Ditto, Chris' channel is my go to commentator, I thought I was an experienced and knowledgeable racer, but I'm still learning so much more from watching his channels.
I don't know what impressed me more; Pogocar's complete and utter domination during this cycling season, or, Chris Horner's flawless analysis and entertaining delivery of non knuckleheaded cycling coverage. Thanks Chris, after a hiatus of dozens of years, I've become interested in cycling again thanks to the butterfly effect. Couldn't wait for every episode to drop and i'm really sad it's over!
If there was ever a cyclist deserving the 'Sportman of the year' award, it is Pogacar in 2024! What a phenomenal year he had considering he won 25/57 racing days in 2024. Thank you Chris for the great coverage throughout 2024!
It has to be extremely difficult to be in the best form of your life and knowing that the best you can hope for is silver or bronze. Tadej was simply at another level this year. I am glad to be alive to witness it.
@@sandydennylives1392 yeah how do they do it? yates got a lot better at UAE, sivakov is looking incredible right now and all their young guns are making huge steps. they seem to be on another level when it comes to the development of their riders, even tadej improved.
@@tilmania361 They are all cherry picked top talents with proven past form. Their main job is to make the road as easy as possible for Pog before his moment of attack. So they train specifically for phased efforts. And UAE can pay for top background staff. Rog is exceptional at keeping his form at 34, they are not as good as him. Good riders will grow better then plateau at that level. Pogi had two main teams for the Giro and then for the Tour so his full team is not all going full gas all the time at the same time, they are rotated.
UAE have now perfected their 'peeling the onion' tactics to launch the Pogacharge. I thought Remco could close the gap on Pog after the Sormano, because of his time-trialling ability. But it's one thing to race a 30 km time trial fresh from the start and completely another to try and do so, after 200 km already in the legs.
Pogacar keeps getting better and better. I believe that he still hasn't seen what he can still really can do. His confidence is gaining momentum and it really shows. Chapeau!
UAE Team Emirates has been phenomenal this season with almost 100% help win for Pogi. Regards on Milan-SanRemo. Next year they have Spanish teenager Pablo Torres for more climbing power. What a team 👏
Thx, Chris (and Garrett!) for all yr hard work over this magnificent 2024 season! Getting yr take on all the racing (and other hot topics) is ALWAYS the next best thing after watching the action unfold~u'r channel is hands down the BEST!!!👊🦋
The cat as Tibieri lost the Brake…Made my day 😂. Thx for your grate work Chris all year long! All the best from Switzerland . Looking forward to the next Saison of 2025 🚴🚴🏼♀️💨
It's easy to be a fan of Tadej. I mean, amazing rider, yes, but how can you not love when he does things like give a kid his water bottle in the middle of a race.
Hi Chris Thank you for a wonderful year of commentary and analysis. I look forward to and enjoy your take on each race PS, got to cycle with the legend, Dan Martin in Ireland
Thank you so much, Chris! It's a pleasure to see your analysis and insights! I thought I knew a lot about cycling, but no. Keep up your fantastic work!🦋
Running out of superlatives to describe the man. Talk about domination on a consistent level tells all about his commitment for greatness.Ending the season on a high note just added to his legend. POGA-CHAMP was once again brutal on the climbs. Kudos to his entire UAE team who did a wonderful job in controlling the race all through out. 🚴🚴🚴🇵🇭❤️🌈
@ChrisHorner, great analysis as always. Would you say at this point (sprint friendly races/stages being the exception), Pogacar/UAE are unbeatable regardless of what any other teams do tactically? Pogacar is just too strong 💪🏼
Yes. UAE have to mess up tactically to lose when Pogi is this fit and he’s teammates are this strong. Or there would need to be a combination of Jonas, Roglic, Remco, Wout, and MVDP on their best form to battle Pogi. Since the WC road race neither of them were a 100%. 🤔💪🦋👊
5:00 - lights and tunnel. Very, very good point. I've been riding with lights during the day for over 30 years. For most of that time, I got well-intentioned comments about having my lights on that assumed it was a mistake and losing battery power. I'd reply, "Great, you saw them". Folks got the point. I tested the idea on country lanes in rural England where the trees and hedges overhang the road so you move in and out of dark, very bright patches, and glaring, depending on position of the sun and wet on the road. I asked car drivers I met parked up having picnics what worked best for them. They said lights on was best and flashing lights better than steady. As a car driver in such conditions myself, what they said matched my own experience where bicycles could vanish even if I was staring at them. Nowadays, we can buy lights that are intended for daylight riding. Question: with all the emphasis on aero and weight... then adding lights front and rear (two at front and two at back, for the amateur, without team support, what's the point of ultra light and aero if you have to add lights, carry pump, toolkit, GoPro type cameras to record incidents, and, now I'm old and had a heart attack, I have phone, backup charger, cables (in case I end up in hospital), pills, HR monitor, etc? I'm saving up for a new set of USB-C front and rear lights and wondering about motion detectors for cars and changing flash rates when they get close
I don't know but this must be the best season a rider has ever done! I'm glad to hear you compare him to Mercx, i think he has even more potential! Baume Mollema, 37, eaqualled the participation record, he's planning to get it all for himself next year. The style of Progaçar is very beautiful and spectacular. But why aim for perfection if you can take less risks? Beautiful, but maybe he''ll pay it one day? I'm less worried about him burning out before his time now, but it's so (too?)perfect, even his mistakes serve him...
