The peloton pays tribute to Portal

icolas Portal’s genial nature made him a very popular directeur sportif both inside and outside the peloton, and tributes flooded in after. “I have been at a loss for words since I heard the news,” wrote the four-time Tour de France winner, on Instagram. “Aside from what an amazing friend, father and husband Nico was, I don’t think people understand how important and influential Nico was in our team’s success over the years. He is completely irreplaceable to the point where it’s hard to imagine where to go from here.”