What would Nietzsche say as Vingegaard’s coach?

A new podcast examines cycling through the lens of philosophy as Jonas Vingegaard prepares to defend his Tour de France title, reports DR.

As the Tour de France begins, a podcast titled Tanker og Tandhjul offers listeners a chance to reflect on the sport’s deeper themes. Sune With, a philosophy PhD student at Aarhus University, argues that cycling lends itself to philosophical analysis more than other sports.

“Cycling is about breaking free from our normal moral code and embracing the inner Übermensch, giving it everything you’ve got,” With says. He highlights the sport’s aesthetic—its wildness, endurance, and historical legacy—as key to its philosophical appeal.

The podcast, born from casual coffee-machine discussions among academics, explores themes like suffering, melancholy, and the aesthetics of struggle. Different philosophers offer varying perspectives on how Vingegaard might approach the race, whether through Nietzsche’s Übermensch or Hartmut Rosa’s theories.

“It’s contemplative, a kind of suffering, a melancholy,” With adds. “Some episodes delve into myths and the aesthetics of pain, the historical grandeur, and the warrior ethos.”