Paris in the Horizon
We've completed 19 stages of our first-ever Tour de France. It's a long evening on the bus, and we are slowly but steadily making our way to Paris. Today didn't turn out to be a great day for Uno-X. As expected, it was a "classic day", and we were well prepared for it. Unfortunately, our execution didn't give us the result we hoped for, and there is a disappointed group on the bus. Opinions on what we should do and not do are varied. We can only express our heartfelt thanks for your continued support – that's what truly keeps us going.
The journey up to this point has been special and we are very proud! The statistics so far indicate that the youngest team in this year's Tour de France has achieved nine top-10 placements, with two of them being top-3 finishes. We accomplished this with five different riders. Moreover, with two days to go, we still have eight riders on the bus. Tomorrow, we face the final major challenge before reaching Champs Elysees on Sunday. Now, our sights are set on securing our tenth top-10 placement.
We are a fantastic group on this Tour. Riders, leaders, and support staff are all working hard to make these four weeks extremely productive and fulfilling. There are many hours to fill with energy, both in the morning and in the evening. Our new bus has been a shared highlight.
We've proven beyond a doubt that we deserve our place here. Furthermore, there's no doubt that we have talented riders in this team. In the team paddock, I receive many questions about bigger teams being interested in our guys. Well, we are not a small team either. We have something to offer as well. That's the reason why Søren Wærenskjold chooses to stay with us until 2026. He believes it's the best for his development. The market is getting crazy in some teams; the "top teams" are suffocating symmetry because the teams participating in the Tour de France have no limits on budgets or salaries. I wish we could find a more sustainable model for more teams. A model that values performance environment, team culture, and the devil in the details to a much greater extent. A model that cycling fans can connect with because the teams enhance their own identity and brand. I'm in favor of budget/salary caps and long-term regulatory management that ensures predictability. Right now, it's getting out of control, and the cycling sport needs 15-20 teams to breathe properly, not 5 teams dominating everything.
Having written myself out of today's disappointment, I'm now ready to wind down with a 'complaint beer' before tomorrow's new day. We will give it ALL!
See you all in Paris – proud Danes and Norwegians are on their way 😊
