2023 Cycling Season Highlights
The 2023 cycling season was an exceptional one, with three Grand Tours featuring legendary duels, memorable failures, and controversial moments.
1. Tadej Pogačar’s back injury & comeback
Tadej Pogačar, the double Tour de France champion, suffered a back injury at the end of 2022 that prevented him from starting the cyclo-cross season and the Flemish Classics. However, he made a surprise comeback and won the Tour of Flanders in 2023. This showed that his back injury was no longer a major concern.
2. Remco Evenepoel’s first Grand Tour victory
Remco Evenepoel, the young Belgian prodigy, finally won his first Grand Tour at the Giro d’Italia in 2023. He dominated the race from start to finish and won by over five minutes. This victory confirmed Evenepoel’s status as one of the best cyclists in the world.
3. Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France victory
Jonas Vingegaard, the 2022 Tour de France runner-up, finally toppled Tadej Pogačar to win the race in 2023. Vingegaard rode a brilliant race and attacked Pogačar on the Col du Granon in the Alps. Pogačar cracked and Vingegaard went on to win the Tour de France by over three minutes.
4. Wout van Aert’s dominance in the one-day races
Wout van Aert, the versatile Belgian rider, continued his dominance in the one-day races in 2023. He won the Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and the Amstel Gold Race. He also finished on the podium at the Paris-Roubaix and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
5. The controversy over the Tour de France route
The route of the 2023 Tour de France was controversial, with many riders criticizing the lack of mountain stages. The race organizers defended the route, saying that it was designed to be more balanced and to give all types of riders a chance to win.
The 2023 cycling season was one of the most exciting in recent years. The three Grand Tours were all close and there were many memorable moments. The 2024 season is shaping up to be even more exciting, with all the major riders expected to be back in action.
Read also: Women’s Cycling: Krista Doebel-Hickok News
