Jonathan Milan. Photograph: Beno\u00eet Tessier\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Matt White, Luke Rowe and Robbie McEwen<\/strong> are the pundits working with the presenter Orla Chennaoui on TNT Sports.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult one,\u201d says Rowe of Lidl-Trek\u2019s attempts to go for the intermediate and the stage win for the current points classification leader, Jonathan Milan.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully the breakaway is small and they can win the sprint from behind, with points still available, but he (Milan) needs to win the stage today. That is clear.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.36 EDT<\/p>\n William Fotheringham<\/strong> mentioned the Club des Cingl\u00e9s du Ventoux in his excellent piece a few days ago \u2026<\/p>\n So I may as well tell you for the 10th time that I joined that particular club back in 2016. Mont Ventoux is a beautiful place to ride a bike, and happily, you don\u2019t have to complete the three different ascents at anything but your own pace.<\/p>\n Mont Ventoux. Photograph: Colin Flockton\/GodingImages\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYesterday and on Superbangers<\/a><\/strong> (pardon my atrocious French spelling) Tadej Pogacar was favoured to win the stage,\u201d writes Mark from Florida. \u201cBut he didn\u2019t even try to – why? Is he afraid of being too tired on later stages? Is he afraid of blowing up on a climb and losing the tour? Is he afraid of being considered greedy?\u201d<\/p>\n As far as I could see yesterday, it just so happened that the breakaway was a bit too far ahead. Pogacar had the legs to accelerate away from Vingegaard in the final metres, so safe to say he would have won the stage had they caught the break. But in the grand scheme of things it doesn\u2019t matter for him, yesterday was about protecting the GC lead first and foremost. I don\u2019t think Pogacar is shy of going for as many stage wins as possible, either.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.29 EDT<\/p>\n As if by magic,<\/strong> an electronic mail message drops into my inbox.<\/p>\n \u201cNot sure anything could rival yesterday TBH,\u201d writes Jem. \u201cA day of proper racing, great win for Paret-Peintre, so close for Ben Healey and masterful from Pogi \u2013 fair play to Vingegaard as well for having a go.<\/p>\n \u201cFor today, at least I don\u2019t have to feel embarrassed by watching blokes go up a mountain at similar speeds to those I plod round reasonably flat country lanes at. Instead, I just have to watch blokes going along reasonably flat French country lanes at speeds I rarely reach even going downhill!<\/p>\n \u201cReally enjoying this year\u2019s race \u2013 a win for Bini would do me today so fingers crossed for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.37 EDT<\/p>\n You can send me your opinions<\/strong>, thoughts, predictions and the like on email<\/a>. Don\u2019t be shy.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Yesterday<\/strong>, of course, was a dust-up between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard on the punishing slopes of Mont Ventoux. I didn\u2019t see the full stage, just the highlights, but I don\u2019t believe Pogacar was ever in serious trouble, despite Visma-Lease A Bike throwing the kitchen sink at him and his team. Read Jeremy Whittle\u2019s report right here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The official Tour de France withdrawals page<\/a> is a handy resource. Mathieu van der Poel abandoned yesterday due to pneumonia, just in case you missed it.<\/p>\n Mathieu van Der Poel racing on Sunday. Photograph: Luca Betinni\/GodingImages\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.13 EDT<\/p>\n William Fotheringham\u2019s pre-race assessment of today\u2019s route:<\/strong><\/p>\n Stage 17, Wednesday 23 July: Boll\u00e8ne to Valence, 161km<\/strong><\/p>\n Potentially a bunch sprint, the last of the Tour, but teams with a sprinter who can climb \u2013 think Intermarch\u00e9 with Girmay for example \u2013 will try and burn off the slightly heavier brethren such as Merlier on the drag to the Col de Pertuis after 66km, particularly if the green jersey is in play; here\u2019s a chance to gain valuable points. It will all hang on wind direction, morale and the peloton\u2019s dwindling reserves of strength.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.07 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n![\"William](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/William_Fotheringham,_L.png\")
William Fotheringham<\/p>\n