The Tour de France is a multi-stage bicycle race that rages mostly through the mountains of France. This year's race covers 2,068 miles over 21 days, and will end on July 24. This story is not so much about the race itself, but an amazing display of good sportsmanship you can see in the video above.
This year's race has basically been a two-man battle between Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark) and Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia). Pogačar has won it for the past two years, but Vingegaard had climbed into the lead by a scant two minutes. He is wearing the yellow jersey, which is always worn by the race leader.
Pogačar has been relentlessly attacking Vingegaard over the past several days to take the lead. He won the race on Wednesday and continued his attack yesterday as the duo descended from a mountain. Unfortunately, he took a corner too sharply, went into a ditch and fell.
This made things way for Vingegaard, who could easily outpace his chief opponent. But he did something I've never seen in any sport. He slowed down and waited for Pogačar to catch him. When he did, the two shook hands and then continued to race each other.
Vingegaard said afterward that it "wouldn't be nice" to take advantage of Pogačar's fall. "Of course I waited." He then complimented his fellow team member Wout Von Aert as the best cyclist in the world.
Pure class.
Something we rarely if ever see in anything, let alone sports. Our leaders could learn a thing or two from this example.
A cynic would say it’s cunning strategy and reflection of the confidence and how good he was feeling at that time. He knew he had covered all attacks, and will be able to cover all attacks from Pog. Plus I think him slowing down actually negatively impacts Pog. Knowing that your rival can take time but chooses to not do so tells you how good he must be feeling. It can severely break one’s Confidence.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, it is a much needed bit of warm hearted human activity that is in short supply these days.
Doesn't get much better than that. I've always been disappointed by winning or losing on a bad break. Winning by default doesn't feel very victorious. Fair play, indeed. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI have rarely seen such class in anything.
ReplyDeleteBernie off topic but look into scheme by Wolf and others to stop all property tax relief.
ReplyDeleteBikers are known to do this classy move. No fun to win that way. Great sportsmanship!! We need more bikers!!
ReplyDeleteMore people in the world to be like these guys. This should have been the first piece on all the news channels however as with News they put out the doom, gloom, and destruction first.
ReplyDeleteIf the country had news as you say like this would we all be so angry? Most regular people are kind and helpful and caring. The news portrays the small sick people and not all of the good in this country. Every day good things happen here but nothing gets on the news. Wfmz does have a segment on good things and the big news channel might help to change their narrative. The news is helping the small minority ruin this country as people believe it all
ReplyDeleteMURRAY THE MUSLIM
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