Thoughts on the Tour de France
This was the triumph of the team over the individual.
Tadej Pogacar simply did not have the back up to beat the superb Jonas Vaugigaard but the Dane’s Sigma team notably Wout van Aert supported him admirably.
The tour began in Copenhagen so it was appropriate that a Dane wore the yellow jersey.
Wout van Aert reminds of that great Leeds United player Paul Madeley who could play in every position.
Van Aer is a fine sprinter but also a grimpeur (climber).
Selflessly he would concede sometimes his leading position to assist Vaugigaard.
We are in a new era of cycling.
The leading cyclists took the white and polka dot jersey as well.
The old and tedious format of a first week of flatlands dominated by the sprinters, followed by the mountain stages in the Alps and Pyrenees with the time trials fitted in, is now replaced by riders who attack from the start and produced thrilling stages every day which the time gaps in the general classement did not reflect.
