Dr Hutch: Why racing with panache is so important - if you can pull it off

Panache — the divine attribute that transforms poor judgement into romantic heroism in a bike race

Jens Voigt - a ride who definitely had panache.

(Image credit: Yuzuru Sunada)

In an interview a couple of weeks ago, Alberto Contador talked about the need to race with style, and how in some ways style was more important than winning.

We have heard this argument before. This is our old friend ‘panache’. Defined as ‘reckless courage’, it has been a one-word get-out-of-jail-free card for at least three decades of French bike riding. So it’s nice to see it cross the Pyrenees.

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