A solid 1. I was disillusioned all the way.
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For the first time in a long time I'm not suffering withdrawal symptoms on this day (except maybe for The Open)
Is it? 2023 was very much not backloaded. Tricky stage 1 + 2 where UAE decided to throw down the gauntlet, two hard stages in the Pyrenees where Jumbo did the same to basically try to end the race, and then the Alps block from 13-17.
There was good racing and I was a big fan of the vinge/pog-duel beforehand, but still the tour leaves me wanting a big break from visma/uae cycling (the duel was somewhat cancelled but even icu-vinge demolishes everyone bar a fit pog).
"Just want to be entertained rating": 7/10
"can't rationalize oil money tik tok guys and miracle healers clubbing the cycling world at will rating": 1/10
"Just want to be entertained rating": 7/10
"can't rationalize oil money tik tok guys and miracle healers clubbing the cycling world at will rating": 1/10
Voted for a 6.
The first week was amazing and one of the (if not the best) first weeks I can remember. We had suprising break wins, GC action, 3 different sprint winners (including Cavendish's historical win) and a surprisingly close first time-trial.
The second week had two very great and eventful stages (stages 9 and 11), and it felt like we could be up to another extremely exciting third-week GC battle. On the flipside, the second week was bloated with too many sprinting finishes, and with Pogacar's dominant win on Pla d'Adet the race suddenly felt over even before we reached the final week.
In extreme contrast to week one, the final week was one of the most boring and meaningless final weeks in a Tour de France that I can remember. I did not even bother to watch all the stages because each of them (at least the mountain stages) felt the same. The break was strong, but basically doomed, and in the end Pogacar soloed to a commanding victory, looking like he was on a Sunday ride. Even worse, there was almost no interesting fight for the GC behind the podium, which was cemented very early as well.
Edit: Thinking more about it, I may even change it to a 5, because the dominance by a few teams when it comes to the GC (7 of the first 8 riders in GC come from the same 3 teams) is pretty annoying.
The first week was amazing and one of the (if not the best) first weeks I can remember. We had suprising break wins, GC action, 3 different sprint winners (including Cavendish's historical win) and a surprisingly close first time-trial.
The second week had two very great and eventful stages (stages 9 and 11), and it felt like we could be up to another extremely exciting third-week GC battle. On the flipside, the second week was bloated with too many sprinting finishes, and with Pogacar's dominant win on Pla d'Adet the race suddenly felt over even before we reached the final week.
In extreme contrast to week one, the final week was one of the most boring and meaningless final weeks in a Tour de France that I can remember. I did not even bother to watch all the stages because each of them (at least the mountain stages) felt the same. The break was strong, but basically doomed, and in the end Pogacar soloed to a commanding victory, looking like he was on a Sunday ride. Even worse, there was almost no interesting fight for the GC behind the podium, which was cemented very early as well.
Edit: Thinking more about it, I may even change it to a 5, because the dominance by a few teams when it comes to the GC (7 of the first 8 riders in GC come from the same 3 teams) is pretty annoying.
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2022 was decided on Granon, when the Tour favourite in yellow was defeated after a fabulous stage. Expectations and the dynamics of how the battle unfolded were quite different.
2023 looked after Marie Blanque to be like this year, but the next day fortunes were reversed after a (failed) long-range on Tourmalet. It was close then, and Pogi kept biting off seconds of the lead continuously from stage 6 to 13, and he also pressured Vingegaard to the brink of defeat on stage 14.
As a reminder, Pogi was the slight forum (and your) favourite to win the race after the second rest day: https://forum.cyclingnews.com/threads/who-will-win-the-2023-tour-de-france-gc-rest-day-poll-2.39082/
Action for the rest of the GC was better last year too, but it didn't have a gravel stage.
2023 was largely decided on stage 16 with the final blow coming the day after. 2024 was largely decided on stage 14 with the final blow, again, coming the day after. Not a huge difference.
And fwiw Vingegaard would likely have won a poll just before stage 14, so the race was in a very similar spot going into its decisive moment.
The dynamic before that was different. Vingegaard never dropped Pogi this year.
