Is this your first year of watching the Tour de France? Even if it isn't, you might have a few burning questions about some aspects of the race. If you're not clear about the history of the Tour and how and why it first started, what an echelon is, what the different classification jerseys mean, and many of the other peculiar details of the the world's greatest bike race, this lovely animation explains all.
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Tour de France explained in animated video

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David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He’s a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He’s mildly competitive, though he’ll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur – Just Ride Bikes.
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Latest Comments
Today's TDF stage was pure theatre.👏
@Pub bike Exactly. So many people act like they need something just like a motorbike, claiming they need it to 'keep up with traffic' in spaces where a motorbike is legal. I have no issue with you getting an electric motorbike and riding it at 30mph. What I do object to is you riding something with the power to do that in a bike lane, and the mere hint that someone might think it OK to ride one on a shared path is the best way to ensure that all bikes, certainly all currently legal pedal assist, bikes are banned from shared paths and pedestrianised zones. The simple fact that some people want these demonstrates that we can't rely on people being sensible with more powerful bikes.
Whereas I want brazed or welded steel or titanium. When we had to have tight fitting lugs for 753, I wanted the lugs as plain as possible. Just as well people have different tastes. I had a hankering for 953 frame and fork but eventually reconciled myself to a carbon fork when I found that they didn't, after all, crack or turn into carbon dust after a couple of years - I now have a carbon fork which seems fine after 26 years. Then I found that the steel for 953 had to come from the USA, and production is now paused due to tariff wars, so I switched consideration to 853. Then I found that the steel for 853 has to come from Germany, so I thought 'Sod it, I'll go for Fairlight 853 welded in Taiwan' which is the present plan.
One may wonder how much of his personal money has Froomey injected into his own Foundation. The man's net worth reportedly amounts to $45 to 50 million. Four days at 10 grand, I'll have to pass because my banker rejected my request for a loan.
The team's operations and security manager should be fired for gross negligence. Vans and trucks carrying pro bikes can no longer be left unattended because thieves are on the lookout for this light, fast and expensive stuff. There is a market for stolen top-of-the-range bicycles. That's a known fact.
These 'we want more legal electric speed and if we don't get it we'll spite you all by getting an illegal electric motorbike' frequently crop up from idiots in EAPC topics. The reply is NO!
I just love these old, beautiful, hand crafted bikes! From the artistic head badges to the striking, sculpted lugs. However, I noticed in the original rusty photo, the brakes are center pull and 'new' brakes are side pull. Which did it originally come with? I did see, of course, that you did make some changes from the original.
@chrisonabike Maybe they do travel further in motor vehicles. I'd hazard a guess the average distance travelled by bicycle is far far higher for Europeans than USAsians though.
@Paul J guessing that in some parts of the US that's still a reasonable position to take? Don't people in the US (and Canada) travel significantly further than Europeans? Some outside of central urban cores a LOT further? And even people travelling short distances are likely drive because most places are set up for that. There *are* some slightly less active-travel-unfriendly places but I didn't appreciate just how far motornormativity had progressed until I travelled there.
I now have both as well. Nice for recording descents, especially off road in Thailand! As for the bus driver, although they didn't cross the white line they should still give 1.5m of passing space, the same as if there was no separate lane. Disappointing, but not surprising. Next time I'll probably make a complaint direct to the company, as I did regarding this Morrisons delivery driver who pulled out from a side road when, to be fair I was a little way away, but then proceeded to bully his way through past parked cars on his side of the road, forcing me to a complete stop. I did actually get a reply stating they had taken action, but not what due to confidentiality. Hoping it was education rather than disciplinary action, even a quiet word and getting him to watch my footage would have been fine! https://youtu.be/0-xGdrfsBe0?is=6p1uxvOKwTEXWAJv
8 thoughts on “Tour de France explained in animated video”
I love stuff like this – I’ve
I love stuff like this – I’ve sent it to my friends so they’ll maybe understand my strange July obsession 🙂
Enjoyed that. Thank you.
Enjoyed that. Thank you.
that deserves a wider
that deserves a wider audience….
This is superb
This is superb
Terrific video. And my
Terrific video. And my assembly for Monday planned. Thanks.
Loved hearing that accent
Loved hearing that accent saying words like ‘mountain’ and ‘donkey work’
Is it possible to tell if
Is it possible to tell if someone has an underbite from the way they sound?
great vid especially as it
great vid especially as it sounds just like a stella cidre advert