defector-orange-no-empty-space

lede_post_card_default

lede_post_card_stacked

lede_post_card_featured_post

lede_post_card_featured_posts_hero

lede_post_card_featured_posts_sidebar

lede_post_card_highlighted_post

lede_post_card_horizontal_a

lede_post_card_horizontal_c

lede_post_card_related_post

lede_article_featured_16x9

lede_article_featured_3x2

lede_article_featured_flexible

lede_article_content

lede_article_content_wide_width

lede_article_content_full_width

lede_byline_avatar_post_card

lede_byline_avatar_highlight

lede_profile_coral_avatar

lede_logo

lede_logo_banner

lede_logo_footer_banner

lede_logo_simple_header

lede_sponsorship_logo

lede_sponsorship_logo_river_card

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card_logo

lede_sponsorship_homepage_card

Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

defector-no-empty-space

Defector

defector-present-wrapping-logo-gift-subscription-250fixed

winter 2023 gift (eyebrow)

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

back-in-stock-for-a-limited-time

Merch v3

headshot1

Patrick Redford

Movistar Team's US rider Matteo Jorgenson cycles in the ascent of the Puy de Dome in the final kilometers of the 9th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 182,5 km between Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat and Puy de Dome, in the Massif Central volcanic mountains in central France, on July 9, 2023. (Photo by Vincent Kalut / POOL / AFP) (Photo by VINCENT KALUT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

CYCLING-FRA-TDF2023-STAGE9

Cycling

The Pain Is The Point

CAUTERETS-CAMBASQUE, FRANCE - JULY 06: Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - White Best Young Rider Jersey celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the stage six of the 110th Tour de France 2023 a 144.9km stage from Tarbes to Cauterets-Cambasque 1355m / #UCIWT / on July 06, 2023 in Cauterets-Cambasque, France. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

110th Tour de France 2023 – Stage 6

Tadej Pogacar Strikes Back

BORA - hansgrohe's Australian rider Jai Hindley celebrates on the podium after winning the 5th stage of the 110th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 163 km between Pau and Laruns, in the Pyrenees mountains in southwestern France, on July 5, 2023. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

CYCLING-FRA-TDF2023-STAGE5-PODIUM

Jai Hindley Rips Open The Tour de France

French Christophe Laporte of Jumbo-Visma, Belgian Wout Van Aert of Jumbo-Visma, Danish Jonas Vingegaard of Jumbo-Visma, Belgian Tiesj Benoot of Jumbo-Visma and US' Sepp Kuss of Jumbo-Visma pictured in action during stage 21, the final stage of the Tour de France cycling race, from Paris la Defense Arena to Paris Champs-Elysees, France, on Sunday 24 July 2022. This year's Tour de France takes place from 01 to 24 July 2022. BELGA PHOTO POOL LEQUIPPE - UK OUT (Photo by POOL LEQUIPPE / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by POOL LEQUIPPE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

The Defector Guide To The 2023 Tour de France

Dave McKenna

IMG_5859

Giri Nathan

TOPSHOT - Jumbo-Visma team's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey (C), Jumbo-Visma team's Belgian rider Wout Van Aert wearing the sprinter's green jersey (C) and Jumbo-Visma team's American rider Sepp Kuss (R) celebrate with champagne as they cycle during the 21st and final stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 115,6 km between La Defense Arena in Nanterre, outside Paris, and the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, on July 24, 2022. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / various sources / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT-CYCLING-FRA-TDF2022-STAGE21

What Can Hardcore Fans And Curious Newbies Learn From ‘Tour de France: Unchained’?

Lance Armstrong is seen on January 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

lance-armstrong

Lance Armstrong Is Suddenly Concerned With Fairness In Sports

VILLARS-SUR-OLLON, SWITZERLAND - MAY 01: Gino Mader of Switzerland and Team Bahrain Victorious celebrates the second place on the podium after the 75th Tour De Romandie 2022 - Stage 5 on May 1, 2022 in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland. (Photo by RvS.Media/Basile Barbey/Getty Images,)

75th Tour De Romandie 2022 – Stage 5

Gino Mäder Had Too Much More To Give

Riders shake their heads in confusion as they pass a car on the race course.

pyrenees_femmes

Cycling Race Canceled After Riders Call Out Organizers For Letting Them Compete In Open Traffic

derek mead headshot (1)

Derek Mead

Cyclists walk their bikes through a muddy portion of the 2023 Unbound gravel race

unbound-gravel-lede

I Got My Ass Kicked By America’s Dirtiest Bike Race

Primoz Roglic getting the push he needed.

primoz-roglic-giro

Primoz Roglic Got A Little Push From A Pal In His Quest For Redemption

Moments after disaster, when Bettio crashes.

giro-crash

The Giro d’Italia Has Turned Into A Hazardous Slog

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates celebrates after winning the 86th edition of the men's race 'La Fleche Wallonne', a one day cycling race (Waalse Pijl - Walloon Arrow), 194,2 km from Herve to Huy, Wednesday 19 April 2023. BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM (Photo by DIRK WAEM / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by DIRK WAEM/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

