Tour de France 2025 (CONTAINS SPOILERS!)

[Dogtrousers]

Not a course for MadsP and other puncheurs?

Crazy ~267Km with ~5500m climbing!😱

Just had a look. Yikes https://www.uci.org/competition-hub/2025-uci-road-world-championships/7mnrx8NLAbor8iWnlpCuwe

I think a good strategy would be to find a good hiding place on the circuit, go to ground on lap 2 and count them coming past, and pop out on lap 14.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

If Vingegaard goes to the world's he's the team leader. No one else in that team can win it.

'Here's a list of people that have beaten Pog in one day races this season (he's raced seven of them and never been off the podium):

• MvdP (twice)
• Ganna (for second place in MSR, which MvdP won)
• Skjelmose

That's it. Nobody else. Nobody even close. I guess you could make an argument that Wout beat him on the Paris stage, or that Jonas pipped him to second on La Plagne but we know that's very different.

 

[Pblakeney]

Just had a look. Yikes https://www.uci.org/competition-hub/2025-uci-road-world-championships/7mnrx8NLAbor8iWnlpCuwe
View attachment 782137
I think a good strategy would be to find a good hiding place on the circuit, go to ground on lap 2 and count them coming past, and pop out on lap 14.

It will be a battle of attrition with Kigali killing off any pretenders. Only the strong will compete the finish.

 

[Dorset Boy]

'Here's a list of people that have beaten Pog in one day races this season (he's raced seven of them and never been off the podium):

• MvdP (twice)
• Ganna (for second place in MSR, which MvdP won)
• Skjelmose

That's it. Nobody else. Nobody even close. I guess you could make an argument that Wout beat him on the Paris stage, or that Jonas pipped him to second on La Plagne but we know that's very different.

It would be interesting to see Jonas try.

 

[Jameshow]

It would be interesting to see Jonas try.

I do t think he can it's only in the high mountains that Jonas has a chance and that's debatable.

This is more punchy climbing with recovery in between I believe. MVP or WVA would be a better bet!

 

[phreak]

I do t think he can it's only in the high mountains that Jonas has a chance and that's debatable.

This is more punchy climbing with recovery in between I believe. MVP or WVA would be a better bet!

I dunno. I mean every time in the Tour and the Dauphine before that, Pogacar did his brutal attack fairly early on in the climb, and the only person who could even come close to going with him was Vingegaard. We've seen Remco do well in one day races and he was blown away by these attacks, so while Vingegaard might not win, you'd think he'd be as good as the rest at least.

 

[Mike_P]

Not quite every time. The last stage showed him up and everyone now will be working out how to force him to ride

 

[No Ta Doctor]

I think if Vingegaard did go to the World's he'd definitely be a joint captain, but Skjelmose would still likely be ranked ahead of him - if only because he's turned up on other occasions and put the work in (Glasgow for Mads P sticks in the mind) and has actual pedigree in one day races. I suspect they'd run it as a double threat type of tactic, but who they actually thought of as the main threat would be anyone's guess before the race. Mt Kigali will be a huge selection, but too early to launch an attack, even for Pog, and that's Jonas's best bit of terrain.

 

[matticus]

[World Champs]: We never truly know what goes on behind the scenes: but TBH I lose a leetle respect for riders who don't turn-up and give their all for the national team, IF invited.

 

[No Ta Doctor]

[World Champs]: We never truly know what goes on behind the scenes: but TBH I lose a leetle respect for riders who don't turn-up and give their all for the national team, IF invited.

I'm OK with it if they're riders at the sharp end of the world tour, especially if it's not their favoured terrain. If they don't think they can be competitive or think it will maybe bugger up their next season then a polite "no thanks" is OK. Obviously they can't cherry pick too much if they want to rock up later as sole captain, there are dues to be paid.

 

[KingstonGraham]

Vingegaard should go, so for once he can wear a kit that doesn't clash horribly with his helmet.

 

[matticus]

I'm OK with it if they're riders at the sharp end of the world tour, especially if it's not their favoured terrain. If they don't think they can be competitive or think it will maybe bugger up their next season then a polite "no thanks" is OK. Obviously they can't cherry pick too much if they want to rock up later as sole captain, there are dues to be paid.

You're talking like it's just another race in the wide varied calendar of pro-racing. In which case you'd have a point ...

BUT THIS IS RACING FOR YOUR COUNTRY!!!!! It's completely different. And it's only once a year!!!

 

[gsk82]

You're talking like it's just another race in the wide varied calendar of pro-racing. In which case you'd have a point ...

BUT THIS IS RACING FOR YOUR COUNTRY!!!!! It's completely different. And it's only once a year!!!

I can't believe that's the case for a top rider. It's riding for yourself in a different kit.

 

[DeadCalm]

The whole Pogacar riding into the back of the Visma car passed me by during the race and I've only just seen the footage. How on earth was the driver not thrown out of the race? Does that team have no depths to which they won't sink?

 

[M.R.M]

Think it was probably just a car safety feature that wasn't switched off. Has happened before with race organiser cars as well. Visma being "dirty" has been extremely overstated. I honestly didn't see anything at the Tour, that was completely unfair. even the squabbles at feeding zones seemed more like in the heat of battle issues between competitors. That was also Jorgenson who seems a very likeable person and not cut-throat in any way.

Regarding Vingegaard, with him going to the Vuelta, general sentiment seems to be that Vuelta + WC in Ruanda isn't properly doable. The travel being too stressful etc. At least that was the criticism a few months ago regarding many riders possibly not showing up for worlds.