Nordic cool strategist versus southern impulsive talent
How performance physiological analyzes and team tactics determine modern professional cycling
This year’s Tour de France (TdF) was hard to beat in terms of excitement; the two stars of the scene, Vingegaard and Pogacar, fought a duel on equal terms for a long time. The fact that one of the two was systematically wiped out without initially being aware of it was revealed in a dramatic debacle in the 16th and 17th stages. If you compare the palmarès and performance-physiological characteristics of the two protagonists [6] [8], Pogacar nominally seems to be the somewhat talented athlete. Vingegaard, on the other hand, is supported by an extremely well-staffed team of “water carriers” and external sports scientists, who ultimately make the subtle difference between victory and defeat. The world-class domestics who support Vingegaard in the competition would be tour captains themselves or at least road captains in any average team. Whether Dylan van Baarle, Christophe Laporte, Nathan van Hooydonck or Tiesj Benoot as fast-paced rouleurs, the all-rounder Wout van Aert, or the grimpeurs Sepp Kuss and Wilco Keldermann, the potential of this team to keep their captain Vingegaard out of the wind or to prepare decisive attacks or to prevent competitors from doing the same is almost inexhaustible. Pogacars Team UAE had also upgraded a lot and had a strong team of helpers at the start with Adam Yates, Rafal Majka, Marc Soler, Matteo Trentin, Vegard Stake Laengen, Mikkel Bjerg and Felix Großschartner. However, as in 2022, the use of individual strengths was once again implemented more efficiently at Jumbo-Visma.
Pogacar’s entire tour preparation in 2023 was completely messed up, both mentally and physically. The internal team quarrels surrounding Pogacar’s mentor Allan Peiper were the first blow in the spring of 2023 that the Slovenian had to accept [1]. That would have been comparable if Vingegaard had had to do without the Jumbo Visma mastermind Grischa Niermann, who also happens to be a relevant doping offender from the recent cycling past, who is still in large numbers in the current cycling scene [2]. When Pogacar fell at the World Cup classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège, his tour planning got completely out of control. Some findings from his rehabilitation phase reveal fundamental errors that ultimately put him at a significant disadvantage against Vingegaard and Jumbo-Visma. “Because he started rolling training early, he had problems with a protective posture. «I had to work a little more with physiotherapists and osteopaths. I’ve never done that before,” said the 24-year-old.” [3] And further: “Pogacar wasn’t able to train on the road for five weeks. At times he only rode on the smart trainer.” [4]
According to insiders, Pogacar trained a lot on the time trial bike to relieve the strain on his wrist, instead of in the usual position of his road racing bike, during his convalescence after his scaphoid fracture (scaphoid bone) caused by the fall at the Doyenne (Liège-Bastogne-Liège). This has fatal consequences in the adaptation of the muscle work areas over the pedaling cycle. Compared to the normal sitting position, in the forward-leaning time trial position, the glutes are stretched because the origin and insertion are pulled apart, but above all the entire quadriceps group and the hip flexors (m. iliopsoas) are compressed by bringing the muscle insertion and origin closer together. This part of the muscle then tends to shorten, which is extremely problematic in the normal position. The shortened muscle groups are then susceptible to distension (strains) or micro-ruptures when subjected to maximum stress in the more upright position. This may be exactly what happened in the time trial when Pogacar switched to the road bike before the final climb of the stage 16 time trial course. That would also explain why Pogacar, visible through his torn jersey at the finish of the 17th stage, was taped on both sides in a completely unusual place for a professional cyclist, the lower stomach area/groin area.
