Tadej Pogacar and Mauro Giannetti

[Tricycle Rider]

Because they have money to burn.

I don't know too much about the owners of the UAE team, are they known to be cycling fans? Or are they like some other mega rich owners who have no interest in sport but they own a team anyway just because they can...

 

[TheKidsCallMeBoss]

Pogačar isn't the draw people think he is, the Tour de France this year had much lower viewing figures than previous years. I doubt many people who aren't cycling fans outside Europe know who Pogačar even is.
I think having a very wealthy state sponsor a team might have something to do with it.

Oh, I see people are no longer just pushing the most ridiculous conspiracy theories here, but have completely switched to 'fake news'.

The Tour de France was a huge success on French television.

A historic Tour de France in 2025
45 million French people watched the Tour this year (70% of the population aged 4+), a historic record and 4 million more than in 2024.
4.7 million young people aged 15-24, 500,000 more than in 2024
23 million working people, 2.8 million more than in 2024.

France 2 afternoons at their highest
An average of 3.8 million viewers and 42.6% audience share, representing an increase of 700,000 viewers and 9 p.p. compared to 2024.
An average of 5.4 million viewers and 49.8% audience share for the most-watched stage of this year's race (14 July between Ennezat and Le Mont-Dore).
5.2 million and 42.7% audience share for the Mantes-la-Ville – Paris stage on Sunday, the highest audience for a final stage since 2011.
A peak of 8.7 million for the finish in Paris, the highest for the Tour in 20 years.

The historically powerful Vélo Club magazine
2.3 million and 24.5% on average, +700,000 and +11pxs vs 2024.
Best audience since 2019 and best historical market share.

On France 3
2.2 million and 22.7% on average, +350,000 and +5pxs compared to 2024.

Record figures on the france.tv platform and social media
75 million videos viewed, the highest figure ever for the Tour de France (proprietary platform, ISP, Canal and Molotov), up 120% on 2024.
On social media: 164 million videos viewed, also a record figure, up 160% on 2024.

TDF. Tour de France - 45 millions de Français sur France TV, édition historique du Tour

Des chiffres historiques à la télévision pour ce 112e Tour de France ! France Télévisions, diffuseur officiel,

www.cyclismactu.net

The same applies to the 2024 Giro d'Italia on Italian TV.

The total live coverage on Rai 2 lasted 57 hours and 27 minutes, with an overall average of 1,366,000 viewers and a 13.2% share, up 0.8% on 2023. As expected, the most watched stage, both in terms of viewers and share, was the twentieth, with Tadej Pogaçar's solo ride on Monte Grappa, enjoyed by 2 million 533 thousand viewers who chose “Giro all'arrivo” on Rai 2

Milan-Sanremo was also a big success. Rai 2 attracted 1,458,000 viewers, equal to 12.5% of the audience share, from Cipressa onwards was stable at over 2 million.

Pogacar's debut at Roubaix was also massive on both French and Italian TV.

On french TV - 8.4 million viewers tuned in (+900,000 vs. 2024), with the second-highest peak since 2006 at nearly 4.4 million people watching Mathieu Van der Poel cross the finish line (+1 million vs. 2024). This represents a staggering audience share of 38%.

Rai 2 – 1,077,000 viewers with a 9.30% share

 

[TheKidsCallMeBoss]

I don't know too much about the owners of the UAE team, are they known to be cycling fans? Or are they like some other mega rich owners who have no interest in sport but they own a team anyway just because they can...

Dude, of all the sponsors involved in cycling, UAE is literally the most involved in the sport. They own the Colnago brand, the MyWhoosh indoor cycling app, and organize WT races.

 

[bah]

I don't know too much about the owners of the UAE team, are they known to be cycling fans? Or are they like some other mega rich owners who have no interest in sport but they own a team anyway just because they can...

It's a state owned team and that state happens to be an oil state. It's hardly as if they need to be counting the pennies.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Oh, I see people are no longer just pushing the most ridiculous conspiracy theories here, but have completely switched to 'fake news'.

The Tour de France was a huge success on French television.

A historic Tour de France in 2025
45 million French people watched the Tour this year (70% of the population aged 4+), a historic record and 4 million more than in 2024.
4.7 million young people aged 15-24, 500,000 more than in 2024
23 million working people, 2.8 million more than in 2024.