Not one with much time for ball sports, tho' I do enjoy some post-game chatter about them. Getting to be that way for me with the pro road scene. You make it more exciting, Chris, than the races themselves,. Tadej goes for broke and everyone else goes up in smoke. 😀
Thanks for a great season. Its great to have watched your channel grow into what it is now. I really hope this isnt a lance thing we are witnessing. Its hard to see how one guy can be so dominant over the quality that exists in the peleton in this day and age. Its s really dominant team tadej has. Why they are letting fisher black go is a surprise to me. I do hope jonas comes back strong next year to make next season competitive. These 10 minute plus victories we saw at the giro and tdf make me wonder. I hope im wrong
Hi Chris, Given Pogacar's dominance, likely extending into 2025, what strategies could rivals employ to challenge him? Are there specific tactics that could level the playing field? For instance, might teams need to collaborate more, orchestrating breakaways with strong riders to wear out UAE's support riders? Best regards
@@dizyaster7700 Who is the doper? What is your expertise and knowledge? It is not like the Armstrong era where people were getting popped left and right.
Hi Chris, you should try the Director Sportif gig. Your understanding of cycling tactics is on another level. I bet you'd whip the Solerism into tactical shape 😂😂😂😂
I thought the TdLomb-dee was kind of an unexciting. So TP just is the best racer and all the races he enters. So it was really boring. Then I saw this video and you made it a lot more exciting for me. Thanks for helping me understand pro chess on bicycles. Blessings, Jim
As I think about it, Chris, you can't bail out on us now. There is still the Singapore crit, Cav's last race. Plus we need a preview on who's gonna win. 😀
would have been really interesting to see what would have happened if he had raced in the Olympics. If he takes the win there, that would have been a season that would take generations to duplicate, if ever.
Tadej Pogacar best achievements this year: Winning Tour De France. Winning Giro. Winning World Championships. And my favorite and most important achievement, making Jonas cry couple times…. 😎🍾 Brave majstore…. :)
Favorite quote from Tadej this year: "I didn't think the gravel would be so gravel-ly" -- from the TdF gravel stage. Also his 1-2-3 finger count behind the back on stage 21 of the TdF was a boss move.
I am a fan, too, of Remco. He's fun to watch, and his interviews are one of the best. A bit cocky. Me 🤔 I like it, not boring at all. Now, in general, Americans and Dutch have a different mentality. Like "I am going to win this race, upfront." "That's where I am going to attack. "... In Belgium, especially flemish people don't like this kind of mentality at all. Since my father is Dutch, my mother Flemish, I have seen the difference in mentality from the 1st row. I prefer the Dutch mentality. Just speaking your mind and ambition. However, I have to be careful with my Flemish relatives. They consider this as being rude, not done. Being humble, not showing your ambition, is the way to be. Even if you are the best, proven again and again, you still need to communicate like this. "I don't know if I am going to win this, but I worked hard for it, let's hope so, the competition is strong" Even if the competition is not and you are the absolute favorite.😂
@@yvesgysel9834 Well said! I agree 100%. I am American, however, I work with others in Belgium. I see this humble attitude in my interactions with them, which I respect and strive to replicate. I believe Remco's climbing skills have improved, which he needs imo. I hope this continues and translates into more Grand Tour success. Next year, I'd like to see Remco surprise Tadej by hanging with him in the mountains.
@user-cx2bk6pm2f Remco is not liked at all by most Belgian fans. I am doing business with Belgians and Dutch people. Big difference!!! In both cases, you need to be professional, of course. However the Dutch will give you automatically their honest feedback, while the Belgians will not. (They find this offending), so they rather keep their mouths shut. What I do, is sending a personal, polite mail and asking them and always end with a positive note. Like, pls don't hesitate to contact me back in the future, for a next project I will do my absolute best. I would love hearing from you again. Thank you very much, for having faith in me/us😂 It's humble and at the same time, they know you are not offended at all.😂
Remco interview at the finish, What he said: “I'm happy…I was just trying to find my own rhythm which was a good one…” And what he said during the race: “you riders need to do what I say when I say” 😡
That's how Remco is. It's his nature. Especially during the race. However If you meet him beyond the scenes he's actually a lovely guy with a great sense of humor. 😂
So, what is left to win for TP? MSR, Roubaix, le Dauphine, Suisse and the Vuelta. All in '25? Why not at this rate, but you can be assured there's a weakness and someone will find it.
From the look of things, nobody at the moment can put pressure on Pogacar. Remco just proved to be also a distance from this monster. It seems he can even do anything without assistance from his team. CH must now starting calling Pogacar A team or A page as the only rider in that division. 😊
So Chris, did Pagi just close out the greatest season ever? I for one am not ready to say that he's close to eclipsing Merckx's career acheivements, but this year seems to rival Merckx's miracle year (69 or 70?). Tadej is the first rider that Merckx was reported to have recently said "He is superior to me."
When Evenopoel won the Junior Worlds in Austria a few years back, he was touted as the next Eddy Merckx. They all forgot about Pog who is the real Merckx challenger for GOAT . The problem I have is getting my head around whether Pog is the real deal or another doper?
You're asking the wrong question because Merckx, the "GOAT" himself was busted for doping 3x during his career. The right question would be, why is Merckx the doper considered the GOAT?
I hope Pogi is not the new Merckx. Merckx used doping. Was caught three times. So you can assume he used it throughout his career. But with MAURO GIANETTI who even used experimental doping substances, which put him in a coma for three days. Then also as trainer of Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli, whom he doped and were caught in the 2008 Tour de France... I no longer believe in fairy tales
The best thing is that the curent season ended, phiuu. Let’s hope that these boys that have crashed this year heavily will have more luck next year to allow us to see some interesting racing…
+10W? Chris please - this guy pushes 6.5W/kg for 20-30mins like it was a Sunday family ride - not even laboring and puts 3mins+ into one of the best TT guys. It’s like Cat 1 rider racing against Cat 4s. Mindblowing.
