Tour de France 2025 Preview | THEMOVE

Lance, Johan, George, and Sir Bradley Wiggins break down the 2025 Tour de France, which kicks off tomorrow in Lille, France. They delve into the looming GC battle between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar, how the flat and fast opening week will complicate things for the GC contenders, and identify which stages will be critical to the battle for the overall win. They also discuss how the historically stacked field of sprinters and Classics stars could produce a series of instant-classic stage win battles, the strong American representation in the field, and much more.

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But what’s good with Yonas is he’s coming to win the tour.
Yep.
That that’s the main thing. He’s not coming here to finish second place, you know, he’s going to take it to Ted to try and win the race.
Whereas with the team to support that.
Yes. Whereas Remco during the week, I saw his comments uh talking about what was success for him at this tour to France and he said a stage wins in the time trial and a podium place. That kind of tells you his mindset coming into this that having seen what he had at the Doofan maybe he believes that the the win is a little bit beyond him. Um, so it could be it will be a two- horse race, wasn’t it? This this tour. [Music] All right, everybody. That was that was new. That was new. Welcome back to the Move podcast talking about the 2025 Tour to France. This will be the preview show. Of course, I’m Lance, joined by Sir Bradley Wiggins. To my left, all the way to the left, Mr. Georginy, and via Zoom, our guy Johan Brunell. And do not be confused. Johan is not Bradley was a little confused. He is not in Paris. Uh as has been the case for the last couple of years, Ketone IQ will be our presenting sponsor each and every day. Uh a couple of other cool uh things to note uh and and flashbacks. Uh Alan, of course, will be here every day uh on audio telling us where we’re starting, where we’re finishing. And new for this year, we had a little bit of it last year. Well, we had a dab. Uh, but new this year, we will be live each and every day on Peacock here in the US. So, what does that mean? That means if you’re watching the race, just I think you just keep it on I don’t know how this stuff works, but you keep it on that channel. That’ll then go into the postra show with TJ Vanguard, Brent Pwalter, and then you just keep it on that channel and then it’ll roll right in to us. The move. How’s that?
Great. I mean,
pretty sick.
Yeah, I think it was a little bit of an antilimatic intro. I mean, we’re back. 2025 tour to France. We got Sir Bradley Wiggins with us for the whole time this year.
I don’t know about y’all, but I’m super excited. And I know Lance is. It might not have come across that way just now, but
it’s a long race. We’re excited. It’s a long race. It’s a long race. We We got to We got to ease into this thing. This is going to be an interesting tour. It’s It’s We’re going to break it down. This is just at a high level. And of course, uh, having Johan here is a real treat because he studies, well, maybe not Sir Bradley, but he he studies this stuff a hell of a lot more than George and I do, right?
Yeah, correct. That’s not very excited. Who’s the one that’s not excited? Uh, one other, sorry, one other housekeeping thing. Uh, cuz we’ve gotten a lot of questions. We will be doing uh a daily episode of outcomes. I personally will be betting on Spencer and Johan’s predictions. We’ll just keep a running index and figure out uh how they’re doing. It’s pretty amazing. And and last thing before we jump into it, uh a new show, Sir Bradley, what are we calling it, Bradley? You’re a big fan of the name.
Sir Bradley Wiggins and the Johan Show.
That’s not what you called it a minute ago. It was called the Sir Wiggo and Johan Show.
Oh, that is that what it’s called?
It’s your show. So,
I don’t know.
We don’t know.
Johan, what are you what this is?
Cotlin says Sir Wiggo and Johan show. I left it in the hands of our creative team here at We Do this.
And what they’ve come up with is quite extraordinary.
Johan, what did what did you decide?
It’s the Sir Wiggle and Johan show.
There you go, folks. There you go. Biblical. Biblical. we break it down? And so Bradley, you were talking about this on the drive over just that your impressions of this first week. Call it the first half at a very high level. You sort of say first half, no uphill finishes, all the climbing concentrated into the back half. But for now, let’s let’s talk about this first half. Then you sorry, you layer in potentially uh the weather element, wind, rain, tight roads,
hectic first week. It’s going to be filthy.
Filthy. That’s that is the word you used. Yeah, it’s um it’s going to be tough for everyone, whichever type of rider you are, but more so the GC guys, you know, splits, losing time, the wind, the wind and the rain if it happens. Um the saving grace is that time on stage five, which um you know is also an added pressure for guys that want to keep to the front that potentially can take yellow there. I’m thinking specifically of Remco,
but you sort of start to you sort out the pecking order,
right? And so guys will just be but this is we all know this right that those weeks like this or halves like this you have everything to lose
and not a lot to gain. It’s it’s a it’s a it’s a it’s not it’s not a great scenario. It’s great for fans. It’s great for the spectators because a lot can happen
but but the nerves will be high.
