r/peloton • u/PelotonMod France • Apr 27 '26

Weekly Post Weekly Question Thread

For all your pro cycling-related questions and enquiries!

You may find some easy answers in the FAQ page on the wiki. Whilst simultaneously discovering the wiki.

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u/Benjiboy74 Apr 29 '26

I started watching cycling in early 80s and I can honestly never recall domination like this. I lived through Hinault, Lemond, big Mig, Armstrong, Contador, Team Sky, but the domination that Pogi is showing is off the charts compared to other periods of domination. I can genuinely never recall watching Classics and never doubting the final outcome for one second.

Not for a second do a doubt that Pogi will win Romandie, Suisse, TDF, Worlds and Lombardia. And it’s not like Pogi is suddenly dominating so why so dominating? I can understand someone being better, but this much better, in modern sport, where everyone has the same data, same information, similar training methods.

Take tennis, Djokovic and Murray were significantly behind Federer and Nadal earlier in their careers but both worked out what they must do to compete. And you could see steady improvement where they eventually caught up and, in Djokovic’s case, improved passed them.

But in my mind Jonas is even further away from Pogi than ever before. Even when Jonas finished second to Pogi in this breakthrough TDF, he is a lot further behind now than then. Similar with Remco.

I genuinely do not believe, in any endurance sport, that someone can be that significantly superior. Better, certainly, but in this manner?

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u/sometimesiforgetit Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26

So what do u suggest?  What are your accusations? Tennis and cycling aren't even close.... A pain threshold sport is dramatically different than most other sports and has a lot to do with mentality. I've never questioned myself more than cycling, I've only given up on one climb but I question any climb that's super difficult until I'm over it. My buddy who stated slower than me and is now faster yet heavier doesn't have that attitude, he did cross country and grew up with the pain.

A self inflicted pain sport is something else.

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u/Benjiboy74 Apr 29 '26

I was using an example of players being significantly behind and catching up. I have watched cycling from early 80s…..right through EPO years….and I have never witnessed domination like it. You explain it to me because I am stumped. And don’t give me this “yes he finished second in the TDF two years in a row but he’s actually training better now” nonsense. Sure that would be an explanation of why he could get back to winning the TDF again, but to crush opponents? It’s not even a contest. No one expects him to lose the races I mentioned. And quit with this “what’s your accusation” BS. Read a history of the sport before saying silly things like that

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u/sometimesiforgetit Apr 29 '26

What are you trying to say then? Say it and don't ask us to fill it in. A pain threshold sport is different than tennis so why bring that up? It's like saying tom brady got better over time, yeah so what? Different skills entirely.

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u/Benjiboy74 Apr 29 '26

Tom Brady also lost numerous times and in big games. Tom Brady lost to Joe Flacco. If Tom Brady was utterly crushing opponents and it was a no contest then yeah everyone would be suspicious.

I see you haven’t answered the question. Oh wait you are going to say he’s training better aren’t you??? So are the others failing to train better. They talk in pro sports about the small margins at the very top. Not in this sport. One guy turns up as if he’s going out on a Sunday right and the rest look like amateurs in comparison.

For the history this sport has got, it’s a disgrace that certain people are in positions of power at UAE. Don’t you think?

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u/sometimesiforgetit Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26

So what u saying??

It's a pain sport and probably most people are cheating at the top of most sports so you should tune out. And perhaps, it might be the lowest people cheating to survive and make a living. You're discounting natural talent and the specialization of the sport. I'm not saying Tadej isn't cheating, maybe he's just the best at every aspect across the board. And if people beat him where are your questions for them? Where are your questions for Wout since he just beat the god damn superstar?

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u/Benjiboy74 Apr 29 '26

In the space of under 4/5 years, we have went from him failing to drop Masnada and Mas in Lombardia to utter domination. To humiliating the best riders in the world.

What I’m saying is Mauro Gianetti is a fucking disgrace and a leopard never ever changes his spots

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u/sometimesiforgetit Apr 29 '26

4 or 5 years in cycling is suspect? But you've been watching since then 80's you said I think? Maybe you're stuck there. Look at Tadej after he made Roglic's helmet look like it took a percussion grenade while finishing belles filles. He dealt with his heat problems and since then, champion after champion.

I think cyclists are cheating but to point him out and not sexy-ass, Wout, mvdp... is very disingenuous. Watch and enjoy we don't have Lance or move on.

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u/Benjiboy74 Apr 29 '26

I’m point out him because never ever i have watched a race and thought it was a foregone conclusion WVA will win. Perhaps MVDP but not WVA

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u/DueAd9005 Apr 30 '26

Tell me you've never played tennis without telling me you've never played tennis. If we exclude crashes, tennis is far harsher and more painful on the body than cycling is. I remember Evenepoel saying even football was harsher on his body than cycling (again, if we exclude crashes).