Jonas Vingegaard Gravel: Unnecessary Risk In Tour de France 2024

Jonas Vingegaard says that he would not put gravel or cobbles in grand tours. We hear from him ahead of 2024 Tour de France stage 9 in Troyes, as well as Derek Gee, Tom Pidcock, and Sean Quinn. #TDF
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[@sunshinecycling]

I think people are making too big of a deal out gravel in the TdF. All I know is this is one of the most dynamic stages I've seen in a long time.

[@alanwllms5172]

@sunshine. You opinion is heard and noted. At the end of the day, you’re wrong😂

[@sunshinecycling]

@@alanwllms5172 The cleverness of a 7 year old.

[@arnoldhau1]

It is great to watch. But from a GC Team perspective, it is an uncontrollable risk they hate. There is not much they can do if their top guy gets a puncture, and loosing a minute to a puncture would propably decide the whole race.

[@aaronbourret5037]

After watching today, definitely want another gravel stage next year.

[@mx5rcr1]

Back when TDF first started, all stages were gravel. Back to their roots 👍

[@carlvanmeerbeek7327]

Correct, but then the risk of mechanical problems was spread over several days/weeks. It could happen to one of the GC riders one day, and to another one the next day.

[@dev1ce888]

@@nxzstudio8495 tadej is not a sore loser only time he showed anger was in flanders 2022

[@carlvanmeerbeek7327]

@@dev1ce888 This is not about being a sore loser. A puncture at a crucial moment could ruin months of hard work. A puncture is possible any day, but then the cars would be close. Benoot had a puncture and stood by the side of the road for several minutes

[@dev1ce888]

@@carlvanmeerbeek7327 part of the race even pogacar knows that

[@stacyp3295]

And people used to ride horses for travel. Now we have cars. We evolve.

[@brendanmcghee5893]

It was a brilliant stage I hope a gravel stage features in every future tour de France.

[@sdmike1141]

Great questions from the FloBikes mic!! Way to get the cyclists’ opinions on gravel in a grand tours!

[@magnusrusty1544]

I think 1 stage in the tour there will be 1 race of gravel or cobble. It belongs and here to stay

[@Spid3rL4dy]

I get not wanting to ride on the gravel but, like Derek Gee said- it's something that draws in excitement & viewership. It's better this than the cobbles

[@javier019]

It is a bit of a lotery, but not more risky than a mountain descent. Just accept the challenge and embrace it

[@carlvanmeerbeek7327]

I respectfully disagree. Some riders descend better than others, on gravel or cobbles it depends on luck. Vingegaard punctured today, if he hadn't had his teammate nearby his Tour would have been over

[@javier019]

@@carlvanmeerbeek7327 I understand your point and it is valid, but I also love to see how teams can organise and fight back these kind of situations

[@gerdkerman9849]

I love that they put a gravel stage here because it's an unpredictable stage where it's based on luck and skill of the rider.

[@carlvanmeerbeek7327]

@@gerdkerman9849 in my opinion a grand tour shouldn't be decided on luck

[@Scrooks1]

The Tour de France was often done on gravel or oiled dirt roads up to the 1970’s. Many of the climbs were on primitive unpaved roads so today’s stage is not unusual in historical terms.

[@atomizedart411]

This is the difference between Pogi and Vinegar. Pogi says it was fun and the Anchovy says it's dangerous and unnecessary.

[@ExpertYouTubeCommentator]

Gravel, flats, mountains....why not?

[@TimProctor4323]

14 sections of gravel or one idiot fan with a phone/sign who damages multiple riders? Gravel not so bad now, is it?

[@airbromez]

Bring back team time trials

[@1972marcosalamon]

I agree with Jonas.

[@kaarelhauk7207]

I've never understood the somewhat entitled view of some superstar riders when it comes to the parkour of a grand tour. I completely agree with Pidcock that a grand tour winner should be the best all-round rider, so gravel should definitely be considered, and why not cobbles as well - please bring them back. Yes, in with the cobbles and out with power meters.

[@nishiki7047]

Entitled ? They’ve earnt the right to comment, you and I could only dream of being as successful as

[@stolirosa]

@@nishiki7047absolutely agree with you….they are the ones out there earning a living and risking their lives. I love gravel, but not when I’m on my road bike.

