Tour de France Tour de France 2025 Stage 21: Mantes-la-Ville – Paris (132.3k)

[Gratemans]

At least cannibals are vegan!

This one kinda blew my mind 😂

 

[Red Rick]

Professional bike racing has precisely zero in common with normal life.

It has a lot in common with a lot of things in life. It's almost like every zero sum game ever.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

At least cannibals are vegan!

Only if you have a non-biological definition of animals

 

[Unchained]

Pogacar did way too much work in that front group. Pulling on the front more than others, closing gaps, attacking the climb every single time. Not very smart racing but Wout was too strong anyway.

I thought the whole group rode great, especially with horrible surface and conditions. They worked together and negotiated all the surface changes and corners.. and then diced it up for final order..Visma tried to pressure Pogacar for 19 stages it didn't work, today teamwork was awesome and Pogacar had to be looking at Wout, Trentin and knowing his legs were smoking!! Visma made at best 5 good decisions in 3 weeks, I am being very generous, 2 or 3 of the 5 intelligent things that they did happened today!!

 

[scribers]

RIP groupe Jegat
05/07/25 - 27/07/25

lol. I thought was just me

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

No, just felt Pogacar deserved it, if such a thing exists in sport

It cerainly does, Wout deserved the win, but I respect your being a fan.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Pogacar did way too much work in that front group. Pulling on the front more than others, closing gaps, attacking the climb every single time. Not very smart racing but Wout was too strong anyway.

The most important thing wasn't the win (it matters of course) but rather the feeling. Today I saw the old Pogacar and not the one who raced the last week

 

[Rackham]

If you like to watch paint dry...

Would be interesting to see how this was raced with no rain and time on the line. Im always in favour of giving the riders an opportunity to race, and Pogacar once again took it!

Great race. SO HAPPY FOR WOUT!

If someone has a neutral viewpoint then Pog is just another rider today, i.e. contrary to what his fans believe (aka his mere presence supposedly makes the race amazing apparently) from my perspective they took a stage where any sprinter in the bunch can win (there's often surprises on the Champs) and turned it into a solo victory from a group of six.

And of course a hell of a lot of riders just noped out and cruised to the finish.

 

[dobrien]

It has a lot in common with a lot of things in life. It's almost like every zero sum game ever.

Yeah, I didn't quite think that one through... just microfocused on the post; missing the forest for the trees I guess!

 

[titan31]

At least cannibals are vegan!

Two groups of people that are insufferable tbf.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

...I've just rewound the last climb 3 times to watch Wout drop Pog, it isn't getting old yet.

 

[Didinho]

And finally a Belgian win. It’s been awhile.

 

[scribers]

It cerainly does, Wout deserved the win, but I respect your being a fan.

He’s not really serious if you’re following the posts.

 

[dobrien]

The most important thing wasn't the win (it matters of course) but rather the feeling. Today I saw the old Pogacar and not the one who raced the last week

This!! The guy LOVES to race his bike.

 

[benzwire]

I love this final stage format. I little bit of procession, the option to race if you want or just ride in with no real risk of losing any position on GC. Still has the same prestige as a stage, but way better for spectators, riders, etc. I hope they keep it!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

At least cannibals are vegan!

I'm sure some of them still wouldn't want to wear clothes made from human flesh (unlike Lady Gaga).

 

[Lequack]

Where was this Wout in the spring? I mean he could drop Pog here, I imagine he could've dropped him in Flanders.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

They were showing Free Bird proposing to his girlfriend on the cobbles and she joyously said yes! (They probably wouldn't have shown that if she had said no.)

 

[Heston]

Milan almost ran over Healy's dog there

 

[dobrien]

Where was this Wout in the spring? I mean he could drop Pog here, I imagine he could've dropped him in Flanders.

You must be joking right? Please tell me you have tongue planted firmly in cheek...

 

[jotafap]

Where was this Wout in the spring? I mean he could drop Pog here, I imagine he could've dropped him in Flanders.

Not sure if you are serious, hopefully not

 

[Valv.Piti]

If someone has a neutral viewpoint then Pog is just another rider today, i.e. contrary to what his fans believe (aka his mere presence supposedly makes the race amazing apparently) from my perspective they took a stage where any sprinter in the bunch can win (there's often surprises on the Champs) and turned it into a solo victory from a group of six.

And of course a hell of a lot of riders just noped out and cruised to the finish.

The group got reduced from full peloton to 30 to 6 and at least to 1. Its pretty standard classics racing and what we all (well, apparantly not all, most) like to see from a bike race.

And on your last point: This would have been completely the same if they raced the normal parcours. GC times would be neutralized and riders would be rolling over.

 

[SorelyBoy]

Let’s be honest, everyone who loves cycling is just relieved Pogacar didn’t win for once today. Wout did us all a massive favour and allowed us to enjoy a race again. Brilliant to see.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

The most important thing wasn't the win (it matters of course) but rather the feeling. Today I saw the old Pogacar and not the one who raced the last week

I actually wouldn't have been upset if he'd won, because he dared to try, and it would have been cool to watch him win the last stage of a Tour he dominated. It would have been a deserved win, for sure.

 

[Unchained]

It has a lot in common with a lot of things in life. It's almost like every zero sum game ever.

I got a chuckle from the comment.. If you take your favorite hundred pro bike racers vast majority will start and finish without ever winning, zip. Like most of regular life, work hard and it's normally a thankless existence!!
Sounds like you said.. Life and bike racing have lots in common!!