Thomas De Gendt’s tweet said it in a nutshell. “First breakaway of the Tour done. Breakaway of 172 riders until 10km to go. Good legs.”
The Belgian breakaway specialist’s tongue-in-cheek message was posted after the fifth stage between Gap and Privas, ‘the day without a break’ as it will no doubt be remembered. It did come to thrilling life at its finale, where Wout van Aert provided the latest demonstration of his unparalleled all-round ability by winning the bunch gallop. The Belgian’s verdict? “It was the easiest stage that I’ve ever ridden. It was really surprising for me. I haven’t been in the WorldTour for that long but since I got here this is the first day ever that no one was even interested in being in the break.”
As the peloton bowled along, journalists in the Tour press room were as mystified as van Aert and struggled to remember another stage where there hadn’t been a single breakaway. While the last day in Paris is often described as processional, there’s always plenty of action once the riders reach the Champs-Elysées. “Has there ever been one?” a colleague asked.
It was, it appeared, an unprecedented moment. At the same time, though, it encapsulated the feel of the Tour’s opening week. The action was often so supine that it appeared the riders had signed a non-aggression pact.
Two principal reasons were proposed by many for the softly-softly approach: the widespread uncertainty among riders about their endurance and form as a result of the Covid-enforced lack of racing, and the difficulty of the route.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 10, 2020-Ausgabe von CYCLING WEEKLY.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 10, 2020-Ausgabe von CYCLING WEEKLY.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Is pro racing getting more dangerous?
There are many factors that contribute to the perceived greater risks. One that does not get any attention is the greater importance of UCI points and the need to constantly collect them to avoid relegation.
A Saturday in Hell
It's the most brutal race of the year - 29.2km of the worst cobbles northern France has to offer, over 17 agonising sectors, starting in Denain and finishing in the iconic Roubaix velodrome. For the men, it's referred to as a Sunday in Hell, but for us, hell comes a day early.
Gitane - Tour de l'Avenir
Classic French brand's homage to a revered amateur race
6 WAYS TO THINK YOURSELF FASTER
However flawless your physical preparation, the mind has a tendency to throw a spanner in the works come the big day. James Witts offers six ways to keep the brain onside with the body
MAURICE BURTON'S - SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS
9 life lessons from Britain's first Black cycling champion
PEAKS PRACTICE
The Peak District is home turf for Manchester-based British pro riders and has been the formative terrain of top domestic riders for decades. Adam Becket finds out why it's so effective
Zeb Kyffin: stepping out of the fish bowl
TDT-Unibet's British rider tasted the team's first World-Tour event at the Amstel Gold Race. Adam Becket finds out how the day went
Thomas to go for 'very top step' at Giro
Welshman and Ineos ready for duel with Tadej Pogačar, reports Adam Becket
Brown and Niewiadoma beat Vollering
SD Worx-Protime are far from unbeatable in 2024, as team misses out in Ardennes Classics
Pogačar lays down marker for Giro d'Italia
Liège win signals Slovenian's readiness for clash with Geraint Thomas, reports Adam Becket