[@ryanphelan6861]

like nibali 2014 that was a dominant display : ) I was hoping for rain!!

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

Nibali still my favourite 💪​@ryanphelan6861

[@daveh5204]

Jonas is a wuss.. Talented for sure, but still…

[@youbetu18]

lol of course Jonas advocates against gravel stages. Understand his argument but since the TdF is somewhat the unofficial world cup of cycling I think there should be a cobble and a gravel stage each year. GC is about being the allround best over 3 weeks. so gotta be able to do it all and come out on top. otherwise you might as well go and fight for the polka dot jersey.

[@suew2144]

Luv u Derek Gee!🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@jeronimosuarez7957]

It's easy for spectators to like gravel, but there's a lot at stake that can go out the window for random reasons in a stage where cars can't get to riders quickly. It's that simple.

[@Atlas_21]

You know what's the bigger risk? Make professional cycling so boring people stop watching.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

​@@Atlas_21👌

[@riccardosunda5176]

@@Atlas_21fun over safety… People get bored… Brilliant!

[@Atlas_21]

@@riccardosunda5176 Oh yeah because it's so dangerous riding these gravel roads roflol. 😂 Go watch darts if even this is too dangerous for you. Oh no wait, the pointy darts may land in your eyes!

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

Gravel gotta be safer and more fun than cycling downhill

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Its certainly safer.

[@arnoldhau1]

Safer in which sense? Normally nothing happens in downhill. If something happens you might die but those are pros, they take that risk. In a gravel stage, punctures happen all the time. So from a loosing time perspective, it is a much higher risk.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

@@arnoldhau1 André Drege just died in a downhill Tour crash in Austria. I haven’t heard of any riders dying during an Unbound crash.

[@arnoldhau1]

@@petersouthernboy6327 As I said, it happens (also with Gino Maeder) but not that often. So yes ocassionaly someone dies in a downhill, but on Gravel a top rider may loose time due to a puncture which is much more likely. Those are racers, they accept that they have to take some risk, but they want to win.

[@petersouthernboy6327]

@@arnoldhau1 you’re conflating the term “risk”. Competition risk vs Life/Health risk

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

BeautifuI stage Champagne! It was more risky to go down the Galibier when the machines have just removed the ice and the street is covered in snow and water and they are traveling on the false plane at 90 km/ph. Yesterday the risk was for the leaders to puncture and cut themselves. In fact, the most objectionable thing happened on the asphalt. Allowing Vlasov to continue in these conditions and there is no shock protocol is unacceptable. The last Tour already happened with the fall of Carlos Rodríguez.

[@victor-hs6qw]

Next they will ask to eliminate difficult descents because they are too dangerous.

[@velo1337]

great stage

[@jenspetersimonsen4235]

... 'unneccesary risk' - that's what they said when ASO introduced cobbles in the tour, and hey....

[@Nowhere37]

Derek Gee for president

[@koreystephens]

Tour of roads around France. Gravel road is a road. Cobble roads are roads. 🤷‍♂️

[@MrDerynryan]

If Jonas was a beverage he would be tap water 💧

[@arnoldhau1]

True.

[@TellusJD]

tap water doesnt win tdf 2 times.

[@MrDerynryan]

@@TellusJDtap water is more of a runner than a cyclist I guess

[@455LT1]

This is why Tadej is the people's champ. He just loves to race/compete, no matter what (except maybe in the heat!). Likeability matters in sports.

[@RAAZR-]

No people with an IQ over 110 likes Pogi. Have fun being unintelligent

[@leafan101]

@@455LT1 His allergy to heat makes him even more likable to me. I can ride in 3 degrees no problem but don't give me an incredibly hot day please.

[@Nosh_Feratu]

depends who you ask. dont speak for everyone.

[@Lapsontheboy]

@@Nosh_Feratu Well he speaks for 90% of us 4sure-ja!

[@Nosh_Feratu]

@@Lapsontheboy 90% hey....where did you get that number from? just curious.....

[@robnolte2547]

Jonas just saying it’s unnecessary risk because it doesn’t favor him. Gravel/cobbles are a part of bike racing . Everyone in the race has the same risk so there is no advantage to anyone. You’re racing to entertain, so deal lol

[@Atlas_21]

Indeed, I think some of them forget professional sports live off the entertainment value.

