Given the intense bodily pressure that driving the Excursion de France exerts, it’s wonderful how incessantly the winner of the yellow jersey is in a position to go back the next yr, cross during the ache barrier all over again and effectively shield their identify.
It’s a feat of staying power and power that Jonas Vingegaard used to be in a position to drag off in 2023, trouncing the sphere on his approach to a moment successive basic classification victory.
The Dane will probably be taking a look to enroll in an unique membership in 2024 then, assuming he remains have compatibility. He may well be simply the 6th guy to win 3 consecutive editions of Le Excursion in its 120-year historical past.
In whose trail will he apply?
Chris Froome (2015-17)
For many who wager on sports activities, Vingegaard is the 5/6 favorite to win the 2024 Excursion de France, with a chasing pack intently following in the back of that comes with the likes of Primoz Roglic (14/1) and Adam Yates (30/1).
If he can succeed in what the bookmakers be expecting him to, the 26-year-old would be the first rider since Chris Froome to finish the French hat trick.
The Brit received the 2013 Excursion de France sooner than being not able to shield it the next yr. On the other hand, he returned afresh in 2015, taking the overall classification lead in Level 7 and not taking a look again – Froome additionally triumphed within the mountains classification to finish a commanding victory.
His 2016 win used to be much more dominant – greater than 4 mins separated Froome from Romain Bardet in moment, sooner than the three-peat used to be finished in 2017; albeit in a a lot more difficult race that noticed him lose the yellow jersey to Fabio Aru round midway, sooner than reasserting his lead in the house stretch.
Miguel Indurain (1991-95)
Probably the most dominant duration of Excursion de France historical past belongs to the nice Miguel Indurain, who received 5 consecutive editions of the race between 1991 and 1995.
The Spaniard prevailed via no less than 3 mins in each and every of his victories, which incorporated a 5:39 demolition of the sphere in 1994, the place handiest two different riders had been inside of ten mins of him.
Eddy Merckx (1969-72)
If successful margins are a mirrored image of whole domination, it doesn’t come significantly better than Eddy Merckx’s quadruple victories from 1969 to 1972.
The Belgian received via a margin of no less than 9:50 each and every time, with a staggering 17:54 overcome the sphere in 1969 probably the most good-looking successful cushions within the post-war generation.
Jacques Anquetil (1961-64)
The Frenchman additionally finished the four-timer from 1961 to 1964, with the latter race generating probably the most entertaining finishes in Le Excursion historical past.
5 other riders held the yellow jersey during, with Anquetil handiest after all powering forward from Level 17 onwards. However heading into the industry finish of the race, Anquetil had a lead of simply 14 seconds from countryman Raymond Poulidor.
Anquetil excelled to win the overall time trial, however his 55-second margin of victory used to be – on the time – the smallest in Excursion de France historical past.
Louison Bobet (1953-55)
The primary rider to finish the Excursion de France hat trick used to be Louison Bobet, who prevailed from 1953 thru to 1955.
Regarded as the primary nice bike owner of the post-war generation, Bobet received a stack of alternative occasions together with the Street International Championship, nevertheless it’s his Excursion de France three-timer for which he’ll highest be remembered.
May Vingegaard sign up for this exalted corporate in 2024?
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