It’s back to like sort of old school start of the tour to France. I mean, the last couple years, the first couple stages were so hard that the GC guys were just focused on their climbing um and potentially a lot less risk. Now, my guess is these GC guys are going in a lot with a lot more nerves because a lot more uh bad luck can happen with uh the wind, the rain, uh guys risking their lives to win a stage, guys risking their lives to make the breakaways. So everybody can be there at the final like potentially a full pelaton can be there or there could be splits and crashes. I mean there’s just so many things that can happen in this first 10 days that it’s going to be action-packed exciting to watch. But as a as a GC guy, I would be super nervous. As our team, I would be confident like back in the day cuz you had the guys in the wind in the rain and the classic Georgia type guys like
I think Visma is pretty packed in that in that sense. But still a lot of nerves. Johan, your impressions, but layer in you have I think we all agree. I mean, you have um more intel, so to speak, when it comes to um the Pelathon and and races certainly like the tour, but layer that in. What the impressions of of the tour overall and then specifically this first half?
Yeah, it’s it’s like uh like Bradley says, you know, it’s it’s the first week, the first 10 days actually, except the time trial is is hectic. We we’re going back to old school tour to France uh scenarios. You know, if you look at last year’s tour, the year before we had hard stages in the first week, stage four, I think last year was already over the Galibier. Uh the year before also was in the Pyrenees over Mari Blanc. So, this is completely different. So, I think uh in terms of stress for for the the GC riders, it’s it’s going to be massive. um the sprinters um have a lot of opportunities. I think also in those first 10 days there’s a few stages which are really uh very very uh ideal for breakaways. So we’ll have to see what the sprinters teams want to do. Um but you know this is the tour every single opportunity they have they they have to take it. So we see less and less breakaways, right? And and since this uh tour, there’s it’s heavy loaded on sprinters, you know, there’s there’s the best sprinters of the world are here and these teams will obviously not let any opportunity slip away. Um I think it’s interesting to see that, you know, at stage five, that time trial in in the middle of those first 10 stages. That’s that’s really the key point where we’re going to see uh the first real um headto-heads of between the between the the GC guys. I don’t think there’s going to be any surprises. You know, it’s a 33 km time trial. Not very hard for specialists. Normally, Ramco should win that.
And I I I even see him take yellow there.
Mhm.
Um and so, you know, from then on, uh of course, you know, if Ramco is in yellow, he will try to defend it at least until stage 12. Um that’s that’s a little what I foresee. I also foresee that stage one will be won by Tim Mer. Um he’s you know he’s very famous to to win the first sprint in any grand tour he has participated and he has won already I think 10 races this year or 12 I don’t remember now. Um so um so yeah I mean uh what’s for sure it’s it’s very very nervous. You all you guys know very well what what it is the first week of the tour but the way this tour to France is designed it’s it’s it’s very stressful. Let let’s not Johan let’s I agree with you and historically that’s the way I think it would go but the way they’re racing these days the way what we’ve witnessed in races like the Dolphin the top three four five guys now are so much stronger that they’re able to make differences on category 4 climbs where back in the day that was never happening these guys are are taking the chances to attack when nobody’s expecting it and they’re they’re able to ride away from the best riders in the world essentially. So we’re seeing a different style of racing. We’re seeing a Yonas for instance in the press conference saying he’s coming in a lot heavier than last year with a lot more muscle. Why? I think because he’s getting ready for these first 10 days just to be able to battle out with the classics guys make the differences on these normally, you know, non-essential clims that don’t make differences nor uh usually, but they’re making the differences now any chance they can get. They’re racing so aggressively. So, I think we’re going to see more action than expected from these GC guys in the first couple stages. And I also think that having I mean I don’t know. I mean it’s it’s always hard. You look at a Yonas Vingo and you the kid says he’s put on muscle. He’s bulk quote unquote bulked up.
Hard to see.
Yeah. Right.
I mean I don’t see that. However, you know, we we talk about we if you’ve watched uh the news or watched the weather in Europe, it’s it’s been unseasonably and extremely hot, right? A lot of places 100 plus degrees Fahrenheit. Then you come at to the start of the tour, obviously hectic, obviously hard, and we’re talking about 60°, overcast, potentially rainy, windy. Then you it doesn’t hurt to have, you know, a little I don’t know if you want to call it an extra layer, but
to come in with some reserves.
