Definitely this. It’s both charisma and racing style - when the moves are happening Pog always seems to be almost entirely self reliant and ready to mix it up and seize any opportunity while Vingegaard is often looking around for a team mate and waiting for team orders. Which historically is far and away the most sensible way to race GC and how most dominant GC riders and teams have operated, but just in comparison to Pog makes him look negative and boring.
Not just in comparison to Pog either - Remco and Rog are both pretty charismatic and aggressive riders, and then you’ve got generational superstars like MVDP lighting it up as well. Maybe also doesn’t help that WVA fans feel that being a super domestique for Vingegaard limits how much he can race for himself. WVA with the freedom that MVDP has could be a whole different rider.
On the positive side racing today is so much more dynamic thanks primarily to the 120g/hr fueling strategies. The racers just have the energy to be much more aggressive than they did in the past.
On the negative side though, my first reaction was to think “you don’t have to go that far back” in terms of boring tours, I don’t remember the Sky train days fondly at all. But what surprised me is when I went and looked at the results, Sky won 1 to at most 3 stage wins per year during their reign. There was actually far greater diversity of winners and breaks were successful much more often.
The crucial GC stages were famously boring in the Sky train era as they just rode their tempo until everyone else dropped, but I’m not sure that Pogi just riding away minutes ahead of everyone else is that much more exciting in comparison.
IMO the biggest reason the tour has been even mildly exciting is because VLAB refuses to give up on throwing everything they can at Pogi even when everyone knows it’s not going to work at best, and more often than not it ends up hurting them.
But think of how incredibly boring it’d be without them and Jonas at least trying, every non-sprint stage would be a UAE train leadout to a Pogi launch to rival even the most boringly predictable years of the Sky train.
The battle outside of the top 2 steps of the podium is great.
The number one spot was largely locked in at the criterium du Dauphine so if you care about who wins le tour (baring any unfortunate crashes/illness) it’s incredibly boring.
There is still exciting racing happening but outside of that it’s incredibly predictable who will win certain stages.
While there is competition for the final step on the podium, I see that more as a war to survive. So far, no one fighting for third is doing anything more than trying to hang on to the Pog / Vingegaard fight (such as it is). They aren’t driving the action
Today’s stage 15 was really fun. There was mayhem everywhere. Really enjoyed the dynamic and unpredictable race.
On a side note, I think the American cyclists are doing great this year. Between Quinn Simmons at the front daily, Jorgensen as a podium candidate, and less so Powless, they are making me proud.
Johannesson and Rodriguez up the road on the last couple of stages. Gall attacking out of the bunch on the final climb to stay ahead of his rivals. Vauquelin trying his luck at various points through the first week.
The top ten has had several moments of riders attacking aside from Pogacar and Vingegaard. Roglic would be the only rider in the top ten that I don’t remember attacking or trying something.
Pog was critical of visma tactics. While Vinny was caught in crash, Pog was trying to slow down the peloton while half the visma riders were pushing the break.
Wout wasn’t happy about those comments.
Hmm, not only was Pog right, I’m saying he wins tomorrow on Ventoux by 3 min. Never poke the bear!
Aside from Simmons winging about the stage winner, saying how he was drafting. He wasnt from what i saw and i watched the entire stage on TNT Sports. I hate a bad loser.
Quin has shown that he has the engine to play with the big boys, but he’s still young and dumb. Finish line interviews aren’t complicated, you tip your cap regardless of where your head is at. And honestly, the moto drafting comments bothered me less than the comment about Wellens sitting in and then attacking (he called it strange or something). There’s no shame in sucking wheel all day for a TdF stage win if the situation allows it. Hopefully Quin is taking a lot from this Tour that he can apply going forward.
What a stage today. Both for the win and the GC battle. I’ve never been a huge Jonas fan, but I sure like the way he’s raced his bike over this entire tour. Tadej is obviously stronger, but Jonas is still challenging him every chance he has. It would have been very easy to be content with 2nd against Tadej when the race is really hurting.
Simmons has a history of politically incorrect behavior and non-apologies. His current “whiny victim” persona doesn’t surprise me in the least. I hate that he’s the one wearing the stars and bars out there and I suspect the rest of the world sees him as validation for their current opinion of “the average US citizen”.
As I was getting in the shower last night, my wife was asking about the tour (she’s gained an awesome interest in watching it with me), she said, “Isn’t tadej a rest day?”
I think she meant.. “Isn’t TODAY..” but I’m pretty sure she threw a solid TdF dad joke in there.. She claims she didn’t, but she can’t tell me what I heard!
My wife laughs at me and says, “you watch people biking for 4 hours?! They’re just all in a group biking together.” I’ve tried to explain the nuances but it’s difficult for non cycling fans to grasp the team and tactics aspect of cycling.
Regarding Q Simmons, he does lack race savviness. He has to understand that if you can only have 1 Tadej that can outpower any race strategy. Everyone has to be smart, especially in the breakaways.
For the 1st time today I felt sorry for Vinny. Pog broke the record up Van2, which means Vinny is only 1-2 seconds slower. It really has to suck to be the best except for 1 guy that you can’t beat.