And of course, stage number is rather misleading in this context when the routes were very different. Stage 14 was the first MTF this year, while the race was decided after the last MTF last year.
Vingegaard (and Jumbo-Visma) won a single stage last year. Pogi won 6 in this edition. Team strength was also more one-sided this year than last year between them.
Nothing was decided on stage 14, christ. It was Plateau de Beille which "decided" it, and even that I don't really agree with. Jonas produced insane numbers, and had he been just as good on stage 19, we would have seen an epic stage and Pog possibly running into trouble (in hindsight we know he probably wouldn't considering his performance on Isola).
Some posters I think are way to quick to just blow off the race. I only knew who was going to win after stage 19 and thats completely fine. I'd much, much rather have a race where the MTFs are pushed full gas bottom to top than, lets say 2011, which was a very, very open race, but just compared the stage in the Pyrenees to this year's. Very similar, two hard MTFs, but 2011 was stop-and-go and was just as bad as when they finished on the climb in 2015. You have the "suspense", but you're still incredibly let down after races like that because the stages promised to much more.
Some posters I think are way to quick to just blow off the race. I only knew who was going to win after stage 19 and thats completely fine. I'd much, much rather have a race where the MTFs are pushed full gas bottom to top than, lets say 2011, which was a very, very open race, but just compared the stage in the Pyrenees to this year's. Very similar, two hard MTFs, but 2011 was stop-and-go and was just as bad as when they finished on the climb in 2015. You have the "suspense", but you're still incredibly let down after races like that because the stages promised to much more.
3.
Dull second half, too many forgone conclusions in that latter half of the race. And frankly too many power records broken. [[deleted content: clinic}}
Perhaps because I have seen too many tours, I can’t get excited about the particular order of riders 4 to 12. Which apparently was the excitement yesterday for instance.
Dull second half, too many forgone conclusions in that latter half of the race. And frankly too many power records broken. [[deleted content: clinic}}
Perhaps because I have seen too many tours, I can’t get excited about the particular order of riders 4 to 12. Which apparently was the excitement yesterday for instance.
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It was a Merckxian Tour, boring from start to finish, so I gave it TEN.
Go, Pogi.
Go, Pogi.
I am undecided between a 7 and an 8. I liked the Parcours. A downside was that the winner seemed decided from the beginning, in my opinion. It was only a matter of time before Jonas succumbed to the pressure. It was nice to see Remco being consistent for three weeks at a very high level. I have to say that more miraculous than Pogacar's performance was Jonas's. I was very surprised and impressed by the high level at which he rode after such a crash. As for Pogacar, I have always believed that he is the best talent I have ever seen, and it was only a matter of time before he adjusted his training, nutrition, weight, and other programs to show these numbers. I have always thought (and still think) that he is superior to Jonas.
Basically, it was a good tour. Unfortunately, the sport has become so professional and a few teams so strong that others only have a chance if these teams don't want to. That's a shame. But that's the way things are developing - not just in cycling or sport in general.
Hi,
I'd rate the race a solid 9 out of 10. It had incredible moments, strategic moves, and intense competition throughout. The only thing that could have made it even better would have been a bit more unpredictability in the final laps. Overall, it was a thrilling spectacle!
Jack
Ended up with a 7/10
This after my personal stage-by-stage review combined with overall personal impression
What I enjoy watching at bike races is all the unexpected things and the non-GC races speaking stage races.
In this edition the peloton has disappointed catastrophically on some of the stages that could be compared to Asgreen's and Mohoric's stages last year, but this year ended up in perfect snooze parties.
Here I will give a '2' for these stages, not 1, as it was not 180 riders who crossed the finish line at the same time on tricycles at granny pace to honor the joint victory for Mother Theresa, but actually ended up in some exciting sprints.
Apart from that.
I really want to credit the race organizers for a route design to my liking.
Where sprint stages, stages with the risk (chance) of crosswinds, hilly, beautiful terrain, the very high mountains have been thought of - as well as a very clear desire for me to create tension between Pogi and Jonas, where if things are not in advance had developed as they did, Pogi's caution with the heat on the ultra-short high mountain stages, Vingo's spring mishaps, Rogla's foul spirit, etc.