We’re talking about professional cycling here. We’re not talking about you and Bradley, you’re all yolked up from the gym days. We’re talking about one kilo. 2 kilos makes the all the difference in the world. So if this guy’s coming in one kilo more heavier, he knows and he knows that it’s from muscle. So he’s thinking it’s power.
I don’t hate it.
Yeah, I like it.
I don’t I mean I’m going to believe him and I don’t hate it. I think I think he’ll he’ll want it.
Um Yan, just one note and and I do think it’s a it’s
I I just learned this yesterday. You talked about or you mentioned that all the best sprinters in the world are here. Uh, I might just take um a second to note that that Matt Peterson is not here. So, Tre has decided to bring Jonathan Milan. Um, not sure what to believe or think about that, but apparently Matt Peterson not entirely content with that decision. Now, obviously had a great Jurro. That was always the plan.
Just shows you, you know, these guys, I mean, the Jurro’s great. Jirro’s fine, right? But the tour is the tour, right? And so, that’s
Where did you hear he wasn’t happy about that? Uh I would um um our resident propeller head Spencer Martin um uh got that scoop.
Got it. That’s big scoop. The year that he had the Classics to Jiro, I’m thinking he’s content with his year so far and has latter later season finals.
And don’t quote me on this, but I believe uh uh his view was something to the effect that I’m going to I’m going to bankrupt the team by winning so many stages in the Jurro. I think I think he wasn’t
we might be editing that out. I’m not entirely sure. I think he I think he wasn’t uh he wasn’t happy at the beginning of the season with with the choice. Um you know he he had to agree with it. But I think I think if you look at his classic season and his uh and his Jirro and then he’s going to go to the Valta again to try to win the points jersey. I think it’s pretty good for Matts. Yeah, I don’t think his season could be any better right now. And I mean, you know, the the Grand T the Tour to France is the biggest show in cycling, but
a guy like that that’s essentially done everything you can do in the sport of cycling, he’s probably okay with it. Wiggle, what is to talk to? Let’s spend a second on the time trial. 33 km. It’s been a second since we had a you know, of course, we come from this generation where you had two 50 km time trials and you look at the way the sport has evolved and time trials have gotten shorter and shorter, but 33 km uh it’s a bit of a throwback.
Yeah, it’s going to be 35 to 40 minutes of effort. Mhm.
Which is nearly twice as long as the do time trial was. And we saw the time differences there that Remco made. Y
so I think it’s considerable. Um, and you also saw Bangugo put time into Poget and it very very similar parkour to the Doof time tri.
Um, the the route is pretty straightforward. It’s an out and back of town. So, I think it’s it’s quite it’s going to be I mean the way Remco time trolls, you could see him coming away there with a minute plus lead. All four stays together until we get to the time trial, which is considerable, you know, but I don’t think I think that would be more considerable. and damaging for someone like Eunas. I don’t think it really matters for Tadai because I don’t think it’s going to affect him psychologically how much time he loses there because we saw again, you know, as soon as he goes uphill, he’ll just attack.
So, how being uh the time trial specialist you were Bradley Olympic champion Lance, obviously amazing time travelers, how would you guys go into these first four stages when you watch the way they have raced this year currently? potentially some of these GC guys are going to try to slip away on a category 4 climb and you’re thinking of saving your legs for stage five but how do you I mean how you going to how are these guys going to balance this
I know we would it was it’s a very similar area to when 2012 and our approach was
you and I crashed
yeah together it not in 2012
oh that was 20 okay
yeah 2012 we finished in Bologna
we started up in the north um we finished a stage in San Quentan and it was very simple we stay on the front and take the initiative and leave me So it’s far to the front away from all the and and get to that time trail and zero time.
But are you going to go with the G would you have gone with the GC guys condidor attacking you or you going to rely on it’s hard like like you said before George they race differently now they do you know we didn’t have that problem back then where we were concerned that a GC guy like Condidor would attack on these smaller climbs.
They were in the same mindset. Let’s get to the time run zero time. So
but we had the nerves. You always I was always nervous about those things. Oh my god was a category 4 climb. who who knows what happens. I mean, that that that nothing was going to happen,
but it’s healthy to sit there and and and be worried about that and be stressed and be aware that something could happen.
Um, but you’re right. I mean, you just got to stay up front and and the X factor, as is always the case in cycling, is the wind.
Like, you just it it it takes in a second’s notice this race can drastically change. And I think the team that will take the initiative to get on the front and will be uh Vizma because Ununas will be the most nervous of the GC guys I think in those situations
and they have the team to do it.
He has an excellent team.
