The most grueling endurance event I know of, the Tour de France simply has no equal. Lasting nearly the whole monht of July, the Tour requires the best out of every cyclist almost every day for a whole month, over mountains, across fields and time trials. If you don’t know how the Tour works, better read last year’s post before going on.
Before telling out about this year’s race, first another brief primer. Every day, every rider sets out and tries to do the best they can. Most race in a pack, with racers from all teams clumped together, because being together reduces drag and makes pedaling easier. When a handful of riders break ahead the idea is to stick together and share the time ‘at the front’ doing the hard work. There is a racer who gets to the finish-line first and every day the winning racer is crowned that stage’s winner. In addition to an individual stage winner, there is also the yellow jersey which goes to the rider with the best overall time. Sometimes that jersey hardly changes hands, sometimes it changes nearly every day.
When you ride that close, you’re bound to bump elbows.
This year a TV car caused a crash when it tried to avoid a tree. At one point in stage 7 (we’ve had 9 so far) there was a crash that involved some 80 riders. Last year’s winner and this years race favorite has crashed at least four times this year. He now sits over 4 minutes out of first place. But crashes alone aren’t why I follow the Tour, I follow it because it is the best television I’ve ever seen.
Every day these men set out to ride a bike as hard and as fast as they can, around 5 hours each day, for over three weeks straight. They work as team to ‘share’ the work and support their lead riders while chasing and forcing their adversaries to work harder.
Ever since Team Garmin was created I’ve been rooting for them. The reason: they take drug testing very seriously and go far beyond what is required of them to prove they are clean. In the second stage, the team time trial, Garmin won its first ever stage. They also propelled one of their riders into the overall first place spot, which he managed to keep for the week. Thor (yes, the Thunder God) lost that lead over this past weekend but he isn’t out yet. Will he be able to rebound or won’t he? It’ll take two full weeks of riding to find that out.
Right now though, none of the riders expected to win are leading. The ‘expected’ rider doing the best is in 5th and is over 2 minutes out of first. Last year’s race was decided by well under 60 seconds. In the meantime, one rider is on a pace to set the record for most individual stage wins EVER. He has 17 so far, and needs 22 to set that record.
Competition, drama, teams, what isn’t there to love?
eva hamori says
We are moving to France to buy a B&B and can not wait to see le tour de France among other amazing things Europe has to offer! Great to find you!
eva
Mark Wiens says
Great report Jillian!
I’m also a big fan of watching the Tour De France, the determination and perseverance of the bike riders is really impressive.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista says
I’ll admit it, I’m not the biggest fan of the Tour but I really did enjoy reading your post. Your excitement is very contagious! When it is on in my house, I do enjoy seeing the beautiful countryside.
Geoff says
haha, something else we have in common! I’m a tour addict too, and am currently spending my afternoons at work hoping my boss won’t notice that i’m glued to my screen watching online instead of working. It’s been a fantastic race so far this year – watching johnny hoogerland up on the podium after his horrific crash was one of the most emotional sporting moments i’ve ever seen.
and obviouslyi’m loving watching Mark Cavendish (as a fellow Brit) win stages yet again, he is quite a phenomenon. I think I’m going to have to go out and watch a stage in person next year
Danny says
I’m just excited I figured out how to get the audio streaming on the internet on this side of the pond. Versus want’s you to pay $30…. Cavendish is pretty amazaing
jamie - cloud people adventures says
huuuuugggee tour fan here, and cycling in general. actually a mate of mine used to ride for slipstream, which is now garmin. from down under, all our hopes this year are pinned on cadel! and man he is looking good so far. i was lucky enough to catch the champs elysey stage live a few years back. incredible experience.
Danny says
your friend by chance able to have Team Garmin send a free jersey my way 🙂 haha. Very cool that he used to ride for slipstream!
Scott - Quirky Travel Guy says
I used to follow the Tour pretty closely, it can be fun. It does drive me nuts that so many cars are driving with them… seems completely pointless and hazardous.
Danny says
Sounds like the Tour has laid down the law on the drivers since the accident. Absolutely ridiculous that it could be allowed to happen in the first place.
Jeremy Branham says
It’s an unbelievable race of endurance! Can’t say I am a huge fan of it but I completely respect what these guys do every day. They are amazing athletes. The crashes this year have been brutal but there doesn’t seem as much interest from an American point of view as most of the American riders are back in the pack and don’t have much of a chance.
Jillian says
Americans are fickle fans aren’t we? I think cycling continues to get more and more popular every year in the U.S., but without a superstar you don’t hear about it as much! I think if there were more “American” teams Americans in general would be more interested in following the sport.
The Travel Chica says
The crashes are so devastating. It’s the part I hate to see on television or read about online. Whether it costs someone the win or causes serious injuries, definitely the worst part of the race.
Jillian says
They are really err.. spectacular sometimes. I always feel awful for the cyclist that falls, but they seem to take it in stride. Before we started really following the tour I didn’t realize how MANY crashes there are in professional cycling. Seems rather dangerous!
Mom McKnight says
Your right Americans are fikle when it comes to the Tour de France. If we don’t have a front runner ( biker) we as american don’t report the race. The race in Philly each year has more and more spectators. 17degree incline up and the Mananuk Hill for each lap is truely grueling.
Mom McKnight says
Sorry computer keys sticking. fickle and up and down Mananuk Hill