La Vuelta 2025 ***SPOILERS***

[mididoctors]

Winning all 3 GT's in one year is greater than winning the WC RR in that year (with the Giro & Vuelta). Pogacar could have very reasonably done that and then gone for Tour + WC RR in this year. That way he'd have had everything. It was already clear back then that the WC course this year would also suit him.
He simply wanted the rainbow bands immediately and prioritized that over the GT grand slam, which is his right, but definitely the wrong decision in terms of achieving historical greatness (since that is what we're arguing, otherwise where is the need to win as much of everything as possible?).

I'm with this tbh ....it was a rare opportunity. He may have been utterly exhausted I guess but he finished the tour that year very strong . He didn't have the zip this year ..... I think he missed that boat

 

[No Ta Doctor]

I'm with this tbh ....it was a rare opportunity. He may have been utterly exhausted I guess but he finished the tour that year very strong . He didn't have the zip this year ..... I think he missed that boat

The Giro was a walkover, which meant it was barely more than a three-week training block for him. The Tour was harder but Vingegaard couldn't push him in the end. So yeah, a Vuelta was doable, I think.

That said, the rest of his team might not have been overly enthused with him taking the lead at all three GTs. Not sure how that would have played out if he hadn't left some crumbs for Almeida and the rest

 

[mjr]

He simply wanted the rainbow bands immediately and prioritized that over the GT grand slam, which is his right, but definitely the wrong decision in terms of achieving historical greatness (since that is what we're arguing, otherwise where is the need to win as much of everything as possible?).

Why's it the wrong decision? He gets to wear the rainbow bands most of the year, and forevermore on his cuffs, and the triple crown has much more history, whereas Froome already completed a Grand Tour Grand Slam so it's not like that would be a first.

I don't think we'll see Pog in red while he can still win the rainbows.

 

[KingstonGraham]

Froome won all three in a row, but that's not the same as winning them all in the same year.

 

[Animo]

Froome won all three in a row, but that's not the same as winning them all in the same year.

Yep, Froome's was a "Tiger slam"

 

[wakemalcolm]

Just like the Strade Bianchi will never be a monument, the 'triple crown' will always be more highly regarded than a 'grand tour slam' until Eddy Merckx comes out of retirement to complete the slam.

 

[Alex321]

Anyone know why they are obsessed with the Olympic Charter here?

Part of their Teflon shoulders approach.

 

[mjr]

Froome won all three in a row, but that's not the same as winning them all in the same year.

He won them all in a year. Who cares about the calendar ticking over?

 

[No Ta Doctor]

He won them all in a year. Who cares about the calendar ticking over?

As an Arsenal fan, we occasionally won the "calendar year" trophy* for gaining the most points over a calendar year, though we would somehow have contrived to do that over two seasons where we were half crap half exceptional and not win the either season.


*It isn't an actual trophy and you don't get an open top bus parade. You can't get a photo with it, and they don't bring it out onto the season at the turn of the year. More importantly, Jack Wilshere/Katy McCabe types won't get blind drunk and lead masses of Arsenal fans in a chant of "WhaddayathinkofTottnumb?" from a balcony while a club PR person looks on in abject terror.

 

[Dorset Boy]

As an Arsenal fan, we occasionally won the "calendar year" trophy* for gaining the most points over a calendar year, though we would somehow have contrived to do that over two seasons where we were half crap half exceptional and not win the either season.


*It isn't an actual trophy and you don't get an open top bus parade. You can't get a photo with it, and they don't bring it out onto the season at the turn of the year. More importantly, Jack Wilshere/Katy McCabe types won't get blind drunk and lead masses of Arsenal fans in a chant of "WhaddayathinkofTottnumb?" from a balcony while a club PR person looks on in abject terror.

That's north London Trophy Dodgers straw clutching!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Why's it the wrong decision? He gets to wear the rainbow bands most of the year, and forevermore on his cuffs, and the triple crown has much more history, whereas Froome already completed a Grand Tour Grand Slam so it's not like that would be a first.

I don't think we'll see Pog in red while he can still win the rainbows.

Yeah, it's all well and good for eejits like us on the interwebs to say that we think all 3 GTs in a calendar year is more important than the Triple Crown of Giro/Tour/WC. 3xGT does have a pleasing symmetry after all. I was all for him having a shot at the Vuelta last year.

But what's far more important is what the riders (past and present) think. What's the greater honour, the WC or the Vuelta? Pog's choice last year gives us an answer to that.

In a way it can't be a wrong decision simply because it was the decision that the best rider in the world took.

As to whether Pog will go to Spain in future, I dunno.

 

[Adam4868]

Pog chiiling reading CycleChat thinking....if only I'd rode the Vuelta last year 🤣

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Yeah, it's all well and good for eejits like us on the interwebs to say that we think all 3 GTs in a calendar year is more important than the Triple Crown of Giro/Tour/WC. 3xGT does have a pleasing symmetry after all. I was all for him having a shot at the Vuelta last year.

But what's far more important is what the riders (past and present) think. What's the greater honour, the WC or the Vuelta? Pog's choice last year gives us an answer to that.

In a way it can't be a wrong decision simply because it was the decision that the best rider in the world took.

As to whether Pog will go to Spain in future, I dunno.

I think Pog is a bit of a completist. He wants to collect stuff and make sure he's won everything. And he wants to make sure he's matched achievements and set records. So yes, he'll eventually get to the Vuelta. But right now he's more concerned with banging out rainbow stripes.

He's 26 years old, the best rider in the world, and has a chance of being the literal GOAT, so trying to get three more rainbow stripes would make a lot of sense, especially as it might occasionally be held on terrain that doesn't favour him

 

[Dogtrousers]

Pog chiiling reading CycleChat thinking....if only I'd rode the Vuelta last year 🤣

Pog reading CC and realising he could have ridden the Vuelta

 

[wakemalcolm]

If he's wanting to be a completist, Pog hasn't won the Green jersey yet. I think it's within his grasp although doing a clean sweep of the competitions a la Merckx '69 is a little trickier (especially the white jersey which Merckx would have won in its current format and did win in its 'combined' 1968 format).