I wasn’t surprised by the GC outcome at the Tour. Given Pogs form going into the event, and Jonas’s accident / recovery, I think we got a much better overall race than I had anticipated. Even so, it was a really enjoyable watch for me, and I managed to get in several of the weekend stages in, in full. Good times.
Pog was another level though.
The time trial showed that, putting a minute into Jonas whilst doing a bit of show boating (clipped below):
And I have to say I was loving the final mountain stage, where Remco attacked Jonas and then it went down to Jonas and Pog on that final part of the climb. Afterwards Jonas said he thought Pog might have let him win… but admitted he probably wouldn’t have let Tadej win, if the situation were reversed 🙂
Still, all three did pretty well out of it, if all you care about is the financials.
Given the recent news, it looks like only Remco will be racing La Vuelta this year. Injuries and fatigue rule out Pog, Jonas, and Roglic. Even so, Remco says his third place and Tour stage win are equal, if not better career achievements (so far) than winning La Vuelta. Very interesting.
Beyond the end of the Tour this week, there wasn’t that much happening. All the focus now shifts to the Olympics, which is why the Olympic news comes first this week (always looking ahead!) and then a big Tour wrap up follows.
OK, as always you can see last week’s round up by clicking here. Otherwise, on we go!
2024 Olympic Cycling Guide
The Paris 2024 Olympics will feature road, track, BMX, and mountain biking events.
The cycling events will span from 27th July to 11th August, with road races taking place in central Paris.
Track cycling will be held at Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, while mountain biking will occur in Élancourt.
BMX events will be hosted at Vélodrome National and Place de la Concorde.
In total, 512 athletes will compete for 66 medals across 22 cycling events.
The BBC and Discovery+ will provide live UK TV coverage of the cycling events.
Read in full at Cyclist.co.uk.
Pogačar Skips Olympics
Well, we made it one story in before normal service resumes.
Tadej Pogačar announced he would not participate in the Paris Olympics road race.
The Slovenian Olympic Committee confirmed he would be replaced by Domen Novak.
Pogačar hinted at needing rest after his recent victories, including the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. No kidding.
He expressed a desire to spend time with family and friends to recharge before the World Championships in September. This seems to rule out his participation in La Vuelta as has been rumoured already.
There was also controversy over the selection process, with Pogačar’s partner, Urška Žigart, not being chosen despite being the national champion. Pog has since said this played a big part in his decision.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Tour de France 2024
I think, outside the regular grumpy cycling press, we can all agree that the 2024 Tour de France was a whirlwind of excitement and historic moments.
Tadej Pogačar reclaimed the yellow jersey, winning six stages and completing the Giro-Tour double.
Jonas Vingegaard, despite an earlier crash, secured second place and a stage win.
Tour debutant Remco Evenepoel won a stage and took home the best young rider’s jersey.
Romain Bardet’s dramatic breakaway earned him his first yellow jersey in Stage 1.
Biniam Girmay made history with multiple stage wins and became the first Black African rider to win the green jersey.
Mark Cavendish set a new record with his 35th stage win.
Julien Bernard was fined for stopping to kiss his family during the time-trial.
Anthony Turgis triumphed in the chaotic gravel stage.
Vingegaard out-sprinted Pogačar for my favourite, his Stage 11 victory. Sorry, I can’t help being a fanboy.
Richard Carapaz became the first Ecuadorian to win a Tour stage and claimed the polka dot jersey.
Victor Campenaerts delighted fans with a memorable win and emotional celebration.
Pogačar’s dominance this season set the stage for what I hope will be a closer, more dramatic rematch with Vingegaard next year.
Read in full at Cyclist.co.uk.
Tour de France 2024 Prize Money Breakdown
Ever wondered what the prize pool is for the Tour’s various winners? Cyclist.co.uk bring us the deets.
Pogačar pocketed the most prize money, with a total haul of €650,000, including €500,000 for the overall win.
His team, UAE Team Emirates, topped the prize money standings, raking in €806,810.
Jonas Vingegaard of Visma-Lease a Bike came second with €250,000, while Remco Evenepoel secured third place with €170,000.
Not a bad result for 3 week’s (very, very hard) work.
Despite smaller budgets, teams like Intermarché-Wanty and EF Education-EasyPost overperformed in terms of prize money.
Read in full at Cyclist.co.uk.