Wonder if it was a good call for pog to skip the vuelta. I think better to end strong with world and Lombardia than, for example, triple tour/giro/(a weak startlist) vuelta and losing at the worlds
fausto coppi record ! i like it when the rainbow win !🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 remco ,ok ,but where are the other riderS ? is roglic finish? thanks for commentary great race njoylife🐱
It sure seemed like Tadej gained tine on the descents. He looked way smoother and faster. Remco has downhill ghosts on this race course. He was going wide and breaking into the turns and tried to accelerate out. He looked tentative to me. Still a great effort, but Pogi is one of kind.
@@petedog9581 This is purely about the decent and Pog was definitely flying on it. I am not sure he could go much faster there. Remco might have paid for that fast decent afterwards though.
@@MDP1702 How? He wasn't using much energy. Maybe mental stress, but he knew he was racing for 2nd. Pogi a better descender. He just rode proper lines and carried speed better. He played it safe. Remco is getting better in the mountains. I think he is built more like a sprinter, and will never compete w the elite climbers. Pogi is everything.
@@petedog9581 You're still spending a lot of energy pushing on a fast descend. Sure nothing like climbing, but it also follows riding on the limit climbing right before. Remco literally is an elite climber? Only Pog and Jonas are currently better (and Roglic maybe similar level).
I think Remco should spend a little less time complaining to other riders when they won’t pull with him. It seems there’s at least one photo per race with him throwing up his arm and chewing out some guy from another team that doesn’t want to take the pointy end. Why would anyone except his teammates want to help pull Evenepoel toward a podium.
Well, Pogacar had a really good year, but I think he missed making real history by bypassing the Vuelta. Given his form at the Tour de France, I expected him to race and win the Vuelta.
His not being there may have been his thanks to Primoz for the '20 Tour support. Primoz needed La Vuelta and sure, Tadej would've likely won, but it was better for the sport that he not snatch that, too. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing and if he dominates everything, fine, just give him the trophy at the start and we'll do something else with our time. And this is no knock on Tadej, more on everyone else who can't make a mighty locomotive and do the locomotion.
@robbchastain3036 Tadej needed the WC much more than the Vuelta. He can win the Vuelta any time he wants. The WC is more of a lottery so if you got the form it's better to try for the rainbows. And the WC has more prestige. If he rode the Vuelta I think he'd have been too tired at Zurich
@@rafalpruszynski6129 Yours is a fair point but that's the fun of speculation, no? I think the GT sweep would have been more impressive but that's just my take, the WC jersey for a one-day race has always seemed like an exaggeration to me, should be a season-long points winner or at least the winner of a series of events for that jersey in all disciplines. And just make the Worlds a big Week of Speed with a colorful jersey for the winners, something festive to wear if they want in other races.
@robbchastain3036 think of it like this. Rwanda, Montreal, and Haute Savoie are all perfect for Pogačar. He now has a chance to beat Sagan's 3 consecutive WCRR wins. That wouldn't be possible if he didn't win in Zurich.
Yep. Fuel is burned differently in everyone. But one thing is always certain. The best athletes burn their fuel slower than everyone else, or have more of it to begin with. 😂🦋👊💪
@@ChrisHornerCycling He and apparently the entire team have changed their diet and the way they have trained this year. Tadej talked briefly in an interview about fasting prior to training rides and not taking in any calories for a few hours or more during the training ride. Glycogen is depleted and ketones are used. He's become fat adapted and essentially bonk proof. The longer the race the more likely others that have not trained that way may have issues with fuel. I did that 3 decades ago and it still effects my metabolism in a very positive way.
@@davidfrye7713 go listen to some of his coaches UA-cam videos the guy is very smart and doing some great research with disease's in the general population especially cancer.
Don't worry The tyranny of pogi will be controlled in 2025 when Vingergaard comes rejuvenated by consuming fish oil during the winter. Also, Vismas signed our man Capenarts, Simon Yates, and Alex Zingle. Aaaaand they also signed the under 23 Workd champion who is a giant. Don't be surprised if Bingergaard competes in the world championship. Remco will soil his pampers too.
Can someone explain please. When a break of 23 riders forms why can't let's say Pogacar jump in it as well and ride in the middle of it. Then the break will never ride anywhere. Why does a team like UAE allows a break with strong riders go 5 min ahead to only pull like crazy to catch it? Just watch it and never let it form. I need more "breakaway" understanding
That wouldn't likely happen. If Pogacar makes the breakaway from too far away, he'd be isolated from the rest of his team. The other riders would constantly attack. Even Pogacar can't cover that many attacks by himself; he'd get worn out. Let's say they didn't attack. They'd sit on his wheel, let him eat the wind, tire himself out, and then attack. UAE can let the breaks form because often times the breakaway riders aren't necessarily the best climbers, and large groups of breakaway riders don't always work well together. Some won't want to take pulls on the front. UAE often brings some very strong climbers that cut down the breakaway lead, and at the same time, they drop those in the peloton who tire out on the climbs too. This applies more on hilly/mountainous stages.
@Septavius thank you. These are good points. It is just if UAE didn't have 5 top climbers in peloton Pogcar would ever be in a position to launch because breakaway would be 4 min ahead. I mean he could catch some and many of them..but not 25 times. So the super team is responsible for most of these wins
Chris. Love your podcast. However I am watching these performances and seeing TP numbers, and fail to understand why you and most former pros are not commenting on the elephant in the room (on the road) that is TP. He is clearly doped. Even Lance and JB have eluded to this, and chuckle. Realize that you cannot comment openly......but geesh. Pretending this is all a result of training and nutrition is just ridiculous. What TP did yesterday is not possible in todays world where every rider is so well trained. He blew the race apart and won by a margin not seen in over 50 years. Saying it is a result of tactics is also mad. TP crossed the finish line looking like he just finished Coffee ride with some junior racers......not out of breath or looking remotely tired. Cycling is in trouble once again.......and Omerta is strong. Younger and newer ignorant fans are quick to say TP is just a genetic freak.....or has modern training methods......or an "unusual Heart or lactic buffering". We have heard all this before. Sad days.
