Tour de France Tour de France 2025, Stage 16: Montpellier to Mont Ventoux, 171.5 km

[kingjr]

Good times, good times.

One of my favourite cycling memories. Absolute cinema.

 

[YavorD]

One of my favourite cycling memories. Absolute cinema.

The true definition of beating them on and off his bike.

 

[SafeBet]

One of my favourite cycling memories. Absolute cinema.

One of my favourite forum memories too.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I never did find the 2004 ascent that we were talking about, checked every corner of the internet, might be the Mandela effect but I swear the footage exists, I even found this tantalising photo of this guy FILMING IT FROM THE MOTO.

I remember reading how Armstrong used to mock him by riding up after he attacked and saying jibes like 'Is that all you've got Mayo?' 'Can you not go any faster?', which turned out in classic Lance fashion to be more an expression of insecurity given his (alleged) calls to the UCI later on.

He would have his big moment in the sun on the biggest stage, during the greatest race of all time in 2003, attacking the best riders of his day, which unlike the 2004 Dauphine stage is actually on Youtube. The curly hair, the incredibly aero unzipped Euskaltel jersey, helmets certainly optional, look at his beaming smile as he rides into the village alone and embraces adulation from the million fans on the mountain, his revenge complete, this is what it's all about. The highest Cyclismo per kilogram ascent of all time.

I know how it ended for pretty much every man in the video (hilariously, Zubeldia came out unscathed), but cycling is this weird heterotopia where the common rules of discourse often don't apply, you get a second life after you leave, and as far as I can tell he seems perfectly content nowadays.

Anyway, I don't think they will beat his record! Or rather I hope they don't. Can anyone beat Pogacar? Lets be honest, probably not, but if anyone can, it's 2004 Iban Mayo, who I am choosing to believe in again!

 

[CyclistAbi]

'Nobody believed us when we said we target the podium' – Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe playing the Tour de France long game with Lipowitz and Roglič

Florian Lipowitz on the provisional podium heading into the third week, and the team is quietly confident in their plan

www.cyclingnews.com

A reminder for tomorrow, Rogla can now go in the break, stage hunting, as RBH is racing for Lipo.

 

[AmRacer]

'Nobody believed us when we said we target the podium' – Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe playing the Tour de France long game with Lipowitz and Roglič

Florian Lipowitz on the provisional podium heading into the third week, and the team is quietly confident in their plan

www.cyclingnews.com

A reminder for tomorrow, Rogla can now go in the break, stage hunting, as RBH is racing for Lipo.

He's to close, must shed time tomorrow if he should go stage hunting

 

[CyclistAbi]

He's to close, must shed time tomorrow if he should go stage hunting

To close to whom?

 

[SafeBet]

I never did find the 2004 ascent that we were talking about, checked every corner of the internet, might be the Mandela effect but I swear the footage exists, I even found this tantalising photo of this guy FILMING IT FROM THE MOTO.

I remember reading how Armstrong used to mock him by riding up after he attacked and saying jibes like 'Is that all you've got Mayo?' 'Can you not go any faster?', which turned out in classic Lance fashion to be more an expression of insecurity given his (alleged) calls to the UCI later on.

He would have his big moment in the sun on the biggest stage, during the greatest race of all time in 2003, attacking the best riders of his day, which unlike the 2004 Dauphine stage is actually on Youtube. The curly hair, the incredibly aero unzipped Euskaltel jersey, helmets certainly optional, look at his beaming smile as he rides into the village alone and embraces adulation from the million fans on the mountain, his revenge complete, this is what it's all about. The highest Cyclismo per kilogram ascent of all time.

I know how it ended for pretty much every man in the video (hilariously, Zubeldia came out unscathed), but cycling is this weird heterotopia where the common rules of discourse often don't apply, you get a second life after you leave, and as far as I can tell he seems perfectly content nowadays.

Anyway, I don't think they will beat his record! Or rather I hope they don't. Can anyone beat Pogacar? Lets be honest, probably not, but if anyone can, it's 2004 Iban Mayo, who I am choosing to believe in again!

I mean your post was a stand-alone masterpiece but on top of that we get one of the most epic and bizarre combination of cycling related video and corny background music ever released.

This is the goods.

 

[Heston]

To close to whom?

Onley and Vauquelin. Pretty sure Arkea would chase him if he went in a break.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Onley and Vauquelin. Pretty sure Arkea would chase him if he went in a break.

Can they, though? Would they burn up both of their GC riders before the climb? UAE and Visma would be OK with it. But OK if you say so, for them to chase, then best to try to drop them tomorrow and go in the break some stage after tomorrow. Works too.

P.S. No gifts i get it.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I never did find the 2004 ascent that we were talking about, checked every corner of the internet, might be the Mandela effect but I swear the footage exists, I even found this tantalising photo of this guy FILMING IT FROM THE MOTO.