France 2 afternoons at their highest
An average of 3.8 million viewers and 42.6% audience share, representing an increase of 700,000 viewers and 9 p.p. compared to 2024.
An average of 5.4 million viewers and 49.8% audience share for the most-watched stage of this year's race (14 July between Ennezat and Le Mont-Dore).
5.2 million and 42.7% audience share for the Mantes-la-Ville – Paris stage on Sunday, the highest audience for a final stage since 2011.
A peak of 8.7 million for the finish in Paris, the highest for the Tour in 20 years.

The historically powerful Vélo Club magazine
2.3 million and 24.5% on average, +700,000 and +11pxs vs 2024.
Best audience since 2019 and best historical market share.

On France 3
2.2 million and 22.7% on average, +350,000 and +5pxs compared to 2024.

Record figures on the france.tv platform and social media
75 million videos viewed, the highest figure ever for the Tour de France (proprietary platform, ISP, Canal and Molotov), up 120% on 2024.
On social media: 164 million videos viewed, also a record figure, up 160% on 2024.

TDF. Tour de France - 45 millions de Français sur France TV, édition historique du Tour

Des chiffres historiques à la télévision pour ce 112e Tour de France ! France Télévisions, diffuseur officiel,

www.cyclismactu.net

The same applies to the 2024 Giro d'Italia on Italian TV.

The total live coverage on Rai 2 lasted 57 hours and 27 minutes, with an overall average of 1,366,000 viewers and a 13.2% share, up 0.8% on 2023. As expected, the most watched stage, both in terms of viewers and share, was the twentieth, with Tadej Pogaçar's solo ride on Monte Grappa, enjoyed by 2 million 533 thousand viewers who chose “Giro all'arrivo” on Rai 2

Milan-Sanremo was also a big success. Rai 2 attracted 1,458,000 viewers, equal to 12.5% of the audience share, from Cipressa onwards was stable at over 2 million.

Pogacar's debut at Roubaix was also massive on both French and Italian TV.

On french TV - 8.4 million viewers tuned in (+900,000 vs. 2024), with the second-highest peak since 2006 at nearly 4.4 million people watching Mathieu Van der Poel cross the finish line (+1 million vs. 2024). This represents a staggering audience share of 38%.

Rai 2 – 1,077,000 viewers with a 9.30% share

Besides French and Italian viewership stats would you happen to have reliable worldwide viewership statistics? Reliable being the key word.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

It's a state owned team and that state happens to be an oil state. It's hardly as if they need to be counting the pennies.

I don't believe I mentioned anything about UAE counting pennies, so not sure where that comment came from.

 

[rallybanana]

He is the most dominant cyclist since Merckyx. In these days of social media I would be surprised if he wasn't also by far the most popular cyclist.

According to the most recent annual poll taken on PCS he is the most popular cyclist (historic or active) in both Spain and Italy. More popular than Indurain or Pantani or any of their more recent stars. It surprised me somewhat.

 

[Red Rick]

But that’s the thing. Why would a very wealthy state want to dabble in a 2nd tier sport like cycling? They dabble in European soccer which makes sense. But cycling? Also, UAE’s rise only seemed to occur after 2020. At the time of the 2020 TdF the team didn’t seem as powerful as Visma for example.

The Tour is not a 2nd tier sport, and cycling is very cheap for how big the Tour de France is.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Oh, I see people are no longer just pushing the most ridiculous conspiracy theories here, but have completely switched to 'fake news'.

The Tour de France was a huge success on French television.

A historic Tour de France in 2025
45 million French people watched the Tour this year (70% of the population aged 4+), a historic record and 4 million more than in 2024.
4.7 million young people aged 15-24, 500,000 more than in 2024
23 million working people, 2.8 million more than in 2024.

France 2 afternoons at their highest
An average of 3.8 million viewers and 42.6% audience share, representing an increase of 700,000 viewers and 9 p.p. compared to 2024.
An average of 5.4 million viewers and 49.8% audience share for the most-watched stage of this year's race (14 July between Ennezat and Le Mont-Dore).
5.2 million and 42.7% audience share for the Mantes-la-Ville – Paris stage on Sunday, the highest audience for a final stage since 2011.
A peak of 8.7 million for the finish in Paris, the highest for the Tour in 20 years.

The historically powerful Vélo Club magazine
2.3 million and 24.5% on average, +700,000 and +11pxs vs 2024.
Best audience since 2019 and best historical market share.

On France 3
2.2 million and 22.7% on average, +350,000 and +5pxs compared to 2024.

Record figures on the france.tv platform and social media
75 million videos viewed, the highest figure ever for the Tour de France (proprietary platform, ISP, Canal and Molotov), up 120% on 2024.
On social media: 164 million videos viewed, also a record figure, up 160% on 2024.

