The Best Climbing Performance EVER?! | GCN Racing News Show

Did we just witness the greatest climbing performances of all time? On this week’s GCN Racing News Show, Dan is analyzing an astounding day at the Tour de France, in which Tadej Pogacar asserted his authority over the race after some Visma Lease a Bike tactic that left some people scratching their heads, as well as reporting on a Giro d’Italia Donne that came right down to the wire.

00:00 Welcome to the GCN Racing News Show!
00:31 This week in the world of racing
01:31 Vingegaard produced the second-best climbing performance of all time
02:21 Marco Pantani scaled the Plateau de Beille in 1998
03:23 A few people scratching their heads at Visma Lease a Bike's tactics
03:49 Look back to the last four Tours de France
05:49 Pogacar’s power numbers are better than ever
07:04 If we look at the actual GC
07:45 A couple of stats on Tadej Pogačar
08:45 Remco Evenepoel has exceeded expectations the most.
09:48 A quick wrap-up of the other stages last week.
11:47 Giro d’Italia Donne
14:20 The Tour de l’Ain
14:48 Other news

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📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images

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[gcnracing]

Are you not entertained? Let us know what you make of this year's TDF in the comments 💬

[derickcastillo]

Jonas himself said that he climbed better than ever. I think Visma did the right thing. Your assessment of Visma's tactics is bang on. I have been following cycling since 1983 and I have never seen a cyclist like Pog!

[antsmands]

I agree that Remco has exceeded expectations. He is having a good tour!

[empirelee]

I like these comments a la "todays nutrition and equipment is way better".

So much better apparently that they don't have similar times as those riders who were doped as crazy but they even beat this times by minutes!!!!

[thecellulontriptometer]

Going in, I think most people thought Pogacar would win. But, people were less certain about Vingegaard and if the race would be competitive. To me the most pleasant surprise of the tour has been just that, Vingegaard may be losing, but he is doing great and the race is competitive which makes watching it far more entertaining.

[hughjanus]

It's those low PSI tubeless/hookless aero gains, combined with integrated cables which obviously drive these natty

[HeyPaulhasopinions]

I am really impressed by Remco so far. Didn’t thought he could be that consistent, really looking forward to his future grand tours.

[SrbendaNo]

I think the UCI wised up and followed other sports. You cant ban your stars and expect to bring in revenue. They just turn a blind eye to doping. Same like the NBA and soccer.

[tasty_fish]

Amazing performances, it's just like the 'good ole days' of the 90s...

[freshpickings]

You've been missed on commentary Dan. Hope the third week somehow manages to match the first two for enjoyment!

[catherineleonard]

Very impressive from Pogacar for sure! But Jonas did the performance of his life too, towing Tadej up a significant portion of that last climb. There's still a lot of wind protection benefit when you consider that these guys go faster up a mountain than us regular people go on the flat 😜

[LongStep]

Not only were climb records smashed, they were climbing Plateau de Beille after climbing 4 cat 1 climbs! That's just crazy!

[ericsaari]

I don't know what's funnier: Evenepoel being a faster climber than Pantani, Vingegard riding the greatest climb of his life 3 months after that crash, breaking the record himself, or Pogacar smashing the record by almost 4 minutes after dominating the Giro. At least Pogacar was honest when he said he rode the greatest climb of all time.

[deerfootnz]

What an amazing climb. His pharmacist is truly exceptional.

[terracruiser]

When was the last time we saw such climbing feats? Let me see, oh yes, Lance Armstrong. Tadej breaks LA and Pantani's climbing records on consecutive days. This after dominating the Giro. This is not just better bikes or training. He is the new "Golden Boy" of cycling, so nothing to see here. I really enjoy all of you at GCN. I am just very skeptical of the cleanliness of Pogi and the rest of the peleton.

[kritasto]

I am celebrating winners of each TourdeFrance 10 years after victory.

[perseverance]

Pogi was eating and drinking on all those climbs including during Jonas's attack. He wasn't about to bonk.

[dianavotaw]

Dan I love your race analysis and thoroughly enjoyed you when you called races like the Giro this year. You are clear and concise and give interesting information without the fluff. I think you belong in the booth calling all the races.

[niallturnbull]

The only cyclists who win back to back mountain stages = massive doping history always shows that!
I can’t believe that the climbers who took it easy on the Pau to St Lary couldn’t keep up for the stage yesterday…

[baTonkaTruck]

Cycling news media needs to STEP UP and GET SOME INTEGRITY. Unless you're openly accusing these mutants of doping, I don't want to hear it.