TdF Stage 21 2025

[No Ta Doctor]

It was fine for the Olympics. I think Jonas and Visma like to whinge too much.
I like the addition, and if it's a dud, well as said above, next year they can change it again.

Lol, the idea that a one day race contested by small national teams is in any way comparable to the Tour de France peloton at full whack

The main risk is if a major player gets knocked out or looses masses of time due to a crash

but that is true of any stage - even when they finished with a time trial it was always possible that someobe could loose it on a corner or get a bike failure or whatever

I think you're confusing the fact that any stage, any bike race, has some inherent risk with the amount and predictability of that risk. Clearly the new course has significant and predictable extra risk

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Lol, the idea that a one day race contested by small national teams is in any way comparable to the Tour de France peloton at full whack



I think you're confusing the fact that any stage, any bike race, has some inherent risk with the amount and predictability of that risk. Clearly the new course has significant and predictable extra risk

Yup
it is not at all unknown for the leader to help lead out the sprinter in their team as payback for his work over the rest of the Tour

which always create a possible risk

but it should be kept to a minimum
without going full time trial anyway!!!

 

[Dorset Boy]

Lol, the idea that a one day race contested by small national teams is in any way comparable to the Tour de France peloton at full whack



I think you're confusing the fact that any stage, any bike race, has some inherent risk with the amount and predictability of that risk. Clearly the new course has significant and predictable extra risk

Don't worry, with a bit of luck, Jonas will be so far back on GC it won't matter.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

Don't worry, with a bit of luck, Jonas will be so far back on GC it won't matter.

Bit of a weird thing to wish of the only rider that might be capable of challenging Pog for the GC. Thought people didn't like processions 🤷‍♂️

 

[Dorset Boy]

Bit of a weird thing to wish of the only rider that might be capable of challenging Pog for the GC. Thought people didn't like processions 🤷‍♂️

I'm not keen on Jonas, WvA or Visma, but love watching Pogi and MvdP.
So no, not weird.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Put it this way, I hardly miss a beat of the first 20 stages of the tour, but never more than the last 20 minutes of stage 21.
Same for the Vuelta.
I will watch this, so that’s a plus for me.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I'm prepared to give it a chance. Basically 21 normally has an extended neutralised champagne swilling section, then the laps and some doomed attacks, then the sprint. That's OK by me but if this turns out to be significantly better all well and good.

I doubt if it will be tho.

 

[M.R.M]

I'm not keen on Jonas, WvA or Visma, but love watching Pogi and MvdP.
So no, not weird.

But should rider favoritism factor into parcours discussions?

 

[Blazing Saddles]

But should rider favoritism factor into parcours discussions?

We’re only echoing riders sentiments here, so it’s inevitable personal taste is going to be a factor.
It’s not only DB who’s used rider favouritism to form their opinion btw.
I think it’s perfectly fine to do so. After all, we can’t talk from personal experience, can we?

 

[No Ta Doctor]

We’re only echoing riders sentiments here, so it’s inevitable personal taste is going to be a factor.
It’s not only DB who’s used rider favouritism to form their opinion btw.
I think it’s perfectly fine to do so. After all, we can’t talk from personal experience, can we?

I'm pretty sure I've not involved rider favouritism in any way tbh. There's an assumption I came to my position because of something Jonas had said, but I'd never even seen it when I posted. And it could just as well be Pog that gets taken out in yellow in the fight for position.

I said already - I like the relaxed stage start and I like the "Sprinters World Champs". I don't see the need to make the final stage a circus - as Brian Holm has put it

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Sports are - in my mind - like soaps on the telly

They work by developing the characters and families/teams so you become familar with them and start liking some
and not liking others
to at least some extent

so if there is football on then I will always support Liverpool - because that is what is right
if ManU are on they could be playing anyone and I will be supporting the other team - because that is what is right

F1 - I like Lando and Lewis
bit split as I am not keen on Ferrari
and Mercedes are one of my favourites but they are German



anyway - cycling is the same

you get to know specific riders and support them
and dislike other riders and don;t want them to do well as much

so I love Pog , used to love Cav
I always liked Froome although his riding is the sort that normally puts me off


problem is that the less cycling there is on telly the less I will know about the teams as they swap around
and I will not as invested in the riders and their performance

and the new riders coming up will be unknown

to make the soap work you need density of programming

 

[mjr]

Put it this way, I hardly miss a beat of the first 20 stages of the tour, but never more than the last 20 minutes of stage 21.
Same for the Vuelta.
I will watch this, so that’s a plus for me.

I love the Champs and Gran Via circuits, and all the 'closing ceremony' before it. It's interesting seeing the changes on them each year.

I suspect this is a mistake, but we'll see what happens.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

I said already - I like the relaxed stage start and I like the "Sprinters World Champs". I don't see the need to make the final stage a circus - as Brian Holm has put it

So it’s a question of whether one prefers to watch a circus or a parade.

As for this unofficial “Sprinters WCs” tag, I have never bought into this piece of marketing.
It’s a 45-60 minute criterium, on the cobbles, raced after almost 3 weeks. Some of the 20 previous stages having more claim to being the sprinters world champs……
……Unless you think Jordi Meeus is the faster sprinter in the pro peloton, that is.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

It would be good if something was introduced that gave the possibility of a break forming and having a chance of achieving something

like a major cach prize at a point before the finish - or maybe even winning

 

[Dogtrousers]

It would be good if something was introduced that gave the possibility of a break forming and having a chance of achieving something

like a major cach prize at a point before the finish - or maybe even winning

Being on telly not enough?