They have the team to do it.
Yep.
As does Pogar. Yeah.
Interesting tour. Another throwback. This this tour uh as you know of course uh many many additions in the last I don’t know 20 30 years venture outside of France. This one this is a tour to France. There’s nobody leaving France.
Yeah. First time in a while, right, that’s happened.
I like it. I like the
I do too.
Yeah, I do, too. First time in five years that they haven’t left.
And by the way, you know who else likes it? The riders like it, right? We all, and we’ve touched on this in in previous years, when the tour leaves France, it’s so unique and so special. Doesn’t matter where it goes. England, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, it doesn’t matter. It’s so special for those countries that there’s it feels like there’s 10 times the amount of spectators on the sides of the road. You you guys will all remember this tour eventually rolls back into France. Still a lot of people but a lot less. I was like
I don’t know about that. I mean they’re right next door to Belgium. Uh it’s going to be
there’s nothing like staying in a hotel company is there
or any beast. I mean there’s some good ones including the north of France.
You know the best is when you see on your hotel list cuz you you know for those at home
who don’t know these guys know everywhere they’re staying uh every night for 3 weeks, right? And so you’re looking down the list and you see the Campanil,
right? And then say it’s the Campanill next to the highway before the time trial. You’re like, “Shit, right, sleep may not be great.” But you you’re scrolling down, you see the Novatel.
Boy, you’re like, “Baby,
that’s my day.”
Yeah.
And the Novatel is a dump.
That was my point.
When I would see I would do that and I I would do the Moska move where I knew I never had my own room like you always did. So if I saw a Novatel like stage five or six, I would call out to my roommate like I got the big bed because there’s always one big bed in a so in a little couch bed. That’s right.
So I’d call it early. That’s right. And you can also tell the quality of the hotel you’re going to be staying at by what other teams are staying there.
So if you’re with a wanty goo bear, you know, you’re wor skill Shimano back in the day.
Yep.
You know, you know you’re doomed.
Skill is back in it, aren’t they? This year,
are they back in it?
I thought they were co-sponsoring Visma.
Nike are back in. They are. They are together with Rael Bunk. Rael Bank and Skill is back. Yeah. And Nike,
aren’t they?
And Nike.
Uh Nike, I think it is called.
Yeah. and Adidas actually Adidas are back in with Inos
Inos
with a new co-sponsor U Total Energy
Total Energy which also has a team in the tour to France which we were commenting on that before the show how
it’s a bit odd but apparently the same
uh umbrella group that owns both of those companies um are working together now.
Yeah. Uh, and when it does start to go uphill, it it it really does, right? You don’t need to look any further than uh the uphill time trial that we can stay in the in the vein of time triing. This uphill time trial,
it’s a tough one,
is disgusting. Stage 13 u pitches of 16%. It’s um Yeah, it’s really tough.
It’s really tough. Well, you mentioned also the um we we saw earlier that the first rest day is until Tuesday. So, they’re going to go 10 days without a rest day.
Well, 10 days of stressful hardcore racing, you know.
Yeah. And when I first I just assumed the rest days were on Mondays, uh, as they as they always are. And I I just in my calendar head, I thought, well, that sucks for the French, right? They’re going to have rest day on Bastil Day. They didn’t can’t dye their hair and change their handlebar tape and and ride around on Bastil Day. Well, you know what? ASO’s smarter than me. Yeah,
they did. They moved it. It’s not on a Monday. It’s now on a Tuesday. So they will actually race on that Monday for best deal day which is which is better.
And think about I mean the tour to France is hard enough as is but think about the potential weather swings. We’re talking about starting in six° 60° temperature tomorrow and the next the stage 10 and the rest air in to lose which arguably could be 95° down there. Yep.
So the amount of weather change they’re going to go through in the first week is going to be pretty epic and very tough on the body. I mean, these guys are all used to doing, as Johan mentioned, heat training now and uh getting prepared for these super hot, hard, long stages, and they’re starting off with 60°, potentially wind, completely different weather. Um, it’s hard for the body to react to that.
What do y’all make of I’ve just seen some of the comments and watched some of the other uh preview shows on YouTube. There there’s a lot of talk about uh and this maybe this is a good this is a question for you, Johan. There’s the a lot of references to uh uh some of these key stages almost pulling them out uh um to let me say it another way. These are stages that Pogatar has suffered historically, right? And so they they really highlighted this is not surprising to us that we know that ASO likes to spice things up like this. It is their right to do it. It’s their race. It’s their route. But what do you make of of this that you say, “Boy, these are the four stages where he’s either really suffered or or even lost the tour and we’re going to highlight those in the 2025 tour.”