CYCLING FLECHE WALLONNE MEN 86TH EDITION

Any Race With Tadej Pogacar In It Is A Race For Second

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 09: (L-R) Race winner Mathieu van der Poel of The Netherlands, Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin-Deceuninck and John Degenkolb of Germany and Team DSM (injured after being involved in a crash) during the 120th Paris-Roubaix 2023, Men's Elite a 256.6km one day race from Compiègne to Roubaix on / #UCIWT / April 09, 2023 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Frank Faugère - Pool/Getty Images)

120th Paris-Roubaix 2023 – Men’s Elite

John Degenkolb’s Day In Hell Was Worth It

150896222_10159099371879636_7101222369896621357_o

Laura Wagner

SIENA, ITALY - MARCH 04: Demi Vollering of The Netherlands and Team SD Worx attacks while a horse gallops beside her during the Eroica - 9th Strade Bianche 2023, Women's a 136km one day race from Siena to Siena 318m / #StradeBianche / on March 04, 2023 in Siena, Italy. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Eroica – 9th Strade Bianche 2023 – Women’s

Wannabe Cyclist Horse Steals The Show At A Spicy Strade Bianche

cycling-dangling_jpg-min

Big Crash Leaves Cyclist Dangling Over Small Bridge

VictorPortraitWClaw

David Roth

Colts coach Jeff Saturday and Raiders coach Josh McDaniels congratulate each other after their awful NFL teams played each other.

Indianapolis Colts v Las Vegas Raiders

Podcasts

Crisis Parenting And Dipshit Owner Behavior, With Jason Gay

Dutch Mathieu Van Der Poel pictured during the team presentation of the 'Alpecin-Deceuninck' cyclocross team, at the Deceuninck headquarters in Hooglede, Thursday 15 September 2022. BELGA PHOTO DAVID STOCKMAN (Photo by DAVID STOCKMAN / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by DAVID STOCKMAN/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

CYCLOCROSS ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK CYCLING TEAM

Cycling World Championships Marred By Alleged Ding-Dong-Ditch Assault

WOLLOGONG, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Detailed view of birds perched on a railing during the 95th UCI Road World Championships 2022 - Men U23 Individual Time Trial a 28,8km / #Wollongong2022 / on September 19, 2022 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

95th UCI Road World Championships 2022 – Men U23 Individual Time Trial

The Winner Of The Cycling World Championships Is: Birds

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


drewkid-1-e1599592436888

Drew Magary

Tobias Ludvigsson of Sweden, Clement Davy of France, Lars Van Den Berg of Netherlands, Kevin Geniets of Luxembourg, Valentin Madouas of France and Team Groupama - FDJ - Yellow Leader Jersey and a general view of the peloton passing through the feed zone area during the 82nd Skoda Tour Luxembourg 2022, Stage 3 a 188,4km stage from Rosport to Diekirch on / #skodatour / September 15, 2022 in Diekirch, Luxembourg

Men Riding Bikes

Bicycle! Bicycle! Bicycle! I Want To Ride My Bicycle!

The pack rides on the Champs Elysees during the 1st stage of the new edition of the Women's Tour de France cycling race, 81,6 km between the Tour Eiffel and the Champs-Elysees, in Paris on July 24, 2022. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP) (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD/AFP via Getty Images)

tour-de-france-femmes

The Tour de France Femmes Surpassed Every Expectation

Ludwig enjoying the moment after her win.

Screen Shot 2022-07-26 at 1.49.43 PM

It’s Impossible Not To Root For Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig

TOPSHOT - Jumbo-Visma team's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey celebrates as he cycles to the finish line to win the 18th stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 143,2 km between Lourdes and Hautacam in the Pyrenees mountains in southwestern France, on July 21, 2022. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT-CYCLING-FRA-TDF2022-STAGE18

A Thrilling Tour de France Belongs To Jonas Vingegaard

UAE Team Emirates team's American rider Brandon McNulty (L), UAE Team Emirates team's Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar (C) wearing the best young rider's white jersey, and Jumbo-Visma team's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard (R) wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey cycle in the ascent of Peyragudes during the 17th stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 129,7 km between Saint-Gaudens and Peyragudes, in southwestern France, on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

CYCLING-FRA-TDF2022-STAGE17

Young Americans Step Into The Tour de France Spotlight

Jumbo-Visma team's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey (R) and UAE Team Emirates team's Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar wearing the best young rider's white jersey (L) await the start of the 13th stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 192,6 km between Le Bourg d'Oisans in the French Alps, and Saint-Etienne in central France, on July 15, 2022. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images)

CYCLING-FRA-TDF2022-STAGE13

Jonas Vingegaard Finally Cracked Tadej Pogacar, And Now The Race Is On

CYCLING-FRA-TDF2022-STAGE7

We Might Have A Real Fight On Our Hands