The stage to Arenberg caused a lot of damage in the peloton on Wednesday. It was impossible to keep up with the number of falls at one point. Several riders came out of the battle battered. Yet a majority of Sporza surfers are pros and Sven Nys and José De Cauwer also see no problem with it. Our commentator Christophe Vandegoor does have a comment.
De Cauwer: “Nobody was against the start”
José De Cauwer joins the majority of Sporza surfers who think a cobblestone ride has its place in the Tour de France. “We knew before the start of the Tour that there were cobblestones. Nobody was against that then”, it sounds sober.
“Every year is not necessary, but for me there may be a cobblestone stage in the Tour every 2 to 3 years. They also did not puncture or fall on the cobblestones.”
“There was also one person who drove in between with his fingers in the nose: Tadej Pogacar. I don’t know if it will be easier for Pogacar now, because we now have a different kind of race. Roglic is behind and should therefore do something .”
“At Jumbo-Visma they have the tactical ingenuity and they now have to start racing more openly. They can actually put Vingegaard on the wheel of Pogacar and have Roglic do it. Roglic can set a course together with O’Connor and the others who have fallen behind. to ride in the race.”
Vandegoor: “Lack of tension in the coming days?”
Our commentator Christophe Vandegoor also loves the cobblestones, but does have a comment. “I think it’s fantastic to watch. Paris-Roubaix is my favorite classic along with Milan-Sanremo,” he says.
“I love those cobblestones, but in a Tour de France one day of spectacle and the potential disadvantages do not outweigh months of altitude training and investments.”
“Organiser ASO is aiming for a spectacle with such a stage and they got that too. But that spectacle of one day may be eclipsed by a lack of tension in the coming days, caused by that cobblestone ride.”
I think riding on cobblestones is part of cycling.
“I don’t completely agree with that,” responds Sven Nys. “I think riding cobblestones is part of cycling.
“Obviously this is not often done, but in other big rounds we also see gravel stages appearing or arrivals at almost 3,000 meters on a gravel strip. Does that fit within a lap?”
“Everyone knows in advance that this stage is in the Tour. If Pogacar loses 20 seconds, we all say that this stage may have created an opening to prevent Pogacar from winning the Tour.”