Tadej Pogačar’s 288 Strava KOMs
Tadej Pogačar set 288 new Strava KOMs during his third Tour de France victory.
The Slovenian cyclist has become Strava’s most followed athlete.
Pogačar broke numerous records on famous climbs, including the Col du Galibier and Plateau de Beille.
His remarkable efforts included smashing a 26-year-old record on the Plateau de Beille by almost four minutes.
Strava confirmed Pogačar’s dominance, highlighting his new trophies and massive following.
The 25-year-old joked about flagged race files during the Giro d’Italia, saying, ‘Haters gonna flag.’
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
The Rivalry of Pogačar vs Vingegaard
Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard have created one of the most exciting rivalries in modern cycling.
Pogačar now leads 3-2 in Tour de France wins, but the competition is far from over.
Their contrasting personalities and backgrounds add spice to their duels.
Both riders’ teams, UAE Team Emirates and Visma-Lease a Bike, have also been key players in this rivalry.
In the opinion of Cyclist.co.uk, this is not yet the greatest rivalry in cycling history, but it has all the ingredients to become one.
Read in full at Cyclist.co.uk.
The Decline of Ineos Grenadiers
The article discusses the declining performance of the Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France.
Once the dominant force, the British team struggled to meet past expectations.
Despite a decent overall performance, their results paled in comparison to their former glory.
The team finished seventh on general classification, with a few near-misses on stages.
Ineos Grenadiers now face a challenging transition period, lacking the star riders of other top teams.
CEO John Allert acknowledged their current struggles and the need to embrace this period of change.
With their billionaire owner and former team boss focusing on other ventures, the team’s future remains uncertain.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Sir Mark Cavendish Hints at Retirement
Sir Mark Cavendish hinted at retiring after completing his last Tour de France.
The ‘Manx Missile’ ended his 17-year Tour career with a record breaking 35 stage wins.
He rode the 33.7km time trial from Monaco to Nice, likely his final professional race.
Cavendish expressed happiness with his performance and his team’s achievements.
He enjoyed his final day, reflecting on his career and successes.
At 39, Cavendish leaves as the most successful sprinter with 165 wins.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Team Triumphs and Trials
Rouleur rated each team’s performance, highlighting standout moments like Kevin Vauquelin’s historic stage win for Arkéa–B&B Hotels and EF Education-EasyPost’s perseverance leading to Richard Carapaz’s mountain stage victory and polka-dot jersey.
Teams like Bahrain-Victorious and Ineos Grenadiers struggled, while UAE Team Emirates topped the charts with Pogačar’s stellar performance.
Pogačar’s Power Numbers
Cycling is, I want to say, unique in the fact that regular amateurs can compare their numbers to those of the best of the best. By comparison, whilst I know Ronaldo is much better than me at football, it’s hard to quantify by exactly how much.
Velo bring us an accessible article breaking down Pog’s power in this year’s Tour. And it’s … mental.
His performances on climbs like Isola 2000 and Col de la Couillole highlighted his insane fitness and strategy.
Pogačar’s power data suggests he has the highest FTP ever seen in professional cycling, making him a formidable force for years to come.
Well, I would say it’s the highest FTP ever seen in a non-doping cyclist. There are rumours a certain Lance Armstrong was able to hold 495 watts for 30-40 minutes…
But he doesn’t have the most reliable record for being honest and truthful.
Remco Evenepoel Felt The Pressure
Remco Evenepoel made an impressive debut in the 2024 Tour de France, finishing third overall and winning the best young rider award.
His performance included a stage win and came just three months after recovering from fractures.
Evenepoel’s success was emotionally overwhelming, highlighted by tears of relief and joy.
He acknowledged the immense pressure and criticism he faced, especially from his home country, Belgium.
Evenepoel’s journey from football to cycling and his rapid rise in the pro ranks underline his exceptional talent.
Tailor Made: Yellow Jersey’s Speed Suit
The leaders of the Tour de France enjoy custom-tailored speed suits from Santini.
On the eve of stage 7, Santini’s top seamstress worked late to perfect Tadej Pogačar’s yellow speed suit.
Santini has been supplying these suits for three years, praised for their overnight customisation abilities.
Pogačar’s suit was adjusted overnight and delivered the next morning, helping him finish second in the time trial.
For the second time trial, his suit was pre-made, reducing stress for the team.
Leaders also receive new kits for non-time trial stages and additional ceremonial jerseys for the podium.
