Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Roglic and Wout van Aert have worked doggedly to help reel in the isolated UAE Team Emirates riderThe history of the Tour de France is marked by what French observers refer to – while licking their lips – as bouleversements, when the obvious race scenario is turned upside down in an unexpected and dramatic way. One of those great upsets took place this week, when the wraith-like Dane Jonas Vingegaard dislodged the race’s No 1 favourite, Tadej Pogacar, whose domination of the first 10 days had led most onlookers to predict a seamless third overall title.Mostly, the Tour proceeds according to a formbook that is written early on; usually, the race belongs to the favourite who performs best...
It has been 36 years since the country’s last victory in the men’s race – and it is hard to see who can stop it from becoming 37Every Tour has its earworm and this year’s nifty little number, Tibopino, is out there on YouTube, dedicated to France’s Tour hero Thibaut Pinot. “Allez Pinot,” the singer intones, adding one of the best – or worst, depending on how you see these things – puns to grace the French language: “Sur un vélo, t’es beau, Pinot.” You look good on a bike, Pinot.There is a more telling line in the song, however: “ça fait longtemps depuis l’Blaireau” – it’s been a long time since the Badger – referring to the 36 years...
The Tour always throws up surprises but it is hard to see anyone who can go head to head with the dominant Slovenian It is rare for any cyclist to win the Tour de France twice, which is why it marks the point where a rider is truly established as one of the biggest names of the great race. A third Tour win is different again, however: only the very greatest have managed the feat. That is why the next four weeks hold such significance for Tadej Pogacar.Win that third Tour and “Pog” will be elevated to a select pantheon. The five-times winners – Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Induráin – are well known, while the disgraced former...
Poor tactics and lack of risk-taking sum up how it has gone badly wrong for Dave Brailsford’s Ineos GrenadiersIn sport, failure can be relative. If Team Ineos were to conclude their 2021 season on Sunday, when the Tour de France ends in Paris, they would be entitled to look back with some pride at a string of stage race wins in May and June that included the Giro d’Italia and the Tours of Romandie, Switzerland and Catalonia, and the Criterium du Dauphiné, the prime warm-up race for the Tour de France. Dave Brailsford’s team dominated those races, taking the Giro in straightforward style and scoring a 1-2-3 at Catalonia.The problem is that in modern-day cycling, success or failure relates largely...
Julian Alaphilippe, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert do not race to a script, a hallmark of their roots in the brief, intense winter version of road racingAlong with Tadej Pogacar’s precocious talent and Mark Cavendish’s astonishing comeback, the 2021 Tour de France has turned into a race marked by three influential all-rounders: Julian Alaphilippe, winner of stage one; Mathieu van der Poel, victor of stage two and yellow jersey for six stages before pulling out on Monday; and Wout van Aert, who dominated the toughest mountain stage of the entire race on Wednesday, winning the stage to Malaucène after two ascents of the dreaded Mont Ventoux. Related: Bauke Mollema climbs to win as Tadej Pogacar tightens Tour...