In any pro sport, every few years there’s a generational shift when the incumbent stars are pushed aside by a wave of younger talent.
That is what we witnessed in this year’s Tour de France.
Tadej Pogacar’s took the overall victory a day shy of his 22nd birthday, after stunning everyone (except perhaps Eddy Merckx) by taking the lead on the Stage 20 time trial yesterday.
Pogacar’s cause was helped when three of the four active past Tour winners (Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Vincenzo Nibali) didn’t start, and the fifth (Egan Bernal) abandoned with a back injury, he still had to see off the heir apparent (Primoz Roglic), the veteran also-rans (Rigoberto Uran, Richie Porte, Nairo Quintana, Adam Yates) and the wave of French hopers (Thibaut Pinot, Warren Barguil, Romain Bardet), to name but a few.
On top of that, Pogacar won best young rider jersey, as well as the mountains classification, which has increasingly become a competition targeted by breakaway specialists who are not racing for the overall — witness Julian Alaphilippe winning the jersey two years ago.
As for the green jersey, Sam Bennett had it mathematically won by today’s intermediate sprint, but he nailed it home with an emphatic stage victory on the Champs Elysées. He became the first Irishman to win the green jersey competition since his fellow Carrick-on-Suir resident Sean Kelly’s fourth and final title in 1989. Bennett had the better of seven-time time winner Peter Sagan almost every time they raced head-to-head, and the more versatile Sagan wasn’t able to capitalize on the stages when Bennett was out of contention. Bennett would have won even without the penalty Sagan was assessed on Stage 11, which cost him 43 points and took the wind out of his sails. Bennett’s winning margin was 96 points by the end.
There’s plenty more great news and analysis out there. Most importantly, it was a very entertaining Tour; they made it to Paris despite the pandemic (although it was eerie to see so few spectators at the finish); and we have lots to digest for next year.
| Stage | 21 | |
| Terrain | Flat | |
| Date | 09/20/2020 | |
| Route |
Mantes-la-Jolie > Paris Champs-Élysées
|
|
| Distance | 122 km | |
| STAGE RESULT | Points | |
| Stage 1st | 15 | Sam Bennett (Irl) DQT |
| Stage 2nd | 12 | Mads Pedersen (Den) TFS* |
| Stage 3rd | 10 | Peter Sagan (Svk) BOH |
| Stage 4th | 8 | Alexander Kristoff (N) UAD |
| Stage 5th | 6 | Elia Viviani (I) COF |
| Stage 6th | 5 | Wout van Aert (B) TJV* |
| Stage 7th | 4 | Caleb Ewan (Aus) LTS* |
| Stage 8th | 3 | Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) ISN |
| Stage 9th | 2 | Bryan Coquard (F) BVC |
| Stage 10th | 1 | Max Walscheid (G) NTT |
| Intermediate sprint | 5 | Max Schachmann (G) BOH |
| Class 4 climb | 1 | Clément Russo (F) ARK* |
| Best young rider | 1 | Mads Pedersen (Den) TFS* |
| Best team | 3 | BAHRAIN – MCLAREN – TBM |
Final overall results:
| Result | Points | |
| Team GC 1st | 25 | MOVISTAR TEAM – MOV |
| Team GC 2nd | 15 | JUMBO – VISMA – TJV |
| Team GC 3rd | 10 | BAHRAIN – MCLAREN – TBM |
| Team GC 4th | 6 | EF PRO CYCLING – EF1 |
| Team GC 5th | 3 | TEAM INEOS – INS |
| Team GC 6th | 1 | TREK – SEGAFREDO – TFS |
| Team with all finishers | 20 | MOVISTAR TEAM – MOV |
| Team with all finishers | 20 | JUMBO – VISMA – TJV |
| Team with all finishers | 20 | TEAM SUNWEB – SUN |
| Team with all finishers | 20 | DECEUNINCK – QUICK – STEP – DQT |
| Green jersey 1st | 20 | Sam Bennett (Irl) DQT |
| Green jersey 2nd | 10 | Peter Sagan (Svk) BOH |
| Green jersey 3rd | 5 | Matteo Trentin (I) CCC |
| Green jersey 4th | 2 | Bryan Coquard (F) BVC |
| Polka dot jersey 1st | 20 | Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAD* |
| Polka dot jersey 2nd | 10 | Richard Carapaz (Ec) INS |
| Polka dot jersey 3rd | 5 | Primož Roglič (Slo) TJV |
| Polka dot jersey 4th | 2 | Marc Hirschi (Swi) SUN* |
| White jersey 1st | 15 | Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAD* |
| White jersey 2nd | 7 | Enric Mas (Sp) MOV* |
| White jersey 3rd | 3 | Valentin Madouas (F) GFC* |
| Total number of finishers | 20 | 146 |
| Lanterne Rouge | 15 | Roger Kluge (G) LTS |
| GC 1 | 25 | Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAD* |
| GC 2 | 24 | Primož Roglič (Slo) TJV |
| GC 3 | 23 | Richie Porte (Aus) TFS |
| GC 4 | 22 | Mikel Landa (Sp) TBM |
| GC 5 | 21 | Enric Mas (Sp) MOV* |
| GC 6 | 20 | Miguel Ángel López (Col) AST |
| GC 7 | 19 | Tom Dumoulin (NL) TJV |
| GC 8 | 18 | Rigoberto Urán (Col) EF1 |
| GC 9 | 17 | Adam Yates (GB) MTS |
| GC 10 | 16 | Damiano Caruso (I) TBM |
| GC 11 | 15 | Guillaume Martin (F) COF |
| GC 12 | 14 | Alejandro Valverde (Sp) MOV |
| GC 13 | 13 | Richard Carapaz (Ec) INS |
| GC 14 | 12 | Warren Barguil (F) ARK |
| GC 15 | 11 | Sepp Kuss (USA) TJV* |
| GC 16 | 10 | Pello Bilbao (Sp) TBM |
| GC 17 | 9 | Nairo Quintana (Col) ARK |
| GC 18 | 8 | Pierre Rolland (F) BVC |
| GC 19 | 7 | Carlos Verona (Sp) MOV |
| GC 20 | 6 | Wout van Aert (B) TJV* |
| GC 21 | 5 | Marc Soler (Sp) MOV |
| GC 22 | 4 | Gorka Izagirre (Sp) AST |
| GC 23 | 3 | Esteban Chavez (Col) MTS |
| GC 24 | 2 | Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) GFC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Kenny Elissonde (F) TFS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Mikaël Cherel (F) ALM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Valentin Madouas (F) GFC* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Daniel Martínez (Col) EF1* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Thibaut Pinot (F) GFC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Michał Kwiatkowski (Pol) INS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Romain Sicard (F) TDE |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Luis León Sánchez (Sp) AST |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Lennard Känma (G) BOH* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | George Bennett (NZ) TJV |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Alexis Vuillermoz (F) ALM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Julian Alaphilippe (F) DQT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Hugh Carthy (GB) EF1* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Emanuel Buchmann (G) BOH |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Rudy Molard (F) GFC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Jan Polanc (Slo) UAD |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Dan Martin (Irl) ISN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Robert Gesink (NL) TJV |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Bob Jungels (Lux) DQT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Jesús Herrada (Sp) COF |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Harold Tejada (Col) AST* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) AST |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Hugo Houle (Can) AST |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Simon Geschke (G) CCC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Nicolas Edet (F) COF |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Greg Van Avermaet (B) CCC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Niklas