Yeah. I mean, you know, we have the Vontu uh where he got dropped by Yonas and and Walt vanard. No, by Yonas. Uh we have Otakam where he where Walt Vonard actually dropped him while pulling for uh for Yonas. And then we also have cold de la where he lost 8 minutes
which by the way I did cold de lo last last year uh with our friend Poppy man that has got to be one of the hardest climbs I’ve ever done in the Alps. 26 km long. I mean it is insane how long and how difficult it is at the top. I mean pitches of 14%. I’m excited for that stage. Sorry Johan. Go ahead.
I I think I think for for Pogachart version 2025 it doesn’t matter. I don’t think I don’t think it’s he’s completely unfaced and I actually think
you know the the way I I mean I’ve watched a few interviews of Pugacha you know and you know he he comes across as you know Mr. Nice guy but the guy is a he’s a killer this guy is a killer on a bike and I think he’s going to want to make it a point to say okay I’ve suffered here but I’m back guys and I’m making everybody suffer now I’m not at all worried about Bagota on those clients. Yeah, it’s this relaxed vibe he throws off, but I think we all can agree that he’s he’s very calculated and and they’re very organized and he’s extremely motivated. So, yeah, I don’t
I mean, I get it, but I don’t buy it.
He’s also a very different rider than what he was two years ago, isn’t he?
That’s right.
He’s um a better a better much better.
I agree. But I’m hoping that there is a lot of uh planning go there’s obviously a lot of planning going on with Visma Lisa Bike and I’m hoping that they have put Yonas’s whole year around these first 10 days to get through and perhaps make small differences but really peak his will really reach his peak fitness and weight stage post stage 10 of this year’s tour to France and be able to give him a battle. I mean, he sounds super confident in his uh pre-race uh press conferences where he feels better than ever. I like it. I like the way it’s shaping up because we don’t want a boring race where Kad just rides away from everybody.
Well, and Yonas says he he’s on record as saying, “I am stronger than ever.”
Yeah.
So is so is today.
Well, that that’s where I was going with this was great. Uh that’s awesome. If if you’re 5% stronger, what whatever the percentage is that you are stronger than previous versions, the the problem for him can be that if to your point, Bradley, that if if if Pangard’s 5% better,
but Ted’s 7% better. I mean, that’s how this math works.
Yeah. But what’s good with Yonas is he’s coming to win the tour. Yep. That that’s the main thing. He’s not coming here to finish second place, you know, he’s going to take it to Ted to try and win the race.
Whereas Remco
with a team to support that.
Yes. Whereas Remco during the week, I saw his comments uh talking about what was success for him at this tour to France and he said a stage wins in the time trial and a podium place. That kind of tells you his mindset coming into this that having seen what he had at the Doofan maybe he believes that the the win is a little bit beyond him. Um so it could be it will be a two- horse race, wasn’t it? This this tour. But well, there’s something else we have to have in mind, guys. You know, and I mean unfortunately I think this is very likely to happen. It always happens. is that uh you know with this relatively flattish start of the tour the first week we are going to lose one of the contenders.
That’s right. That’s right. Already in in week one and you know in that case Ramco needs to be ready.
Yep. Yep. And and those are not things that are pleasant to talk about and I think we were all I think collectively we were trying to avoid talking about that’s the reality of professional cycling.
Yeah. All of these certainly those two names we mentioned, there is a chance and to my point a second ago, everything to lose, nothing to gain or at least not much to gain. There is a chance we lose one of those. Uh we’re going to go to commercial break for our friends over at Peacock. We’ll be right back. We’ll pick it up there and then we’ll talk about uh the last couple of stages, including the final stage in Paris, which is different. All right, and we’re back. Welcome back to the move. George, you had a point you wanted to say.
Yeah, we haven’t we’ve been talking about Yonas Taj Remco for a bit. Uh we haven’t mentioned Primo’s Rogue Lich and I know he’s crashed a bunch in the tour to France the last few years. I’m still a massive fan fan of his fivetime grand tour winner.
Has a amazing team behind him. I’m hoping he gets through these first 10 days as well and uh you know we can have like a mono mono battle with all four of these guys. And I know Bradley, you mentioned the dark horse dark horse before our show started. I want to hear your opinion on who that was.
Well, I mean, I don’t have a dark horse for GC. I think I think it’s it’s a pretty much a two- horse race, personally. But a dark horse for the third week and stage wins is the young Spanish the new Spanish champion, Iban Romero. I really like this kid. He won a stage in the Dofane, the toughest stage in the Dane.