I remember reading how Armstrong used to mock him by riding up after he attacked and saying jibes like 'Is that all you've got Mayo?' 'Can you not go any faster?', which turned out in classic Lance fashion to be more an expression of insecurity given his (alleged) calls to the UCI later on.

He would have his big moment in the sun on the biggest stage, during the greatest race of all time in 2003, attacking the best riders of his day, which unlike the 2004 Dauphine stage is actually on Youtube. The curly hair, the incredibly aero unzipped Euskaltel jersey, helmets certainly optional, look at his beaming smile as he rides into the village alone and embraces adulation from the million fans on the mountain, his revenge complete, this is what it's all about. The highest Cyclismo per kilogram ascent of all time.

I know how it ended for pretty much every man in the video (hilariously, Zubeldia came out unscathed), but cycling is this weird heterotopia where the common rules of discourse often don't apply, you get a second life after you leave, and as far as I can tell he seems perfectly content nowadays.

Anyway, I don't think they will beat his record! Or rather I hope they don't. Can anyone beat Pogacar? Lets be honest, probably not, but if anyone can, it's 2004 Iban Mayo, who I am choosing to believe in again!

Fantastic choice of background music. Really adds to the mistique of that accent.

I know he was on as much rocket fuel as possible, but there's an authenticity to such a performance that is missing in the sport nowadays. The fact that he seems genuinely delighted to win, being on his home team, having his own unique style, not obsessing over every last second even though he could get a podium overall. Just the joy of dancing on the pedals and the wind in your hair

 

[VeloMaster]

Petrarch wrote during his Ascent of Mount Ventoux in April 1336

The mountain is a very steep and almost inaccessible mass of stony soil.
But, as the poet has well said, "Remorseless toil conquers all."
It was a long day, the air fine.
We enjoyed the advantages of vigour of mind and strength and agility of body,

Extra credit for quoting Petrarch.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I mean your post was a stand-alone masterpiece but on top of that we get one of the most epic and bizarre combination of cycling related video and corny background music ever released.

This is the goods.

Fantastic choice of background music. Really adds to the mistique of that accent.

I know he was on as much rocket fuel as possible, but there's an authenticity to such a performance that is missing in the sport nowadays. The fact that he seems genuinely delighted to win, being on his home team, having his own unique style, not obsessing over every last second even though he could get a podium overall. Just the joy of dancing on the pedals and the wind in your hair

Yeah I know Sigma wrote that song like 10 years after and the Gen-Z brainrot edition will have come out even later but for some reason the video seems extremely 'early 2000s internet' to the point it could've been made the day after he won the stage and I wouldn't know the difference.

I often think the breadth and worldwide availability of cycling coverage is kinda wasted on 2025s dumbed down version of social media, GCN came about 20 years too late, we need more awful linkin park edits of Van Aert, moody teenage girls hitting tumblr to post their Alaphilippe fanfictions, Simon Gerrans getting swatted by some guys on 4chan for his wheelsucking antics, all that sort of good stuff.

 

[Sciatic]

We have 3 high mountain stages in the next 4 days, where I’ll find it interesting to watch how riders in the bottom half of the top 10—guys who haven’t been in this position before like Onley, Vauquelin, Johannesen (and for a different reason Roglic) will fare and come out of it by Stage 20.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

'Nobody believed us when we said we target the podium' – Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe playing the Tour de France long game with Lipowitz and Roglič

Florian Lipowitz on the provisional podium heading into the third week, and the team is quietly confident in their plan

www.cyclingnews.com

A reminder for tomorrow, Rogla can now go in the break, stage hunting, as RBH is racing for Lipo.

Rogla won the most important duel: against Remco. No pressure anymore, he can hunt stages now and leave the mutants to Lipo.

 

[CyclistAbi]

@Krzysztof_O

It was never really about Pogi, Jonas or Remco, post Tour 2020, other circumstances stood in the way. Fans, agriculture, sprinters ...

No more!

 

[SHAD0W93]

Wasn't there also an endless discussion after on whether there had been a tailwind? I might be confusing it with another edition of Froome on Ventoux...

That was 2013 when he almost took flight.

 

[ice&fire]

Wasn't there also an endless discussion after on whether there had been a tailwind? I might be confusing it with another edition of Froome on Ventoux...

There were all kind of speculations about tailwind, motors and what not in that 2013 stage that Froome won. But if we believe the figures at http://www.climbing-records.com/, World class climbers such as Jesús Herrada and Ruben Guerreiro have been faster than him in that 3rd rate Dénivelé Challenge race. Of course, Contador/Schleck 2009 were also faster. Just wait until someone comes to argue about the importance of pacing at the start of the climb.

 

[scribers]

I want to talk about how important pacing is at the bottom of the climb when comparing climbing records

 

[Boehmand]

Can they, though? Would they burn up both of their GC riders before the climb? UAE and Visma would be OK with it. But OK if you say so, for them to chase, then best to try to drop them tomorrow and go in the break some stage after tomorrow. Works too.

P.S. No gifts i get it.

Both Picnic and Arkea know their captain will be alone after 1K of Ventoux - Gall and Johannessen only have 1 teammate who can hack it on the first part of the climb but they too won't last long, especially if Visma is cooking to put pressure on Pogacar - so all 4 teams will happily burn through most their squads to keep Roglic close on the first flat 140K.

Even Rodriquez probably won't get to make the move, as EF also has a lot of classics guys they can burn through on the flat part, and Healy wants back his 9th place.

IMO the only "GC action" we will see before Ventoux, will be various GC doms trying to make the early move to get a head start.

It's also a stage IMO, where the right break can get a LOT of time, as in 15-20 minutes at the foot of the climb, and some dude none of us talk about might do an epic winning ride - Eros Poli style.

 

[Oldman]

I expect the wind to be quite ventoux.

(Not that Ive seen any actual forecasts. Something just gives me that sense. Not sure what.)

Just checked forecast and winds to be 15-20 mph and upper 50's Fahrenheit. That's in the 30s kmh to brisk if it's in your face, racey if it's a tailwind. Seems like it's the kind of place where you get varying angles except the last 3km. That's just pure suffering.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Both Picnic and Arkea know their captain will be alone after 1K of Ventoux - Gall and Johannessen only have 1 teammate who can hack it on the first part of the climb but they too won't last long, especially if Visma is cooking to put pressure on Pogacar - so all 4 teams will happily burn through most their squads to keep Roglic close on the first flat 140K.

Even Rodriquez probably won't get to make the move, as EF also has a lot of classics guys they can burn through on the flat part, and Healy wants back his 9th place.

IMO the only "GC action" we will see before Ventoux, will be various GC doms trying to make the early move to get a head start.

It's also a stage IMO, where the right break can get a LOT of time, as in 15-20 minutes at the foot of the climb, and some dude none of us talk about might do an epic winning ride - Eros Poli style.

No, some dude won't win Eros Poli style. This isn't the 90's where a random solo rider is going 20 minutes up the road. If the break wins, its most likely a very good climber.

Pog wants to win tomorrow, so they can try all they want. UAE wont do nothing as usual in the break formation phase and just put Politt one the front when a break goes and pin them

 

[Cookster15]

I think most likely is Pogacar will weather any attacks from Vingegaard then counter attack and solo to the win.

- Like Hautacam and also like PdB last year.

Visma will be hoping Pogacar runs out of juice in the final week. It is their only hope because currently there is an obvious power deficit to Pog which rules out any possibility of recovering time mano a mano.

 

[Boehmand]

Just checked forecast and winds to be 15-20 mph and upper 50's Fahrenheit. That's in the 30s kmh to brisk if it's in your face, racey if it's a tailwind. Seems like it's the kind of place where you get varying angles except the last 3km. That's just pure suffering.

Dunno your source, but Emil Axelgaard at TV2 DK (who is usually right) says 17-19 kph on the climb, with cross/tail wind while they are in the forest, but direct head wind the last 7-8K (above the tree line).

It's not a particularly heavy wind, but wind being unpredictable Visma - if they mean to attack - will probably want to do it before they clear the tree line (or the first couple of K after), to create separation to Pogacar before they hit the head wind.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Both Picnic and Arkea know their captain will be alone after 1K of Ventoux - Gall and Johannessen only have 1 teammate who can hack it on the first part of the climb but they too won't last long, especially if Visma is cooking to put pressure on Pogacar - so all 4 teams will happily burn through most their squads to keep Roglic close on the first flat 140K.

Even Rodriquez probably won't get to make the move, as EF also has a lot of classics guys they can burn through on the flat part, and Healy wants back his 9th place.

It depends on if UAE and Visma would send their teammates ahead. That is if strong break would to form and somehow Rogla to end in it, then the remaining teams behind wouldn't really stand a chance to bring it back. But i know that much more likely scenario is for GC leaders to bleed it out positioned all over the hill end some ultimately moving up and others not. In term of the GC standings.

IMO the only "GC action" we will see before Ventoux, will be various GC doms trying to make the early move to get a head start.

Yeah, riders from various teams, including RBH, for example Rogla, considering he is now stage hunting.

It's also a stage IMO, where the right break can get a LOT of time, as in 15-20 minutes at the foot of the climb, and some dude none of us talk about might do an epic winning ride - Eros Poli style.

Around ten minutes plus a stage win would work fine for Rogla. But indeed, lets not get ahead of ourselfs, moving up in GC would be splendid too, day in day out. We'll see.