2020 reminded us how amazing bike racing can be
I love watching racing, and always have. Long before I was ever a cyclist I’d purchase a copy of Ride Magazine’s thick annual Tour de France preview and pore over it while watching the racing unfold. Sure, the traveller in me was initially attracted to the stunning locations (I’d even made a detour to the Champs-Élysées as they were preparing to welcome the race during a whirlwind backpacking trip fresh out of school), but as each year went on I would understand the tactics a little better, the intricacies, the etiquette of the peloton. It all deepened my love of the sport as a spectating non-participant.
It was a time before powermeters and race radios were used to the effect we see them today. This, combined with the fact that the Ride TDF Annual most likely steered me towards the potentially more dramatic stages, mean that my rose-tinted recollection of racing in this era was of bold moves and attacks (sometimes a little … err .. sustained). I was in awe of these riders seemingly throwing caution to the wind. Driving off the front when it made no sense, dropping wheels left right and centre, riding with panache.
The 2020 “season” was unique (y’think?) in a number of regards. We saw a changing of the guard, with many new young riders coming up though the ranks, a dismantling of the death-by-numbers racing, a hugely shortened season with a strange run-in which meant riders were equally fresh, undercooked, and over-raced. We really saw a return to the racing of more than a decade ago. It was refreshing.
In honour of the return of riding-by-feel, the CyclingTips and VeloClub team present you with our top 10 ‘moments of panache’ from the wacky 2020 season that was (in no particular order):
1. Marc Hirschi … well, everywhere
Marc Hirschi left us speechless and breathless multiple times during the Tour de France, with an exciting stage win and multiple unexpected attacks. As fans of his aggressive racing style we were pleased to see him take victory at Flèche Wallonne on the infamous Mur de Huy as well.
2. Tadej Pogacar broke all the rules
“I’m just a kid from Slovenia,” Pogacar said, dazed after the time trial that determined the 2020 Tour de France winner. No powermeter, no riding to numbers. Just a stack of preparation, gritted teeth, and riding by feel. In general ITTs don’t tend to stand out in a Grand Tour, but there is no doubt that this effort by Pogacar will be fondly recalled for years to come.
3. Anna van der Breggen leaves daylight
The early talk at the 2020 Road Worlds was about the surprise appearance of defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten, who was nursing a broken wrist she sustained in the final kilometre of stage 7 of the Giro Rosa. The lumpy course for the 2020 Worlds favoured Van der Breggen, and once she set sail at 40 km to go she was … gone! As far as solos go, this is what dreams are made of.
4. Joao Almeida’s … entire Giro?
No one expected Almeida to win the Giro, however his tight grasp on the maglia rosa came from a clever conservation of losses, and the snatching of small time bonuses along the way “I just thought that the best defense is attacking,” he said. Regardless of the approach it made for some incredibly exciting racing, and it played a big part in making this one of the most exciting Giri in recent memory.
5. Annemiek van Vleuten crushing the gravel
Anna van der Breggen would go on to win the 2020 Giro Rosa, but it was Van Vlueuten’s attack on a dusty and gravelly stage 2 that was most memorable. As VC member Tom Javotoski put it “Falling off, running, etc. I think the whole peloton rode it pretty much the same, but we only got to see AVV*. Just studly!”
*[sadface emoji]
6. Mathieu van der Poel’s 50 km solo attack
Van der Poel went into the final stage of the BinckBank Tour 17 seconds down. Undeterred he launched a seemingly senseless solo attack with more than 50 km to go. With a chase group breathing down his neck for the last 5 km he managed to hold them off to the line (just). CT’s Matt de Neef described it as “the definition of panache“.
7. Grace Brown’s gutsy Brabantse Pijl win
With 30 km still remaining in the midweek classic Brabantse Pijl, Lauren Stephens snuck away solo, and looked well-placed to take the win. Grace Brown put in an attack in the final kilometres before the brutal cobbled Moskesstraat climb, not only catching Stephens, but riding away from her to take her first pro one-day race win.
8. Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert …
After COVID-19 removed the eagerly awaited showdown on the muddy cobbles of the Paris-Roubaix, the 2020 Tour of Flanders served up exactly the spectacle that road cycling fans have been anticipating for years: Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert locked in head-to-head battle for one of the sport’s most prestigious wins. While Van der Poel ultimately took the victory, it was the battle that will be remembered.
9. Julian Alaphilippe’s Worlds attack
A lap earlier Pogacar had launched a move, and while he held it for a circuit of the course a significantly reduced peloton brought the race back together. Moments later Alaphilippe attacked, and whilst the chase group had the combined talent to reign him in, a lack of a coordinated effort saw Loulou rightfully take the rainbow stripes.
10. Filippo Ganna’s first road race victory at the Giro
Naturally the world time trial champion was expected to win at least one of the three ITTs at the 2020 Giro, however it was his determined solo break on stage 5 that earned him not only the stage win, but also his first victory in a pro mass-start road race. It was a plucky performance from a rider who had no business winning a mountain stage from a breakaway.
For the record, Sylvain Chavanel will always be my yardstick of panache. Who is yours? Drop me a note in the comments below.
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