No, he's fresh because he didn't participate at the Vuelta. The Vuelta is another 3 weeks of hard racing which is stressful on your body and your mental health. So no regrets.
He looks fresh because he had a break after the Tour. This was the first year that he’s done 2 GTs, trying to win 3 when you’re already cooked is asking too much.
Pogi's team boss said he didn't want him to race La Vuelta after winning the Giro and the Tour because there would be a significant risk of burning out. Of course it would look great in the record books but he's only just turned 26 years old, so there's plenty of time to consider the possibility when he's a bit older and more mature.
Can’t wait for the greatest rainbow fueled season ever in 2025 ! The jersey does amazing things for certain riders and I’m feeling like 2025 will be like no other !
Tadej was a forgone conclusion in my opinion, for me Cuiccone and Remo showed some great tactical sense and rode smart for excellent podium finishes. As for Piddock, he won't be in the pro peloton next year for Ineos, for what he's been paid and the expectations, he's failed badly, a few brief sparkles, but he's not happy, nor is the management. He should probably go back to cross or MTB. Ineos also needs to reassess their goals and team direction.
What a season it was indeed. Pogi just brought it 100% this season,no holds barred. Thanks for a great season coverage,Chris!
👊🦋
No, we just happened to miss the best version of Jonas Vingegaard. To be fixed next season. Expect fireworks! 🎉
Chris, You are the "Pogacar" of the commentators of Cycling ! Great year in your Channel
Ditto, Chris' channel is my go to commentator, I thought I was an experienced and knowledgeable racer, but I'm still learning so much more from watching his channels.
UAE found a money printer cheat code glitch that is Tadeh Pogatchar
no he's not, Pogi is juiced....Chris Horner is all natural...knucklehead😂
I don't know what impressed me more; Pogocar's complete and utter domination during this cycling season, or, Chris Horner's flawless analysis and entertaining delivery of non knuckleheaded cycling coverage. Thanks Chris, after a hiatus of dozens of years, I've become interested in cycling again thanks to the butterfly effect. Couldn't wait for every episode to drop and i'm really sad it's over!
Thanks for your analysis this year. It really advanced my understanding of tactics and was really well produced.
Thanks. 👊👍🦋
If there was ever a cyclist deserving the 'Sportman of the year' award, it is Pogacar in 2024! What a phenomenal year he had considering he won 25/57 racing days in 2024.
Thank you Chris for the great coverage throughout 2024!
Lombardia is underrated. Love this race
It’s a beautiful race. I think at this time of year most riders aren’t at their peak, though.
The course is so different. Each monument has its own style to it. 🦋👊
Gorgeous course 👌🏼
It has to be extremely difficult to be in the best form of your life and knowing that the best you can hope for is silver or bronze. Tadej was simply at another level this year. I am glad to be alive to witness it.
His team is at another level as well don't forget
@@sandydennylives1392 No doubt, A few of them could lead their own teams. I hope Marc Hirschi does well with his new team, he's a great rider.
@@sandydennylives1392 yeah how do they do it? yates got a lot better at UAE, sivakov is looking incredible right now and all their young guns are making huge steps. they seem to be on another level when it comes to the development of their riders, even tadej improved.
@@tilmania361 They are all cherry picked top talents with proven past form. Their main job is to make the road as easy as possible for Pog before his moment of attack. So they train specifically for phased efforts. And UAE can pay for top background staff. Rog is exceptional at keeping his form at 34, they are not as good as him. Good riders will grow better then plateau at that level. Pogi had two main teams for the Giro and then for the Tour so his full team is not all going full gas all the time at the same time, they are rotated.
In Slovenia the air and water are magical....
Bravo TADEJ !😊
Magical indeed, or not....
UAE have now perfected their 'peeling the onion' tactics to launch the Pogacharge. I thought Remco could close the gap on Pog after the Sormano, because of his time-trialling ability. But it's one thing to race a 30 km time trial fresh from the start and completely another to try and do so, after 200 km already in the legs.
Un humain ne peut battre un mutant 😞
The sad cat image when you mentioned Tiberi was perfection!
Thank you for your insight Chris! Your commentary over the season made it so much more enjoyable!
Congratulations and a big thank you Chris 🎉
"This is awesome, I've spent hours getting to and waiting at this great vantage point. Hey, here comes a rider...I'll waddle across the road now" 😉
This time I will forgive her just because Siv was on heat sinking missile mode. But hopefully she learned a lesson. 🤪🦋👊
I will not forgive intended recklessness.
Lately, i seemed to be looking forward to your comment Chris...after every single race.
A job well done...❤
I’ve had smaller cattle cross the road in front of me.
Pogacar keeps getting better and better. I believe that he still hasn't seen what he can still really can do. His confidence is gaining momentum and it really shows. Chapeau!
chris ! apreciate your tactical advice ! but this guy is head and shoulders above the rest physicaly !
Yep. He’s number one for a reason. 💪🦋
Thank you for a wonderful 2024 Looking forward to see you in 2025🎉
Congrats to Tajed! Amazing season! If you love to watch races to see who finishes in second place, watch pro cycling!
Jonas who? Thanks Chris, for your fine work all season!
UAE Team Emirates has been phenomenal this season with almost 100% help win for Pogi. Regards on Milan-SanRemo. Next year they have Spanish teenager Pablo Torres for more climbing power. What a team 👏
he is from another planet! what an amazing season. made me fall in love with cycling again.
Thx, Chris (and Garrett!) for all yr hard work over this magnificent 2024 season! Getting yr take on all the racing (and other hot topics) is ALWAYS the next best thing after watching the action unfold~u'r channel is hands down the BEST!!!👊🦋
The cat as Tibieri lost the Brake…Made my day 😂. Thx for your grate work Chris all year long! All the best from Switzerland . Looking forward to the next Saison of 2025 🚴🚴🏼♀️💨
I see a new Chris video, I stop everything I'm doing and sit in the Chester field 🦋
It's easy to be a fan of Tadej. I mean, amazing rider, yes, but how can you not love when he does things like give a kid his water bottle in the middle of a race.
That was cool 👊🦋
Hi Chris
Thank you for a wonderful year of commentary and analysis. I look forward to and enjoy your take on each race
PS, got to cycle with the legend, Dan Martin in Ireland
Thank you so much, Chris!
It's a pleasure to see your analysis and insights! I thought I knew a lot about cycling, but no.
Keep up your fantastic work!🦋
Thanks Chris, wonderful coverage and insights throughout a great season
Running out of superlatives to describe the man. Talk about domination on a consistent level tells all about his commitment for greatness.Ending the season on a high note just added to his legend. POGA-CHAMP was once again brutal on the climbs. Kudos to his entire UAE team who did a wonderful job in controlling the race all through out. 🚴🚴🚴🇵🇭❤️🌈
🇸🇮👊🦋💪
@ChrisHorner, great analysis as always. Would you say at this point (sprint friendly races/stages being the exception), Pogacar/UAE are unbeatable regardless of what any other teams do tactically? Pogacar is just too strong 💪🏼
Yes. UAE have to mess up tactically to lose when Pogi is this fit and he’s teammates are this strong. Or there would need to be a combination of Jonas, Roglic, Remco, Wout, and MVDP on their best form to battle Pogi. Since the WC road race neither of them were a 100%. 🤔💪🦋👊
@ChrisHornerCycling Cheers! Now that'd be a battle we'd all love to see! 👌🏼
Thanks for a great 2024 season Mr. Horner😊
Thanks 👊🦋
5:00 - lights and tunnel. Very, very good point. I've been riding with lights during the day for over 30 years. For most of that time, I got well-intentioned comments about having my lights on that assumed it was a mistake and losing battery power. I'd reply, "Great, you saw them". Folks got the point. I tested the idea on country lanes in rural England where the trees and hedges overhang the road so you move in and out of dark, very bright patches, and glaring, depending on position of the sun and wet on the road. I asked car drivers I met parked up having picnics what worked best for them. They said lights on was best and flashing lights better than steady. As a car driver in such conditions myself, what they said matched my own experience where bicycles could vanish even if I was staring at them. Nowadays, we can buy lights that are intended for daylight riding.
Question: with all the emphasis on aero and weight... then adding lights front and rear (two at front and two at back, for the amateur, without team support, what's the point of ultra light and aero if you have to add lights, carry pump, toolkit, GoPro type cameras to record incidents, and, now I'm old and had a heart attack, I have phone, backup charger, cables (in case I end up in hospital), pills, HR monitor, etc? I'm saving up for a new set of USB-C front and rear lights and wondering about motion detectors for cars and changing flash rates when they get close
Thanks Chris and Garrett
Go ride those KTM's
Braaaaap🦋🤪👊
Chris, thanks for yet another great season coverage! Cycling season just isn’t complete without the Butterfly effect! 🦋👊
Enjoying your experienced strategic insight
I don't know but this must be the best season a rider has ever done! I'm glad to hear you compare him to Mercx, i think he has even more potential! Baume Mollema, 37, eaqualled the participation record, he's planning to get it all for himself next year. The style of Progaçar is very beautiful and spectacular. But why aim for perfection if you can take less risks? Beautiful, but maybe he''ll pay it one day? I'm less worried about him burning out before his time now, but it's so (too?)perfect, even his mistakes serve him...
I love that 100k to go is the new danger zone for a solo winning move. It's incredible.
Not one with much time for ball sports, tho' I do enjoy some post-game chatter about them. Getting to be that way for me with the pro road scene. You make it more exciting, Chris, than the races themselves,. Tadej goes for broke and everyone else goes up in smoke. 😀
Glad to hear you are enjoying the videos. 👊🦋
What a great season so glad I came here. Hope its just as good next time around with a strong Jonas going head to head.
Instead of rainbow stripes, they should just put "I own cycling" on Pogacar's jersey.
I wish he took gold this year. Just to make it so ridiculous
😂🦋👊
@@Wds__99We know the story. His woman did not get selected for the Olympics. So Tadej 🖕 this Slovenian Cycling Association. Too bad.
Thanks for a great season. Its great to have watched your channel grow into what it is now. I really hope this isnt a lance thing we are witnessing. Its hard to see how one guy can be so dominant over the quality that exists in the peleton in this day and age. Its s really dominant team tadej has. Why they are letting fisher black go is a surprise to me. I do hope jonas comes back strong next year to make next season competitive. These 10 minute plus victories we saw at the giro and tdf make me wonder. I hope im wrong
these should be required viewing for DSs and road captains
top animation at 2:28 guys 😂! I have the feeling that Tiberi has been over-raced ? Not the first time I see him not in shape, as in dauphine
Happy to see a well planned and executed race by the teams and riders. Sad because that means no "knucklehead" mentions in the recap.
GOAT
🐐🦋👊🦋
To all those guys who have always despised Milan San Remo. It has been the only competitive major one day race of 2024
Its becoming top boring
Hi Chris,
Given Pogacar's dominance, likely extending into 2025, what strategies could rivals employ to challenge him? Are there specific tactics that could level the playing field? For instance, might teams need to collaborate more, orchestrating breakaways with strong riders to wear out UAE's support riders?
