Eddy Merckx on Jumbo Visma in the TdF...
#1
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Eddy Merckx on Jumbo Visma in the TdF...
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As usual he's right and wrong. Jumbo-Visma need more time on Pogacar. I just don't see how or where they could have gotten more time. Other than the wind split, Pogacar basically paced Roglic. Stage 8, when Pogacar attacked, Roglic clearly didn't have the legs to immediately follow. Maybe he made a mistake not to try harder to chase on Stage 8.
The only thing Visma could have done differently is set a slower tempo, invite attacks, and make others expend energy to chase them down. But that opens a LOT of doors for other contenders.
The other thing Visma could have done is better preparation for the ITT. It's clear UAE set the ITT as a goal, and made sure to get a lot of practice in. It seemed like Visma planned to rely on a general fitness and ITT practice. Probably 99% of the time their preparation and 59s lead is enough. Pogacar set a trap though.
The only thing Visma could have done differently is set a slower tempo, invite attacks, and make others expend energy to chase them down. But that opens a LOT of doors for other contenders.
The other thing Visma could have done is better preparation for the ITT. It's clear UAE set the ITT as a goal, and made sure to get a lot of practice in. It seemed like Visma planned to rely on a general fitness and ITT practice. Probably 99% of the time their preparation and 59s lead is enough. Pogacar set a trap though.
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Merckx wrong? Sacrilege!
I think you meant to say he's right and right, but perhaps could have added some more and been more right. gsa103 . But, yeah, to your point, he doesn't completely lay out an actionable alternative.
My DS skills are non-existent. Even though I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express a while back, all I can think of is the sort of heroic wackiness that someone like Contador pulled when he was down and all in for first not a podium, or Froome's Lazarus stage on that Giro (or was it the Vuelta?). Not the sort of things you'd expect to see from a team protecting a 1m lead and not needing to sandbag a non-climbing non-time-trialing pretender. So I dunno what they coulda woulda shoulda done.
But maybe that's why I'm not a DS. And Merckx is the GOAT.
I think you meant to say he's right and right, but perhaps could have added some more and been more right. gsa103 . But, yeah, to your point, he doesn't completely lay out an actionable alternative.
My DS skills are non-existent. Even though I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express a while back, all I can think of is the sort of heroic wackiness that someone like Contador pulled when he was down and all in for first not a podium, or Froome's Lazarus stage on that Giro (or was it the Vuelta?). Not the sort of things you'd expect to see from a team protecting a 1m lead and not needing to sandbag a non-climbing non-time-trialing pretender. So I dunno what they coulda woulda shoulda done.
But maybe that's why I'm not a DS. And Merckx is the GOAT.
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Saying Pogacar's best chance was to stay in touch and wait for the TT isn't the same as saying Vismo got it wrong. They had a reasonable expectation that 57 seconds would be enough. This expectation was shared by all the 'experts' on British Eurosport who were predicting Roglic to stay in yellow right up to the point where Pogacar started the final climb. Interesting to watch back at how Wiggins was pointing out how Roglic was preparing and performing better till Pogacar's advantage pushed out to over 30sec. then the narrative changed gradually to one of 'you're watching history being made'.
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He sounds right. Pogacar rode like he was essentially a member of JV, just along for the ride, until the right time (TT)
and who am I to question Eddy Merckx!
and who am I to question Eddy Merckx!
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