As I prepared writing this article, I had reviewed all of the professional races of 2023. It was then that I realized what a truly amazing year 2023 was for the sport!

I’m the one writing, so let’s start with my favorite.

Gerraint Thomas Leading out Mark Cavendish Stage 18, 2023 Giro D’Italia.

Image source: http://www.astana-qazaqstan.com

I don’t know if anybody, outside of the Isle of Man, was cheering harder for Mark Cavendish than I was in 2023. I went on a family vacation to Hawaii in December of ’22, and read Cav’s book, “At Speed”, on that trip. And although Sacramento isn’t known as a world class cycling city, there is a giant photo of Cav winning the Tour of California, on the side of a bank downtown.

But hearing Phil Ligget say “Thomas looks over at Cav and says ‘Get on my wheel, and ride.’” and watching G give Cav one last leadout, it still gives me goosebumps! Two Friends, two superstars, two juggernauts, showing the kids how to win a Grand Tour stage and putting the color of their kit to the side and helping a brother out! Chapeau Gerraint!

Alison Jackson wins Paris Roubaix.

Photo: GCN/EUROSPORT

As I’m riding my bike and putting in a hard effort, sometimes I’ll imagine I’m in the front of a 5 man breakaway, and needing to gain time from the peloton. When I need that extra motivation during interval work, I’ll say to myself, “These are the efforts that escape the peloton!” So as you can probably tell… I love a good breakway story. And what a GREAT breakway story the 2023 edition of Paris Roubaix was!

It’s just a shame nobody was able to see it… As with some coverage of women’s racing, it sometimes doesn’t start until well into the race. Something I hope will be corrected in the upcoming 2024 season. So we are left guessing on how it all started, but I can tell you 18 women broke from the peloton within the first 9.5 miles, and never looked back.

The gap on the peloton had grown as large as 6 minutes, but that chasing group of favorites, kept eating into their lead. The breakaway entered the Roubaix Velodrome with only 10 seconds on the chasing group… and 2/3 of the riders who started the break.

As with any Monument, it’s more of a ride of attrition and moments of sheer strength and determination are necessary for the honor of just getting beat up worse. “The Hell of the North”, offers no guarantees that starting means you’re finishing. 6 of the strongest woman of the 18 in the breakaway, survived to the velodrome, with the chase group hot on their heels.

Each of the 6 knew they had just as much shot as any of the others, and it was all about that last maximum effort, after dealing with hell for the last 90+ miles!

Alison Jackson stood out of the saddle and started her sprint early. Normally this would be a recipe for disaster, as you would pull your opponents to the line. But everybody could tell by the look on her face, she was winning on pure grit alone.

Her signature dance move at the end, really showed what cycling should be. Even when you just had the shit kicked out of you, you had fun!

Stage 16 of the Tour de France

Photo: Ronan Caroff

Stage 16 was mostly uneventful for the day, until Tadej Pogacar rolled up to the starting line. The Slovenian had a look of poise and confidence that cycling fans are used to see, at the start of every stage. He knew he needed to make up sometime on Jonas today, and he was confident he was going to accomplish that goal.

Tadej took off from the start with a quickness. Putting time on Wout van Aert, from the get-go. No doubt, Tadej felt like this was his day. and within the first checkpoints, I’m sure he was hearing this news from the team car, and ultimately catching the rider in front of him, and using that carrot to get him across the line!

But as Tadej was blasting around the first few bends of the course, Jonas Vingegaard, rolled up to the starting line. With the bright yellow skinsuit, aero helmet, mirrored face shield, and yellow Cervelo, he looked like a photon ready to beam across the universe at the speed of light… and that’s exactly what he did.

Jonas stared down the barrell of the course and exploded out of the gates. The first few seconds of his time trial, his quads looked like tree trunks, stomping down on his pedals. Each corner he took tighter and faster, and gained time on his nemesis with each check point. 16 seconds then 31 seconds, then Tadej stops for a bike change at the start of the climb. Was this the right move? (editor: Check out the article where we map out the checkpoint deltas and see.)

Jonas kept surging on his Cervelo S5 aero bike, up that climb. Ultimately putting in 1:38 into Tadej’s time. Who had beaten Wout Van Aert’s amazing effort by an gargantuan 1:13! But Tadej’s time in the hotseat was shortlived. Because 22 seconds after Tadej crossed in first, Jonas crossed the line to make that yellow jersey, slightly more comfortable on his shoulders. But we still have the Queen’s stage to go.

“I’m Gone, I’m Dead.” Stage 17, Tour De France.

Nobody saw it coming… but everybody heard it when it happened. The Cycling world was stunned when Pogi showed the world he was a human being. I don’t think anybody was more surprised than Jonas Vingegaard!

Once it was clear that Pogačar was not going to be able to mount an attack, Sepp Kuss jumped ahead of Jonas and changed gears, flying up the mountain side and dragging his team leader with him. Once Sepp gave it all he could, Jonas took off like a shot and won the Tour 4 stages before the final stage.

Although Jonas Vingegaard was truly amazing, he is not the reason stage 17 made the list. It was Tadej Pogačar after the stage was over. Marc Soler spent the rest of the race, escorting his fallen leader across the finish line. Pogačar made a joke about how the worst part about the stage, was Soler’s scary eyes every time he looked back. He smiled at the media, as he sat down after the stage, to talk about what was probably the worst day of his life.

Tadej remained poised and confident after a truly terrible day. We’ve seen decades of cyclists act out, and let their emotions get the best of them. Tadej Pogačar always seems to have his emotions completely under control. This is not only impressive but a breath of fresh air to the sport. I’m certain his calm under pressure is a large element to his ability to know when and how to attack. Racing with his brain ahead of his heart.