Professional Cycling 2025 - PoGOATcar?
A thread for discussing the professional cycling season 2025.
The season is fully on with many races already being done, and another being raced right now.
That race is arguably the most beautiful race of the season, Strade Bianche.
In contrast to how unpredictable cycling used to be, there's no point in discussing who will win because we already know Pogacar will win, so the most interesting question is probably: when will he attack and crush everyone?
Pogacar had arguably the greatest season of all time last year, winning the Giro + Tour double (+ 12 stages), World Championship, two monuments and many other races. Many are already touting him as the GOAT of cycling, which I think is not an unfair claim, given his dominance, racing style and versatility. But perhaps worst of all - he's very likable (at least when he's winning).
Will it be another season of pure relentless dominance or will Jonas Vingegaard or perhaps even Remco Evenepoel or someone else be able to challenge him?
Pogacar certainly had a season for the ages, but to claim GOAT he'll need to sustain it for a while longer.
Looking forward to the start of Paris-Nice tomorrow. I was confused browsing the list entries, I thought Romain Bardet retired at the end of last season, but apparently his last race will be the Dauphine.
Yeah, I agree. One could argue for best in terms of sheer dominance (though I know there have been very dominant riders in the past, doing it in the modern era in this manner is unprecedented), but for the GOAT he needs to keep it up. But it's absurd to think it's even a conversation at a time when he's 26 - he's two years younger than Froome was when he won his first Tour for crying out loud!
Last season was unimaginably good.
If looking only at the races where he 'tried' to win and had a realistic chance (i.e., not sprint stages and not stages where a break was far ahead and won), he only failed to win 7 times last year - which includes 4 second places and 2 thirds.
It's difficult to imagine that season record will ever be beaten - but at the same time it would not surprise me in the slightest if he beats it himself this year lol.
Today he even managed to beat my jinx and despite a rough crash still won convincingly. Have mercy.
I know I'm a reluctant GOAT anointer, but man Pogacar keeps building an incredible case. Just absolutely destroyed the field from distance in Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Made it look easy.
It amazes me that events like the Tour have disappeared off North American TV more CDN Tv . Heck the Tour De France is not even broadcast anymore
I know I'm a reluctant GOAT anointer, but man Pogacar keeps building an incredible case. Just absolutely destroyed the field from distance in Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Made it look easy.
Yeah it's incredible. That being said, I kind of feel like he isn't as good as he was last year, although he's obviously still levels above everyone else. But he feels (marginally) less untouchable than last year (but maybe it's just me being hopeful for VingeGOAT)
It amazes me that events like the Tour have disappeared off North American TV more CDN Tv . Heck the Tour De France is not even broadcast anymore
Really? That's absurd. Might change with the new 'One Cycling' idea, who knows.
MADSSSSS
So happy for him, he's in the best shape of his life so good to reap the rewards.
It amazes me that events like the Tour have disappeared off North American TV more CDN Tv . Heck the Tour De France is not even broadcast anymore
Gotta sign-up for those streaming services!! Pretty soon every sporting event will require some subscription.
At least that is what NBC has done. At least every leg is on Peacock live and on-demand.
as far as GOAT stuff goes, despite Tadej being by far my favourite ever cyclist in my 40+ years of watching the sport, I agree it's way too early.
Of course he needs to sustain his all round dominance for another 3-5 years and fight off a new batch of challengers, but before even that I think he needs to decisively beat Jonas at the Tour when he is fully fit. Jonas dominated Tadej in 2023 and beat him well in 2022 as well and while maybe Tadej had excuses, particularly in 23...so did Jonas last year. Cycling is way way more than the Grand Tours and Tadej is clearly the best all round rider of his generation, but the Tours and le Tour is how the world keeps score
I am very hopeful for a heathy and competitive Tour this year with all key riders ready to go
Lemond... Greater than Indurain and Greater than Merckx.
and this guy...
What an incredible stage. Yates redemption on Finestre.
Kicked myself for watching friday's stage for hours where nothing happened but yesterday did not disappoint.
No matter how much UAE/Del Toro try to picture it as a "well played Simon, great experience for our young guy" this was a catastrophic - and frankly bizarre- way to blow a race
Highlight of Yates’ career
Great result for Pog this weekend. Very positive signs for his Tour although Jonas also looking strong
Yeah, Pogi is looking incredibly strong. It's somewhat of a classic for him to have a day (the TT) where everyone is wondering if he's cooked, followed by a day where he destroys everyone else (similar to the Tour two years ago).
Pogi will be the man to beat, and I am worried if Vingegaard will be good enough. That being said, historically, Vingegaard has only gotten better and better over the Tour, and he's not one to crack.
Pogi is also a lot better than when Vingegaard last beat him. That said, Vingegaard has also improved - and he also had his best performance of all time (allegedly) last year at the Tour when he didn't prepare optimally, and he has gotten better this year, according to Visma. So while it is certainly a possibility that Pogi will wipe the floor with everyone, I'm cautiously optimistic and hope that we will at the very least have a competitive Tour (preferably with Vingegaard as the winner).
Yeah, Pogi is looking incredibly strong. It's somewhat of a classic for him to have a day (the TT) where everyone is wondering if he's cooked, followed by a day where he destroys everyone else (similar to the Tour two years ago). Pogi will be the man to beat, and I am worried if Vingegaard will be good enough. That being said, historically, Vingegaard has only gotten better and
I liked your post all the way up until the final 6 words.
Please wash out your dirty mouth after that heresy
Bad mistake by Remco and the team yo lose that time today
