Tour de France, 2020 – Pogacar wins

September 19, 2020, 09:43 PM

Pipe Smoker

“Tadej Pogacar is set to win the Tour de France ahead of strong favourite Primoz Roglic in one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the race's history.

Pogacar, 21, will be confirmed as the youngest winner for 111 years at the end of Sunday's largely processional stage to Paris.

The UAE-Team Emirates rider overhauled a 57-second deficit to Roglic, who was thought to be a far stronger rider on stage 20's time trial to La Planche des Belles Filles…”

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/54186014

September 19, 2020, 10:11 PM

Russ59

Wow! Two Slovanians on the podium!

September 19, 2020, 10:42 PM

Balzé Halzé

One of if not the best Tours I've ever watched.

Today was nuts. I still can't believe what I saw.

September 20, 2020, 08:05 AM

MRMATT

quote:
One of if not the best Tours I've ever watched.

This.

_____________________________
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." George Washington.

September 20, 2020, 08:26 AM

P250UA5

I lost interest for a few years when Sky started their domination with Wiggins/Froome. Seemed less of the aggressive style of the years before & more steady pace teamwork. Wins races but less engaging to watch.

May have to look back into it if its improving.

September 20, 2020, 09:34 AM

Sr_Bull

Roglic was surrounded by a strong team throughout the entire TdeF, while Pogacar lost some of his team, so Roglic's team could cover any of Pogacar's attacks in the mountains. I almost wonder if Pogacar knew this, and knew just to keep it close so he could go all out on the time trial. Incredible performance by the young rider.

I'm glad they were able to hold the race this year, even if it were two months late.

September 20, 2020, 09:42 AM

Sunset_Va

quote:
Originally posted by Sr_Bull:
Roglic was surrounded by a strong team throughout the entire TdeF, while Pogacar lost some of his team, so Roglic's team could cover any of Pogacar's attacks in the mountains. I almost wonder if Pogacar knew this, and knew just to keep it close so he could go all out on the time trial. Incredible performance by the young rider.

I'm glad they were able to hold the race this year, even if it were two months late.

Durn...Sorry I missed the race, I figured they had canceled it. Was it televised ?

September 20, 2020, 09:50 AM

Balzé Halzé

quote:
Originally posted by Sunset_Va:

Durn...Sorry I missed the race, I figured they had canceled it. Was it televised ?

Same as always, yes. I thought about posting a reminder at the beginning but...well, I guess I just forgot. Great coverage this year. The riders were tested weekly, and had a certain amount tested positive, the tour would've been canceled. Thankfully that didn't happen.

The racing schedule is very condensed this year, so there'll be more coming up in the next few weeks. The World Championships is in Italy and is next week i tbink, and then the Giro kicks off.

The final stage in Paris is on NBC Sports right now by the way.

September 20, 2020, 12:51 PM

Sunset_Va

quote:
Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
quote:
Originally posted by Sunset_Va:

Durn...Sorry I missed the race, I figured they had canceled it. Was it televised ?

Same as always, yes. I thought about posting a reminder at the beginning but...well, I guess I just forgot. Great coverage this year. The riders were tested weekly, and had a certain amount tested positive, the tour would've been canceled. Thankfully that didn't happen.

The racing schedule is very condensed this year, so there'll be more coming up in the next few weeks. The World Championships is in Italy and is next week i tbink, and then the Giro kicks off.

The final stage in Paris is on NBC Sports right now by the way.

I wish you had posted about the race being run.
I enjoy the race, not so much a team follower, but love seeing the teamwork, and bikes.

Also, I love seeing the French countryside and towns, this would have been a different slant, seeing it later in the season.

It would have been a great respite from me watching the Weather Channel, there is nothing out there in TV wasteland that interests me anymore.

Perhaps I misssed it, I saw no mention of the race on any news feeds I read on the Internet.

September 20, 2020, 12:59 PM

airbubba

some of the best mountain stages i remember over the last several years.

September 20, 2020, 03:15 PM

Pipe Smoker

Condensed stage by stage report:

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/53887669

September 20, 2020, 10:39 PM

jaaron11

That was an incredible time trial by Pogacar, one that will live on in Tour lore for decades to come. Roglic didn't have a terrible ride. Not as good as hoped for, but good enough to hold on most years against most riders. But Pogacar is not most riders, and this is certainly not most years.

The only sad note for me is that, because this is cycling, I can't help but view any superhuman effort like this with a tinge of suspicion.

September 21, 2020, 07:53 AM

Pipe Smoker

quote:
Originally posted by Sunset_Va:
<snip>
Perhaps I misssed it, I saw no mention of the race on any news feeds I read on the Internet.

BBC News, which occasionally has an interesting story on its main news channels, has a channel dedicated to Cycling.

September 21, 2020, 10:25 AM

corsair

quote:
Originally posted by Russ59:
Wow! Two Slovanians on the podium!

Punching above their weight for being such a tiny country. Wasn't too long ago they were behind Tito's curtain.

Luka Doncic, Tina Maze, Goran Dragic, there's a few good ones.

September 21, 2020, 11:25 AM

Balzé Halzé

quote:
Originally posted by corsair:
quote:
Originally posted by Russ59:
Wow! Two Slovanians on the podium!

Punching above their weight for being such a tiny country. Wasn't too long ago they were behind Tito's curtain.

Luka Doncic, Tina Maze, Goran Dragic, there's a few good ones.

Being his typical Eastern European, stoic self, Pogacar had my favorite quote of the tour. When asked by the interviewer before a particularly tough mountain stage if he would try to take back time on the climb, he answered something like, "if my legs feel good, I'll go for more time; if not, I'll just stay with the best." Basically saying, if I'm not feeling 100%, I'll just hang out and stay with the top riders in the world.

The kid (well, young man) has some confidence, that's for sure. And for good reason.

September 21, 2020, 12:14 PM

corsair

quote:
Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Being his typical Eastern European, stoic self, Pogacar had my favorite quote of the tour. When asked by the interviewer before a particularly tough mountain stage if he would try to take back time on the climb, he answered something like, "if my legs feel good, I'll go for more time; if not, I'll just stay with the best." Basically saying, if I'm not feeling 100%, I'll just hang out and stay with the top riders in the world.

The kid (well, young man) has some confidence, that's for sure. And for good reason.

He was an animal, and surprisingly young, he just turned 22 today, birthday on 9/21. Most tour winners tend to be seasoned pro's in their late 20's at-least, most into their 30's. He's got a very bright future.