Best regards
According to point rankings, this is tied for the fourth best season for a single cyclist of all time. The top three are all Eddy Merckx
Points only tell part of the story. Points don’t tell HOW he won - he completely DOMINATED.
Yep. It was an impressive 2024. 💪🦋👊
A doper can't be top season.
@@dizyaster7700 Who is the doper? What is your expertise and knowledge? It is not like the Armstrong era where people were getting popped left and right.
@@barryrobbins7694 merxx tested positive more than once.
This off-season all the other teams need to sit down and make plans to work together if they want to try and shut down Pogacar.
Hi Chris, you should try the Director Sportif gig. Your understanding of cycling tactics is on another level. I bet you'd whip the Solerism into tactical shape 😂😂😂😂
Chris and johan have the best analysis on you tube imo
Agreed - the only 2 worth watching
👊🦋
Agreed, would love to see a joint show with bruyneel or guest appearances during the tour, would far and away be the best coverage around.
Tadej, world champ cyclist, Chris world champ cycling anylist. Job well done. Always a treat.
Love your blow by blow Chris.
Great !
I thought the TdLomb-dee was kind of an unexciting. So TP just is the best racer and all the races he enters. So it was really boring. Then I saw this video and you made it a lot more exciting for me. Thanks for helping me understand pro chess on bicycles. Blessings, Jim
As I think about it, Chris, you can't bail out on us now. There is still the Singapore crit, Cav's last race. Plus we need a preview on who's gonna win. 😀
would have been really interesting to see what would have happened if he had raced in the Olympics. If he takes the win there, that would have been a season that would take generations to duplicate, if ever.
Wonder what Mas would do in a team like Visma or UAE? Movistar just signed Castrillo, what will happen to him? 🤔
Tadej Pogacar best achievements this year:
Winning Tour De France.
Winning Giro.
Winning World Championships.
And my favorite and most important achievement, making Jonas cry couple times…. 😎🍾
Brave majstore…. :)
There was serious tears 😢🦋👊
Favorite quote from Tadej this year: "I didn't think the gravel would be so gravel-ly" -- from the TdF gravel stage. Also his 1-2-3 finger count behind the back on stage 21 of the TdF was a boss move.
Should I be a Remco fan? I can be convinced either way.YEAHHHH IM A FAN!
😂🇧🇪👊🦋
I am a fan, too, of Remco. He's fun to watch, and his interviews are one of the best. A bit cocky. Me 🤔 I like it, not boring at all. Now, in general, Americans and Dutch have a different mentality. Like "I am going to win this race, upfront." "That's where I am going to attack. "... In Belgium, especially flemish people don't like this kind of mentality at all. Since my father is Dutch, my mother Flemish, I have seen the difference in mentality from the 1st row. I prefer the Dutch mentality. Just speaking your mind and ambition. However, I have to be careful with my Flemish relatives. They consider this as being rude, not done. Being humble, not showing your ambition, is the way to be. Even if you are the best, proven again and again, you still need to communicate like this. "I don't know if I am going to win this, but I worked hard for it, let's hope so, the competition is strong" Even if the competition is not and you are the absolute favorite.😂
@@yvesgysel9834 Well said! I agree 100%. I am American, however, I work with others in Belgium. I see this humble attitude in my interactions with them, which I respect and strive to replicate. I believe Remco's climbing skills have improved, which he needs imo. I hope this continues and translates into more Grand Tour success. Next year, I'd like to see Remco surprise Tadej by hanging with him in the mountains.
@user-cx2bk6pm2f Remco is not liked at all by most Belgian fans. I am doing business with Belgians and Dutch people. Big difference!!! In both cases, you need to be professional, of course. However the Dutch will give you automatically their honest feedback, while the Belgians will not. (They find this offending), so they rather keep their mouths shut. What I do, is sending a personal, polite mail and asking them and always end with a positive note. Like, pls don't hesitate to contact me back in the future, for a next project I will do my absolute best. I would love hearing from you again. Thank you very much, for having faith in me/us😂 It's humble and at the same time, they know you are not offended at all.😂
Remco interview at the finish,
What he said: “I'm happy…I was just trying to find my own rhythm which was a good one…”
And what he said during the race: “you riders need to do what I say when I say” 😡
Yep. That sounds about right. 😂🦋👊
That's how Remco is. It's his nature. Especially during the race. However If you meet him beyond the scenes he's actually a lovely guy with a great sense of humor. 😂
Hi from France
So, what is left to win for TP? MSR, Roubaix, le Dauphine, Suisse and the Vuelta. All in '25? Why not at this rate, but you can be assured there's a weakness and someone will find it.
From the look of things, nobody at the moment can put pressure on Pogacar. Remco just proved to be also a distance from this monster. It seems he can even do anything without assistance from his team. CH must now starting calling Pogacar A team or A page as the only rider in that division. 😊
Do the DS's of different teams talk to each other, during a race?
Yes 🦋👍
Love the ad lib, or imaginary quotes, or whatever we call it. ”i got a little bit left" 😅
😂👊🦋
So Chris, did Pagi just close out the greatest season ever? I for one am not ready to say that he's close to eclipsing Merckx's career acheivements, but this year seems to rival Merckx's miracle year (69 or 70?). Tadej is the first rider that Merckx was reported to have recently said "He is superior to me."
Hi we not covering the epic World Tour race of Tour of GuangXi? 😜
Hehehe. I don’t think so. 🤪😂🦋👊
Is it world tour? UAE for sure is going to try to win some stages there as well 😅
When Evenopoel won the Junior Worlds in Austria a few years back, he was touted as the next Eddy Merckx. They all forgot about Pog who is the real Merckx challenger for GOAT . The problem I have is getting my head around whether Pog is the real deal or another doper?
