Author Archives: Patrick Santino

2021 TDF Stage 9: A New Tour Hero Emerges at the 2021 Rain Jacket World Championships

“After two years of waiting, finally the Tour was going to make it to Tignes this day. O! But this long descent before the equally long Tignes climb could not be underestimated. If the riders did not take proper care of themselves on the way down, surely the freezing conditions would sap their strength and health for the long final ascent. Thus it was time for the second annual Unofficial Rain Jacket World Championships.”

2021 TDF Stage 8: Young Beowulf Restabilizes His Rule

Oyonnax—La Grand-Bornand, 150km In absolute shambles and disarray, the Tour crawled on its hands-and-knees into the first Alpine Stage, the first real mountain stage of this Tour de France. The list of casualties, the body count, and the number of only semi-recovering wounded warriors were are all tremendously high after a week of racing atContinue reading “2021 TDF Stage 8: Young Beowulf Restabilizes His Rule”

2021 TDF Stage 7: Uncharted Territory

“So, how did the UAE team fair on their first real day of ever trying to control the Tour de France for their leader of leaders Tadej Pogacar? In my opinion, I must say they had the worst control of the day I have ever seen from the leading GC team. But in their defense: They were dealt one of the most unconventional scripts ever—because it was written by the Mighty Aces who tear up all scripts and convention.”

2021 TDF Stage 6: Record Watch

“It is clear to all: we are witnessing legendary events. Mark Cavendish the Manx Missile has just won his 32nd Tour de France stage. The nostalgia for the HTC days of a bygone era have not yet and will not ever dissolve for the remainder of this Tour—especially not here where Cav took his first Tour stage 13 years ago. But with this win, sound the alarms, be on your guard. For the entire next fortnight with the intensity of a wartime coast guard, we are now on watch. Not for enemy fleets, submarines, or armadas of fighter jets and bombers; no, the entirety of the cycling world is now on Record Watch.”

2021 TDF Stage 5: In A Class Above the Rest

“So how would this Tour fare with the first reintroduction of a proper first week Time Trial for more than a decade?”