Tour de France

Aliengod3

Active member
I have watched it so far and a little bit of last year and I do not get how it works... They have teams yet there is only one individual winner? How does that work?
 

freakinacage

Well-known member
well, thats why it\'s on every year

edit - no serious replies so i might as well add something helpful

as i understand it (i used to be into it when miguel indurain was winning a lot but havent watched it in ages), it works like the motor racing with points etc
 

matty1001

New member
It\'s based on times and how well the riders did in the time trials, also there is a point system, with different point values for different stages.

I\'v not watched it for a year or two though.

Peace and love...
 

Aidan K

New member
There are a number of competitions within the race, some individual, but also between teams.

The yellow jersey goes to the fastest individual rider across all the stages (the most prestigious as you have to be able to sprint AND climb mountains).

The green jersey is for the sprinters (based on points for winning stages in the sprint finishes). The polka dot jersey is for the king of the mountains, basically being the first up all the really really big climbs. The white jersey is for the fastest young rider (under 23 i think).

The team classification is based on the fastest five riders for each team.

Teams are important as there are many different roles required. Generally there is the top one or two riders who are the teams bids for the overall win. Then there may be specialists who seek to help the rider, either by being good sprinters or assisting in the climbs. Then there are the poor sods on the team whose job it is to ride up and down the field transporting food and drinks to the rest of the team (the domestiques).

There is strategy as well. You may want to put a team mate in a breakaway to make the pace high or to cover the break and try to slow it down. You can save 30-35% effort by riding in another cyclists slipstream at the speeds they go, so that is another function of teams.

Fun facts for the day! :D
 

supervike

Super Moderator
Cool facts there.


My only comment is I love how sports announcers will pronounce the event.

Some will try the long a, to make it sound more international.

Tour de fraaaanz

Then some just say it to rhyme with ants.

Tour de frants.

It\'s fun!
 

Aliengod3

Active member
Originally posted by Aidan K
There are a number of competitions within the race, some individual, but also between teams.

The yellow jersey goes to the fastest individual rider across all the stages (the most prestigious as you have to be able to sprint AND climb mountains).

The green jersey is for the sprinters (based on points for winning stages in the sprint finishes). The polka dot jersey is for the king of the mountains, basically being the first up all the really really big climbs. The white jersey is for the fastest young rider (under 23 i think).

The team classification is based on the fastest five riders for each team.

Teams are important as there are many different roles required. Generally there is the top one or two riders who are the teams bids for the overall win. Then there may be specialists who seek to help the rider, either by being good sprinters or assisting in the climbs. Then there are the poor sods on the team whose job it is to ride up and down the field transporting food and drinks to the rest of the team (the domestiques).

There is strategy as well. You may want to put a team mate in a breakaway to make the pace high or to cover the break and try to slow it down. You can save 30-35% effort by riding in another cyclists slipstream at the speeds they go, so that is another function of teams.

Fun facts for the day! :D

Sounds like a pain in the butt
 

Aidan K

New member
I love cycling for the sake of it too. Back in my old town there were a huge variety of terrain really close, flat coastline, forrests, hilly goodness etc. Sadly i left my bike behind in NZ and have yet to get one here in the states.

Watching the tour is making me restless! It is also making me want to get an expensive bike, which is unfortunately a pipe dream on my salary.
 
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