'Dale

At 75 kgs thereabouts for the Dutch superstar. That’ll warm me up, hey! One of his best performances as shared on Strava:

Reminds of a temple I visited in Chiang Mai @michaelbiker How's the humidity levels there?

Every weekend is Fight Club

Remco in for 'The race of the falling leaves'. Lekka duel expected between the WolfPack and UAE.

My precious Eva

Pic: @JumboVismaRoad

What a tactical masterclass by The Other Wout to eclipse the in-form Belgian. And one of the biggest surprises or upsets in recent Grand Tour history, alongside Tao Geoghan Hart taking home the maglia rosa a few years ago during the COVID gogga time. Jumbo-Visma - rulers of the Grand Tour Universe, 2023. Pic: @jumbo-visma

Pull ups (hill repeats)

4,000 m vert tomorrow with Stage 20's lumpy course. Sepp's final test. Fortunately, he will have 2 of the 5 best GC riders in the world at this time being his super duper domestiques. Being in the break with Remco is tough, they say, like "trying to keep up with a scooter". He is one of the top 5 racers in the world and his versatility in GC, time trial and one day racing substantiates his class. He's got fire in his belly and has a sparkling personality. 50th victory yesterday and at 23 years old - remarkable. He will smaak another stage win tomorrow. Like or not like, he doesn't have to visit you and your family for supper; he surely entertains. Meanwhile, the other superstar Slovenian is racing again and busy peaking for the final Monument of the year. Quite a thing, hey, should the Giro winner, TdF winner and the likely Vuelta winner be on the podium together on Sunday? Like a glitch in the Matrix. Big question: Who will challenge the Bumblebees next year in the 3 week race? Pic: Simon Bromley

The mountain that determined Sepp Kuss’s fate. Or, rather, where the American earned the right to hold on to red. Pic: Getty Sport Images

Pump up da base (miles)

Sorry, Sepp. Jou bliksem. What a ride. You make me want to train harder. Respect. So, it seems that the team agreed that the road will decide. Man on man on man. Sounds about right. The bigger picture is that the other teams will have to figure out how to tackle this juggernaut Jumbo’ in 2024. No amount of cynicism and criticism for how Sepp was dropped will detract from the fact that this team is a force of nature.

Big day. Big day. Angliru. With Jumbo-Visma - team first. Whether it's Sepp, Primoz or Jonas. The only question for me is what is Movistar and UAE going to do to get onto the podium. The Belgian jersey will want to go for another stage win today. Bringing some pride to the jersey and redemption to his individual career. Questions will remain about what that slump was on the Tourmalet stage. I suspect that Sepp will slide backwards down the GC snake and ladder board today. 3rd week fatigue is likely. He is only human.

Some would call it God’s painting.

Eish! Alt Tour West - from Canada side to Mexico side. Lachlan’s longest ride yet.

Rest days. Urgggghhhh! Any case, here's the mental warm-up for tomorrow. It'll be brisk at 120 kms. Remember that the mighty Angliru is the next day. Jumbo' in total control of the GC competition. UAE and Movistar will have to go for 'nothing to lose, everything to gain' with their race strategy tomorrow and Wednesday as they are running out of tarmac to Sunday's procession. Whoever has the KOM up the final 4.8 kms of La Hermida into Bejes, sorry Bruuuu...

Meanwhile, racing in Canada, Darryl Impey announces his retirement. South Africa’s most high profile World Tour cyclist (with Ashleigh right up there in the WWT) will be moving to Australia with his family, starting a new chapter. What a great finalè today as Rui Costa earns precious WT points for his team as they have been hanging low in the points race. Kamna’s error / crash was unfortunate as he looked unbearable with his attack from a few kms out. The mystery remains about Remco’s implosion on Friday and then a remarkable breakaway victory that left his fellow escapee, Bardet, in awe. The young man wearing the number 1 dossard have earned some form of redemption. However, there’ll be lingering doubts about his capabilities to head to France for that ‘other race’ - the largest annual sporting event in the world. The Steppers held up the Moroccan flag in remembrance for the earthquake deaths in the beautiful city of Marrakesh. That was beautiful.

Stop trying to calm the storm. The storm will pass. Calm yourself. - Zen proverb

Another day in the Pyrenees today including 8.7% for 11 kms up the Col Hourcère. Will Sepp have enough legs in week 3 where fatigue really rises? Will have to see. It’s his only threat to the unlikely dream is winning a Grand Tour. Other teams will like Ineos and FDJ and the Steppers will now aim for stage glory. UAE and Movistar will keep on keeping on for that podium spot. Intriguing.

One of those mornings with amazing cloudscapes.🤍

Recommendation for tomorrow: Work From Home 😈 Or worst case, peel off after lunchtime for that “off-site meeting”.

So cool that I can throw my leg over my saddle in my garage and roll out for 10-15 mins to this magnificent view…

Speedwork on Slent Rd (somewhere between Malmesbury, Wellington and Durbanville) 🧭

“It’s the first time that I didn’t get caught by someone in the TT…” - Sepp Kuss. 😆 56 km/h by Ganna - bliksem, that’s propper watts. That was a proper CDA duel between the rainbow jersey and the hour record holder. 16 seconds is the time it takes to remotely open my garage door. The seatstay on this Colnago; haven’t noticed that design before. The technological advancements the last few years, geez.

Legend