And then my personal POV about the GC race.
Although the GC settled at Pla d'Adet, I really enjoyed it.
I was surprised to see that Pogi had built up so much, and just looking for the nuances, especially the first week, watching him in the field and he saved small efforts all the time, kept the efforts. At the same time, I kept an eye on him on strava and his crazy amount of training in +2000m and even +3000m - he had intended to learn his lesson from last year.
Only post Pogi knew his own real strength and the strength of his competitors and he felt that he was in control of his own limits, to drink, to eat at the front, to have the help of the UAE to keep cool on the hot (all too short ) high stages, even Pogi's instincts cannot be contained.
And why be disappointed about it?
Why not just enjoy a guy who just loves party time on the bike?
I enjoyed it. Regardless of how much clinical stuff there may be.
(I could jump on that thread as well with other inputs of suspicion than the usual, but didn't take anything from me when the riders were on the road).
And Vingegaard.
I am at a loss for words. I really expected him to be the thin beer - help Jorgenson to a possible incredible podium and then retire in the race. I was a 100% sure of that, even though it might didn't make logics - was just thinking Visma 'hoping for the best' as a bit over-confident.
And when he went down on the Isola 2000 stage, I thought that in the following days he would crack much more than just "I'm gone, I'm dead". That he then showed courage and believed in himself all the way to Nice, I just have a lot of respect for that.
And Remco. Boy-oh-boy oh Wonderkid!
If possible, he has probably surprised me more as a serious GC contender. It was clear at the starting line in Firenze that he had prepared not to lose it all in the high mountains. But that he could finish in the top 3 - and even have so much confidence that he fought for a further step up. Kudos!
Roglic I was really looking forward to seeing. Before he unfortunately had to retire, I saw really strong signs for him. I have to admit that being a fan of Roglic is just the land of disappointments and the knives directly in the heart just keep getting bigger and bigger. I read half a note about Roglic's career musings. It's not at all wearable here, I haven't dared to dig into it any more. Hoping for a Vuelta revenge. Preferably against Kuss
And then the other bike race. Bardet, VDB-the-youngest-one, Abrahamsen, Campenaerts, Jorgenson, Carapaz, etc. There have been enough riders who have really wanted to ride a bicycle race worth watching.
AND finally. Would like a Monaco-Nice ITT again for my sake - Just not as Le Grand Finale!
Tthere's just nothing in the whole world that can replace the Champs-Élyssées on the final day. From the completely electric atmosphere when the riders hit the laps for the first time, over the podium ceremony with the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile in the background, typically in absolutely fantastic sunny evening weather and then the personal Danish cozy-corner organized by TV2 Danmark behind Maison du Danemark in the middle of Le Champs and a pure champagne atmosphere where 3 weeks of adrenaline and exhaustion are suddenly replaced by an ecstatic intoxication, and then suddenly - the last toast, now everyday life is coming, and how suddenly the longing feeling of waiting for next year's edition already.
I did not achieve that mood in the same way last night. This is what Champs-Élyssées can do to me.
This after my personal stage-by-stage review combined with overall personal impression
What I enjoy watching at bike races is all the unexpected things and the non-GC races speaking stage races.
In this edition the peloton has disappointed catastrophically on some of the stages that could be compared to Asgreen's and Mohoric's stages last year, but this year ended up in perfect snooze parties.
Here I will give a '2' for these stages, not 1, as it was not 180 riders who crossed the finish line at the same time on tricycles at granny pace to honor the joint victory for Mother Theresa, but actually ended up in some exciting sprints.
Apart from that.
I really want to credit the race organizers for a route design to my liking.
Where sprint stages, stages with the risk (chance) of crosswinds, hilly, beautiful terrain, the very high mountains have been thought of - as well as a very clear desire for me to create tension between Pogi and Jonas, where if things are not in advance had developed as they did, Pogi's caution with the heat on the ultra-short high mountain stages, Vingo's spring mishaps, Rogla's foul spirit, etc.
And then my personal POV about the GC race.
Although the GC settled at Pla d'Adet, I really enjoyed it.
