The Final Battle
Muhammad Ali was knocked down four times in boxing career; Tadej Pogačar has hit the mat for the third time in two years. The first last year with the right cross- uppercut combo from Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglič on the Col du Glandon, the second at Tuesday’s time trial where, although still putting out a fine ride, he lost a whopping 1’38” to Vingegaard. The KO came Wednesday on the - I found it an exaggerated and abusive obstacle - the 2300-meter Col de la Loze, where the Slovenian, for the first time in his career, collapsed, almost certainly losing the Tour. He’s still in the White Jersey denoting the top placed young rider, don’t forget, has shown immense courage and grace during his setback which has skyrocketed his popularity.
The peloton is exhausted, except for certain Classics champions, as we saw yesterday in the photo finish between Tour of Flanders winner Kasper Asgreen and Milano-Sanremo champ, the victor, Matej Mohorič. The duo, with a revived Ben O’Connor, held off a who’s who of the Classic’s world, in a race run at an astounding 49.13 kph. It was the last chance for the all-around riders to do something, the last real stage of the Tour for many, and the explosive, strung out nature of the race showed how desperate they all were. Stunning stuff to watch but also fascinating to see how many riders are on their knees.
Today’s stage through the Vosges Mountains of Franche-Comté is, as the French would put it, “full of traps”. Short, at 134.5 kilometers, but full of twisting, narrow roads, steep, leg-breaking climbs, 3471-meters of total climbing packed in the day. Pogačar is making everyone nervous. Is he really cooked, or can the great Slovenian champion pull off one of those patented crazy moves? Will his UAE team be satisfied with he and Adam Yates on the two lower rungs of the podium in Paris or can and will they go for broke? Can Jumbo-Visma, without their superman Wout van Aert - who got home just in the nick of time for his son’s birth - control the race? They don’t have many friends in the peloton, never allowing the breakaways to succeed when in control of the peloton - unlike UAE it should be noted. This is one to watch.
Today is the final mountain stage of Thibault Pino’s career, through his home region of Franche-Comté. The likable Pino, so full of human frailties yet such a powerful and talented racer, one who often performed better in Italy than France because of his aversion to the Gallic media pressures, will be cheered from start to finish in one of those heartwarming, beautiful moments of the Tour de France, where the public respects and honors one of their own.