Well. Remeco is just full of surprises (or not, something wasn’t great)!
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Remco abandoned on the 1st major climb of the day, potentially with sickness, which would explain getting caught yesterday by Jonas.
I think Remco is in a bad place as a GC rider with Pog, and to a lesser extent Jonas, riding for GC at the same time. His only real chance to win a grand tour is to counter program Pog - e.g., if Pog is racing the Tour, then Remco needs to race the Giro. A more GC focused / practiced team than Souldal - Quickstep could probably improve his Grand Tour performance, but up against Pog and Jonas, he’s realistically racing for 3rd.
He’d be better off focusing on one day hilly races / 1 week stage races. But I think at the end of the day, his palmares won’t reflect his talent.
IIRC Team UAE refused to be part of Unchained and as such Pog only appears in weird out of context arrogant sound bites as they try to build their fake narratives. I love that we got a cycling show to raise the profile, but its hard to watch as a fan, with race footage shown out of sequence, imaginary beefs, proper interesting strategy content removed and just replaced by DS’ seemingly shouting ‘Come on! Harder!’ all stage long… Its just a bit weak. And now cancelled…
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I’m not a Remco fan, but saying someone who won the Vuelta and podiumed the Tour “is not a GC rider” is more than a little extreme. If we take that angle, no one but Pog and Vingo should be racing.
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At least they aren’t focusing on crash after crash this season. Sure, there are crashes in cycling - most minor. A show doesn’t need to showcase them and repeat them over and over.
Drive to Survive is like an F1 fun fest. They show the racing battles but, for the most part, it’s all pro F1.
In Unchained, they often focus on DSes calling riders weak minded and losers. You don’t see that in the F1 series.
Sorry, a couple days late, but the literal push Tadej got from Shimano is terrific PR. You can’t buy that.
I was optimistic for Remco after his performance on Thursday - staying within himself and riding his pace was a big mental step forward for him. Unfortunately today and yesterday he seems to have reverted a bit.
I almost hope there was some sickness/injury for him as otherwise it reminds me too much of when he essentially mailed it in on his jour sans in the Vuelta 2023. A physical problem can be overcome, if its the same mental block he had two years ago that will be a much harder problem to solve
For today - was Pog showing some weakness or was it some maturity to not use unnecessary energy? The eye test didn’t look great for him on Jonas’s wheel - might have been a ‘bad’ day for him today with how he was in and out of the saddle just sitting on the wheel.
Should be an interesting stage coming out of the rest day on Tuesday - excited to see how things progress
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I think it’s maturity. He’s 4 minutes ahead now. No need to waste energy.
Two years ago, he basically lost because he was attacking everything like a dog chasing a stick. Max efforts to gain 1-2 seconds.
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Yep. This is how I also feel about DtS with Formula 1. Added sound effects, race sequences set up to look like something happened that actually didn’t, random engineer radio calls like “Push” that didn’t actually happen or didn’t happen at the time they’re made to look like. Just cheesy. The Movistar “Least Expected Day” doc was much better, despite the nonchronological way they went about things. Which brings me to another point on Unchained, I extremely dislike the English translations, I’d much rather they let everyone speak in their own voice and add English subtitles if necessary.
Anyway, today I thought Pog might actually be vulnerable for a bit, but good ride from Jonas anyway. Bummed that Sepp couldn’t get a stage win.
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When I looked at his face holding Jonas’ wheel, compared to Jonas, or other typical riders at the front, I almost felt like Pog was having to force some sort of very slightly fatigued look since it’s so not natural for him.
I think he just raced smart today and probably figured he would wait for a later stage to really crack Jonas.
I was happy to see Jonas race how he did. Smart choices and raced strong. On person that can (somewhat) push Pog, so it’s good to see him make that effort.
I read an article earlier today that discussed whether the peloton should’ve waited for Pog after his crash last week. On perspective was that they would hate to see Pog race when he’s pissed. I could see that 
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I like him and enjoy watching him race when he’s on. He is one hell of a one day big event rider and his TT speed is insane on the right course.
