We were all for the F1-style team/rider radio messages being integrated into the broadcast of this year's Tour de France, but have got to admit it's been pretty bland so far. Apart from an unknown individual in Arkéa–Samsic's team car telling their rider they love him mid-stage, there's really been nothing you would raise an eyebrow at... until now.
Tour de France images that preceded unfortunate events...
— Katie (@medicinexthings) July 6, 2023
In fairness, did anyone expect Tadej's stage-winning recovery? Anyway, at least nobody here said he was "on his knees" or anything similarly incriminating in a public forum only to be proved horrendously wrong an hour later. *Panic-striken check of yesterday's live blog*...
In all its glory...
lmfao pic.twitter.com/jh1UtXCabP
— charlotte cole-hossain 📪 (@charlottebikech) July 6, 2023
Speaking about his team's plan, Vingegaard admitted: "Tadej was really strong and deserved to win.
"We wanted to try to test him [Pogačar] again today and see how he felt and I suppose he felt better than yesterday. It's going to be one hell of a battle all the way to Paris."
The only person broken and on their knees at the end of the first week is your resident live blogger, and he's not even left his desk... bring on the rest days (sorry, 'weekend').
Cycling fans have been as sympathetic and understanding as you might expect in the face of such an embarrassment...
bro is on his knees from laughing at jumbo
— Anna (@HiThere_f1) July 7, 2023
On his knees thanking Jumbo-Visma for the pull.
— JMc (@J_McGrody) July 6, 2023
— Lady Starblade (@ladystarblade) July 6, 2023
Who'd be a sports director, eh?
Who'd be a Tour de France DS? Fans rip into Jumbo-Visma for Pogačar "on his knees" radio advice that aged terriblyhttps://t.co/dAJactAXzt#TDF2023pic.twitter.com/52613RFziy
— road.cc (@roadcc) July 7, 2023
Cheers to dubwise for pointing out it was Laurent Pichon's wife on the blower mid-stage to tell him she loved him. Makes more sense than the DS but then again the French team does adore a doomed breakaway slog (as evidenced today)...
Hey @SimonGuglielmi👋😎#TDF2023@LeTourpic.twitter.com/mDbVZ3bQss
— Team Arkéa Samsic (@Arkea_Samsic) July 7, 2023
Serves me right for muting the comms for 90 per cent of the stage. Sorry commentators, I don't care how good you are, 21x4 hours is too much for me...
Matthew Acton-Varian: "The Jumbo-Visma radio broadcasts shows just how much can be added to the entertainment side of live races. Less than 1 week into the Tour and we already have a memeable classic."
Memeable classic. I like that.
Tadej 🤜 🤛 Jonas#TDF2023pic.twitter.com/Vp0IzCRrTN
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 7, 2023
In the month where attention for everything else is competing for the tiny percentage of my brain not overrun with a sporting event across the Channel, things can easily slip through the net... such as this clip from Wednesday night's One Show with James May as guest...
"A bicycle was the first thing that truly liberated me as a piece of transport"
🛵 What is @MrJamesMay's favourite vehicle? 🚚
Thanks for the great question, Daniyah and Inayah 👏#TheOneShow👉 https://t.co/MkcCY1RvU1pic.twitter.com/74ZiuM8n73
— BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) July 5, 2023
Favourite vehicle? "That's a slightly awkward question because obviously I should say it's cars, I love cars, but actually I think it might be bicycles," the former Top Gear presenter admitted.
"Only because... no I'm not going to try to justify it... the bicycle was the first thing I had, the bicycle was the first thing that truly liberated me as a means of transport and that's an incredibly precious thing. Partly because it connects you with childhood and because they are free at the point of use, they almost feel like beating the system for nothing, which doesn't really happen in physics.
> James May: "I can't stand road sectarianism – it's all b*llocks"
"You're always connected with that joy of A) being young B) being healthy and being given the keys to the world."
You won't get any arguments from us, Mr May...
Thought I'd chuck all the post-stage reaction from yesterday into one big round-up for you this morning, starting with the back of the race...
There aren’t enough words to tell you how proud we are of this man 🤗#TDF2023pic.twitter.com/H4EXKnYUYS
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) July 6, 2023
37 minutes after Tadej Pogačar took a bow across the finish line, Fabio Jakobsen and three Soudal-QuickStep teammates joined him in completing the stage. One minute earlier, Mark Cavendish and a trio of Astana helpers did too, the Manx Missile in good spirits at the finish...
💛 @MarkCavendish🫱🫲 The public#TDF2023pic.twitter.com/z7qTHFlBF1
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 6, 2023
"We were 5 minutes too fast to be honest"😅
Mark Cavendish was in good spirits after coming in well within the time limit on stage 6 🇮🇲🚀⛰️#TDF2023#ITVCyclingpic.twitter.com/REYzcwSCUV
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 6, 2023
Stage seven should be a sprint into Bourdeaux, is today the day?
Moving up the finish order, fifth-placed James Shaw, riding his first Tour de France having been without a WorldTour contract for two years before joining EF Education-EasyPost, had a simple message for any youngsters watching on... "Never give up, kids, because if you want to achieve your dreams it's out there".
"Never give up, kids"🙌🤩
For a few years he didn't have a professional contract 👏
Matt caught up with James Shaw after he came an amazing 5th on stage 6 🇬🇧 @JamesthingyShaw@EFprocycling#TDF2023#ITVCyclingpic.twitter.com/xUOKp0uqnz
— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 6, 2023
Let's finish by hearing from the main man himself, including an admission that at one point it felt like everyone could pack their bags and go home...
"When they started pulling on Tourmalet, I was thinking, if this is going to happen like yesterday we can pack our bags and go home" - 🇸🇮 @TamauPogi#TDF2023pic.twitter.com/t7hNtecqKU
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 6, 2023
It's far from the first time we've seen James May pop up on road.cc, back in 2022 we spoke to him about all things bikes...
That came after we'd spotted the presenter's claims that he is now "well buff" having racked up the miles during lockdown, and wanted then-PM Boris Johnson to "bomb us with bicycles".
In January, May made the case for 20mph speed limits, saying the limit in urban and residential areas is "plenty fast enough". Our sister site, e-bike tips, in March, reported on May's statement that electric bikes "really could change the world".
We won't dig out our coverage of a certain former Top Gear colleague of May, otherwise we might be here all day...