Super Quinn

If is only fair, after my critique of his racing style, to laud the performance of the American Champion, Quinn Simmons, who almost single handedly kept his Green Jersey clad teammate, Jonathon Milan, in contention for his win yesterday. L’Equipe called Simmons “phenomenal” for his selfless efforts, his ability to stay on front of the bunch as long and often as he did. To see the joy of his Lidl – Trek teammates pointing out and applauding the Coloradan on the finish line was a sure sign that the Champ had pulled off a great number.

Simmons, at 21-years-old, finished his first Tour in 2022 with a highly respectable performance having done his first grand tour, the Vuelta, in 2021. A couple of lean years followed, a DNF in the 2023 Tour and no grand tour at all last year, so that we are seeing a bit of a comeback for the Mighty Quinn. He’s racing like a mad bull but absorbing the punishment and showing no signs of fatigue. He’ll come out of this Tour a changed racer, with a much deeper and more powerful body and the knowledge that he’s been strong enough to roam the front of the Tour peloton, for a full three-weeks, with impunity.

Today and tomorrow are the last chances for Vingegaard to try and somehow dislodge Tadej Pogačar, and time for any GC contenders to make their moves. The Alps are here, the beauty of the Tour continues, and the stories never end. Watch for the drama of the time delay and big Jonathon Milan, who had real difficulty even on the somewhat benign Col du Pertus yesterday, and who will be riding the races of his life today and tomorrow, racing to simply finish. It would be tragic for him to be eliminated this close to Paris, but it could happen.