Just want to say a huge thanks for your peerless insight and analysis over the TdF, and the season on the whole. It really adds to our enjoyment and understanding of the racing, as well as giving us something else to watch for on the stages.
Hope you enjoyed the relocation to France for the tour too!
My surprise of the Tour was Mikel Landa. I was down on his addition to the Soudal team viewing him as a distraction (Free Landa!) who wouldn't be strong enough to help Remco when it mattered. He turned out to be a steadying presence for Remco, on and off the bike apparently, and rode himself into a top 5 position on GC along the way.
Landa's position on GC does highlight the fact that no one challenged the top three GC riders for the podium spots. I suppose Rodriguez had it as a goal when the race started but he wilted and everyone else seemed to give up on the GC podium before the third week.
Thanks Spencer, for making this TdF even more special.
Almeida, Jorgenson, Gee, Girmay and Carapaz are notable for the reasons you mentioned.
It’s amazing that Almeida and Jorgenson both did so much work supporting their teams, yet were able to finish top ten. Almeida seems super impressive, given his top ten and's top five past finishes. UAE and Visma-LAB must have huge budgets to be able to keep riders with such talent meaningfully engaged, also adding Adam Yates to that list.
Curious if Almeida, Jorgenson and Yates are locked in with their current teams, or likely to be looking for other options?
I am amazed by the spectacle of the TdF, and this particular tour seemed exceptional. Maybe they’re all exceptional! Some of the twists, especially starting in Italy, missing NW France, and ending with a time trial from Monaco to Nice seemed to have worked as well as the organizers could have possibly hoped.
For me, the biggest single takeaway was Pogacar’s Stage 21 win. He could have played it safe. Many in the same position might have played it safe. But, Pogacar put it all on the line, risking a crash, because he really is a Badger, and a Cannibal.
Hi Spencer,
Just want to say a huge thanks for your peerless insight and analysis over the TdF, and the season on the whole. It really adds to our enjoyment and understanding of the racing, as well as giving us something else to watch for on the stages.
Hope you enjoyed the relocation to France for the tour too!
All the best, James
My surprise of the Tour was Mikel Landa. I was down on his addition to the Soudal team viewing him as a distraction (Free Landa!) who wouldn't be strong enough to help Remco when it mattered. He turned out to be a steadying presence for Remco, on and off the bike apparently, and rode himself into a top 5 position on GC along the way.
Landa's position on GC does highlight the fact that no one challenged the top three GC riders for the podium spots. I suppose Rodriguez had it as a goal when the race started but he wilted and everyone else seemed to give up on the GC podium before the third week.
Thanks Spencer, for making this TdF even more special.
Almeida, Jorgenson, Gee, Girmay and Carapaz are notable for the reasons you mentioned.
It’s amazing that Almeida and Jorgenson both did so much work supporting their teams, yet were able to finish top ten. Almeida seems super impressive, given his top ten and's top five past finishes. UAE and Visma-LAB must have huge budgets to be able to keep riders with such talent meaningfully engaged, also adding Adam Yates to that list.
Curious if Almeida, Jorgenson and Yates are locked in with their current teams, or likely to be looking for other options?
I am amazed by the spectacle of the TdF, and this particular tour seemed exceptional. Maybe they’re all exceptional! Some of the twists, especially starting in Italy, missing NW France, and ending with a time trial from Monaco to Nice seemed to have worked as well as the organizers could have possibly hoped.
For me, the biggest single takeaway was Pogacar’s Stage 21 win. He could have played it safe. Many in the same position might have played it safe. But, Pogacar put it all on the line, risking a crash, because he really is a Badger, and a Cannibal.