TDF. Tour de France - 45 millions de Français sur France TV, édition historique du Tour

Des chiffres historiques à la télévision pour ce 112e Tour de France ! France Télévisions, diffuseur officiel,

www.cyclismactu.net

The same applies to the 2024 Giro d'Italia on Italian TV.

The total live coverage on Rai 2 lasted 57 hours and 27 minutes, with an overall average of 1,366,000 viewers and a 13.2% share, up 0.8% on 2023. As expected, the most watched stage, both in terms of viewers and share, was the twentieth, with Tadej Pogaçar's solo ride on Monte Grappa, enjoyed by 2 million 533 thousand viewers who chose “Giro all'arrivo” on Rai 2

Milan-Sanremo was also a big success. Rai 2 attracted 1,458,000 viewers, equal to 12.5% of the audience share, from Cipressa onwards was stable at over 2 million.

Pogacar's debut at Roubaix was also massive on both French and Italian TV.

On french TV - 8.4 million viewers tuned in (+900,000 vs. 2024), with the second-highest peak since 2006 at nearly 4.4 million people watching Mathieu Van der Poel cross the finish line (+1 million vs. 2024). This represents a staggering audience share of 38%.

Rai 2 – 1,077,000 viewers with a 9.30% share

It's not 'fake news' at all, you've given me evidence of ONE country, it's dropped considerably in plenty of other countries and was widely reported.
I'm happy to debate but please be a bit more respectful, and don't discard my views as 'conspiracy theories' or 'fake news'.

Tour de France TV Viewership Declines Globally - Insights & Causes

Explore the global drop in Tour de France TV ratings and key reasons behind it. Discover the impact on cycling fans and sponsors. Read more now!

cyclingflash.com

 

[TheKidsCallMeBoss]

It's not 'fake news' at all, you've given me evidence of ONE country, it's dropped considerably in plenty of other countries and was widely reported.
I'm happy to debate but please be a bit more respectful, and don't discard my views as 'conspiracy theories' or 'fake news'.

Tour de France TV Viewership Declines Globally - Insights & Causes

Explore the global drop in Tour de France TV ratings and key reasons behind it. Discover the impact on cycling fans and sponsors. Read more now!

cyclingflash.com

Yeah, dude, what you're writing is fake news. Because viewership hasn't dropped considerably in many countries. The following is stated in the article you posted: 'ratings for the first week show a general decline in almost all markets' What part of 'first week' don't you understand, exactly?

The author of the article doesn't seem to know much about cycling. If he did, he would be able to explain the reason for this. The first week was completely dull, with no mountains and two pure sprinter stages at the weekend.

As the article mentions, viewership increased significantly from the second week onwards, with record viewership on French TV (the main audience for the TdF) and massive viewership on German TV, which had its largest market share since 2015 - https://the-spot-mediafilm.com/news...olgsbilanz-der-tour-de-france-uebertragungen/

The article highlights the decline in Spanish viewership, which is to be expected given the lack of performance by Spanish cyclists...

 

[Rou]

The Tour is not a 2nd tier sport, and cycling is very cheap for how big the Tour de France is.

It doesn't matter how much we love or praise the Tour.
It's 2nd tier in the grand scheme of sports.

 

[Abedfo]

I cant believe he is going to desecrate the European jersey now too. Absolute narcissist.

 

[Gianetti_Is_The_Goat]

The worst thing is that this is not going to stop with Pogacar. I'm pretty sure Del Toro is getting some royal treatment at UAE as well.
There's something strange about these 'talents' when they join UAE.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Pogacar: as said previously, not an amazing junior, decent first year U23
Signs for UAE in July 2018.
Wins Tour de l'Avenir in August 2018
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Del Toro: not an amazing junior, mediocre first U23 year, decent second second U23 year until he...
chooses for UAE in August 2018.
Blows everyone away in Tour de l'Avenir later that month
is now suddenly some generational talent
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pablo Torres: Actually a very good junior
signs for UAE gen-z in February 2024
Blows everyone away on Colle delle Finestre in the... Tour de l'Avenir

 

[YellowSocks]

Oh, I see people are no longer just pushing the most ridiculous conspiracy theories here, but have completely switched to 'fake news'.

The Tour de France was a huge success on French television.

A historic Tour de France in 2025
45 million French people watched the Tour this year (70% of the population aged 4+), a historic record and 4 million more than in 2024.
4.7 million young people aged 15-24, 500,000 more than in 2024
23 million working people, 2.8 million more than in 2024.