I was surprised to see that Pogi had built up so much, and just looking for the nuances, especially the first week, watching him in the field and he saved small efforts all the time, kept the efforts. At the same time, I kept an eye on him on strava and his crazy amount of training in +2000m and even +3000m - he had intended to learn his lesson from last year.
Only post Pogi knew his own real strength and the strength of his competitors and he felt that he was in control of his own limits, to drink, to eat at the front, to have the help of the UAE to keep cool on the hot (all too short ) high stages, even Pogi's instincts cannot be contained.
And why be disappointed about it?
Why not just enjoy a guy who just loves party time on the bike?
I enjoyed it. Regardless of how much clinical stuff there may be.
(I could jump on that thread as well with other inputs of suspicion than the usual, but didn't take anything from me when the riders were on the road).
And Vingegaard.
I am at a loss for words. I really expected him to be the thin beer - help Jorgenson to a possible incredible podium and then retire in the race. I was a 100% sure of that, even though it might didn't make logics - was just thinking Visma 'hoping for the best' as a bit over-confident.
And when he went down on the Isola 2000 stage, I thought that in the following days he would crack much more than just "I'm gone, I'm dead". That he then showed courage and believed in himself all the way to Nice, I just have a lot of respect for that.
And Remco. Boy-oh-boy oh Wonderkid!
If possible, he has probably surprised me more as a serious GC contender. It was clear at the starting line in Firenze that he had prepared not to lose it all in the high mountains. But that he could finish in the top 3 - and even have so much confidence that he fought for a further step up. Kudos!
Roglic I was really looking forward to seeing. Before he unfortunately had to retire, I saw really strong signs for him. I have to admit that being a fan of Roglic is just the land of disappointments and the knives directly in the heart just keep getting bigger and bigger. I read half a note about Roglic's career musings. It's not at all wearable here, I haven't dared to dig into it any more. Hoping for a Vuelta revenge. Preferably against Kuss
And then the other bike race. Bardet, VDB-the-youngest-one, Abrahamsen, Campenaerts, Jorgenson, Carapaz, etc. There have been enough riders who have really wanted to ride a bicycle race worth watching.
AND finally. Would like a Monaco-Nice ITT again for my sake - Just not as Le Grand Finale!
Tthere's just nothing in the whole world that can replace the Champs-Élyssées on the final day. From the completely electric atmosphere when the riders hit the laps for the first time, over the podium ceremony with the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile in the background, typically in absolutely fantastic sunny evening weather and then the personal Danish cozy-corner organized by TV2 Danmark behind Maison du Danemark in the middle of Le Champs and a pure champagne atmosphere where 3 weeks of adrenaline and exhaustion are suddenly replaced by an ecstatic intoxication, and then suddenly - the last toast, now everyday life is coming, and how suddenly the longing feeling of waiting for next year's edition already.
I did not achieve that mood in the same way last night. This is what Champs-Élyssées can do to me.
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5
I liked:
Girmey winning 3 and Green
Bardet winning a stage and getting yellow for a day in his last Tour
EF via Carapaz winning polka dots
The gravel stage
An American Jorgenson shows he can become Good.
Disliked:
Rogla crashed out through no fault of his own.
I stopped setting my alarm to watch from the start. First time I ever did that!
I liked:
Girmey winning 3 and Green
Bardet winning a stage and getting yellow for a day in his last Tour
EF via Carapaz winning polka dots
The gravel stage
An American Jorgenson shows he can become Good.
Disliked:
Rogla crashed out through no fault of his own.
I stopped setting my alarm to watch from the start. First time I ever did that!
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I rate it 8/10
I think the mountain stages were not boring at all and even though the winner was almost always the same, we witnessed a major chapter of cycling history being written in front of our eyes with Pogačar.
Cavendish and Girmay also made history and the few breakaway stages that we had were also interesting with Carapaz putting on a show. Just didn't like the fact that we had 8 sprint stages, thumbs up to Abrahamsen for animating them a bit and this is why I don't give a higher score.
I think the mountain stages were not boring at all and even though the winner was almost always the same, we witnessed a major chapter of cycling history being written in front of our eyes with Pogačar.