The Cost of Winning
Ever wondered how much Tadej Pogačar’s Tour de France-winning time trial bike costs?
Spoiler: it’s more than a used Toyota Camry. And, in Pog’s hands (or, legs), faster.
The Colnago TT1, equipped with the latest tech and custom components, comes with a hefty price tag.
From the $6,782 frameset to the $1,094.78 custom saddle, every part adds up.
The total cost? A jaw-dropping $21,556.09.
Britain’s Future Tour de France Champs
The UK has a new generation of promising cyclists ready to follow in the footsteps of Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas.
Among them are Oscar Onley, who has shown his prowess in climbing, and Leo Hayter, a rising star from south London.
Joseph Blackmore and Lukas Nerurkar are also making waves with their early successes in WorldTour events.
Thomas Gloag and Josh Tarling round out the list with their potential in GC and time-trial events, respectively.
Not to be outdone, Ireland is seeing a surge in talent with riders like Archie Ryan and Darren Rafferty showing promise.
Read in full at Cyclist.co.uk.
Pogačar Joins Giro-Tour Double Winners Club
Tadej Pogačar has officially joined the prestigious Giro-Tour double winners club, becoming the eighth man to achieve this incredible feat.
His third Tour de France victory has solidified his status as one of professional cycling’s all-time greats.
Before Pogačar, the double had only been achieved by male riders seven times, with Marco Pantani being the last in 1998.
Pogačar’s triumphs this season included victories at Strade Bianche, Volta a Catalunya, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
He now aims for the rare triple crown: Giro, Tour, and road world title in the same season.
The article also delves into the history of other Giro-Tour double winners, both male and female, such as Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx, and Annemiek van Vleuten.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Second Place Is Not Second Best
Jonas Vingegaard hailed his second place at the Tour de France as a bigger result than winning.
Despite a crash earlier in the season, Vingegaard managed to return to a very high level of performance.
Vingegaard expressed satisfaction with his power figures and performances during the race.
He had spent time in intensive care following his crash, making his return even more remarkable.
Vingegaard joked about avoiding future crashes as part of his preparation.
Vingegaard planned to rest and then consider his future steps, with no Vuelta a España this year.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Patching Up the World’s Greatest Race
The article explores potential reforms, including changes to the polka dot jersey classification and inviting more teams.
It suggests replacing prologues with proper road stages and including more gravel and cobble stages.
The revival of the combination jersey and the abolition of team time-trials are also proposed.
Introducing a proper breakaway award and a daily best French rider prize could add more excitement.
A final time-trial on the Champs-Elysées is recommended to keep the race competitive until the last day.
The article argues that the Tour should consider finishing in other French cities to reduce its carbon footprint and enhance local engagement.
Read in full at Cyclist.co.uk.
CO2 Controversy
Top teams like UAE Team Emirates, Visma-Lease a Bike, and Israel-Premier Tech admitted using carbon monoxide rebreathing for altitude training tests.
While the practice is legal and used to measure haemoglobin levels, concerns arose have been raised about its safety and potential misuse.
Riders like Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard defended the method as a simple test with no performance enhancement.
However, critics worry it could be abused for blood doping. Indeed.
Tour de France In Pictures
The Tour de France 2024 has wrapped up, leaving us with unforgettable memories and legendary tales.
Photographer Zac Williams (@z_w_photography) captured the essence of this year’s race through his stunning lens.
This post has curated 21 of his best shots to relive the magic.
Read in full at Cyclist.co.uk.
Roglič’s Rocky Road to Recovery
Primož Roglič revealed he fractured his back during his second crash in the Tour de France.
He posted an update on Instagram, stating he’s slowly getting back on the bike.
Roglič abandoned the Tour after two crashes in two days.
His participation in the Vuelta a España is uncertain as he recovers.
Team manager Ralph Denk downplayed statements about Roglič’s return to racing.
Fox Faces Bike Backlash
George Fox set a new 10-mile (16.1km) time trial record on a controversial triathlon frame, clocking in at 18 minutes and 33 seconds.
His Argon 18 bike raised eyebrows but was approved for use, despite not being officially recognised by the Cycling Time Trials (CTT) body.
Fox’s bike and riding position faced scrutiny, leading to a disciplinary hearing where he was found not to have breached any rules.
