Tour de France Week Three 2020

“Best Tour de France ever.”  - George Hincapie, Veteran Tour de France racer

We knew the 2020 version of the Tour de France was going to be different due to the pandemic.  The race started 9 weeks later than originally planned, there were strict limits on interactions between fans, staff, and teams and the race was wide open during the first six or so stages with the winner being predicted from six contenders.   A likely winner rose up, but pundits were blown away by the surprising upset during the next to the last stage of the race.

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Primoz Roglic held the yellow jersey from the ninth stage and was predicted to be the overall winner, but he lost the lead during the stage 20 time trial to his countryman from Slovenia.  Tadej Pogacar won the 107th edition of the Tour de France setting these records:

• Youngest winner at age 21
• First win of any rider from Slovenia and his team UAE Team Emirates
• First time a rider has won the Yellow, Polka Dot, and White jerseys all in the same year
• Rode a Colnago bike, the first time this brand has ridden to victory since 1952
• Part of an elite group of repeat winners that won the overall race during his first attempt at the race

Other observations from the 3rd and final week include:

• On the second rest day there was COVID-19 testing of all event participants but no cases were identified--an amazing accomplishment since there are few sporting events that attract more spectators 
• The photo finish of stage 18 where two members of team Ineos Grenadiers team came in first and second place the day after their team leader, Egar Bernal withdrew was a feel good moment and tribute to teamwork and friendship
• Winner of the Green Jersey was Sam Bennet, another one of the new first time riders, who enhanced his victory by also winning the sprint during the final stage on the Champs-Elysees 
• The final stage ending in Paris was eerie with no spectators
• The race is different now, with the strongest teams those that pay attention to the details of power and heart rate data

Whether Pogacar can amass multiple Tour de France wins remains to be seen since many factors have to come together to achieve consecutive tour wins.  As the previous winner, he will no longer be the underdog and his team will be expected to control the race requiring a different strategy than they used this year.  Up until now a professional bike racer was thought to peak at age 30, but the new crop of young riders such as Pogacar is challenging that assumption.   

​The 2021 Tour de France will come sooner than we think since it is only 40 weeks away to next July.  ​

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