France 2 afternoons at their highest
An average of 3.8 million viewers and 42.6% audience share, representing an increase of 700,000 viewers and 9 p.p. compared to 2024.
An average of 5.4 million viewers and 49.8% audience share for the most-watched stage of this year's race (14 July between Ennezat and Le Mont-Dore).
5.2 million and 42.7% audience share for the Mantes-la-Ville – Paris stage on Sunday, the highest audience for a final stage since 2011.
A peak of 8.7 million for the finish in Paris, the highest for the Tour in 20 years.

The historically powerful Vélo Club magazine
2.3 million and 24.5% on average, +700,000 and +11pxs vs 2024.
Best audience since 2019 and best historical market share.

On France 3
2.2 million and 22.7% on average, +350,000 and +5pxs compared to 2024.

Record figures on the france.tv platform and social media
75 million videos viewed, the highest figure ever for the Tour de France (proprietary platform, ISP, Canal and Molotov), up 120% on 2024.
On social media: 164 million videos viewed, also a record figure, up 160% on 2024.

TDF. Tour de France - 45 millions de Français sur France TV, édition historique du Tour

Des chiffres historiques à la télévision pour ce 112e Tour de France ! France Télévisions, diffuseur officiel,

www.cyclismactu.net

The same applies to the 2024 Giro d'Italia on Italian TV.

The total live coverage on Rai 2 lasted 57 hours and 27 minutes, with an overall average of 1,366,000 viewers and a 13.2% share, up 0.8% on 2023. As expected, the most watched stage, both in terms of viewers and share, was the twentieth, with Tadej Pogaçar's solo ride on Monte Grappa, enjoyed by 2 million 533 thousand viewers who chose “Giro all'arrivo” on Rai 2

Milan-Sanremo was also a big success. Rai 2 attracted 1,458,000 viewers, equal to 12.5% of the audience share, from Cipressa onwards was stable at over 2 million.

Pogacar's debut at Roubaix was also massive on both French and Italian TV.

On french TV - 8.4 million viewers tuned in (+900,000 vs. 2024), with the second-highest peak since 2006 at nearly 4.4 million people watching Mathieu Van der Poel cross the finish line (+1 million vs. 2024). This represents a staggering audience share of 38%.

Rai 2 – 1,077,000 viewers with a 9.30% share

'45 million French people watched the Tour this year (70% of the population over the age of 4)'.
Put like that, it's pretty frightening (you imagine a country completely at a standstill, trains stuck in the middle of nowhere, empty supermarkets, parents neglecting their children, who themselves spend the whole day in front of the television from the age of 4...).

There are people whose job it is to present figures (they are called press officers). Figures can be used to say many things, and you should always be wary when they are communicated by the organizer or broadcaster of the event (via what is known as a press release). Above all, they can be calculated in different ways. Obviously, we're not talking about 45 million different viewers here (phew...), but rather the sum of the number of viewers for each stage. I should point out that they are counted from one minute of viewing (if you don't change channels within a minute of the program starting, you are counted). Everything is fine, the country is saved.

When looking for overall figures for each of the last few years, one comes across articles announcing record audiences every year (an expression that probably originated in a press release). For editions since 2016, Médiamétrie (which provides raw figures, without the gift wrapping provided by interested parties) gives the following:

2025: 44,3
2024: 43,2
2023: 42,5
2022: 41,5
2021: 42,4
2020: 39,6
2019: 35,4
2018: 33,4
2017: 35,8
2016: 33,6

A steady but slight increase, which has been going on for a long time. In any case, there's no reason to talk about historic audiences for 2025. Especially since we must take into account the fact that this overall figure includes the final stage, which was obviously a huge success this year (the best audience figures since 2011). No sprint, no time trial, a real classic, and then Montmartre, of course (Picasso, Aznavour, Dalida, the Moulin Rouge, the Sacré-Cœur, the cobblestones, love on every street corner, the French cancan, the Olympics...). I find an average audience of 4.27 million for the final stage in 2023, 3.35 for 2024, and 5.3 million this year, so without this last stage, 2024 would be a better year than 2025 (well done, Prudhomme).

Of course, these figures should be taken with a grain of salt (unfortunately, I don't know anyone who could confirm or deny them, but I do know some press officers, and I know their methods - well, it is their job, and apparently it works). However, the hypothesis that there was neither an explosion nor a disaster seems the most plausible to me.

