Tour de France
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
We are not avid followers of the Tour de France, but enjoy catching up with it from time to time. It can be very exciting, nerve-racking even, as dozens of cyclists jostle for position on the country roads of France. It is a race of many races, over 2,200 miles in twenty-one stages. It is completed in twenty-three days, with two rest days, and encompasses speed trials, mountain stages and a final exhilarating sprint finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Something between twenty and twenty-three teams take part, each fielding eight riders. Thus, at the start of the first stage, some 184 riders set off. Around a quarter to a fifth of the riders will not finish, because of accident, illness, or sheer exhaustion.
In addition to the cyclists, there are about forty-five motor-bikes, carrying photographers and video cameras, or race officials and sometimes medical professionals. There are also two official team cars per team, transporting spare bikes, tools, refreshments, and sometimes doctors. Many more cars engaged in support roles.
The Tour de France is a huge logistical undertaking and is enthusiastically supported by onlookers, some of whom get dangerously close to the action. One person was knocked down by a team car on Saturday. I think he was shaken rather than badly hurt, but he really should have been more aware. It should be no surprise to bystanders that dozens of cyclists will be passing at speed, with following cars and motor bikes. In the excitement of the moment, personal safety can take a back seat. The bruises will be a reminder for a few days, no doubt.
The drug scandals of a few years ago seem to have abated, but the stamina and endurance of these outstanding athletes is phenomenal. It is astonishing to realise how fast the cyclists ride. The average speed is twenty-six miles an hour (forty-two kilometres per hour) dropping to twelve mph (twenty kph) on the mountain stages, Descents can be frighteningly fast to watch, particularly on wet surfaces or in fog.
When accidents happen, it is amazing to see how quickly the piles of bikes are cleared and how many riders remount, often on new machines. Some casualties are unable to continue, but it is not unusual to see riders with bandages and torn jerseys or shorts. Often, dressings are changed or refreshed by medics in cars as the cyclists ride alongside. Painkillers are also administered.
The following day, those bruised and battered bodies will mount their bikes once more for another gruelling day in the saddle after a rest day on Monday.
As a complete contrast, we switched to the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in the Solent off Portsmouth, with some rather over-excited commentary. Race sailing is a totally different beast to recreational sailing, and the boats are specially built to participate. It’s amazing to watch and requires a different kind of athleticism and nimble-mindedness.
I've seen bits and pieces of this race and what they do is unbelievable. They are incredibly tough.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's quite an event. I have never watched it. It's on a specialty channel, but I probably wouldn't watch anyway. I do or did like to cycle, however.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of the bike races, the bit I see on the news is more than enough, ditto most other sports.
ReplyDeleteI've looked at some days racing since tennis finished - their speed is incredible.
ReplyDeleteI find they all look the same until they take off those helmets and goggles and then you see they are actually individuals!
An excellent read on this sport. I am glad to know this information.
ReplyDeleteI've only watched a lot of Le Tour once, the first time after I returned from England. My body was still in the UK time zone. It is shown live here quite late at night, into the morning. I enjoyed watching it, especially the gorgeous scenery and villages. The average speed is very impressive. Has the drug use stopped? Or are the drugs less detectable. The pile ups add excitement.
ReplyDeleteEverything used to stop for the Tour de France when my grandfather was alive. The logistics of it is amazing and the dedication of the cyclists is incredible.
ReplyDeleteWhat an exhilarating contrast between the relentless endurance of the Tour de France and the high speed precision of SailGP; both thrilling spectacles that showcase the extraordinary skill and resilience of elite athletes in such different arenas.
ReplyDeleteI admit that I find neither sport appealing but most of my friends are avid fans of the Tour, being keen cyclists themselves who have competed in the past.
ReplyDeleteThe Tour de France isn't something I follow but it was rather exciting back in 2014 when the Grand Depart was held in Yorkshire, there was no getting away from it then.
ReplyDeleteRather than dishing out sleeping pills, doctors should prescribe half an hour watching "Le Tour de France" on TV. Zzzzzzzzzz!
ReplyDeleteI'm not much for following any kind of sport but that would take real dedication to do something like that.
ReplyDeleteI don't grasp the attraction of any kind of racing. The mindset is certainly different. But some people are devoted to it, or watching.
ReplyDeleteMy late husband was a competitive cyclist as a young man, good enough to go professional but he had young children and the pay at that time was too low. So he kept his day job and stayed amateur. We always watched the Tour and really enjoyed it. It was the only sport we watched I still watch what I can find on youtube but don’t have the special channel that carries the Tour de France
ReplyDeleteInteresting about race sailing-Christine cmlk79.blogspot .com
ReplyDeleteI always find it amazing how those cyclists maneuver in such a tight pack a times in the race. That would freak me out.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the Tour when it's been in our news from time to time. Sadly, nothing about it as politics dominates our horizons.
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