Um I know Yan will know him quite well, but yeah, he won the Spanish title at the weekend. First tour to France, the youngest rider in this tour to France.
Great.
How old is he?
21.
21. And you know
when I I saw I saw a stat about Ivan Romeo. When when Garane Thomas did his first tour to France, Ivan Romeo was 3 years old.
Wow.
All right. Still breastfeeding.
And hopefully Moy Star gives him a free card. Johan and not, you know, sitting there working for Enrique Mas. So obviously he’s a top five, top 10 uh potential candidate, but we’d love to see this kid get some freedom, go for stage wins. I mean, what the stage he won in Dolphin was incredible.
Huge amount of power. Um, and it’s great that actually Spanish team has this Spanish star and well, let’s see how long they can hold on to him for.
Mhm. Mhm. For sure. I thought you were going to say something, Yan. No, I mean Romeo is I mean he’s a huge talent. He’s world champion under 23 time trial last year. Um, and you know the way I’ve seen some interviews from him this week. I mean this guy, this kid, you know, he has a really good head on his shoulder. You know, he knows what he wants. Very confident. He’s never going to be a climber, you know. He’s he’s super tall. He’s a bit too heavy, but uh he’s you know, he can he can get over some middle mountains and he’s I mean he’s a great great great ruler, you know, a great time trialist and um yeah, I agree Bradley. It’s uh interesting guy to follow in this tour of France.
He’s been on your radar. This a Bradley question since the Spanish championships or just
No, before I vult and earlier in the year he won a stage
in February, I think it was.
I love the way you put the lisp in there. Wolfia. I like that. That’s what it’s called. Is it?
It is. And um Yeah. Yeah. He’s um good kid, you know, young good,
you know. It was Va Valencia. There we go. Valencia. Yeah. This is We George and I were watching a few of these other preview shows on YouTube this morning. One of them pointed out that the winner of the tour to France will get I think it was 530,000. We wrote that
which, you know, it it it we both sort of looked at each other and thought, “Well, hang on a second. That’s what it was.
That’s what it was 20 years ago.
20 years ago. And it was
And what sport? Now this honestly
in what sport? Right. Wimbledon has started
right here. In a couple of weeks, we’ll have the open. You know, in what sport?
And not to mention
has not changed in 20 years. 20 years ago, Roland Garos was very similar to the cycling tour to France prize money, which is at the time still is the biggest prize money in the sport of cycling.
Now look at the prize money for Roland Gar. It’s millions of millions of dollars for both men and women and we’re still stuck on the same prize money that it was over 20 years ago.
I think in Wimbledon if you go out in the first round in Wimbledon, you get £120,000.
Yeah. And this is just not We are talking about it. You never hear this talked about. No.
I mean, and we wouldn’t have been talking about it if if they hadn’t noted it in this other show. And it was just one of these moments we looked at each like hang on a second.
No. What?
Back in the day that makes sense. But now it just Yeah. Yeah, it makes no sense compared compared to the other sports. And we know that the sport of cycling’s grown. We know that the viewership of the tour to France has grown tremendously. Uh arguably one of the biggest most watched sporting events in the world.
Uh but the privacy money remains the same. Um yeah, and the same goes for what the tour to France pays to the teams, you know, as a as like their expense fee. It’s been around €50,000 uh for the last 20 years, which you know doesn’t even cover. Uh that’s Yeah, I I actually read an article about it this morning. U a Belgian journalist, our good friend, a good friend uh Yonas Cretor, we have mentioned him already in the past. He did a re really good analysis about the price money and and and expense fee of of ASO and it hasn’t changed. Um same thing goes for example if you see how teams have grown. Um there’s probably 45 to 50 people now at France with the team.
They still only pay for 23 people.
Wow.
And and that was but that was like this already in your days, Lance. It was 23 people, you know. We and we were fighting to bring 28 an extra five people. It was always a struggle. I mean, the way teams are run now, it’s it’s just I mean, it’s it’s at least 40 45 people. Uh but it’s still 23. So, uh I think that has to change. Yeah. Yeah. Hopefully we start seeing some changes. Um, but we haven’t as of yet. I think we need to shout out our American riders in the tour to France. We have five Americans in this year’s Tour to France. Quinn Simmons,
recent national champion, re recent stage winner of the tour Switzerland. Uh, on a great season so far. I’m excited to see him representing our jersey, especially uh being at it 4th of July. Need to shout him out.
Not afraid to race.
Not afraid to race.
That boy. That boy’s not afraid to race.