Eg (Den) TFS* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Thomas De Gendt (B) LTS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Quentin Pacher (F) BVC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Marc Hirschi (Swi) SUN* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Oliver Naesen (B) ALM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Neilson Powless (USA) EF1* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Max Schachmann (G) BOH |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) SUN* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Dylan Van Baarle (NL) INS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Omar Fraile (Sp) AST |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Oliver Naesen (B) ALM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Alberto Bettiol (I) EF1 |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Felix Grosschartner (Aut) BOH |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Nicolas Roche (Irl) SUN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Nans Peters (F) ALM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Winner Anacona (Col) ARK |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Jan Hirt (CZ) CCC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Ben Hermans (B) ISN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Michael Schär (Swi) CCC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | José Joaquin Rojas (Sp) MOV |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Jasper Stuyven (B) TFS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | David de la Cruz (Sp) UAD |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Michael Valgren (Den) NTT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Imano Erviti (Sp) MOV |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Tiesj Benoot (B) SUN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Matej Mohorič (Slo) TBM* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Andrey Amador (CR) INS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Cyril Barthe (F) BVC* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Matteo Trentin (I) CCC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Dario Cataldo (I) MOV |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Toms Skujinš (Lat) TFS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Vegard Stage Laengen (N) UAD |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Jack Bauer (NZ) MTS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Peter Sagan (Svk) BOH |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Krists Neilands (Lat) ISN* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Pierre-Luc Périchon (F) COF |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Pavel Sivakov (Rus) INS* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Luka Mezgec (Slo) MTS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Jens Keukeleire (B) EF1 |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Dries Devenys (B) DQT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Tejay van Garderen (USA) EF1 |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Mads Pedersen (Den) TFS* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Sonny Colbrelli (I) TBM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Matthew Ladagnous (F) GFC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Dayer Quintana (Col) ARK |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Cyril Barthe (F) BVC* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Daryl Impey (SA) MTS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Tom Van Asbroek (B) ISN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Christopher Juul-Jensen (Den) MTS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Alessandro De Marchi (I) CCC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (N) NTT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Kévin Ledanois (F) ARK |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Joris Nieuwenhuis (NL) SUN* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Clément Venturini (F) ALM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Daniel Oss (I) BOH |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Connor Swift (GB) ARK* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Christophe Laporte (F) COF |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Anthony Turgis (F) TDE |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Roman Kreuziger (CZ) NTT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Wout Poels (NL) TBM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Marco Marcato (I) UAD |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Simone Consonni (I) COF |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Rémi Cavagna (F) DQT* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Kasper Asgreen (Den) DQT* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) ISN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Benoît Cosnefroy (F) ALM* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Fabien Grellier (F) TDE* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Tony Martin (G) TJV |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Edward Theuns (B) TFS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Nils Politt (G) ISN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Ryan Gibbons (SA) NTT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Bryan Coquard (F) BVC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Geoffrey Soupe (F) TDE |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Mads Pedersen (Den) TFS* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Jonas Koch (G) CCC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Nikias Arndt (G) SUN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Tim Declercq (B) DQT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Amund Grøndahl Jansen (N) TJV |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Luke Rowe (GB) INS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Michael Mørkøv (Den) DQT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Mathieu Burgaudeau(F) TDE* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Alexander Kristoff (N) UAD |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Clément Russo (F) ARK* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Max Walscheid (G) NTT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Elia Viviani (I) COF |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Maxime Chevalier (F) BVC* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Kevin Reza (F) BVC |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Sam Bennett (Irl) DQT |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Guy Niv (Isr) ISN |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Cees Bol (NL) SUN* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Nicolò Bonifazio (I) TDE |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Jasper De Buyst (B) LTS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Marco Haller (Aut) TBM |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Caleb Ewan (Aus) LTS* |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Frederik Frison (B) LTS |
| GC 25 and lower | 1 | Roger Kluge (G) LTS |
The Ottawa Tour de France Pool 