I don’t know what to say about Stage 16 of the Tour de France. I am lost for a way to describe what we have just witnessed on the only Time Trial of the 2023 Edition. At the start of the day the difference between first and second steps of the podium was just 10 seconds. After all the skinsuits, to bike change or not, sweat and snot, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) remains on the top step with an advantage of 1:48 minutes on Tadej Pogacar (Team UAE Emmirates). It wasn’t that Tadej was on a bad day, he out over a minute into the blazing Belgian champion Wout Van Aert! While we all ruminate on this, have a look at some of the tweets that made me laugh.
#BatChamps Skinsuits
First outing for a lot of new time trial national champions
Bleu Blanc Rouge for Remi Cavagna (Soudal Quick-Step)
Rémi 😍#TDF2023
Photo: @BeelWout pic.twitter.com/VeAHmjoIT9
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) July 18, 2023
#DanishDynamite for Kasper Asgreen
🇩🇰#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/K4jnm0Pc5m
— Morten Bruun Jørgensen (@MBruunJorgensen) July 17, 2023
Best of the lost, Wout in his beautiful Belgian kit
🇫🇷 #TDF2023
You’re definitely a 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 human, Wout! 😉 pic.twitter.com/UY3rCjcUFj
— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) July 18, 2023
Embrace the #PolkaPox
National champions were not the only riders with new kit for the TT. All the leaders in the four jersey competitions get made to measure suits especially for the day. I’m not a lover of the new mountain jersey, the dots are too regimented. Sorry LeClerc but there it is. However, if you’re King of the Mountains You can bet you’re bottom dollar I want to see head to toe polka pox. Bravo Giulio Ciccone and Lidl-Trek.
LOOK AT IT – MY EYES!!!
⚪️🔴 En pois de la tête aux pieds, 🇮🇹@giuliocicco1 ! 😍#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/AAmjABQ8O1
— Maillot à Pois E.Leclerc (@maillotapois) July 18, 2023
#TDF2023 @giuliocicco1 put on a fine display of climbing as he set the fastest time on the KOM and added to his lead ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/xxJKOPgnNn
— Lidl-Trek (@LidlTrek) July 18, 2023
The art of creating a second skin#TDF2023 @giuliocicco1 #Ciccone #PolkaDot #SantiniPeople @maillotapois #SkinSuit pic.twitter.com/1bFvXHu4Qz
— Santini Cycling (@SANTINI_SMS) July 18, 2023
Only a few weeks until La Vuelta when we get the beautiful blue spots again
#GCKUSS with a stellar time trial to hold onto 6th overall!! Despite his injuries, Sepp finishes 14th on stage 16, 3:40 down on Jonas but only 45 and 42 seconds behind the 8th and 7th place riders.#GCKUSS IS FLYING! Only 1:31 away from the top-5 👀👀🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅🦅 pic.twitter.com/saXgefJy5L
— GC KUSS (@GCSeppKuss) July 18, 2023
#ThisCharmingMan
Oh La La(fay)
Victor Lafay (Cofidis) took a tumble towards the finish. Was he disheartened? No. He got right back up, waved to crowd and smiled his way to the finish.
Lafay still smiling pic.twitter.com/UbO80bfjkR
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) July 18, 2023
How can you not love him.
@victorlafay 🇫🇷 🫶 fans on the Côte de Domancy.#TDF2023 @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/Faxhdzhnzu
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023
attention risk of confusion:
victor falling | falling for victor #TourDeTwitter pic.twitter.com/us7TCtdO2h
— Dumbo 🥐 (@dumbovisma) July 18, 2023
Bonjour Tom
Hello there, @tom_dumoulin 😃#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/zgaNNaID4k
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) July 18, 2023
Tom Dumoulin, superfan pic.twitter.com/3f9bdJgqAr
— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) July 18, 2023
It’s all in the timing!
Not sure what was going on around around the start ramp today but DSM-firmenich’s Sam Welsford and Alexander Edmondson were both late to the gate.
So, apparently, Sam had been chatting to Alexander Edmondson behind the ramp, resulting in both of them being late for their starts. #TDF2023
— Emma La Jaune 💛🇫🇷 #SiempreGino (@cyclartist) July 18, 2023
While Alexander Kristoff (UNO-X) was too early and had to climb down again.
🔄 Another unusual situation at the start: @Kristoff87 climbed too early on the start ramp and has to give way to @FlorianVermeers.
🔄 Nouvelle situation inhabituelle au départ : @Kristoff87 doit redescendre pour laisser la place à @FlorianVermeers.#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/0Nuo5Ks1sB
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023
speaking of Kristoff….
TT Helmet section
We can’t a TT roundup without some mention of the headwear. Today we feature UNO-X.
Yep, def Darth Vader style
😜 Que la fuerza esté contigo 🇳🇴 @Kristoff87…#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/bHQzbsM5nh
— Tour de France ES (@letour_es) July 18, 2023
Or could it be Fireman Sam? Pontpandy’s finest feat. Soren Wærenskjold.
The @LeTour social media play a strong game, but this is a bobby dazzler #Chapeau
👩🚒 Soren is the hero next door! 🇳🇴#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/QjHQyXcjDG
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023
#ThatsAllFolks
Sometimes you just have to doff your cap and climb out of the hot seat.
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) July 18, 2023
Time trials, never a dull moment.
Stage results
What the holy guacamole heck on toast 😳😳 1 minute clear #TdF2023 pic.twitter.com/0YRFohTaig
— Pierre. ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿🚴♂️(he/him/his) (@PBCycleWrites) July 18, 2023
Following today's ITT, here are the new gaps in the GC 💛 @MaillotjauneLCL 💛
Suite au contre-la-montre du jour, voici les nouveaux écarts au classement général 📈#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/0x6lY9h240
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023
🏆 Rankings and jerseys after stage 16
🏆 Classements et maillots distinctifs après l'étape 16#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/7RuqHdBnB5
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023
💛 Round Vingegaard! The 3rd week of the #TDF2023 started with the only TT of this year's edition, and with only 10" between the favourites, the battle was on!
Tadej was strong, but not strong enough, as he finishes behind a Dane on fire.🎬 Here are the🇬🇧highlights of Stage 16 pic.twitter.com/vx1keKUOEp
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 18, 2023