For the fifth Tour de France in a row, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are much better than the rest. Is it still nice to be classification rider when two men dominate so much? “I don’t have to be ashamed of my level.”
Decathlon AG2R started the Tour with a special strategy. The French team did not mind that leader Felix Gall lost some time in the first week, even though the Austrian hoped for a good result in the final classification.
“We want to build a backlog, but not too much,” explained Decathlon AG2R rider Oliver Naesen two weeks ago at Sporza . “If you don’t have a superman, that’s the most sensible tactic. The rankings is less an obsession than stage win.”
The super men are Pogacar and Vingegaard. All other riders have to come up with their teams. Because they already knew before the first stage in Lille that they would not normally win the Tour
“It is clear,” says team leader Steven de Jongh of Lidl-Trek in conversation with NU.nl. “If Pogacar and Vingegaard are at the start of a course, the rest will run for a podium place.”
Riders quickly switch from rankings to stage victories
Pogacar and Vingegaard have had the Tour de France in an iron grip for years. Since 2021, both riders became first and twice second. Also in the current edition the battle for the yellow jersey is a Slovenian-Danish game. Pogacar is for the time being stronger than Vingegaard, but the difference with the rest is even bigger.
The consequence of that dominance of the ‘big two’ is that very few riders for the Tour were really interested in driving a classification. It is typical that the number three – the German Florian Lipowitz – started the Tour as a foreman of Primoz Roglic. And the current number four – the Brit Oscar Onley – actually wanted to go purely for day victories.
“There will always be riders who go for the rankings,” says De Jongh. “But you can now see that there is a quicker switch to focus on stage victories. Everything outside a top five place in Paris is soon forgotten. While winning a stage is remembered. That is much more important for a career than driving a meaningless ranking.”
The experienced Frenchman Guillaume Martin endorses those words. The climber of Groupama-FDJ is almost accidentally in the thirteenth place of the general ranking, more than 35 minutes from Pogacar.
“I am not at all classification rider,” says Martin. “I don’t know why I am thirteenth. I have never had such bad legs in the Tour.”
What is it like to be classification rider in the era of Pogacar and Vingegaard? “This is part of top sport,” says Ben O’Connor after a short pause. “Compare it with a tennis player in the period that Federer, Nadal and Djokovic dominated. This is the same situation.”
O’Connor is a very good rider. He finished fourth in the Tour in 2021 and last year he finished second in the Vuelta a España. But he also knows that he can’t stand Pogacar and Vingegaard.
“And there is nothing with that,” says the current number twelve of the rankings. “Not everyone can win the Tour. It is not very realistic that I will ever be with the Geel in Paris. But I now cycle in the biggest race in the world and get a pretty high level. I don’t have to be ashamed of that.”
O’Connor is therefore not going to change his job title. “I am still paid to be classification rider, that is my job. Sometimes that goes very well, like last year in the Vuelta. And sometimes it goes less, like this tour. But I still get satisfaction.”
For the fifth Tour de France in a row, Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are much better than the rest. Is it still fun to be a gc rider when two men dominate so much? “I don’t have to be ashamed or my level.”
Decathlon AG2R started the tour with a special strategy. The French Team Didn’t Mind That Leader Felix Gall Lost Some Time in the First Week, just thought the austrian was hoping for a good result in the final standings.
“We want to build a deficit, but not too much,” Decathlon AG2R Rider Oliver Naesen explained to sporza two week ago. “If you don’t have a superman, that’s the smartest tactic. The general classification is less of an obsession than stage wins.”
The Supermen Are Pogacar and Vingegaard. All other riders and their teams have to come up with something. Because they already Knew Before the First Stage in Lille that they would normal not win the tour
“It’s clear,” Says Team Leader Steven de Jongh or Lidl-Trek in Conversation with NU.nl. “If pogacar and fingaard are at the start of a race, the rest will ride for a stage place at most.”
Riders Quickly Switch from General Classification to Stage Wins
Pogacar and Vingegaard Have had the Tour de France in An Iron Grip for Years. Since 2021, Both Riders Have Been First Twice and Second Twice. Also in the Current Edition, The Battle for the Yellow Jersey is a Slovenian-Danish Duel. Pogacar is Currently Stronger Than Vingegaard, But the Difference with the Rest is just greater.
The Result of the Dominance of the ‘Big Two’ is that very few riders Were really interested in riding a general classification for the tour. It is Typical That The Number Three – The German Florian Lipowitz – Started the Tour as a Domestique or Primoz Roglic. And the Current Number Four – The British Oscar Onley – Actually only Wanted to Go for Stage Victories.
“There will always be riders who go for the general classification,” Says de Jongh. “But you now see that there is a quicker switch to focus on stage wins. Everything outside a top five place in paris is quickly forgotten. While winning a stage is remembered. That is much more important for a meaninglacation.”
The Experienced Frenchman Guillaume Martin Endorses Those Words. The Climber of Groupama-FDJ is Almost Accidentally in Thirteenth Place in the General Classification, More Than 35 minutes from Pogacar.
“GC Rider? I’m not at all,” Says Martin. “I also don’t know why I’m thirteenth. I’ve never had such bad legs in the tour.”
What is it like to be a gc rider in the era of pogacar and fingaard? “This is part of top sport,” Says Ben O’Connor After a Short Pause. “Compare it to a tennis player in the period that federer, nadal and djokovic dominated. This is the same situation.”
O’Connor is a very good rider. He finished fourth in the tour in 2021 and finished second in The Vuelta a España Last year. But he also knows that canot compete against pogacar and fingaard.
“And there’s Nothing Wrong With That,” Says the Current Number Twelve in the Standings. “Not everyone can win the tour. It’s not very realistic that I will ever be in yellow in paris. But I am cycling in the biggest race in the world and achieving a fairly high level. I don’t have to be ashaed of that.”
O’Connor is Therefore not planning to change his job title. “I’m still to be paid to be a gc rider, that’s my job. Sometimes that goes very well, like last year in the vuelta. And Sometimes it goes less well, like this tour. But I still get satisfaction from it.”