Tue, September 22, 2020

Primoz Roglic (Left) with 2020 TDF winner Tadj Pogacar

Amidst all the suffering this year that this pandemic has brought, with many of us stuck at home going stir crazy. Into those homes via TV and computer screens came a bike race, a bright spot in an otherwise over-shadowed year. A wonderful three weeks of distraction in the form of the Tour de France.

Earlier in the year when all this nonsense started, I was not even sure if there would be a 2020 Tour de France. It was pushed back from the usual first week in July start, to the last two days of August. With little racing before the Tour, I wondered if many riders would come to the race, unfit and under-prepared.

I could not have been more wrong, and it soon became apparent that we were in for some great racing. Looking back, I do not remember a single day that disappointed. Team Jumbo Visma soon established themselves as the dominant team, and their team leader, Primoz Roglic would be the man to beat in the GC.

I found it a nice change to see a team other than Ineos (Formally Team Sky.) at the front. I had also remembered Slovenian Roglic’s battles with his 21 year-old compatriot Tadj Pogacar, (Team UAE.) in last year’s Vuelta a Espana. It soon became clear that this would be another show-down between the two. They were closely matched, although Pogacar did not have the same team support that Roglic enjoyed.

Stage 15, Pogacar beats Roglic, with Richie Porte third.

The opening stages saw these two within 7 seconds of each other until Stage 7, a relatively flat stage when strong cross-winds split the Peloton, and Pogacar found himself in a chasing group, 1 min. 28 sec. down, and in 16th place in the GC.

Pogacar fought back and on Stage 9, was 48 seconds down, then 44 sec. and by Stage 16 just 40 sec, behind Roglic. However, the following day on the Queen Stage 17, that finished at the top of the Col de la Loze, 2304 meters above sea level, things changed again.

Team Bahrain McLaren set a blistering pace all day in an effort to set up their rider, Mikel Landa to move up on the General Classification. The result was that many of the race contenders were blown off the back of the peloton, including Mikel Landa. When the last Bahrain McLaren rider (Demiano Caruso.) peeled off Mikel Landa himself, blew up and went backwards. How embarrassing must that have been, after an entire day of extreme effort by the Bahrain McLaren Team?

Astana’s Angel Lopez jumped away to win the Stage, (Above.) with Roglic second, and Pogacar third. However, Pogacar lost another 17 seconds on Roglic for a total 57 second deficit. That could have been the end result for the race and most, including me, would have been satisfied. However, Tadj Pogacar had different ideas.

Stage 20. A 36-kilometer Time Trial with a steep uphill finish. The race of truth, as Time Trials are sometimes called. Man, against man, with no team to help. Pogacar set out at a blistering pace and maintained it even on the uphill finish. He was the fastest rider of the day taking 1 min. 56 sec, out of Roglic. He made up his 57 second deficit, plus added another 59 seconds.

Tom Dumoulin (Left) and Wout Van Art cannot believe Pogacar has beaten them both by well over a minute.

Not only that, he was the fastest that day, beating former World TT Champion Tom Dumoulin by 1 min. 21 sec. A spectacular performance by 21 year-old Tadj Pogacar. As well as taking the race winners Yellow Jersey, he won the Polka-Dot King of the Mountains Jersey, and the Best Young Rider, White Jersey. The last rider to win all three jerseys was a 24-year-old Eddy Merckx in 1969.

I should mention, Australian Richie Porte, rode the time-trial of his life to tie for second place with Tom Dumoulin. The ride moved him up to a Podium finish in third place, His best place ever in the Tour de France. So wonderful to see for such a great rider and all round nice Bloke, who has worked so tirelessly for other riders in previous Tours. Plus, he has had more than his share of bad luck, crashes, and broken bones.

Richie Porte finishing his Stage 20 TT ride.

Irishman Sam Bennett (Decunick-Quick-Step.) won the Green (Points.) Jersey, and won the final stage in Paris. I have been following the Tour de France since 1950, when I had to wait a week for the French print magazines to arrive in the mail. To recent years when I can now watch in as it happens on TV.

This has to be the best Tour I have ever seen. We all love it when the “under-dog” just will not let go and fights to the very end. Hats off to Primoz Roglic, he and his team did nothing wrong, he just got beat by a younger, and faster rider when it counted the most.

Thanks to the organizers and everyone involved in putting on this spectacular event under such adverse conditions. You have brought a lot of sunshine into an otherwise dismal year.

Pictures, videos, and full results on http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-france/