[@arnoldhau1]

His racing style is very controlled and calculated. I think it is normal that a risky stage is clearly not his thing.

[@TellusJD]

Almost every stage so has favoured pogacar. There are few and far between real mountain stages. Why not put in a 6000 altitude meters stage and see vingegaard eat 5 minutes on everyone. Well not very enjoyable right? So Id say, gravel is a lottery in terms of technical and mechanical problems. Pogacar is strong on this terrain so he has better odds and so he enjoys it.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

Absurd for them to criticize today's stage. Today's cyclists cross between vineyards and the French countryside with their super bikes and all the highest-tech customization. The cyclists of yesteryear raced on this terrain but in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

[@stacyp3295]

Why not criticize? They are professionals in an already risky road race. They should risk themselves for fan views and TDF relevancy. Sure I can see where the additional risk is logical. Not.

[@Atlas_21]

@@stacyp3295 What risk exactly are you talking about? The biggest 'risk' on these gravel roads was having a flat. You know what is the bigger risk? Ride only under perfect conditions, perfect surfaces, perfeclty predictable... when professional cycling becomes stale and boring af. Don't forget, this is entertainment. No more entertainment, no more viewers.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

@@stacyp3295 It was more risky to go down the Galibier when the machines have just removed the ice and the street is covered in snow and water and they are traveling on the false plane at 90 km/ph. Yesterday the risk was for the leaders to puncture and cut themselves. In fact, the most objectionable thing happened on the asphalt. Allowing Vlasov to continue in these conditions and there is no shock protocol is unacceptable. The last Tour already happened with the fall of Carlos Rodríguez.

[@birdbro1990]

Says the best climber in the world.

[@theboybrand]

Im all for a gravel stage every year. Far too many predictable boring stages.

[@JanetWeber-uq9xe]

Go Derek go!! Stepping up the GC nicely, your win is coming! Great to see the North Americans punching above their weight in the TDF!

[@ehthrough]

I'd rather gravel than have a descending finish like Stage 4.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

It was more risky to go down the Galibier when the machines have just removed the ice and the street is covered in snow and water and they are traveling on the false plane at 90 km/ph. Yesterday the risk was for the leaders to puncture and cut themselves. In fact, the most objectionable thing happened on the asphalt. Allowing Vlasov to continue in these conditions and there is no shock protocol is unacceptable. The last Tour already happened with the fall of Carlos Rodríguez.

[@kjaime7030]

My rule: If Merckx didn't ride a TdF stage like it, it doesn't belong in Le Tour. If you start doing new things just for the sake of doing something new, that's Jumping the Shark. You may as well ask the peloton to do a ski jumping stage--and similar to that hypothetical, you unfairly give an advantage to riders who have more experience doing the new thing that is not typical road racing.

[@TheMd1975]

No crying in cycling

[@josephbangs6111]

The gravel is more like a hard-packed road with a bit of gravel, not like Unbound Gravel or other major Gravel rides in the US, Europe

[@vaneujl]

Fully support Jonas's comment You can loose everything for a puncture or a big fall Let's imagine what would become the remaining of TDF 2024 if Tadej and Jonas would have fell and be out of the race now.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

It was more risky to go down the Galibier when the machines have just removed the ice and the street is covered in snow and water and they are traveling on the false plane at 90 km/ph. Yesterday the risk was for the leaders to puncture and cut themselves. In fact, the most objectionable thing happened on the asphalt. Allowing Vlasov to continue in these conditions and there is no shock protocol is unacceptable. The last Tour already happened with the fall of Carlos Rodríguez.

[@YourWhiteGod]

Gravel is like XC MTB with more dangerous tyres, geometry, speed, riding position, forks, bars...

[@antoineprieur5895]

Cry my a river! A beer for Richard !!!

