Tour de France 2023 ** SPOILERS **

[rich p]

I've just had a look at Vingo's history.
He was 67th and 44 mins behind the winner of the Tour de l'Avenir in 2018 but won the ITT
Nothing of note in 2019 apart from 2nd in the youth classification in some minor races
2020, 46th in the Vuelta GC, not much else
2021, 2nd in Tour GC after Roglic crashed out, 5 minutes behind Pog
2022 Won the Tour
2023......?????

Quite a rise to fame at a slightly older age to Pog but still young

 

[Dogtrousers]

Indeed, and having to crawl along to weave through the crowd makes it more likely to stall. Mind you, at least they dont have to kick start them whilst balancing the weight of a pillion, unlike back in the day.

If your pillion is Tommy Voeckler it isn't really much different to a gnat landing on the back of the bike.

 

[Bollo]

A few years ago we heard the same about Pog...nobody can touch him, he's going to dominate the Tour for x amount of years.
Maybe if it bothers him that much he'll focus only on the Tour, personally speaking though I think he's been class,showed he's only human.I prefer him riding the classics and other races to him becoming a bit pure GC rider.Imagine if he hadn't been here what the GC would look like.😁
Mate summed it up over a pint the other night saying it's not like you don't like Vingo,it's just you love watching Pogi more.

Vinny is only 26. We've got a few years yet wondering if Pog can get another win. Could be fun watching and there will be other young ones creeping closer hopefully. Max Poole????? Ayuso? even, dare I say it, Remco...nah!

Thinking the same thing last night. Barring accidents or incidents, it looks like Vingegaard/Jumbo are going to dominate the Tour for a few years yet. So what does Pog do now? More focus on prepping the TdF with the (maybe vain) hope that he can match or just outlast Vingegaard? Try the Giro or Vuelta if Vingegaard can't be @rsed? Or concentrate on the monuments/one day stuff? Dunno.

The other factor here is the question of goals for the UAE team. All team sponsors are there for brand awareness, but for the state-affiliated teams I think the reasoning is more nuanced and the goals are more global. I don't want to get in to the sportswashing debate, but I can't imagine UAE's goal for sponsorship is just to get eyeballs from the small number of European countries where cycling is a mainstream sport. The only thing that cuts through that is the Tour. I can't see them letting Pog sit out future editions, even if his chances of winning might be limited. Maybe a podium is good enough for them. Interesting times.

 

[Dogtrousers]

A few years ago we heard the same about Pog...nobody can touch him, he's going to dominate the Tour for x amount of years.

There was a time when we were about to enter the era of Egan Bernal

 

[Legs]

Lemond ...... Was he the last guy to win the TDF ......after not winning it ???

Pogacar looks to have another TDF in him . ....but history would suggest otherwise.

The last person to win it, after finishing but not winning, was Bernard Hinault in '85.

I think that Laurent Fignon holds the record for most Tour participations after winning for the last time - he took part a further eight times (although only finished four of these).

 

[matticus]

If your pillion is Tommy Voeckler it isn't really much different to a gnat landing on the back of the bike.

A gurning gnat.

 

[Adam4868]

Thinking the same thing last night. Barring accidents or incidents, it looks like Vingegaard/Jumbo are going to dominate the Tour for a few years yet. So what does Pog do now? More focus on prepping the TdF with the (maybe vain) hope that he can match or just outlast Vingegaard? Try the Giro or Vuelta if Vingegaard can't be @rsed? Or concentrate on the monuments/one day stuff? Dunno.

The other factor here is the question of goals for the UAE team. All team sponsors are there for brand awareness, but for the state-affiliated teams I think the reasoning is more nuanced and the goals are more global. I don't want to get in to the sportswashing debate, but I can't imagine UAE's goal for sponsorship is just to get eyeballs from the small number of European countries where cycling is a mainstream sport. The only thing that cuts through that is the Tour. I can't see them letting Pog sit out future editions, even if his chances of winning might be limited. Maybe a podium is good enough for them. Interesting times.

Would he miss the Tour next year and focus on the Giro/Vuelta and look like he fears Jumbo...or does he come back and try again,tough choice ! Ayuso is shaping.up to look like a contender..I don't want to jinx him could he ride the Tour and let Pogi go for Giro/Vuelta...feck he could go for all five monuments.As cycling fans I'm pretty sure we'd love that,but like you say the Tour is the golden egg.Id be surprised if he's not going to fight for it again 😁

 

[Legs]

There was a time when we were about to enter the era of Egan Bernal

...and Jan Ullrich...

 

[Adam4868]

There was a time when we were about to enter the era of Egan Bernal

Yea I don't forget...I genuinely believe we never even saw the best of him either !
Fingers crossed he's getting there.

 

[Adam4868]

Anyways I'm going to sit this stage out today and enjoy the sun...it's a Philipson sort of day isn't it 😁

 

[Dogtrousers]

Possible bad news for Cofidis.

View: https://twitter.com/inrng/status/1681329495574298624


OTL by one steeking second. Come on commissaires, be kind to him.

Incidentally Alexis Renard didn't start yesterday, after finishing OTL in the time trial by 1 second.

But he's listed as DNS on the website so maybe he injured himself when he crashed.

 

[Jameshow]

Anyways I'm going to sit this stage out today and enjoy the sun...it's a Philipson sort of day isn't it 😁

High lights sort of day for me, I'll be hanging tonight after a late night last night!

 

[GuyBoden]

Froome won both the Vuelta and the Tdf in the same season, 2017.

I'd like to see Vingegaard win the Vuelta this season.

 

[Jameshow]

Froome won both the Vuelta and the Tdf in the same season, 2017.

I'd like to see Vingegaard win the Vuelta this season.

I'd like to see him loose 5mins to GT...! 🤣🤣🤣

 

[T4tomo]

If your pillion is Tommy Voeckler it isn't really much different to a gnat landing on the back of the bike.

A hyper active fidgety gnat I reckon. Probably leans the wrong way around corners too