https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/ckvg09p909eoBets on Pogacar going for the Grand Tour treble? He says not, but I wonder if the draw will be too much? Vingegaard could be in much more competitive shape in 2 months.
Quote from: Fultonius on July 20, 2024, 10:03:19 amPeak human efficiency and performance hasn't really changed much in 60 years. Times have.I just can't get excited by it now.This sounds like utter nonsense. Strange statement to throw out with no facts to support it. 'I just can't get excited by it now.'So on that point, when were you excited by cycling or the Tour? In the 90s, epo and Festina?
Peak human efficiency and performance hasn't really changed much in 60 years. Times have.I just can't get excited by it now.
My guess would be that one of the biggest changes in the last 60 years is the size of the talent pool. There are 2.5x as many people in the world, and the percentage of them who might be able to pursue sport professionally must have increased by a huge factor, maybe 10, 100x, 1000x, who knows but massive surely? Assuming a vaguely normal distribution, that sort of increase not only significantly widens the tails (i.e. previously unseen talent levels) plus gives lots more choice at previous 'ultimate' talent levels.
He did look 'extremely fatigued' in Nice right enough.I can't be arsed with Olympic sports where the best athletes don't even compete. Guess that's the simple effect of professionalism and the fact there's no money in it.
Quote from: andy moles on July 23, 2024, 08:15:58 amHe did look 'extremely fatigued' in Nice right enough.I can't be arsed with Olympic sports where the best athletes don't even compete. Guess that's the simple effect of professionalism and the fact there's no money in it.Think it's a bit more complicated than that, one day races vary an enormous amount and while Pogacar is the best cyclist in the world he's not necessarily the best on that course, particularly after most of his concentration has been on the grand tours and much hillier one day classics. MVDP, Van Aert and Evanepoel among others will be competing so it's a very strong field - MVDP in particular has made it clear he is targeting the Olympics and he's pretty inarguably the best in world on that sort of course at the moment (witness his World Champs win last year in Glasgow). For further complication Pogacar is targeting the Worlds in Zurich in September on a course that really suits him - even a rider as good as him is likely to only one get a really good course in the worlds every 3 years or so.
I wasn't suggesting he was the favourite but the point stands - in some sports Olympic gold is the highest achievement but in others it's not, and some or all of the best athletes don't even compete, which I think diminishes it.
Totally, and the lengths countries now go to in identifying these talents and getting them into the right sport, like Roglic testing and having massive VO2 max (although I think he might have already quit ski jumping at that point) I know Team GB do a lot of this talent spotting and assessment too.
Think it's a bit more complicated than that, one day races vary an enormous amount and while Pogacar is the best cyclist in the world he's not necessarily the best on that course, particularly after most of his concentration has been on the grand tours and much hillier one day classics. MVDP, Van Aert and Evanepoel among others will be competing so it's a very strong field - MVDP in particular has made it clear he is targeting the Olympics and he's pretty inarguably the best in world on that sort of course at the moment (witness his World Champs win last year in Glasgow).
I think the Pogi not going to the Olympics has as much (if not everything) to do with the fact that his girlfriend, Urska Zigart, was not selected for the Slovenian team.
I'm not sure I find this very convincing unless there's some statement from Pogi saying as much?
MVDP didn't look on good form* during the Tour this year though. Do you think he'll come good for the Olympics?
Quote from: Paul B on July 24, 2024, 08:58:34 amI'm not sure I find this very convincing unless there's some statement from Pogi saying as much?https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/24/tadej-pogacar-says-decision-not-to-select-girlfriend-helped-sway-olympic-no-show
“It’s not the main reason, but for sure it didn’t help..."