Dutch commentator Mart Smeets appears notably unenthusiastic
about the 2025 Tour de France. On the cycling podcast De Kopgroep, Smeets
didn’t hold back, delivering a particularly blunt assessment of Jonas
Vingegaard.
"It's boring anyway if you field a Dane who rarely says
anything nice in his life," says Smeets. "Who has no charisma. Who
can cycle fast, but reduces cycling to a three-week small spectacle and who
happens to come from Copenhagen and surroundings."
His words were harsh, especially given Vingegaard’s track
record. The Dane claimed back-to-back Tour titles in 2022 and 2023, only losing
out to Tadej Pogacar in 2024 after a build up disrupted by injury. Without
Vingegaard in the mix, Pogacar could well have been chasing a sixth consecutive
yellow jersey this summer.
Smeets went even further, questioning the significance of
nearly the entire Tour peloton. "There are 176 starting this year. That
means that 170 men have absolutely no business being there. Just riding along
and bringing a little water."
Read also
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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