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The 8 Weirdest Cyclists at This Year's Tour de France
Written by
Brian kendall
It's easy to argue that you'd have to have a screw loose to cycle 2,200 miles in 21 days. So you can easily arrive to the conclusion that anyone cycling this year's Tour de France is, in fact, weird. Yet, there are certainly some pedaling this gauntlet of a race whose weirdness is a tier above the rest.
Andre Greipel
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Any professional cyclist nicknamed "The Gorilla" should surely make this list. But the winner of 11 Tour de France stages didn't make the cut purely on the merits of this epithet. Rather, the German sprinter's weirdness was only sealed when he released a beautifully horrific rap song.
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Your Next RidePeter Sagan
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When he's not trolling interviewers or impressing crowds with his with his BMX-worthy bike tricks , he's grabbing cookies while popping a wheelie in the middle of a stage race. With all these exploits, Sagan easily takes the title of weirdest cyclist on the Tour, and we didn't even mention his awesome "Rocky" montage.
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Your Next RideAlejandro Valverde
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A nine-time veteran of the Tour de France and teammate of podium hopeful, Nairo Quintana, Valverde is a beast in the mountains and one of the most aggressive riders on the pro cycling circuit. But this, in itself, is not nearly enough to establish him as one of the weirdest cyclists on the Tour. Instead, it's the Spaniard's bizarre antics, like this incident at the Giro d'Italia when he got the sudden urge to catch up on the news.
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Your Next RideTaylor Phinney
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Yep, this young American's a weirdo through and through. When he's not tearing it up on classics or prepping for his first-ever Tour de France, he's sporting some John Lennonesque glasses, experimenting with his facial hair (mustache not excluded) and posting some of his rather impressive pencil art.
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Your Next RideChris Froome
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While you can certainly call the three-time Tour champion weird for his unorthodox riding style that makes him look like a gimp, sickly greyhound struggling to pedal up a mountain, there's more weirdness to this British cyclist than meets the eye. Froome, who was born and raised in Africa, is also an avid spear fisherman . That's right, he fishes ... with spears.
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Your Next RideNacer Bouhanni
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It's no mistake that sprinters take up a good portion of this list. After all, it takes a certain type to rocket up to 45 mph at the end of a 120-mile race. And Nacer Bouhanni, the 26-year-old Cofidis rider, is no exception.
As his youthful looks and speedy acceleration might hint, Bouhanni has experienced his fill of controversy due to what could be described as a hot head. Routinely outspoken regarding his team's management and his adversaries, Bouhanni has even gone so far as to punch a 57-year-old man in the face, which caused him to break his hand and miss last year's Tour de France. A multiple stage winner at both the Vuelta and Giro, Bouhanni is seeking his first stage victory in the Tour.
As his youthful looks and speedy acceleration might hint, Bouhanni has experienced his fill of controversy due to what could be described as a hot head. Routinely outspoken regarding his team's management and his adversaries, Bouhanni has even gone so far as to punch a 57-year-old man in the face, which caused him to break his hand and miss last year's Tour de France. A multiple stage winner at both the Vuelta and Giro, Bouhanni is seeking his first stage victory in the Tour.
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Your Next RideFilippo Pozzato
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While Pozzato isn't on the Tour this year, we couldn't leave him off the list. A two-time Tour stage winner, Filippo "Pippo" Pozzato is a maniac on and off the bike. And we love him to death for it.
Pozzato, who currently rides on the Italian Southeast Pro Cycling Team, is one of the most active social media users, where he regularly tweets and Instagrams his love of Ferraris and tattoos (one of which says only God can judge him). People often wondered if his adventurous lifestyle kept him from remaining serious about cycling and whether he ever reached his full potential. Either way, the wavy-haired Italian rider has made an indelible mark on the cycling world.
Pozzato, who currently rides on the Italian Southeast Pro Cycling Team, is one of the most active social media users, where he regularly tweets and Instagrams his love of Ferraris and tattoos (one of which says only God can judge him). People often wondered if his adventurous lifestyle kept him from remaining serious about cycling and whether he ever reached his full potential. Either way, the wavy-haired Italian rider has made an indelible mark on the cycling world.
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Your Next RideVegard Breen
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As far as social media is concerned, there are a lot of cyclists who take part in the requisite posting pics of themselves or their travels. But some get a little grittier.
Another must-follow during the Tour—even if he's not participating this year—Vegard Breen loves to tweet about his escapades during some of the world's biggest races. From throwing spirits in spectators' faces to stopping in the middle of a stage to eat waffles, Breen certainly has a refreshing, up-to-no-good approach to cycling.
Another must-follow during the Tour—even if he's not participating this year—Vegard Breen loves to tweet about his escapades during some of the world's biggest races. From throwing spirits in spectators' faces to stopping in the middle of a stage to eat waffles, Breen certainly has a refreshing, up-to-no-good approach to cycling.