Cycling Weekly - 16 July 2026

Jul 30, 2026

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Cycling Weekly focuses on the 2026 Tour de France, highlighting Tadej Pogačar’s dominant form and the emerging sense that the GC battle may already be effectively decided. The issue breaks down key moments such as Pogačar’s breakthrough on stage six and the decisive time gaps over major climbs. It also covers contrasting reactions from fans and press, plus stage results and standout performances from other riders.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages64

Reading Time1 h 39 min

AccessFree to download

In Focus

France bakes

Two out of two

MVDP DIY

Peerless Pogačar

Ploughing on

Pogačar cruising to fifth Tour title

Pidcock challenging

Cyc Thursday 16July,2026 POGAČARALREADV INCOMPLETECONTROLIs the GCbattle doneWEEKLY and dusted?TOURUBSWhy this year's race isabout rediscovering achildhood passionPULL-OUTDOUBLE SIDEDPOSTER OPENING WEEK RETURN MOTOMADNESSPRO PERFORMANCEConfronting the Tour's"It's not about chasing a number,motorbike problemit's about being consistent" STAND OUT. Ride Rapida.Balance aerodynamics,comfort and price with the new Rapida.UK Bike Options Available FromChickenCyclekitWieicWww.chickencyclekit.co.ukModel Shown105 D2with Miche Corbon whees,E34999 There's no taming Tadej Iwonderhow Thierry Gouvenou wasfeelingas he watched Isaac del Torodrag his teamleader Tadej Pogačaraway from hisrivals near the top of theCol du Tourmalet on stage six.I like toimagine him muttering‘merde!underhis breath before shrugging hisshoulders and feigning a smile. Torstein Træen was that person thisyear,but he only lasted two stages. That was how Miguel Induráin won inthe early’90s,how Lance Armstrongrode in the Noughties,and it's oftenwhat Team Sky looked to do,althoughthey were slightly more adaptable asthey won with different riders viaslightly different tactics. Gouvenou,the Tour's coursedirector since 2014,has done much tomodernise its route,gradually bringingthe distances down and creating amore nuanced mix of stage profiles.His task this year was to keep thesuspense going all the way until thedouble-header on Alpe d'Huez onstages 19 and 20.It now looks like thatwas little more than a pipe dream. The fact is,when faced with thegreatest rider of his generation,probably of all time,it doesn't matter ifGouvenou's parcours are long,short,flat,mountainous oragainst the clock.TadejPogačaris simply going to turnthose pedals faster than anyone else. We shouldn't be surprised.Riderswho dominate the Tour over multipleeditions often strike a killer blow earlyon and then defend their lead,grabbinga few more seconds when they get thechance.Sometimes there's apluckytrier ahead of them,but everyoneknows they won't hold on until Paris. Simon Richardson Editor simon.richardson@futurenet.com NEVER MISSAN ISSUE!SUBSCRIBE AND GETCW DELIVERED TO YOURDOOR WWW.MAGAZINESDIRECT.COM/QYC/D35Q Scan to subscribe! In Focus France bakes As southern France bakedin temperatures hitting 40degrees,the Tour pelotonfancied an easier day onstage fourto Foix.A29-rider break escapedand Mads Pedersen tookthe win for Lidl-Trek. Z0NE 30 Two out of two Tim Merlier sprints from 20metres behind to aclear winin Bergerac on stage eight,his second win intwo days.The sheer speed of thesprintersis evident from thegap that has opened upbehind them. MVDP DIY Having failedtosuccessfully gel withJasper Philipsen in themelee of the bunch sprintson stages seven and eight,Alpecin's Mathieu van derPoel took matters into hisown hands on stage nine. Peerless Pogačar Tadej Pogačartook flightnear the topof theTourmalet on stage six,putting time into everyonegoing up and downhill.Thestage win led many to claimthe Tour's GCis alreadydone and dusted. Ploughing on A local farmer,alonein his tractor,takes abreak fromthe fieldsto cheeron BaptisteVeistroffer(Intermarché-Lotto)alone on his bike,on stage five fromLannemezan to Pau. Phots:Zac W1iams/SWpi.com,Charly Lopez/ASo, GettyImages, Shutterstock Photos:Getty Images # Pogačar cruisingto fifth Tour title New5 # The world champion already looks destined foralandslide victory,reports Tom Davidson in France hen Tour deFrance racedirectorChristianPrudhomme first revealedthe route for this year'sedition last October,hepromised“suspense untiltheend”.But,only halfwaythrough,there's a feelingthat Tadej Pogačar alreadyhas his fifth yellow jerseysealed,and may claim it byhis largest margin yet. has ever had at this point ofthe race,and he earned allbut four seconds of it onone day:stage sixtoGavarnie-Gèdre. Tour;the victory marked hisfurthest ever solo in 23stage wins,as well as hismost convincing single-da

FAQs

Why does the issue suggest the GC battle could be effectively decided?

It argues that Pogačar’s performance has already produced a major time advantage, making him look on course for a fifth title with a potentially large margin.

What key stage moment is emphasized in Pogačar’s rise?

Stage six at Gavarnie-Gèdre is highlighted as a defining solo performance where Pogačar broke free and established substantial gaps.

How do fans and press react to Pogačar’s dominance?

Some long-term fans and journalists are portrayed as growing weary, while fans in France show strong enthusiasm, with crowds turning out daily and celebrating him.

Jul 30, 2026

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