June 27th 2024.
This year, Tadej Pogacar made an impressive debut at the Giro d'Italia, winning the race in a dominating fashion. It was a moment that captured the essence of the Tour de France, almost like a work of poetry. The Netflix show Unchained perfectly captured it, with Thibaut Pinot, the beloved and highly-touted rider, reaching the top of his final climb in his final Tour. As a three-time stage winner, Pinot was no stranger to the adoration of fans, but this time it was different. The sea of cheering and adoring fans, reaching out their hands and spilling their drinks in excitement, was overwhelming. It was a rare and holy sight, even for a sport like cycling that is known for its intimate relationship between riders and fans.
But then, as the cameras cut to a different angle, there was a sudden silence. Pinot had reached the peak of his popularity, but now he was alone. The descent was quiet, with only the sound of the bike chain and the fading cheers ringing in his ears. It was a beautiful contrast, capturing the fleeting nature of hero worship. This is the place from which the Tour de France contenders will emerge, coming from the solitary and silent world of training to the high-pressure and excitement of the race.
Professional cycling is a sport of extremes, and the riders must navigate not only the physical demands of the race, but also the intense public scrutiny and expectations. The top four riders at this year's Tour have garnered a level of hype and attention that is unprecedented. Even the usual dual rivalries between top riders have been overshadowed by the presence of four proven superstars vying for the podium. The excitement and anticipation have reached a fever pitch, and it doesn't even matter that two of the riders should technically stand above the other two. The hype is what we've come for, and hype is exactly what we're going to get.
But the uncertainty surrounding the two favorites, Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, has only added fuel to the fire. Vingegaard suffered a devastating crash earlier in the year, causing serious physical and psychological damage. No one knows which version of the rider will show up at the Tour. Meanwhile, Pogacar is attempting to achieve a rare feat - winning both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year. His victory at the Giro was impressive, but some wonder if he may have expended too much energy too early in the season.
Another rider to watch is Remco Evenepoel, who at just 24 years old has already achieved major victories in the sport. But this will be his first Tour de France, adding an extra layer of intrigue to his story. And of course, there is Primoz Roglic, a three-time Vuelta champion and last year's Tour runner-up. His loss to Pogacar on the final time trial was a shocking upset, and this year he will be leading his own team in the race.
With only three spots on the podium, at least one of these Grand Tour winners will inevitably miss out. And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the excitement and drama of this year's Tour. Mark Cavendish is making a comeback in hopes of breaking the record for the most Tour stage wins, while Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock are bringing their own brand of intensity to the Ineos team. Wout van Aert is also returning from a serious crash, and the Alpecin-Deceuninck team is causing a stir with their young stars, Jasper Philipsen and Mathieu van der Poel.
In all of my years following the Tour de France, I can honestly say I've never seen a run-up quite like this one. So let's turn up the volume and get ready for an unforgettable race. The party is about to begin.
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