+2
06-01-2026 14:58
+3
06-01-2026 14:07
+1
17-12-2025 20:48
+4
26-11-2025 19:50
+5
17-11-2025 17:01
17-11-2025 15:48
+11
03-11-2025 04:01
+9
30-10-2025 14:25
02-08-2025 22:39
+18
30-07-2025 15:31
Loading
+2
MidnightRider
Yes, we would be talking about Wout's phenomenal ride. The immense crowds that showed up that day - what was it, 500k? - did so with no knowledge that Pog would contest. He added to it, for sure, but that scene has its own drama, and Wout is one of most appealing figures in the sport. Any argument to the contrary is silly. As for what we have to discuss, try answering the question I asked. Why is only Jonas at fault? Why not Lipowitz, Onley, Healy, Roglic, etc?06-01-2026 14:58
+3
MidnightRider
Amusing. "Pog's ride to 4th was glorious because he was hurt and tired. But Wout's ride to victory was mid even though he, too, was exhausted and had been struggling the entire Tour" The proper take: Pog's ride was selfish and pointless. One slip and everything he and his teammates had worked for goes up in smoke. Just a terrible risk/reward ratio that served his vanity much more than his team. As for Jonas: why is only he singled out for criticism? Why not Lipowitz or any of the other GC riders? Essentially *all* GC riders have sat up since TDF went to the sprint finish in 1975. Critical of them, too? Those crowds and that scene were iconic, just as they had been at the Olympics without Pog. Wout is a hugely popular figure who has endured terrible injuries and struggled to find his best form for some time now. His win was one of the most exciting moments of the year both for the spectacle and for what he had to overcome to achieve it. You are in a tiny minority to say otherwise.06-01-2026 14:07
+1
MidnightRider
It's boring. Happy to acknowledge him as the GOAT, but it's boring.17-12-2025 20:48
+4
MidnightRider
Every sport needs superstars, and the other athletes should be thankful, not resentful. I mean it as no insult when I say that many of the best cx riders are not particularly charismatic. Michael van Tourenhout, Laurens Sweeck, Lars van der Haar (one of my personal favorites) and many others are fantastically skilled, but do not have the kind of personalities or presence to light up the room. Even Eli Iserbyt, who is a bit edgy at times, does not do that. But MVDP and Wout do, and not just because of their dominance. They both just have that "it" factor, and that absolutely helps those other riders by attracting fans. Indeed, the other riders should *hope* that Nys has it, because MVDP and Wout are nearing the end of their run and the sport needs some personality from the younger guys. A great rivalry would help, but even a great rivalry is better when the rivals are charismatic.26-11-2025 19:50
+5
MidnightRider
Wout lost 2020 RVV by about 6 inches, and 2023 PR when he flatted 100 meters from the end of Carrefour de l'Arbre. A win is a win, but those are just two examples of how close they were until recently. The gap we now see is due to the injuries Wout has experienced, not to any crazy tactics as suggested by the quotes (well, that plus the arrival of Pog at RVV, which also has nothing to do with tactics).17-11-2025 17:01
+2
MidnightRider
Its a silly comment. Wout was very much on par with MVDP until recently, but a string of horrifying crashes over the last couple of years have altered the last half of his prime. If MVDP had had all those crashes and Wout had stayed healthy, the situation would look very different. Indeed, it would be more accurate to say that tactics and DS decisions are *less* important in this era, because the best riders are able to simply ride away from entire fields. If there is an argument to be made that there is more risk and less safety, there should be readily available data to confirm that.17-11-2025 15:48
+11
MidnightRider
Of all the blowhard cycling commentators, Brian Holm is the blowhardiest. He spent the entire summer criticizing Visma's leadership and tactics, even as they won 3 GTs and finished 2nd in the other (to arguably the greatest rider of all time). Now he is an expert at detecting dopers after they have been caught because, well, he just knew it. Surely there is someone better than this to answer the big questions of the day.03-11-2025 04:01
+9
MidnightRider
Too bad for you to see it that way. Wout was at the end of a 16 month stretch during which he rode 4 Grand Tours - plus a full classics schedule and some CX - and had two career-threatening injuries. The argument that he "hid" for 20 stages is ludicrous; he himself acknowledged that he tried repeatedly to get into breaks, win stages, etc. but just didn't have it. That he found it on the last day was thrilling from both a competitive and a human standpoint. Even if you root for Pog,that was one of the epic moments of the whole season.30-10-2025 14:25
+3
MidnightRider
Mostly a bunch of noise. This is elite sports, not a campfire sing-a-long. Having said that, if Tadej was indeed "fuming," it just makes it all the juicier that Wout beat him on Stage 21. Tadej didn't need that win, just wanted it because he is vain like that. But Visma played him perfectly and Wout authored the signature moment of the whole race. Love it.02-08-2025 22:39
+18
MidnightRider
This is a more balanced take than most. It really is interesting listening to voices in the media exult in Pog's greatness, call him GOAT, and all that, then blame the results on Visma's tactics. Visma did the right thing by putting as much pressure on Pog as possible, but in the end Jonas had a couple of off days and Pog didn't. That's actually been the story of each of their TDF battles - Pog cracked on Granon, Hautacam, and Col de la Loze in Jonas's victories, Jonas cracked on Hautacam and the TT this year. Tadej's best is better than Jonas's best, but only slightly. If next year Jonas has all good days and Pog has one or two bad days, Jonas will win.30-07-2025 15:31