No. No. He And
coolest looking guy in the Pelican. I wanted you to I was going to let you take that one. I know you’re a big fan of the look, right? The facial hair, the the the look, you know.
Yeah.
The attitude. He’s definitely he’s great. He’s great. Great. And we also have uh Will Barta on Movie Star, Mateo Jorgensson, and Sept Cous on Visa Bike and Neilson Palace on EF Education. All of these guys, I mean, incredible climbers, stage, stage win potentially. Um even though we have a very small representation as a country, we got a solid representation and any one of those guys can win a stage will be a big part.
We talked about certain cyclists in the past and and we we call them um you know a couple things panuking.
There’s a lot of panakooking. Yeah.
Uh you call them pack
fill
and they’re just out there filling the pack. Yeah.
Right. Our five guys,
these guys, no pack fill. I think all five of them can can impact the race. I love, you know, Matteo. I watched uh we also watched this morning uh Yonas’s press conference just watching he Matteo was sitting right beside him. Didn’t have a lot to say. Wasn’t getting a lot of questions, but you just kind of watch a guy.
Yeah.
Right. Just sitting there as as the team leaders getting all these questions. Look good.
Yeah, he looks ready. He looks ready.
He had the stash. I know you’re a big fan of this
and uh you know both you guys. What the [ __ ] is going on? I’m going to have to up my face game. very unique rider in the sense that he can win a classic in Belgium and and and be
top three climber in the world.
Neilson Palace, another boy likes to race. Where’s the numbers?
Classics. Where’s the number? Put the numbers on my back.
Where’s start line?
Yep.
I’m ready.
All right.
Yep.
Sick.
Um, America, baby. America.
It is. Yeah. Happy birthday.
July 4th. George uh will be in town late. For anybody in Aspen listening to the show, George will be rolling around town uh with a live eagle on his shirt.
Yeah, you might not recognize him because his glasses his glasses will transition to dark. So, just take take a snapshot of this and imagine the lens is dark.
Uh today’s show also brought to you by Um, I know we’re getting close to wrapping up our preview show, but I also wanted to address like where these riders are at right now in their head. It’s uh what time is it? 8. They just probably had dinner.
But we all know how kind of horrible these first days leading into the tour to France actually is. Media, health checks. You’re you’re away from your training roads. You’re trying not to gain weight. Yeah,
you’re not able to ride much. They’re finally like, “Thank God this is all over. It’s race time now.” Even though they’re all nervous, they know that all of that [ __ ] is done
and then they can just focus on their job and get ready to race. And that’s where their head space is right now. Like tomorrow morning, it’s go time.
You spent the day getting your reserve bag ready for the truck that you’re not going to see for the first rest. You know, all the stuff you’re not going to need during the first week to put in your reserve sack. Correct. I mean, if we’re driving down here to the set and talking about this first week, this first half, Sir Bradley’s calling it filthy. We’re we’re driving a car
in Aspen, Colorado, and we’re sitting here thinking about it.
We don’t have to do [ __ ]
No, but it’s going to be exciting. These boys are thinking.
We’ve lived it. This what this No, I know. But I mean, you’re you’re And the other thing you’re doing is you’re looking around, right? You’re in a team hotel. There’s four or five other uh teams there. You’re the difference is just checking them out of the three of us. If George had the opportunity, he’d be back there in a heartbeat doing that. That’s true. We wouldn’t. That’s That’s also true.
Yeah.
There was a zero%.
You love it, don’t you, George?
You love it. I I wouldn’t say that, but
And you know, that brings up a good point because I George and I had this. It’s been a couple years or it might have been last year, one of the days you weren’t here, so Bradley, uh we we had this almost a debate. I I said to George, I said, “Do you think that whatever if you gave us six months, nine months, 12 months of full training, training like these guys train, could we finish the tour to France?”
No, I couldn’t.
No, I couldn’t. And he immediately said, George immediately said, “No.” And you are now saying, “No.”
I looked at George, I said, “You are crazy. Of course I could finish.”
I’ve changed my mind.
I don’t think there’s any way that I could finish. I think you’re right. I thought you were going to Can you finish a stage?
That’s what I thought, bro. The race. No chance. No chance.
No, no, no. I still I you know, I Yeah, I I’m with you now. I don’t like it. I don’t like admitting that, but but that’s it. I don’t think we could.
No, I agree.
