Tour de France 2026

[J Wakefield]

1 hour ago, justinafrika said:

I suspect JV's week-long wheelsucking TP was exactly the Visma plan for a tiring JV.  Irritate and push TP so that Wout can pounce and pull away from a tired TP on that last climb of an exciting crit-like city centre last stage.  Spectacular win!  Wout's the man.

Shew. 
 

[justinafrika]

2 hours ago, peepeekaitjie said:

So Wout crossed the line first in Paris, which means he wins the Tdf. Excellent strategy using Vingegaard to tire Pogi out the entire tour

Nah nah, what are you on about?  I'm not quite as much of an eedjut as your words presume.  My comment was clearly expressed.  I was speculating about last day TdF stage glory, when it was clear in the final week that JV had a no more than miniscule chance of a GC win against a supreme Pogi and his entirely brilliant team.  

Besides, if that was Visma's final week intention the strategy clearly worked.  

Edited July 28, 2025 by justinafrika

[NGM]

48 minutes ago, justinafrika said:

Nah nah, what are you on about?  I'm not quite as much of an eedjut as your words presume.  My comment was clearly expressed.  I was speculating about last day TdF stage glory, when it was clear in the final week that JV had a miniscule chance of a GC win against a supreme Pogi and his brilliant team.  

Besides, if that was Visma's final week intention the strategy clearly worked.  

A decision was made on the day (in fact mid-race) to neutralize the GC contest with 50km to go due to rain, effectively removing all risk for Tadej and allowing him to attack and go for the win. He wouldn't have attacked otherwise. He even says as much here:

So ya, an incredibly big call for Visma to predict all of that 1 week beforehand and base their entire strategy around it. 

[justinafrika]

1 hour ago, NGM said:

A decision was made on the day (in fact mid-race) to neutralize the GC contest with 50km to go due to rain, effectively removing all risk for Tadej and allowing him to attack and go for the win. He wouldn't have attacked otherwise. He even says as much here:

So ya, an incredibly big call for Visma to predict all of that 1 week beforehand and base their entire strategy around it. 

Thanks for that insight, missed that interview and will have to watch later after sorting this guy who swallowed 89 grams of his epilepsy meds and the schoolboy shot for his phone.  Not sure that that negates the possibility of that potential Jumbo Visma tactic for an exciting final day stage win and a boost for the team and its sponsors, though.  

Edited July 28, 2025 by justinafrika

[Shebeen]

Just for some reference in the future, here is where the bookies see next year going.

For 2025, Lipowits and was on the radar, but Onley came out of nowhere.

[DieselnDust]

4 hours ago, J Wakefield said:

Shew. 
 

didn't think of that did you...??🤣

[Eugene Oppelt]

Bliksem, that was the hardest Tour that I've watched. 

Every day, more or less, felt like a one day classic, barring some transition stages. A few highlights for me was:

- the Ventoux stage and to see so many people and fans trekking to the Giant Of Provence,

- when Healy was clock watching and earned his way into the maillot jaune after stellar work by his roleur teammates,

- and watching the resilient Wout van Aert unlock his Classics superpowers and cap off a tough tour for his team with a breakaway win.

What a remarkable 120 days of Tadej lighting up the WorldTour with sensational performances. His 1,000 yard stare in the final week revealed that he was now ready to go home, restore himself away from the glare of the public and the criticism of the cynics. 

It was also the fastest average speed in the history of the Tour de France, somewhere around 43 kph, of so iets.

Surprize performances: Healy, Lipowitz

Good-bye of 2025: The one and only Gee

📸 @z_w_photography

[NotSoBigBen]

For all the flack that Visma have taken here I think that's pretty classy of them!

[peepeekaitjie]

Cycling's worst kept secret is finally out

 

Remco Evenepoel to ride for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

[jcza]

On 8/6/2025 at 8:59 AM, peepeekaitjie said:

Cycling's worst kept secret is finally out

 

Remco Evenepoel to ride for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

I know some will disagree and I guess we will have to wait and see but I think he should have gone to Ineos. 

[michaelbiker]

1 hour ago, jcza said:

I know some will disagree and I guess we will have to wait and see but I think he should have gone to Ineos. 

Maybe. But that would only have happened if Ineos got Spez as a bike sponsor. There are rumours they don’t have a bike sponsor for next year so it could have worked out but the bora move was a lot simpler and they are trying to rival the big two, so they were willing to put up the cash. 

[Danger Dassie]

2 hours ago, michaelbiker said:

Maybe. But that would only have happened if Ineos got Spez as a bike sponsor. There are rumours they don’t have a bike sponsor for next year so it could have worked out but the bora move was a lot simpler and they are trying to rival the big two, so they were willing to put up the cash. 

They don't as Pinarello are moving to Q363, one of the backers (Glassenberg) is also a partner/owner in Pinarello.
Wouldn't be surprised if Ineos move to Scott, unless they reach a purchase agreement of sorts with Pinarello.

[jcza]

22 hours ago, michaelbiker said:

Maybe. But that would only have happened if Ineos got Spez as a bike sponsor. There are rumours they don’t have a bike sponsor for next year so it could have worked out but the bora move was a lot simpler and they are trying to rival the big two, so they were willing to put up the cash. 

 

19 hours ago, Danger Dassie said:

They don't as Pinarello are moving to Q363, one of the backers (Glassenberg) is also a partner/owner in Pinarello.
Wouldn't be surprised if Ineos move to Scott, unless they reach a purchase agreement of sorts with Pinarello.

It's not about the bike 😉 

[J Wakefield]

On 8/12/2025 at 10:18 AM, michaelbiker said:

Maybe. But that would only have happened if Ineos got Spez as a bike sponsor. There are rumours they don’t have a bike sponsor for next year so it could have worked out but the bora move was a lot simpler and they are trying to rival the big two, so they were willing to put up the cash. 

Not only if Spez went and Ineos have enough cash

Edited August 13, 2025 by J Wakefield

[Eugene Oppelt]

Awesome content from UToob

 

[Eugene Oppelt]

Makes it look easy as if he's routinely brushing his teeth.

 

Edited August 28, 2025 by Eugene Oppelt