That was for French audiences. I don't know what they're like elsewhere.

I'm adding a link to an amusing article from 2016 about how ASO counts Tour de France viewers (in French).

NB. Don't even try to call me 'dude'. I would report you.

 

[hrotha]

According to the most recent annual poll taken on PCS he is the most popular cyclist (historic or active) in both Spain and Italy. More popular than Indurain or Pantani or any of their more recent stars. It surprised me somewhat.

Honestly? I'm not sure most of those voters understood the assignment

But there might be some sort of weird generational gap at work here

 

[SorelyBoy]

Motor doping isn't detectable by the biological passport 😉.

No one will ever convince me otherwise that the Muur De Huy attack wasn't a motor.

It was one of the most egregious examples of motor doping I have ever witnessed. It made Femke Van den Driessche‘s effort look relatively natural by comparison. And it was far from the only example you could point at this season as being more than suspicious as regards Pogacar.

 

[thetdog666]

It was one of the most egregious examples of motor doping I have ever witnessed. It made Femke Van den Driessche‘s effort look relatively natural by comparison. And it was far from the only example you could point at this season as being more than suspicious as regards Pogacar.

I think motor doping is far more widespread than just tadej using one

 

[bah]

I don't believe I mentioned anything about UAE counting pennies, so not sure where that comment came from.

Wasn't directed at you; just another way of saying that money is no object to them. So while cycling may not be massive in the grand scheme of things, it's hardly a matter of concern to the UAE when they can invest in cycling as well as everything else they wish to.

 

[TheKidsCallMeBoss]

The worst thing is that this is not going to stop with Pogacar. I'm pretty sure Del Toro is getting some royal treatment at UAE as well.
There's something strange about these 'talents' when they join UAE.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Pogacar: as said previously, not an amazing junior, decent first year U23
Signs for UAE in July 2018.
Wins Tour de l'Avenir in August 2018
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Del Toro: not an amazing junior, mediocre first U23 year, decent second second U23 year until he...
chooses for UAE in August 2018.
Blows everyone away in Tour de l'Avenir later that month
is now suddenly some generational talent
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pablo Torres: Actually a very good junior
signs for UAE gen-z in February 2024
Blows everyone away on Colle delle Finestre in the... Tour de l'Avenir

The guy finished fifth in the 2017 Tour of Slovenia riding for a lame continental team. He barely lost 30 seconds to peak Majka, who was one of the best climbers at the time, on a nearly 14km 7.5% climb (a total of +3000m of elevation gain on the stage). How shite is this pre-UAE Pogacar guy?

It was one of the most egregious examples of motor doping I have ever witnessed. It made Femke Van den Driessche‘s effort look relatively natural by comparison. And it was far from the only example you could point at this season as being more than suspicious as regards Pogacar.

It's pretty clear that he uses a motor. Moreover, it's also a known fact that the motor is allergic to the ITT bike on the hilly roads.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I cant believe he is going to desecrate the European jersey now too. Absolute narcissist.

Teddy is a good boy who wants to win races sometimes (but who doesn't?).

 

[Gianetti_Is_The_Goat]

The guy finished fifth in the 2017 Tour of Slovenia riding for a lame continental team. He barely lost 30 seconds to peak Majka, who was one of the best climbers at the time, on a nearly 14km 7.5% climb (a total of +3000m of elevation gain on the stage). How shite is this pre-UAE Pogacar guy?

I tend to look at an entire season instead of someone's best performance in a mediocre race like the Tour of Slovenia, even though he beat well known generational talents like Pernsteiner and Cieslik. Now check Evenepoel, Seixas or Vidar to discover some real talent.

 

[TheKidsCallMeBoss]

I tend to look at an entire season instead of someone's best performance in a mediocre race like the Tour of Slovenia, even though he beat well known generational talents like Pernsteiner and Cieslik. Now check Evenepoel, Seixas or Vidar to discover some real talent.

Lmao. Pogacar was in a low-end Slovenian continental team, he raced wherever they got invited.

Remco has absolutely no results at the age of 18. The guy farmed victories in junior races against 17 year olds and second-tier 18 year olds.

Seixas has been working with a WT team for three years now. He is completely irrelevant in this regard.

Widar, as an 18 year old, mixed U23 and lower category men's races. Pog's fifth place in the Tour de Slovenia 2.1 race is far better than any of his results. So what exactly are you talking about?

