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

[Aravis]

Perhaps I'll start at 10, then knock points off for things that weren't so good.

1. The race has completely forgotten that it's supposed to tour France.
2. Never any kind of battle for the overall victory. This doesn't really bother me, but it seems to upset a lot of folks.
3. Quinn Simmons.
4. The colour of the green jersey. American flag blue?
5. Excessive heat making some stages an uncomfortable watch.
6. Neutralisation of time gaps in the Paris stage.
7. Non-appearance of live stage 18 coverage on S4C.
8. Rob Hatch. Impossible to avoid completely.
9. Over-emphasis on records, especially (though not necessarily restricted to) that held by not-Armstrong.

That takes it down to 1, the lowest that the poll allows. This feel a bit unfair, as I really enjoyed most of it, especially the final stage which seems to have sent everyone off on a high. When did the old circuit sprint last do that?

I completely understand neutralising the rainy Montmartre stage in 2025, but if the same thing's going to happen in perfect conditions, is it a stage of the Tour or not? I did hear (on The Move) that the riders demanded the neutralisation. Would there have been a strike if it hadn't been granted, I wonder?

Using the Montmartre times could cause excessive final day reordering of GC positions, and we've come to expect that this doesn't happen. Maybe the final stage needs rebranding as something like the "Tour de France Classic", where riders are required only to finish within the time limit but can race if they wish.

The race produced decisive, worthy winners of all the jersey competitions, some exciting young riders who enhanced their reputations, and held my interest throughout. It's a 9.

 

[Pross]

Very surprised to see over half the vote is currently giving an 8 or 9 given the level of moaning during the stage spoilers and asertion by many that the race was over after Stage 2. Those scores would surely suggest it was above expectations and one of the better editions?

 

[katiewlx]

Very surprised to see over half the vote is currently giving an 8 or 9 given the level of moanig during the stage spoilers and asertion by many that the race was over after Stage 2. Those scores would surely suggest it was above expectations and one of the better editions?

maybe the people voting arent the people who were sharing their views during the stages.

it was for me one of the worst races weve had for a decade, there was no interest in it really beyond the first week, and a fascinating final stage, which almost felt as honestly run as one of those post TdF style crits, doesnt make up for it.

things Id improve, give Pog a 3 week holiday next year.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Very surprised to see over half the vote is currently giving an 8 or 9 given the level of moanig during the stage spoilers and asertion by many that the race was over after Stage 2. Those scores would surely suggest it was above expectations and one of the better editions?

Recency bias. The final stage was a cracker, and the green jersey was only sealed on stage 20 with an attack on a savage mountain climb. Carapaz also sealed the polkadots that stage (or the day before?) and then won the stage from the break, so a good race ending.

I went for 6 - the green jersey was an epic battle, taken by force. Carapaz was grinta personified for the polkadots and there were some actual tactics to talk about (the lack of collaboration on the Alpe, Trek's multi-purposed role etc).

The GC battle was over early, and we were denied the chance to see if Vingegaard could even hurt Pogacar on one of the massive Alpine stages in the third week. None of the podium hopefuls did much to attack each other, and the third step went to a rider that got nursed around the race by what must be the world's most over-specced domestique. I think Vingegaard going out probably dampened the podium competition as well - if all the third step contenders had been left to fend for themselves with Jonas and Pogacar up the road they'd have had to work out how to race each other. With Pog towing Del Toro the race was pretty much neutralised.

Seixas did better than I expected, he's shown he can race three weeks. Remco's climbing legs looked useful, but again, a proper ding-dong between Pogacar and Jonas in the final week might have tested them more

The Alpe certainly needs far better crowd control - especially if you're going to finish it on it twice and you have the nineteen year old French prodigy hyping the bejeesus out of the public

 

[mididoctors]

Stage design was good . A lot of active racing . Almost too much . GC was a side show to the green. A lot of great performances. Enjoyed it a lot . Nice to see a proper polka dot win .

All thr stages were won by hitters . It's just so hard to get away . . I can understand people giving low marks for Lack of GC interest. I found the race fascinating at times because there was some newish tactics on trial

 

[mididoctors]

Very surprised to see over half the vote is currently giving an 8 or 9 given the level of moanig during the stage spoilers and asertion by many that the race was over after Stage 2. Those scores would surely suggest it was above expectations and one of the better editions?

I understand your position. Dispite giving it a 7

 

[mididoctors]

maybe the people voting arent the people who were sharing their views during the stages.

it was for me one of the worst races weve had for a decade, there was no interest in it really beyond the first week, and a fascinating final stage, which almost felt as honestly run as one of those post TdF style crits, doesnt make up for it.

things Id improve, give Pog a 3 week holiday next year.

This basically was the problem GC wise ...and first week UAE

 

[M.R.M]

I went 4 which is probably unfair and the lowest I can recall giving a GT. it’s not the races fault, I felt the stage mix was pretty good. It’s just the way it was raced, not just the total dominance by Pog on GC but the way teams control every stage and take away jeopardy and some teams seem to just turn up accepting they can’t win anything unless others let them. I will say I missed the final two stages and in sounds like the final stage was a cracker.

Well the final stage did have the greatest ending to any stage ever, so that is something you should check out. Worth watching the entire circuit for the build up. 😊

I went for a 9 despite the GC battle being decided so early. I enjoyed watching pretty much every stage. That can't be said for every GT. It was the most enjoyable GT day to day, that I've ever seen, so 9. With a better GC battle it would have been a 10.

Pog reeling in riders on Alpe d'Huez was enjoyable for example even without any GC jeopardy. And many other stages had similar things that made them quite fun to watch. Merlier had one of the craziest sprints coming from way back after the final corner, which even made a usually boring sprint stage interesting. Of course, there is no point in watching a large part of sprint stages, but that's the case for almost all transition, sprint stages.
The placement of intermediate sprints made the break formation quite interesting as well.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Some better signage and marshalling at one corner which I'm sure Jonas would agree with.

Sepp says could you make that two corners please?

 

[Dogtrousers]

7 from me. But I'm easily pleased.

GC was a dud. Mads and team saved the race with their dedication to green. Richie lit things up late on, and the white jersey was in doubt until pretty late. The contrived neutralised Montmartre stage is inching towards WWF. Highly entertaining spectacle but ...

I really enjoyed it anyway.

 

[Pblakeney]

Sepp says could you make that two corners please?

Nothing wrong with that corner. That was misjudgement on his part, probably because he was burst.

 

[mididoctors]

Well the final stage did have the greatest ending to any stage ever, so that is something you should check out. Worth watching the entire circuit for the build up. 😊

I went for a 9 despite the GC battle being decided so early. I enjoyed watching pretty much every stage. That can't be said for every GT. It was the most enjoyable GT day to day, that I've ever seen, so 9. With a better GC battle it would have been a 10.

Pog reeling in riders on Alpe d'Huez was enjoyable for example even without any GC jeopardy. And many other stages had similar things that made them quite fun to watch. Merlier had one of the craziest sprints coming from way back after the final corner, which even made a usually boring sprint stage interesting. Of course, there is no point in watching a large part of sprint stages, but that's the case for almost all transition, sprint stages.
The placement of intermediate sprints made the break formation quite interesting as well.

I was surprised by so many high scores but it was a tour thatseems to re energised this forum