Cavendish and Girmay also made history and the few breakaway stages that we had were also interesting with Carapaz putting on a show. Just didn't like the fact that we had 8 sprint stages, thumbs up to Abrahamsen for animating them a bit and this is why I don't give a higher score.
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A very generous 6/10
First half of race GC racing was excellent and really saved the race for me, the last week of GC racing became rather predictable and as others have said, too few super strong teams dominating GC.
Way too many sprint stages like always, why can they not throw in a few finishes like Amstel, Fleche, Milan-San Remo or even Mur de Bretagne at least, whilst not turning them into major GC battlegrounds instead of numerous boring sprint stages where even breakaways seem to be giving up the ghost. Need far more variation.
Finally well done to Cav on achieving a modern record, largest margin between Winner and Lantere Rouge since 1952. Almost 6.5 hours, time-cuts have become a joke.
First half of race GC racing was excellent and really saved the race for me, the last week of GC racing became rather predictable and as others have said, too few super strong teams dominating GC.
Way too many sprint stages like always, why can they not throw in a few finishes like Amstel, Fleche, Milan-San Remo or even Mur de Bretagne at least, whilst not turning them into major GC battlegrounds instead of numerous boring sprint stages where even breakaways seem to be giving up the ghost. Need far more variation.
Finally well done to Cav on achieving a modern record, largest margin between Winner and Lantere Rouge since 1952. Almost 6.5 hours, time-cuts have become a joke.
No Vino option? I would have been tempted...
This Tour lived up to predictions and expectations: it was a very good Tour, maybe a bit more…
Pluses:
So yes, not much suspense for the win, but some great stages and stories, a lot of attacks, mainly by one guy though...I give it an 8.
This Tour lived up to predictions and expectations: it was a very good Tour, maybe a bit more…
Pluses:
- Romain Bardet wins Stage 1 and gets le Maillot Jaune on his last Tour. That was a great ending, a special Tour for him. Bravo et merci Romain!
- An African rider won a TdF stage, and then two more, and le Maillot Vert. It's huge for a continent and great for the sport, Bravo Biniam!
- Mark Cavendish did it! He often irritated me, but credit where credit is due: he’s the best sprinter ever in the history of this bike race. Bravo Cav’!
- Richard Carapaz invited himself on stage and was one of the principal actors in this Tour. Bravo Richard!
- Mikel Landa has always been one of my chouchous, the Basque showed that greatness is eternal. Bravo Mikel!
- Remco was better and smarter than I thought. He will win this bike race one day. Bravo Remco!
- UAE proved me wrong, they can actually work as a team. Bravo UAE!
- Tadej Pogacar: this Tour is his greatest win. Bravo Tadej! I have never seen anything like this...
- ...well, actually I have. I didn't watch the last two stages, I knew their outcome.
- The state of French cycling: Pinot is gone, Bardet is going, and Alaf' is not quite coming back. Démare vanished...on Bastille Day, no one showed up.
So yes, not much suspense for the win, but some great stages and stories, a lot of attacks, mainly by one guy though...I give it an 8.
Yes...... A TT up here on the last day would be the dream.Super Planche des Belles Filles?
In Hindsight, this Tour was decided at stage 15. But let's not forget, there was a very real possibility of Jonas coming back within striking distance at stage 19. So when it comes to the GC battle being boring, it was only the last two stages and even that was only partially true. Anyone who watched yesterday's descent could not be sure Pog had it in the bag until he reached the sea-level altitude again.
You had a bunch of nail-biting stages, probably way above average and due to the way Pog races (he could very well be too ambitious at Col de la Bonette and blow it all) and the way he was known to bonk when he's not feeling well, the suspense was there almost until the end. So from the GC perspective, I'd give it at least 8. But since I'm a fan, I gave it a 10
You had a bunch of nail-biting stages, probably way above average and due to the way Pog races (he could very well be too ambitious at Col de la Bonette and blow it all) and the way he was known to bonk when he's not feeling well, the suspense was there almost until the end. So from the GC perspective, I'd give it at least 8. But since I'm a fan, I gave it a 10
I was deciding in between two strong options, 1 and 10. In the end i went with 10 and lets hope next year only a 10 will be an option.
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