His Vuelta win was against a very weak field and he hasn’t seemed to make the jump to consistent five star in the TdF. Looks to me like he doesn’t recover as well as the best guys, and also lacks that turn of speed on steeps. There are also some mental issues where when he’s on a bad day, it goes from bad to worse consistently.
Anyway… at some point these careers are short and you want to win as much as possible in events that suit your strengths.
Shame he went home sick this year as that’s one more season gone. Also, having shipped time, he was in position to go for some additional stage wins.
Rumor is he’s going to Bora ?? Be interesting if they keep the same focus or change things up.
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That is an option on netflix, I watch it in original language with English subtitles.
Can’t disagree too much with anything else you wrote though.
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Have a look at your subtitle/language options, you can have exactly this, it’s how I watch it. Thought episode 4 on the gravel stage was outstanding, made me really root more for TotalEnergies and Turgis who I didn’t know much about before.
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I have no idea how anyone can find the tour boring.
We now have the joys of
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watching a true generational rider at his peak perform in real time, rather than reading about his mystical exploits 30 years later (obvs it could of course go another way…)
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Watching a lot more potential for teams chasing stage wins which is always great. Who doesn’t love a breakaway to suceed?
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Watching the fight for white and the podium. Good luck Oscar!
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Green jersey is still not tied up
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The changes in Paris will be interesting
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General tour drama of sickness, doping and crashing, which everyone says they don’t want, but sure love to read about in their google feeds
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the stunning mountain views in the Alps
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MVDP
Yes, I’m a pogi fan, I love how chilled he is and how he takes stuff in his stride whilst also racing bluddy hard and taking risks. I also love his honesty, it was interesting to hear him say he was scared descending yesterday.
I am, however, also a Jonas fan. With all the ruckus his wife caused he’s had a whole load of stress to deal with. I can’t decide if she saw this coming so was preparing the ground for excuses. I am sad that they aren’t closer in form (dare I say talent) because their battles are great, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to watch Jonas fight admirably to the death.
Also, sorry to see Remco go, he clearly has either blown for the season or is properly sick, but I do wonder whether he will always suffer mentally when he finds he cannot compete for the top step.
There’s still time for big changes/things to turn on a dime for Pogi. We are not yet at Paris, but I hope that he is on the top step when we get there.
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@JoPage
Agreed 100%
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What i don’t like about Jonas is that he doesn’t act like he likes cycling. It feels almost disrespectful to the sport and to the Tour. His wife going all Yoko doesn’t help, but i feel that he might strop off and retire sometime soon and the sport will not be any worse off without him. Sure - he is clearly 2nd best in the world to Pogacar but he doesn’t add anything to the joy of the sport - he’s not a racer.
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@RCC
I have to disagree with you. After his crash last year, if he wasn’t 100% into his cycling he wouldn’t have returned this year. Not many would have after those injuries he sustained. I think he adds lots to the world tour scene and i personally love to see him compete.
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Counterpoint
Jonas is a family man who does a very traditional preparation for grand tours. He is always fast to call his wife and play with his kids after a race. He likes being at home because he prioritizes his family and the consistency that comes from being in a deep training routine
He’s an introvert and not particularly charismatic, and is regularly compared to one of the most charismatic racers ever
Further, he’s an underdog despite being one of the greatest grand tour racers of all time. Absent a rooting interest most of us pull for the underdog
I love pog for his joy of racing and how effortless things seem to him. I love Jonas because he’s a lot more like me (and I’d wager most of us) than most professional athletes
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Well said @JoPage
Everything matters at the Tour. A stage win can make someone’s entire career. When the stakes are this high, and there are so many storylines, there is so much to enjoy
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When Jonas went down today Tadej got after the peloton, and particularly Jonas’ teammates, to slow down and wait for Jonas to catch up. Great sportsmanship.. you.
Love watching much of the peloton so far today. Tadej with teammates in front and back, immediately in front of Jonas, also with a teammate in front and back. I.e. two riders between them, each of their teammates. Tactics and priorities are so deliberate and awesome.
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