Thank You & End-of-Year Review
Reviewing the incredible 2023 cycling season and looking forward to more coming in 2024
The 2023 cycling season has been a great one, and I just wanted to thank the amazing BTP readers who have spent their precious time reading the newsletter throughout the season. None of this would be possible without you.
I also wanted to take a moment to talk about 2024. Even as I expand my footprint outside of Beyond the Peloton with regular podcast hosting/appearances on WEDŪ’s THEMOVE(+) and OŪTCOMES shows, I will still happily continue to provide free weekly analysis for the sport’s biggest races, as well as daily race coverage during the Classics and Grand Tours for the paying subscribers.
Additionally, premium subscribers will receive the in-house BTP NET 2024 Team Projections, along with in-depth transfer and off-season analysis. The resources created via the paying subscribers allow me to dedicate my time to in-depth analysis of professional racing, so many thanks to any and all who decide to make the contribution.
Also, if you want to get a quick overview of the major storylines throughout the season, remember to check out the Beyond the Peloton podcast (check out on Apple & Spotify), which I host with Andrew Vontz from the Choose the Hard Way Podcast and cover topics that I don’t have the space/time for in this newsletter throughout the season, as well as interview some of the sport’s top athletes and thought leaders.
2023 Men’s Season Overview:
For those who want to take a look back at 2023 before we ring in 2024, below is a comprehensive list of the breakdowns from nearly every major race over the past season. It is fun and somewhat shocking to reflect on the sheer depth and breadth of the top performances from the sport’s best riders in the biggest races. From Mathieu van der Poel’s Sanremo/Paris-Roubaix double, to Tadej Pogačar’s dismantling of the sport’s top Classics stars at the Tour of Flanders, to Jonas Vingegaard’s masterclass time trial performance at the Tour de France, it has truly been one of the best, and most quality, seasons in the modern era of pro cycling.
Outside of the sheer quality, two trends that stood out to me the most were the fact that every major one-day race was won by just three riders (Evenepoel, Pogačar, Van der Poel), and, outside of San Sebastián, by a rider who attacked earlier in the race and crossed the finish line alone. While this could potentially be a blip in the data, it could also represent a new trend where the top riders are attacking earlier and earlier and leveraging their superior strength, and the dreaded ‘second group syndrome’, to eliminate variables en route to victory. Something worth watching in 2024 is if this trend continues, and winning attacks come further and further out, or if the peloton collectively decides that chasing down a solo move, instead of letting it ride clear, significantly increases their chances of victory.
Top One-Day Races:
Strade Bianche (Tom Pidcock solo win)
Milano-Sanremo (Mathieu van der Poel solo win)
Tour of Flanders (Tadej Pogačar solo win)
Paris-Roubaix (Mathieu van der Poel solo win)
Amstel Gold (Tadej Pogačar solo win)
Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Remco Evenepoel solo win)
Clásica San Sebastián (Remco Evenepoel reduced sprint win)
World Championship Road Race (Mathieu van der Poel solo win)
Il Lombardia (Tadej Pogačar solo win)
Top One-Week Races:
Paris-Nice Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Critérium du Dauphiné Part 1| Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
The Grand Tours:
Giro d’Italia:
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Rest Day #1
Stage 10
Stage 11
Stage 12
Stage 13
Stage 14
Stage 15
Rest Day #2
Stage 16
Stage 17
Stage 18
Stage 19
Stage 20
Stage 21
Breaking Down Where/How Primož Roglič Won the Race
Tour de France:
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Stage 10
Stage 11
Stage 12
Stage 13
Stage 14
Stage 15
Stage 16
Stage 17
Stage 18
Stage 19
Stage 20
Stage 21
Breaking Down Where/How Jonas Vingegaard Won the Race
Vuelta a España:
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Rest Day #1
Stage 10
Stage 11
Stage 12
Stage 13
Stage 14
Stage 15
Rest Day #2
Stage 16
Stage 17
Stage 18
Stage 19
Stage 20
Stage 21
Breaking Down Exactly Where/How Sepp Kuss Won the Race
Thanks for all the analysis and insights! Looking forward to 2024!
Thanks Spencer for all the hard work you put into this newsletter and your podcasts.