What's the opposite of a firework?: 2020 Tour de France, stage 15

What's the opposite of a firework?: 2020 Tour de France, stage 15

No winding down before the rest day as Team Ineos are dealt a fatal blow at the close of the second week. If you think that means the general classification war is won, you might want to think again

5-minute read Egan Bernal Jumbo Visma Photos: ASO/Pauline Ballet/CorVos/Thomas Maheux/Alex Whitehead/Swpix.com⠀ Tadej Pogačar Tour de France 2020 Words: Nick Christian

As riders crossed the line in dribs and drabs, Eurosport’s Jonathan Harris-Bass was unequivocally damning with his verdict:

“There is no way back from that,” he said. “Absolutely none.”

Because the story of the stage was not another Slovenian one-two - so common now as to be entirely unremarkable - but the complete collapse of the reigning champion, Egan Bernal, on the lower slopes of the final climb.

Ineos Grenadiers’ leader eventually finished in 25th place, some 7 minutes, 20 seconds after Pog and Rog.

When he did eventually reach the top of the Grand Colombier, as well as the ever dependable Michal Kwiatkowski, it was in the company of a certain Wout van Aert. The former (and sometime) cyclocross rider was the one setting the pace on the front of the yellow jersey group when the Colombian dropped off the back of it. A devastating 13 kilometres from the summit.



The sight of one of their leaders in actual trouble at the Tour de France is not something we’ve witnessed since the team’s earliest assault on the race, more than a decade ago. Back then the consensus was that you don’t win the Tour on your first try. Yesterday the conclusion we came to was rather different.

If you didn’t believe the Ineos/Sky era was over before, that moment must surely have clinched it for you.

Dave Brailsford's bunch have now gone 108 Grand Tour stages without a win. Geraint Thomas on Alpe d'Huez in 2018 was their last one. In that time Jumbo Visma have racked up 11 of them.

Which is not to suggest that they won’t win the Tour again, let alone become an also-running NTT or CCC - Ineos is still the best-funded team in the WorldTour, and while money alone may not be able to buy a path to the top, it can certainly stop you from sinking to the bottom - merely that the all-too familiar feeling of inevitability that one of their riders will has burnt out.


Fortunately, despite the amount of TV time they have earned this year riding on the front, it has not yet been replaced by the sense that Jumbo Visma will be the ones vanquishing all-comers in their stead. Not yet, at least.

It could, of course. The way the riders in yellow kept control yesterday, the hardest stage of the race so far, was perhaps their most masterful display to date.

At 12km to the top David Millar noted admiringly the steady application of force: “Look at that group just whittling down,” he observed. “There’s almost as many Jumbo Visma riders in there as others.”

It was true, the Dutch did seem to be cruising, but it’s also a fact that the Grande Boucle is closer at this point in proceedings than in all but two editions since Sky started winning. Tadej Pogacar has taken 41 seconds out of his compatriot Roglic since September 4th and is now just 40 behind.

Egan Bernal and Ineos might well have seen their chances in this race go up in smoke yesterday, but there’s still plenty of fire to come from the 2020 Tour de France.

 

 

 

5-minute read Egan Bernal Jumbo Visma Photos: ASO/Pauline Ballet/CorVos/Thomas Maheux/Alex Whitehead/Swpix.com⠀ Tadej Pogačar Tour de France 2020 Words: Nick Christian

READ MORE

Tadej Pogačar to Paris-Roubaix 2025 – Legendary or laughable?

Tadej Pogačar to Paris-Roubaix 2025 – Legendary or laughable?

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has teased his participation on social media, but is it legitimate possibility?

Read more
James Knox at the British Road Championships

‘Credit should go to Lefevere for working the market’ - James Knox on Soudal–Quick-Step’s evolution from the cobbles to Tour de France contenders

Now in his sixth year with the Belgian squad, the British rider discusses what has changed following the arrival and performances of Remco Evenepoel

Read more
Portrait of Lukas Nerurkar

‘An altitude camp at the age of seven’ – Lukas Nerurkar on the power of doing things differently

The British rider had a unique upbringing, spending his early childhood in Ethiopia and learning from his marathon runner father – he tells Rouleur about...

Read more
Women's UAE Tour

Women’s UAE Tour 2025: Who will win the four-stage race in the Middle East?

The third edition of the Women's WorldTour race will begin on Thursday, February, 6 2025 

Read more
Rob Stannard

Robert Stannard: Lost, fined, and fighting for redemption

The Australian rider speaks to Rouleur about his turbulent past 18 months 

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE