Rate TdeF '26: what did you like, what would you fix?

[wakemalcolm]

Well, that's that then. Time to get reductive and think of a number between 1 and 10. Additional comment on how it could have been better is always welcome.

 

[Pblakeney]

8. Could have been higher as I wouldn't have changed a lot.
Some better signage and marshalling at one corner which I'm sure Jonas would agree with.

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

I went for a 7, as there was no real GC drama, which is what makes a GT truly great. However, we've got used to that over the last few years whenever Pog or Jonas line up

It gains a point for me as I won some money betting on Carapaz to win KOM and Mads to win Green. Some of the stages were good on their own, and the final stage in Paris is enough for at least 2 of the points out of the 10 overall

 

[Binky]

8 for me, some brilliant stages with Pogacar just remarkable. Final stage with MvDP win was everythng you want and more.
Disappointment with Jonas crashing out but that's the way it goes sometimes.

Changes? Need better control over fans on the climbs, it's always been chaotic but now it's endangering riders and it can't continue as it is anymore. Challenge will be how it's done.

Oh and bring back ITV 4 coverage with Ned and David. Get rid of Sean "yes well" Kelly.

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

Yeah, the lack of the ITV coverage definitely cost it a point this year, for me. The current coverage is good, but ITV's coverage was another level entirely

 

[wakemalcolm]

6 for me but that was more down to the way I was able to consume it. I don't have the bandwidth to watch it live, I don't watch enough to warrant buying TNT for the highlights alone and the package on 5 wasn't available to watch on demand until the following morning (& in one case, much later).

The route was always GC problematical as soon as the grand depart was handed to Barcelona; it was all over as a contest by the first Thursday, and could have been sooner if Pog hadn't been so keen to place Derek in white. At least this opened up the opportunity for some great individual stages later in in the race.

Paris, Carapaz and the race for green maybe offer the recency bias to score it higher.

 

[misforturob]

Would have been 7 but bumped to 8 by the final stage which was "one for the ages"

 

[wakemalcolm]

Would have been 7 but bumped to 8 by the final stage which was "one for the ages"

I'm a big fan of Hatch but I'm beginning to wonder how many ages we have room for.

 

[Paulus]

I Would go with an 8 possibly 9.
Agree with @Binky that maybe it is time for a bit more control of the crowds on the high mountain stages.
I really like the changes on the last day, the climbs over Montmartre make it far more interesting.

 

[Paulus]

I'm a big fan of Hatch but I'm beginning to wonder how many ages we have room for.

I get a bit fed up with Rob Hatch and his variations of the dialects for rider names and place names. He sounds like Officer Crabtree ftom Allo Allo.
And somebody should teach Sean Kelly how to pronounce Tadej Pogaćar. It's not Pogarchar.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

It's quite ironic after largely ignoring the C4/ITV live coverage for decades, I've looked forward to it in recent years, only for it to be cancelled last year. The few early and late stages on S4C helped a bit, but it's not quite the same, when you only recognise the odd word like "araf" from living in Wales 40-odd years ago!

 

[Binky]

I went 8 not 9 purely because the GC battle was over almost immediately and once Jonas went out that was that. For the spectacle, racing etc and excitement some of the stages were 9 or 10 for me. Pogacar winning Alpe D'Huez in the manner he did and MvDP on stage 21 were a 10.

Yeah Hatch and Kelly are awful. Hatch knows his stuff of course but the exaggerated pronunciation drives me to distraction.