Pogacar has discovered Tour de France fans love heroic defeat more than crushing victory

Tadej Pogacar has been the dominant leader of this year's Tour de France, but The Guardian notes that his crushing superiority has not always endeared him to fans along the route. The piece draws a historical parallel with Eddy Merckx, who despite his legendary status also faced crowd indifference or even hostility during periods of total dominance. The article argues that Tour de France spectators tend to romanticise heroic struggle and near-defeat over clinical, overwhelming victory.