Calm before the storm

Tour de France 2025

Wednesday 23 July: Stage 17 Bollène - Valence
By car: 253 km
By bike: 0 km

Tat: E.Leclerc t-shirt and flag; Skoda bucket hat, biscuits salés

On the TV is seems like everyone at every climb is wearing E.Leclerc polka dot T-shirts, hats, flags. In fact it’s taken 21 days, 17 stages, and watching five climbs before the E.Leclerc waggon has arrived, ringing its cowbell and dispensing relatively good polka dot tat at a climb I’m watching. And then another arrives 15 minutes later.

In November, this looked exactly like just the sort of climb Tadej Pogačar might decide to do one of his famous long breaks - it’s the last climb, just over 40 km out. Now he’s got over 4 minutes advantage going into the Alps, so him breaking away seems unlikely. Racing has changed though, and another rider might feel brave enough to try it. We’ll see. 

I arrived fairly early today, but walking up to the climb I passed numerous French families who had made a day of spectating, but equally had to observe the French tradition of déjeuner. Either at the roadside or buried in hedges, picnic tables groaned with great selections of meat, cheeses, salads, baguettes, all accompanied with beer and wine.

 

Just as we were walking off the stage the rain started, and just got harder as I threaded my way through the Alps. There’s a lot more concrete and industry in the valley bottoms compared to the Pyrenees, the environment just seems harsher. I tried to fill up in Valence, today’s finish, but there was no diesel left - I assume the Tour had taken it all. Eventually found a supermarket on the north side of town with fuel. Another long drag after a stage today - 250 km. I didn’t get to my accommodation until 9:45pm

What a strange sport

A week ago, 6 km from the end of stage 11 returning into Toulouse, something happened that would seem strange to non-cycling enthusiasts. Race leader Tadej Pogačar, in yellow, caught the wheel of another rider, and slid along the road and hit a kerb. Fortunately he was just bruised, and with a little help from neutral service, was back up on his bike after a few seconds. But even though he was quickly back on the road, with the peloton travelling at 60 kmph they would quickly recede into the distance.

Now here’s the curious thing. As soon as the other riders realised that Pogačar had crashed, but was up riding again, rather than exploit the situation, Vingegaard 1’15” behind him ordered the peloton to wait until Pogačar rejoined them. Why not take the advantage and gain some time ?

Well, cycling is a curious sport. It’s an individualistic sport, but it’s also elevates just one member of that team as winner. I can’t think of another sport like it. It’s also full of traditions, superstitions, and unwritten rules - from the length of socks, to always wearing the number 13 upside down. Only one person can win, but it would be impossible for that person to win without their team. (An interesting diversion would be for ASO to run the Tour as it was in the early days - essentially six 400 km time trials around the edge of France).

It’s probably easiest to explain when there is a breakaway. As long as the breakaway is comprised of riders from different teams, those riders are forced to work together (it’s extremely unusual for one individual rider to succeed). There will be a battle at the end to decide the eventual winner, but unless they work with their opponents, none will have the individual strength to get near the finish line. Similarly, if three or four riders on one team were to break away (guaranteeing they will work together), the whole peloton behind them (all the other teams) will work together to bring back the break. Alliances and co-operation are essential to success.

These alliances can change each day, perhaps many times within one day. In the same vein, riders or teams who refuse to co-operate will be remembered, and paid back perhaps days later. Sometimes it’s as simple as a different team giving a rider a water bottle.

It’s within this framework that a whole series of unwritten rules has emerged. Principally, if a leading rider has an accident or mechanical issue, then their opponents won’t take advantage. You never know when you might be in the same situation.

Likely spot me tomorrow at : Moütiers (34 km remaining)

Tomorrow's T-shirt: GreyTour de France

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