The big winners in sports always have that cloud around them. Even if it’s super sunny everywhere they go. Can only hope. 🤔🦋🤞💪👊
You're asking the wrong question because Merckx, the "GOAT" himself was busted for doping 3x during his career. The right question would be, why is Merckx the doper considered the GOAT?
What screw e enepoel was Lombardia Crash a few years ago, he could be dead with that crash
I hope Pogi is not the new Merckx. Merckx used doping. Was caught three times. So you can assume he used it throughout his career.
But with MAURO GIANETTI who even used experimental doping substances, which put him in a coma for three days. Then also as trainer of Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli, whom he doped and were caught in the 2008 Tour de France... I no longer believe in fairy tales
Wining 2 gold Olympic medal is more impressive than everything Pogacar do this year
The best thing is that the curent season ended, phiuu. Let’s hope that these boys that have crashed this year heavily will have more luck next year to allow us to see some interesting racing…
+10W? Chris please - this guy pushes 6.5W/kg for 20-30mins like it was a Sunday family ride - not even laboring and puts 3mins+ into one of the best TT guys. It’s like Cat 1 rider racing against Cat 4s. Mindblowing.
10 watts compared to Pogi last. 🤔🦋
Wonder if it was a good call for pog to skip the vuelta. I think better to end strong with world and Lombardia than, for example, triple tour/giro/(a weak startlist) vuelta and losing at the worlds
To me it would have been much more memorable to win the 3 grand tours
😂😂😂 was that "Toonces the Cat"? (Obscure SNL reference)
Garrett loves Cats/animals. Tiberi will have a long road before he is forgiven. 🐈 🦋😬
Note to UCI , can we not have races where I fast forward through most of the races? I dunno :/
Great coverage Chris insight on the knuckleheads
Tadej, don't go bird hunting with your brother-in-law this off-season
Hehehe. Please 🙏 🦋👊🤞
fausto coppi record ! i like it when the rainbow win !🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋 remco ,ok ,but where are the other riderS ? is roglic finish? thanks for commentary great race njoylife🐱
It sure seemed like Tadej gained tine on the descents. He looked way smoother and faster. Remco has downhill ghosts on this race course. He was going wide and breaking into the turns and tried to accelerate out. He looked tentative to me. Still a great effort, but Pogi is one of kind.
Timing showed it was more or less equal in the descend.
@@MDP1702 Pogi knew the splits. He could have gone harder, but why? He could have put 5 minutes on the field, if he chose to be a jerk.
@@petedog9581 This is purely about the decent and Pog was definitely flying on it. I am not sure he could go much faster there.
Remco might have paid for that fast decent afterwards though.
@@MDP1702 How? He wasn't using much energy. Maybe mental stress, but he knew he was racing for 2nd.
Pogi a better descender. He just rode proper lines and carried speed better. He played it safe. Remco is getting better in the mountains. I think he is built more like a sprinter, and will never compete w the elite climbers. Pogi is everything.
@@petedog9581 You're still spending a lot of energy pushing on a fast descend. Sure nothing like climbing, but it also follows riding on the limit climbing right before.
Remco literally is an elite climber? Only Pog and Jonas are currently better (and Roglic maybe similar level).
I like the title “The last dance”. It should be the Tadej last solo dance.
I think Remco should spend a little less time complaining to other riders when they won’t pull with him. It seems there’s at least one photo per race with him throwing up his arm and chewing out some guy from another team that doesn’t want to take the pointy end. Why would anyone except his teammates want to help pull Evenepoel toward a podium.
Agreed. You got to expect some wheel suckers when you’re winning often. 🤔🦋👍
17:39 In a post race interview, Ciccone essential admitted that his attack was a mistake.
Well, Pogacar had a really good year, but I think he missed making real history by bypassing the Vuelta. Given his form at the Tour de France, I expected him to race and win the Vuelta.
WC >>Vuelta
His not being there may have been his thanks to Primoz for the '20 Tour support. Primoz needed La Vuelta and sure, Tadej would've likely won, but it was better for the sport that he not snatch that, too. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing and if he dominates everything, fine, just give him the trophy at the start and we'll do something else with our time. And this is no knock on Tadej, more on everyone else who can't make a mighty locomotive and do the locomotion.
@robbchastain3036 Tadej needed the WC much more than the Vuelta. He can win the Vuelta any time he wants. The WC is more of a lottery so if you got the form it's better to try for the rainbows. And the WC has more prestige. If he rode the Vuelta I think he'd have been too tired at Zurich
@@rafalpruszynski6129 Yours is a fair point but that's the fun of speculation, no? I think the GT sweep would have been more impressive but that's just my take, the WC jersey for a one-day race has always seemed like an exaggeration to me, should be a season-long points winner or at least the winner of a series of events for that jersey in all disciplines. And just make the Worlds a big Week of Speed with a colorful jersey for the winners, something festive to wear if they want in other races.
@robbchastain3036 think of it like this. Rwanda, Montreal, and Haute Savoie are all perfect for Pogačar. He now has a chance to beat Sagan's 3 consecutive WCRR wins. That wouldn't be possible if he didn't win in Zurich.
Tadej the goat
🐐🦋👊
Just seems the longer the race the stronger he gets.
He only looks stronger, because the others are already tired. He just has extra endurance that the others lack.
Yep. Fuel is burned differently in everyone. But one thing is always certain. The best athletes burn their fuel slower than everyone else, or have more of it to begin with. 😂🦋👊💪
@@ChrisHornerCycling He and apparently the entire team have changed their diet and the way they have trained this year. Tadej talked briefly in an interview about fasting prior to training rides and not taking in any calories for a few hours or more during the training ride. Glycogen is depleted and ketones are used. He's become fat adapted and essentially bonk proof. The longer the race the more likely others that have not trained that way may have issues with fuel. I did that 3 decades ago and it still effects my metabolism in a very positive way.
