertaining and fun. He is a true showman he always wants the win and even goes over the limit to take risks for stage wins. His TT during the tour, while in his home region, was ridiculous. He crushed the descent. I’ve been watching the recent cross races with MVDP and yes he wins by a large margin but the way he races is entertaining. Today especially was quite good, watching him fly over the sand. I love watching a master at work!

[@Blabla123-u4f]

IMO Pogi is MUCH worse than Lance. Lance was only that much juiced up as his opponents but this guy obliterates his also juiced up competiotions as if there is no tomorrow and everybody acts as if this could be done just by eating clean and having fun,….. 🙈🤡😂

[@karl8805]

What? The best era of cycling was the armstrong days.... until now

[@alessandrodorsi9800]

ACME 😅

[@derickcastillo9083]

We could say about Van Der Poel that his is lucky that Pogi has no interest in cyclocross. Just saying:)

[@karl8805]

Pogs not powerful enough for cross

[@Andy_ATB]

@@karl8805 Doesn't have the skills either......MvdP would lap him......

[@marcvb3364]

@@Andy_ATB LOL. Pogi was slovenian XC champion, he just doesn't race anymore...

[@randallflat2010]

How can anyone take this cheat seriously? Didn't any of you follow racing during the Armstrong era, at all? You really think this is all legit and he is just some wunderkind inhuman rider? really? Wow, just wow. He isn't smashing records, he's smashing the tiny shred of whatever is left of integrity in the "sport" of cycling.

[@Blabla123-u4f]

💯 Those Pogi Fanboys are really some 🤡🤡🤡🤡s-Club. You can‘t make that sh*t up. 😂 While they are actual adults, some people stay little naive kids in their head, thinking that when they are only think hard enough that something is true, it becomes true. Thats also the reason they aggressively defend Pogi and the associated shit show that hard. You don‘t need a positive Sample at first, you are actually able to use your common sense/ critical thinking abilities without any evidence. 🙄 IMO the question is not, IF he is on gear or not, but what he‘s on making him that much better that the rest of his juiced up opponents at least at the top 10.

[@troycollett8540]

He’s not cheating you muppet

[@hendrixinfinity3992]

if he's cheating then everyone is. Because if the drugs or hormones are available and go under the radar you bet everyone's had a slice of the pie. This is why I find it pretty incredulous when someone says they're cheating. You've got the worlds best doctors screening them for any abnormality which could give advantage, not just specific substances but blood iron and oxygen levels, blood sugars, hormone levels etc. et al. And we do see people caught and banned for doping every now and then, so its not like it doesn't happen. He rose to the top of his sport at a time when sports science is maturing as a science. Not really surprising that he's breaking records set in the doping era, since all doping is is increasing the lactate threshold, lactate clearance, and oxygen intake. Take a wild guess at what we can do through nutrition and training now?

[@brian193a]

Pog has been smashing records since he was a teenager, you think he's been doping all that time? He's a generational talent. The comparison with Lance is rubbish. Lance was a noboby until he had cancer, then suddenly he was amazing. No comparison.

[@brian193a]

@@kpsig since he was 12? Get real.

[@benmowbray1400]

People who live on earth when Gods will is done on earth as it in done in heaven as Jesus said in the Lords prayer will possess abundant everlasting energy as the kingdom brings the entire human family back to total human perfection and the athletic ability of a person will far exceed anything that any famous bike racer could ever do today as an example of that sort of power recorded in the Bible were that of Elijah and Samson who were empowered by the only true God .Elijah out ran wicked Ahab 1 Kings 18 :45 46 and Samsons strength to drag the gates of Jerusalem uphill as Judges 16:1-3 explains and being unbeatable against Gods opponents the Phillistines as Judges 15:9-19 explains .

[@canadiandeplorable4512]

This just proves what a cycling coach told me years ago.”Better Drugs ! “

[@mikethomas4842]

100%

[@c0mm3nt-m8e]

Shouldn't Pogacar do proper base training instead of taking Strava segments?

[@mad4mymini]

Are you giving him training advice?😂😂

[@c0mm3nt-m8e]

@mad4mymini bit worried that wouldn't waste himself till summer 😂

[@marcvb3364]

These days proper base training normally includes at least one day of very high intensity a week and a lot of gym work

[@Chuck-i4h]

Doping is a wonderful thing. Is he a great rider? Sure he is. Is he an unrepentant doper? Sure can’t argue that he isn’t.

[@Janthonyx]

But can you prove it?

[@deanwaring6100]

Pro cycling is so clean 🤣🤣🤣

[@cornellmiller2315]

looks amrstrongy dont care what anybody says

[@alannorman1773]

Pog will get caught sooner or later Make of that what you will

[@Meinkampfmusicgroup]

Lance Armstrong won 7 TF.......

[@mikethomas4842]

What else would expect from a drug cheat

[@ion2763]

Ahh doping after the season nice

[@RalphB-d9n]

Looks like Pogi has got the doping dialed in for next season...no doubt!!!👎Especially when you hide your power and HR numbers. Guilty!!!!!

[@bozidarsicel3884]

👏👏👏💯💯💯👍👍👍♥️♥️♥️✌️✌️✌️🎉🎉🎉🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