[@paulwebster4499]

Dont think that Tadej will be happy with his time gap after week one, Jonas could be doing a Lemond

[@edymarkonthego4096]

Gravel races shouldn’t be included in my opinion specially to GC contenders. Single puncture in less 20km could be a disaster.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

Absurd for them to criticize today's stage. Today's cyclists cross between vineyards and the French countryside with their super bikes and all the highest-tech customization. The cyclists of yesteryear raced on this terrain but in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

[@TellusJD]

@@cesarortegaescamilla1782 And they all had way more robust bicycles dude. What you call hightech is a lot more fragile frame. Its just lighter and more aero but that doesnt matter if everyone has it.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

​@@TellusJDIt was more risky to go down the Galibier when the machines have just removed the ice and the street is covered in snow and water and they are traveling on the false plane at 90 km/ph. Yesterday the risk was for the leaders to puncture and cut themselves. In fact, the most objectionable thing happened on the asphalt. Allowing Vlasov to continue in these conditions and there is no shock protocol is unacceptable. The last Tour already happened with the fall of Carlos Rodríguez.

[@kylemandy5477]

Jonas sounds like such a whiner. That was one of the best stages ever!

[@larshansen4557]

Well he was there wasnt he ? On another mans bike he keppt up whith the favorit

[@Lapsontheboy]

Pogi beating another record...SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR HIM

[@Cabbagery]

TdF *is* a road race. It should remain a pure road race. To those arguing that the winner should exemplify the best "all around" cyclist: Why not mountain biking, then? Why not enduro? Why no velodrome races? No cyclocross? More dynamism IS more fun for the audience, sure. But those are other races, not TdF.

[@davidconsumerofmath]

Gravel road racing is not majorly different at all to the type of racing that was done in the early days of the Tour de France itself!

[@user-ov9xn1gn5k]

Strada Bianche is a full road race, not gravel not MTB, so are the north classics on the cobblestones.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

Absurd for them to criticize today's stage. Today's cyclists cross between vineyards and the French countryside with their super bikes and all the highest-tech customization. The cyclists of yesteryear raced on this terrain but in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

[@baumann9551]

Tdf started on gravel though… lol

[@kylemandy5477]

What a stupid comment! It was on road, just a gravel road for short sections rather than tar. The other scenarios you mention are not roads!

[@juanafabian2873]

Ese polvorin hace daño...y las motoras alfrente levantando el polvo fue horrible

[@victor-hs6qw]

🐔🐔🐔🐔

[@KreshoMTB]

The danish haring dosnt like gravel😂

[@larshansen4557]

But he lost no time egen drivning on aanother mans bike , 1, 15 im happy nowwing winges terrin is just to come❤❤

[@KreshoMTB]

@@larshansen4557 remains to ne seen yet... mountain stafes coming up it will be interesting 4sure

[@Atlas_21]

So Jonas basically wants to ride only on perfect roads and perfect conditions.

[@TellusJD]

He wants to ride roadrace which is what tdf has been forever. Those who ride gravel usually go to strade bianche or similar.

[@Atlas_21]

@@TellusJD Actually no, the early editions would have been what we today call "gravel" aka non-tarmac roads.

[@angelaaz6282]

Crumbling and other defective road surfaces seem to be quite a masochistic addition to an already dangerous racing situation 😮

[@timmcparlan7867]

Keep the uci out of gravel! Very unnecessary in a road stage race

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

Absurd for them to criticize today's stage. Today's cyclists cross between vineyards and the French countryside with their super bikes and all the highest-tech customization. The cyclists of yesteryear raced on this terrain but in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

[@danielkaminske5048]

Jonas doesn’t even want cobbles any more. What ever. The roads of France are not all just pave. What a crybaby.

[@danichro]

Jonas, the most boring rider ever..

[@larshansen4557]

But the best in high terrin, so why should he drive otherwise

[@dzamirokvaj]

@@larshansen4557oh please! you are dane i suppose…

[@SpockCycles]

Agree With Jonas, Tour De France should only be on Silk Smooth Roads.

[@baumann9551]

Well tell that to the people that raced the tdf to begin with… it was only gravel. Now I’m asking you, why should it only be and how would they do that?

[@petersouthernboy6327]

Boo boo hoo.

[@R6ex]

Agree with Jonas. TdF is a road race! Gravel is out of place.

[@norbertosabido7274]

The race was started on these roads

[@cypriano8763]

Im sure tadej has no problem with gravel. A true all rounder

[@user-ov9xn1gn5k]

TDF will continue with Jonas or without, he can skip the tour of he doesn't like the gravel.

