The Pessimism and Occasional Optimism of Juvenile Adulthood

Saying that this year’s Tour de France had the most dramatic climax of my lifetime is not anywhere near the compliment it deserves. As Tadej Pogacar made fellow Slovenian Primoz Roglic walk the plank of Belles Filles, we were witnessing not only the emergence of a new precocious talent, yet to turn 22 by the time he stands on the top step of the podium, but perhaps a symbolic changing of the guard in Grand Tour racing. The 2020 tour will see Pogacar claim three of the four jerseys, all in which we can see a clear pattern favouring new emerging talent – many of whom are just experiencing their first Grande Boucle. After dramatically losing the yellow jersey to Greg LeMond and his aero bars in 1989, Laurent Fignon cut a disconsolate figure, finding himself subsequently unable to seriously challenge for the overall title in subsequent years. Roglic is older than Fignon was back then, and whilst he remains an undoubtedly strong rider, it is easy to draw comparisons between the two runner...