Back in spring, when Tadej Pogačar danced rings around Jonas Vingegaard in ParisNice, no one could look beyond the Slovenian for the Tour de France. Then in June, while Pogačar was recovering from a broken wrist and Vingegaard dominated the Dauphiné, a Danish cake walk to Paris began to look inevitable.
At the time of writing, before the Tour has started, Pogačar has been peddling the narrative that his crash came at the perfect time because it forced him to have some much-needed rest ahead of his season’s main objective: wresting the maillot jaune back off his rival’s shoulders.
By the time you read this, Pogačar may have already blown up in the Pyrenees, his upbeat words proven to be mere bluster. Or perhaps calamity may have removed Vingegaard from the equation – the same way it did last year to Primož Roglič – and made Enric Mas the runaway favourite for yellow. In which case, I apologise for the next 600 words. But from my vantage point on the eve of the 110th edition of the Tour, here’s how I see things panning out…
Vingegaard to level the scores. He came, he saw, he conquered. And this July, Jonas will do that all over again to draw level with Tadej on two Tour wins apiece. Pog may still take a stage or two because of his aggressive riding, but indoor training is no substitute for actual races and the 24-year-old could even miss out on the Tour white jersey for the first time in his career.
Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 - 142 de Cyclist UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 - 142 de Cyclist UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The Mur de Montrose
Anondescript city centre shortcut to the shops is destined to become a classic climb when the superstars of the peloton ride it next month
Ventum NS1
Aracy road bike with more character than its looks suggest
Colnago C68 Road
The flagship has been refitted, but it's still very Colnago
Susten Pass
The supersized Swiss climb
What we ride
Behind every cycling journalist is a long history of bikes. Some come and go-test bikes, first bikes, stolen bikes, I'm going to get into BMX-ing now bikes - but some stay, for their practicality, their dreaminess or just for the joy they elicit. Here are three of the Cyclist team's personal favourites
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE
Over the past 12 years, Italian racer Elisa Longo Borghini has established herself as one of cycling's great all-rounders. She tells Cyclist about her sporting upbringing, how she conquered her self-doubts, and how she hates coming second
New view on Ventoux
It's possibly the most famous climb in cycling, but Mont Ventoux still has some surprises in store, including this route that takes in the stunning and rarely visited Les Gorges de la Nesque
All in the mind
The mental aspect of cycling can be just as important as the physical. Cyclist talks to two experts about training the brain for when the going gets tough
A moment in time Nicole Cooke tames Ventoux
In 2006, Britain's Nicole Cooke demonstrated her absolute dominance in a bravura performance on the Giant of Provence
Veni, vidi, Vinge?
Felix Lowe makes his predictions for the Tour de France