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

Absurd for them to criticize today's stage. Today's cyclists cross between vineyards and the French countryside with their super bikes and all the highest-tech customization. The cyclists of yesteryear raced on this terrain but in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

[@123rocko]

​@norbertosabido7274 if u applied that logic, then F1, MotoGP, 24HLe Mans should be adding a gravel stage too right? The race was started on gravel roads too. 😂 They just wanna sell the gravel bike that is rarely used on.

[@keehong6776]

Very new to the cycling world.. and I have to say cycling fans are catty as hell...

[@danielkaminske5048]

Mountain bikers are a lot less winey than Jonas.

[@1afterthep]

no need for gravel in road races but yeah they want to sell gravel bikes

[@cesarortegaescamilla1782]

Absurd for them to criticize today's stage. Today's cyclists cross between vineyards and the French countryside with their super bikes and all the highest-tech customization. The cyclists of yesteryear raced on this terrain but in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

[@Atlas_21]

Why? You prefer boring every day the same stages instead? This was a nice addition.

[@1afterthep]

@@cesarortegaescamilla1782 so the toughest people on the planet are not allowed to complain????

[@FabioFerraro76]

Vingegaard is boring.

[@audiehauroo6206]

Because he beat Tadej more than 7mins last time out 😅😅😅

[@candacereynolds1723]

I like VINNY to win GC!!!...He looks in great shape, considering that wreak in April...

[@los.veteranos]

Boring Jonas!!!

[@charlesseeley7605]

Road should stay road,gravel should stay gravel

[@user-ov9xn1gn5k]

Yes and TDF should decide for themselves, no need to listen to Jonas.

[@Ron93ok]

Hope jonas does not win the tour. What a cry baby

[@timetrialist]

Useless gravel stage. Its like putting Formula 1 cars on WRC rally stages

[@user-ov9xn1gn5k]

TDF will continue with Jonas or without, he can skip the tour of he doesn't like the gravel.

[@timetrialist]

@@user-ov9xn1gn5k Without Jonas whoever wins TDF did not beat the best to the end that would be one lame TDF

[@abastabul9115]

Every stage is a risk. Crybabies.

[@Edmond347]

Said a keyboard warrior who likely doesn't even own a bike. The point is this is an unnecessary risk, which you clearly missed.

[@danielkaminske5048]

@@Edmond347I am a former pro road racer. There are many road races that have some gravel segments. You clearly have t receded much at top levels.

[@Edmond347]

@@danielkaminske5048 Not sure what you wrote, but this is not just another road race. It’s The road race. “Road” being the key word. There are gravel events. No reason to endanger unnecessarily; the Tour is already uber dangerous. Another factor is completely random punctures or other malfunctions due to the terrain which can decide the outcome of the whole race. It’s absurd and should not be the case. But for you to say they are “crybabies” is offensive, especially if you were, as you claim, a former pro rider. I’d think you’d show some respect for these men. They have balls of steel and size of grapefruits.

[@danielkaminske5048]

@@Edmond347 again I will reiterate since you’re struggling to read. This wasn’t the first tdf stage to contain gravel and there are many road races that contain gravel. It is part of road racing. So to wine about it is silly and just being negative. It is no different than have cobble segments which is very common in the tdf. I will not try to explain reality to you again.

[@kkryspin]

Of course Jonas wants just hills, no descents-because who wouldn't want to just keep going up and up forever? And if there absolutely have to be descents, they better be the gentlest, most polite slopes imaginable. This is the Tour de France, not a Sunday bike ride in the park. If you want safe, stick to the velodrome.

[@josephsong8911]

When did he say he didn’t want descents, he stated that Pogacar has a downhill advantage because he’s heavier. Jonas is a better technical descender than most of the peloton outside of maybe C Rod and Pidcock, he was gaining time in the initial part of the galibier descent but when it was a straight flat, Pogacar has more absolute power as well as a weight advantage. This was a gravel section on a flat route so there is no threat to GC unless someone falls which isn’t in the spirit of the race considering more than half the time the person(s) who cause the crash aren’t the ones competing for GC. Seems like you’re just unnecessarily hating.

[@debrie6319]

😂 What are you on about?are you like 5 or sth?

[@kkryspin]

@@josephsong8911 Oh, I’m sarcastically saying what would Jonas want. What a shocker, right? If you don’t like it, maybe it's time to grow a thicker skin. Because, clearly, dealing with a little sarcasm is the hardest thing you'll face today.