 

[Cookster15]

I tend to look at an entire season instead of someone's best performance in a mediocre race like the Tour of Slovenia, even though he beat well known generational talents like Pernsteiner and Cieslik. Now check Evenepoel, Seixas or Vidar to discover some real talent.

Pogacar won the Tour before his 22nd birthday. Aged 20 in 2019, he became the youngest cyclist to win a UCI World Tour race at the Tour of California. There were some decent riders in that race.

So only riders who mature before they turn 20 have talent? We won't know how good Seixas or Vidar truly are until their careers play out. Many riders who show talent before they turn 20 have unremarkable careers. Even Andy Schleck many said would be the next big thing when he came 2nd in the Giro at 21. Andy was very good but not a great.

 

[Unchained]

Oh, I see people are no longer just pushing the most ridiculous conspiracy theories here, but have completely switched to 'fake news'.

The Tour de France was a huge success on French television.

A historic Tour de France in 2025
45 million French people watched the Tour this year (70% of the population aged 4+), a historic record and 4 million more than in 2024.
4.7 million young people aged 15-24, 500,000 more than in 2024
23 million working people, 2.8 million more than in 2024.

France 2 afternoons at their highest
An average of 3.8 million viewers and 42.6% audience share, representing an increase of 700,000 viewers and 9 p.p. compared to 2024.
An average of 5.4 million viewers and 49.8% audience share for the most-watched stage of this year's race (14 July between Ennezat and Le Mont-Dore).
5.2 million and 42.7% audience share for the Mantes-la-Ville – Paris stage on Sunday, the highest audience for a final stage since 2011.
A peak of 8.7 million for the finish in Paris, the highest for the Tour in 20 years.

The historically powerful Vélo Club magazine
2.3 million and 24.5% on average, +700,000 and +11pxs vs 2024.
Best audience since 2019 and best historical market share.

On France 3
2.2 million and 22.7% on average, +350,000 and +5pxs compared to 2024.

Record figures on the france.tv platform and social media
75 million videos viewed, the highest figure ever for the Tour de France (proprietary platform, ISP, Canal and Molotov), up 120% on 2024.
On social media: 164 million videos viewed, also a record figure, up 160% on 2024.

TDF. Tour de France - 45 millions de Français sur France TV, édition historique du Tour

Des chiffres historiques à la télévision pour ce 112e Tour de France ! France Télévisions, diffuseur officiel,

www.cyclismactu.net

The same applies to the 2024 Giro d'Italia on Italian TV.

The total live coverage on Rai 2 lasted 57 hours and 27 minutes, with an overall average of 1,366,000 viewers and a 13.2% share, up 0.8% on 2023. As expected, the most watched stage, both in terms of viewers and share, was the twentieth, with Tadej Pogaçar's solo ride on Monte Grappa, enjoyed by 2 million 533 thousand viewers who chose “Giro all'arrivo” on Rai 2

Milan-Sanremo was also a big success. Rai 2 attracted 1,458,000 viewers, equal to 12.5% of the audience share, from Cipressa onwards was stable at over 2 million.

Pogacar's debut at Roubaix was also massive on both French and Italian TV.

On french TV - 8.4 million viewers tuned in (+900,000 vs. 2024), with the second-highest peak since 2006 at nearly 4.4 million people watching Mathieu Van der Poel cross the finish line (+1 million vs. 2024). This represents a staggering audience share of 38%.

Rai 2 – 1,077,000 viewers with a 9.30% share

Mexico has @136 million people, almost no cycling is on TV, Isaac Del Toro has sparked a market that previously didn't really exist. When I first started racing and following racing it was very difficult if not nearly impossible. I would say that the majority of CN people, including on the forum get most of their racing from TV and social media. There is another thread titled Financial fair play that has a bunch of doom loop stuff by guys like Jonathan Vaughters who say that cycling can't work, TV is impossible, ect. That's obviously false.. I watch cyclocross, road,track and mountain bike more each year ( as if that's possible!) than the year before. I known people who didn't watch any bike racing ever, Del Toro has lead tens of thousands to watch ..and I am sure that other exciting riders are bringing new people in to watch, and spurring interest from existing fans. I think that numbers will continue to grow.

View: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/LwGgXsfWtpo

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Remco has absolutely no results at the age of 18. The guy farmed victories in junior races against 17 year olds and second-tier 18 year olds.

Evenepoel's birthday is in January. Without his having travelled to Australia, who do you expect him to have raced against as an 18 year old?

Are you really trying to draw a distinction between the potential that riders showed, and the validity of their racing record, on the basis of what month their birthday falls?