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Defector

Patrick Redford

Tadej Pogacar celebrates on the podium with the overall leader's yellow jersey after the 20th stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race

Cycling

Tadej Pogacar And The Boredom Of Perfection

A float for the Cochonou brand in the Tour de France caravan, with spectators reaching out to it as it passes.

There Is No Tour de France Without The Tour de Brands

My Tour de France Lunches, Reviewed

Valentin Paret-Peintre of France and Team Soudal Quick-Step and Ben Healy of Ireland and Team EF Education - EasyPost sprint at finish line to win during Stage 16 of the 112th Tour de France 2025.

France Finally Has Something To Smile About At The Tour

Spectators crowd the ascent of Hautacam during the 12th stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 180.6 km between Auch and Hautacam, in the Pyrenees mountains of southwestern France, on July 17, 2025.

The Tour de France Is For The Polyglots, For Now

Accredited media motorcycles and race direction vehicles precede the pack of riders (peloton) as they cycle during the 14th stage of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 182.6 km between Pau and Luchon-Superbagneres, in the Pyrenees mountains of southwestern France, on July 19, 2025.

Media Meltdowns

An Anatomy Of The Doping Story That Has The Tour de France Press Room Buzzing

Julian Alaphilippe of France and Team Tudor Pro Cycling (celebrating wrongly) and Wout Van Aert of Belgium and Team Visma.

Julian Alaphilippe Loses, Celebrates, And Learns To Smile About It

Markus Hoelgaard of Norway and Team Uno-X Mobility competes during the 112th Tour de France 2025, Stage 14 a 182.6km stage from Pau to Luchon-Superbagneres.

A Day Inside The Tour de France From The Neutral Service Car

Fans throng a rider on the way up the Hautacam during Stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France.

Feral Belgians, Superfan Gendarmes, And Tattered Cyclists At The Tour de France’s First Summit Finish

Stage winner Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway and Team Uno-X Mobility and Mauro Schmid of Switzerland and Team Jayco AlUla sprint at finish line during the 112th Tour de France 2025, Stage 11 a 156.8km stage from Toulouse to Toulouse

What It’s Like To Lose From The Winning Move

Ben Healy of Ireland and Team EF Education - EasyPost celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 112th Tour de France, Stage 6 a 201.5km stage from Bayeux to Vire Normandie

Ben Healy Wins One For The Romantics

Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth stage of the 2025 Tour de France cycling, Amien Metropole - Rouen (173 km), on Tuesday 08 July 2025 in France. The 112th edition of the Tour de France starts on Saturday 5 July in Lille, France, and will finish in Paris, France on the 27th of July. BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS (Photo by JASPER JACOBS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)

Tadej Pogacar Strikes The First Blow With Some “Pure Racing”

SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHATEAUX, FRANCE - JULY 17: (L-R) Jonas Vingegaard Hansen of Denmark and Team Visma | Lease a Bike - Polka dot Mountain Jersey, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates - Yellow Leader Jersey, Biniam Girmay of Eritrea and Team Intermarche - Wanty - Green Sprint Jersey, Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and Team Alpecin - Deceuninck and Thomas Gachignard of France and Team TotalEnergies prior to the 111th Tour de France 2024, Stage 17 a 177.8km stage from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Superdevoluy 1500m / #UCIWT / on July 17, 2024 in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

Your Guide To The 2025 Tour de France

LE GRAND BORNAND, FRANCE - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Audrey Cordon-Ragot of France and Team Human Powered Health and a general view of the peloton competing during the 3rd Tour de France Femmes 2024, Stage 7 a 166.4km stage from Champagnole to Le Grand Bornand 1265m / #UCIWWT / on August 17, 2024 in Le Grand Bornand, France. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

How Team Tactics Shape The Tour de France, And Vice Versa

The pack of the Tour de France cross a railway line during a stage of the Great Loop, in July 1933. (Photo by STF / AFP) (Photo credit should read STF/AFP via Getty Images)

How To Watch Cycling

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Ace Bailey (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted fifth overall by the Utah Jazz during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

After All That, Ace Bailey Ends Up In Utah

ESPN’s NBA Finals Coverage Was A Pretty Rough Watch

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 13: Andrew Nembhard #2 celebrates with Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter of game five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on May 13, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Pacers defeated the Pacers 114-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Pacers Were Too Cool To Make Sense

Basketball: NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss victorious holding Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy with Kareen Abdul-Jabbar (L) and Bob McAdoo after winning game and series vs Boston Celtics at Boston Garden. Game 6.

With The Lakers Sale, The NBA’s Old Ownership Class Is Nearly Extinct

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 23: United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino, Christian Pulisic #10, and Tyler Adams #4 on the field after playing Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League third place match at SoFi Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Soccer

The USMNT Is Going Nowhere

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 13: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers attempts a layup against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game Four of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Finals Good As Hell

David Roth

Kathryn Xu

Brandy Jensen

Cyclists in a race are in the background. There is a house or wall on the left side of the road. There is a man in front, looking at the peloton, squatting halfway with his arms spread just past his knees. Next to him in the center of the road is a bicycle laid across the ground.

Defector Reads A Book

Tim Krabbe’s ‘The Rider’ Won Us Over By Losing

Why ‘The Rider’ Is The Best Sports Book I’ve Ever Read

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 21: Veronica Burton (center) #22 of the Golden State Valkyries celebrates with her team after the Valkyries beat the Washington Mystics at Chase Center on May 21, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

WNBA

The Golden State Valkyries Are Beloved And Ahead Of Schedule

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 04: Aaron Wiggins #21 of the Oklahoma City Thunder brings the ball up court in the first half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 04, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)