wakemalcolm
Legendary Member
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- Ratho
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.
Rate TdeF '26: what did you like, what would you fix?
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TakeTheHighRoad
Well-Known Member
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
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
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.
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
Well-Known Member
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
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wakemalcolm
Legendary Member
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- Ratho
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.
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
Senior Member
Would have been 7 but bumped to 8 by the final stage which was "one for the ages"
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wakemalcolm
Legendary Member
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- Ratho
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
Über Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
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!
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.
Yeah Hatch and Kelly are awful. Hatch knows his stuff of course but the exaggerated pronunciation drives me to distraction.
It was 8 or 9 so I plumped for 9.
I know the GC was over early, although we'll never know how good Vinnie could have been in the third week.
Pog is a once in a lifetime rider wuth his style and versatility so I'll cut him more slack than I would a GC concentrated winner.
The last 3 stages were epic, Mads and Carapaz outstanding, Seixas impressive and no rubbish weather.
I know the GC was over early, although we'll never know how good Vinnie could have been in the third week.
Pog is a once in a lifetime rider wuth his style and versatility so I'll cut him more slack than I would a GC concentrated winner.
The last 3 stages were epic, Mads and Carapaz outstanding, Seixas impressive and no rubbish weather.
Dorset Boy
Senior Member
- Location
- North Dorset or a mountain
I went 8.
Mads P digging so deep to get over the big alpine climbs to secure green and then repaying his break companions with a bit of a tow was great - was amazed that Jasper P had managed to close the gap to 7 points in the last few days.
Pidders sneaking in breaks to yoyo up and down the top 10.
Pogi doing Pogi things.
The fight for the white jersey with a 19 year old making it to 4th.
Remco proving he can climb with the best in the high mountains.
Carapaz, a pure racer, getting the peas.
And stage 21 - wow, what a finish.
The behaviour of the crowds on the Alpe needs to be sorted - probably requires more and more barriers.
Shame Jonas crashed out, but riders need to not blindly follow the motos.
I don't like Grand Departs happening in Italy or Spain - they have their own GTs already.
Mads P digging so deep to get over the big alpine climbs to secure green and then repaying his break companions with a bit of a tow was great - was amazed that Jasper P had managed to close the gap to 7 points in the last few days.
Pidders sneaking in breaks to yoyo up and down the top 10.
Pogi doing Pogi things.
The fight for the white jersey with a 19 year old making it to 4th.
Remco proving he can climb with the best in the high mountains.
Carapaz, a pure racer, getting the peas.
And stage 21 - wow, what a finish.
The behaviour of the crowds on the Alpe needs to be sorted - probably requires more and more barriers.
Shame Jonas crashed out, but riders need to not blindly follow the motos.
I don't like Grand Departs happening in Italy or Spain - they have their own GTs already.
matticus
Guru
I gave it a 6 - glad I watched, but not great.
Most of those points came from:
Someone wins a stage a year after their team-mate dies. Or a crazy break only JUST makes it. Or bonkers counter-attacking from a small group for the last 10k. Or a really emotional surprise winner. Stuff like that.
(apart from Stage 21!)
Not tooo bothered about the Alpine crowd trouble; it wasn't dramatically worse than other years (with no serious affect on the race), plus we were treated to FANTASTIC feel-good coverage of the partying. So it balanced out!
Most of those points came from:
I cannot remember any other stages with special drama/pathos/redemption. Most GTs have at least 2 stages like that (the giro had several!).
Someone wins a stage a year after their team-mate dies. Or a crazy break only JUST makes it. Or bonkers counter-attacking from a small group for the last 10k. Or a really emotional surprise winner. Stuff like that.
(apart from Stage 21!)
Not tooo bothered about the Alpine crowd trouble; it wasn't dramatically worse than other years (with no serious affect on the race), plus we were treated to FANTASTIC feel-good coverage of the partying. So it balanced out!