He jokes that his bike is now ‘arguably the only CTT-approved road bike’ but it continues to spark debate.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Peter Sagan Second To Last 🙂
Peter Sagan finished second in his last ever professional race at the Slovakian national MTB championships on Sunday. See what I did with the title there? Yeah… it wasn’t great. Sorry.
Originally set to retire after the Paris Olympics, health issues prompted an earlier exit.
Despite two heart procedures, Sagan returned to racing but Slovakia didn’t qualify for the Olympics.
His career includes three road world titles and seven green jerseys at the Tour de France.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Girmay Extends Contract
Perhaps entirely expected, Biniam Girmay has extended his contract with Intermarche-Wanty until 2028 after his historic Tour de France.
The Eritrean rider, who became the first Black African to win a Tour stage and secure the green jersey, is now setting his sights on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Despite a few setbacks, including a crash and a crazy eye injury from a prosecco cork, Girmay remains optimistic about future achievements.
He encouraged young cyclists to keep working hard, assuring them that anything is possible.
Geraint: “Pogacar Skips Vuelta to Keep Team Happy”
Geraint Thomas revealed on his podcast that Tadej Pogacar is skipping the Vuelta a Espana to keep his UAE Team Emirates happy.
Pogacar has decided to focus on the Road World Championships in September.
Thomas believes Pogacar wants to rest and prepare for the World Championships.
🌈 Pogacar Wants To Taste The Rainbow 🌈
Eurosport, among several others, are reporting that Pog now aims to claim the world champion’s rainbow jersey from Mathieu van der Poel.
He has become the first man since Marco Pantani in 1998 to achieve the Giro-Tour double.
Next, Pogacar aims for the Triple Crown by winning the World Championships in Zurich.
It doesn’t look like any UK bookie has this on their radar yet.
Wout Van Aert’s Double Disc
Wout van Aert was spotted training with a front disc wheel ahead of the Paris Olympics time trial.
This could be a game-changer, though front discs are rarely used outside due to crosswind issues.
Van Aert was seen in his Belgium team kit on a Cervélo P5 with double Reserve disc wheels.
It’s uncertain if he’ll use this setup in the 32.4km event; he might just be testing the waters.
Front discs are tricky in crosswinds and could cost him time if the weather isn’t favourable.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Tour of Britain’s Challenging Opening Stages
British Cycling announced that the first two stages of this September’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men would be the toughest in the race’s history. And for once, these weren’t financial troubles. Arf arf.
Riders would face 5,000 metres of elevation gain in the Scottish borders and northern England.
Stage one on 3 September starts and finishes in Kelso, covering 181 kilometres with multiple climbs.
Stage two on 4 September starts in Darlington, featuring ascents in the Cleveland hills and North Yorkshire moors.
The race would continue south before concluding in Felixstowe on 8 September.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Gravel Race Lottery Kicks Off Early
Unbound Gravel’s 2025 lottery opened two months earlier to ensure riders are more prepared than ever. Honestly, I didn’t even known you had to enter a lottery to ride Unbound. That said, I don’t really follow gravel, at all.
Registration runs from November 1-15, 2024, with winners announced on November 21.
The event, attracting 4,000 riders and 25,000 visitors to Emporia, Kansas, features five race distances.
Participants can also secure a spot through qualifying races or charity entries.
Read in full at Cycling Weekly.
Raleigh on the Ropes?
Raleigh, the historic British bicycle manufacturer, has been served a warning notice from Companies House for failing to file its 2022 accounts.
This news came just months after job cuts and restructuring by its parent company, Accell, which also announced a move from Raleigh’s Nottingham headquarters.
A First Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off has raised concerns about the company’s future.
Although such notices often get resolved by filing overdue accounts, the context of redundancies and financial downgrades has deepened worries.
Raleigh, founded in the 1880s, had its headquarters in Eastwood, which Accell described as ‘outdated and inflexible’.
Bike Of The Week
I gotta be honest, I’m kinda meme’ing with this one.
This week’s Bike of the Week is the Cervélo P3X, a triathlon bike… but this one, I saw over at Cycle Exchange, selling for £5,995, with an RRP of £8,899 when new.
Honestly, it looks like someone got confused and bought the wrong bike for bike packing.
Weirdly, the official Cervélo website version, whilst a nicer picture, just makes it look like the Zwift Tron Bike. Which may or may not be a good thing.
I’m sure it’s a beast of a bike, but that top picture with the huge coffee cup?
Wild.
OK, enough nonsense from me. See you next week!