tour de france 2024: stage 11
by Rémy Rossi
The Birds
Cycling is fairly close to flying if you think about it. You’re traveling fast by your own effort with the wind rushing past your entire body, all without having your feet touch the ground. The glove fits if you ask me. And we’ve all had days on the bike where it feels like we’re flying— heck, it’s even in the vernacular. He’s flying up those climbs!
Some birds are quicker than others and each is suited to its unique environment— the same is true with professional cyclists. Sprinters are record-breaking peregrine falcons. High-mileage rouleurs are arctic terns, some of the hardest working animals on the planet that fly over 44,000 km each year (hint: that’s more than Earth’s circumference). Climbers are vultures who love to spy on their prey from above, sneaking glances down the hairpin turns to the spoiling muertos they leave in their wake. The most masochistic mountain climbers are griffon vultures— the world’s highest-flying birds— that’ve been reported soaring at heights of nearly 11,000 meters. You’ve got to be a little off your rocker, having a close relationship with suffering and death-defying descents to be a vulture rider.
“Wing-yard”
It just so happens that the Visma Lease-A-Bike team leader’s last name translates to “wing yard” from the Danish. Vinge = wing and gaard = yard, but you probably already figured that one out. Congrats, genius. Vingegaard also seems to have a knack for flying, excelling when the air is thin and the mountains have so many switchbacks that they make you wish you could travel as the crow flies, steamrolling straight over.
Much of the narrative so far in this Tour, given Pogacar’s early lead, has revolved around Vingegaard’s upcoming advantage in the higher mountains. It’s true that environment is where he’s sealed the deal over Pogacar in previous Tours, but the Slovenian appears stronger than ever and Jonas is only freshly recovered from his serious crash at the Tour of the Basque Country. This interesting mix of current form, success across the season, and natural affinities for different terrain will continue to play out for the rest of this edition of the Tour.
Stage 11 was hotly contested among the Four Horsemen of the Apoca-Tour. After being dropped, the resilient and ever-poised Dane clawed back Pogacar on the second-to-last climb— leaving GC drama in his wake— and accompanied the canary-clad Slovenian to the finish line. Today was a big test, and the winged Bumblebee passed with flying colors.
Half-wheeling works
On paper, Vingegaard was beaten by Pogacar’s superior kick but this time around, he snuck half of wheel ahead to snatch stage honors. I can’t remember the last time Tadej was beaten in a 1-on-1 sprint— and neither can you.
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