Damn. Uh, by the way, too, the second half, um, and if we’re talking about traditional tours and this throwback to sort of pushing the the, uh, the selective stages later in the race, um, what is traditional would have been, you know, the day before Paris, just one of these uh, you know, days where you may as well go organize your sock drawer. That’s not the case, right? The the penultimate stage, 3,000 meters of climbing. Then we roll into Paris. We’re all used to what we see in Paris. Uh, thank God the tour is back finishing in Paris with the Olympics gone. But, you know, I don’t know, 8 to 10 laps on the Shamsley is a very ceremonial. It’s it’s it is very special as a rider and it’s also special to watch. Here you’re talking about one of the most storied and beautiful streets in the world, boulevards in the world. Uh, but no,
the tour threw in a wrench into those plans and and I like it. All right. And we could love it. And well, it it is it’s different, right? And and Johan, you and I spent time up on um previewing last year when we were in Paris together, previewing the Olympic road race, climbing up the M. I’d never been there. Whoa, this is in Paris, cobbled streets, a climb, a be obviously the church on top. Um they have incorporated pieces of the Olympic road race into this final stage. Now the debate is obviously is is that is that the right fit? But also, does that is that a race? Well, to back up just a Scotia, nobody races the stage in Paris necessarily until the last lap and a half. Does this then make it a race andor does it impact the results coming in?
It’s going to have to be a race. And I I think
the the rider in me doesn’t like it because historically the
the tour to France is the hardest sporting event in the world. I mean, let these guys enjoy the last stage and then the race, the last hour or whatever it is. Now, it’s going to be a full-on stress battle where potentially a podium guy can lose his spot on the last stage of the tour to France. Exciting for the fans, but as a rider, I don’t like it. I think it’s uh disrespectful to the history of the tour to France and to the riders.
Those are big words.
Big words.
Those are big words.
I mean, it’s very narrow. It’s narrow. 1 km 6% um it it it it lends itself to crashes and all sorts. And 6 km from the summit to the finish.
God forbid it rain. We know we know what happens when it rains on the Shams. It’s like it’s like ice skating. This is this is this this is
and a couple times up. Several times up. Three times up is it? I think so.
Four times
four times up. They they can’t not race it. They’re going to have to race it because if you get stuck in the back, uh you may never see the front in those last 6k. So,
uh they’re essentially forced to race this stuff. It’s going to be a completely different last stage of the tour to France. Excited. As I said, exciting for the fans, but as a rider, I don’t like it.
Correction. Three times up.
Three times up.
Three times up. You spoke to Mark Cavend just got his thoughts on
uh Mark thought it was an interesting I mean he’s not racing now obviously so it’s it’s it has a different take on it but he thinks you know you’ve you’ve got to make tough decisions sometimes in order to grow the race change things you know change traditions I I do agree with George on this one I do think that the Shan should remain as it is
right
um world championships for the sprinters you know also a day to celebrate
the fact that you made it the tour to France that you made a top 10 that you made the yellow jersey um you graciously let me riding to the uh
the tour to France in the front uh
for to to honor my retirement. I mean, that’s what the last stage of the tour to France is all about. This is a completely different thing,
you know. I mean, it’s again, it’s their race. It’s their route. They can do what they want. This is not a 10-year contract. This could be, but on that if if they want to do that and mix up the end of the race and then they’re going to expect a different energy and a different level of nerves at the start. So, they can’t then necessarily expect the whole sort of pump and ceremony. Nobody’s drinking a champagne. champagne before a stage like that. So, they’re going to they’re going to have to
accept that it might change the energy at the start of the stage.
And where I was going was that that that this could be one and done. We obviously we’re going to find out and and
I I don’t think you guys are alone in in uh and wishing that they had the traditional run in into Paris. I I by the way, if you if I had to pick pick, I would I would agree with you guys.
It’s very special.
Y
um All right. Well, hey, we don’t have to wait long. We’ll see y’all tomorrow stage one. Let’s go.
And and if at some point we’ll do a little fun little walkth through for y’all. We we we we’ve bolstered uh uh the move studio,
you know, but really proud of it. Obviously the the uh the live hit on Peacock has has forced us to be a little more no maybe a lot more organized. Uh we got the just just you can’t see it because you’re looking at us, but just over here we’ll show it maybe on socials. We got a little special little section for the crew, right? The we’re call dubbed it the Huckberry Chill Chamber. The folks at Huckberry sent us a bunch of sick furniture. Got the TV. We will be here watching it. I don’t know. We got to walk like five steps. It was very important, you know, because it’s difficult to to organize people like George. And even at times, Sir Bradley. So, they can’t run far. I’m right here. They’re right there.
We’re on NBC every day. We got to We got a time clock. We’re not on our own time anymore.
This is it.
All right, boys. Uh, thanks for tuning in. We’ll see you guys live tomorrow morning. [Music] [Applause] [Music]