@@davidfrye7713 go listen to some of his coaches UA-cam videos the guy is very smart and doing some great research with disease's in the general population especially cancer.
He looked like he could turn around and ride the course in reverse at the finish. Fresh as a daisy.
Let's goooooo
Bam 🦋👊🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Don't worry
The tyranny of pogi will be controlled in 2025 when Vingergaard comes rejuvenated by consuming fish oil during the winter. Also, Vismas signed our man Capenarts, Simon Yates, and Alex Zingle. Aaaaand they also signed the under 23 Workd champion who is a giant. Don't be surprised if Bingergaard competes in the world championship. Remco will soil his pampers too.
Can someone explain please. When a break of 23 riders forms why can't let's say Pogacar jump in it as well and ride in the middle of it. Then the break will never ride anywhere.
Why does a team like UAE allows a break with strong riders go 5 min ahead to only pull like crazy to catch it?
Just watch it and never let it form. I need more "breakaway" understanding
That wouldn't likely happen. If Pogacar makes the breakaway from too far away, he'd be isolated from the rest of his team. The other riders would constantly attack. Even Pogacar can't cover that many attacks by himself; he'd get worn out. Let's say they didn't attack. They'd sit on his wheel, let him eat the wind, tire himself out, and then attack.
UAE can let the breaks form because often times the breakaway riders aren't necessarily the best climbers, and large groups of breakaway riders don't always work well together. Some won't want to take pulls on the front. UAE often brings some very strong climbers that cut down the breakaway lead, and at the same time, they drop those in the peloton who tire out on the climbs too. This applies more on hilly/mountainous stages.
@Septavius thank you. These are good points.
It is just if UAE didn't have 5 top climbers in peloton Pogcar would ever be in a position to launch because breakaway would be 4 min ahead. I mean he could catch some and many of them..but not 25 times. So the super team is responsible for most of these wins
Chris. Love your podcast. However I am watching these performances and seeing TP numbers, and fail to understand why you and most former pros are not commenting on the elephant in the room (on the road) that is TP. He is clearly doped. Even Lance and JB have eluded to this, and chuckle. Realize that you cannot comment openly......but geesh. Pretending this is all a result of training and nutrition is just ridiculous. What TP did yesterday is not possible in todays world where every rider is so well trained. He blew the race apart and won by a margin not seen in over 50 years. Saying it is a result of tactics is also mad. TP crossed the finish line looking like he just finished Coffee ride with some junior racers......not out of breath or looking remotely tired.
Cycling is in trouble once again.......and Omerta is strong. Younger and newer ignorant fans are quick to say TP is just a genetic freak.....or has modern training methods......or an "unusual Heart or lactic buffering". We have heard all this before. Sad days.
Do you think he regrets not winning the vuelta too. He is looking pretty fresh, seems like he would have had the energy.
He could had, but then again it would demotivate his teammates
No, he's fresh because he didn't participate at the Vuelta. The Vuelta is another 3 weeks of hard racing which is stressful on your body and your mental health.
So no regrets.
For sure Pogi could have won. But I’m not sure Pogi regrets anything at his age. 🤔🦋👍💪
He looks fresh because he had a break after the Tour. This was the first year that he’s done 2 GTs, trying to win 3 when you’re already cooked is asking too much.
Pogi's team boss said he didn't want him to race La Vuelta after winning the Giro and the Tour because there would be a significant risk of burning out. Of course it would look great in the record books but he's only just turned 26 years old, so there's plenty of time to consider the possibility when he's a bit older and more mature.
Fellow chesterfieldians agree with the analysis. Not too many knuckleheads moves in this race.
That tunnel, wth? Put a light in there. Looks dangerous.
There was lights missing in the tunnel when I got hit while training very near there also. 😬🦋
@@ChrisHornerCycling You always have an interesting anecdote to share. Keep them coming!
Did we witness the best pro cycling season EVER?
What's with the white cat? 😂
Meow meow. Garrett hasn’t forgotten or forgiven just yet. 🐈🦋😂
Tiberi has a history with cats, hehe~😾
I forgot a out that! Good on Garrett for remembering! Tiberi should be JAILED. You can't go around shooting someone else's pet with an air rifle.
What's up with that cat ?!?!?! 😹😹😹
Best analyst on the net Now take a breath mate😊
I love Pogadcar and Remco but Pogadcar performance this year is quite fishy, he's head and shoulders above the rest
The fan wanting an high five looks strangely like Gianno Bugno.
Can’t wait for the greatest rainbow fueled season ever in 2025 ! The jersey does amazing things for certain riders and I’m feeling like 2025 will be like no other !
Tadej was a forgone conclusion in my opinion, for me Cuiccone and Remo showed some great tactical sense and rode smart for excellent podium finishes. As for Piddock, he won't be in the pro peloton next year for Ineos, for what he's been paid and the expectations, he's failed badly, a few brief sparkles, but he's not happy, nor is the management. He should probably go back to cross or MTB. Ineos also needs to reassess their goals and team direction.
So when Remco finishes second it is "excellent", but when Pidcock finishes second he's "failed badly"?
Not surprised to hear that about Tom Pidcock, he's prone to do dumb shit, which is what I assume happened. Interested to know the facts.
There’s got to be something behind all that 🤔🦋
Apparently even Pidcock's team boss was surprised. He said it was an "upper management" decision, aka bean counters made the call.
Must be a disciplinary issue. He’s been provoking the Ineos management all season.
It went like this:
Pogi: How about 7.2 w/kg (470w)?
Remco: I'ma do my own thing.
And that was it 😂