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weshipyourride · 2 years ago

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Spotlight on the Tour de France

Every summer virtually the entire cycling world turns its attention to one event. It’s the grandest of the Grand Tours. With nicknames like Le Grande Boucle (the big loop) and simply Le Tour (The Tour), it’s indicative how highly regarded the Tour de France is compared to other events on the cycling calendar. Even your next door neighbor, who hasn’t touched a bike since he was 10, knows about the big bike race in July and its coveted yellow jersey.

In fact, with the release of Netflix’s compelling new series “The Tour de France: Unchained,” your neighbor might want to meet on the front lawn to talk about the highly anticipated battle between two-time Tour winner Tadej Pogačar and 2022 defending champion Jonas Vingegaard, in what will be the 110th Tour de France.

This year’s Tour, with Le Grand Départ in Spain’s Basque Country on July 1, features a plethora of general classification hopefuls looking to join Pogačar and Vingegaard as leaders of a new generation of Tour superstars. As fans and participants of stage racing are aware, one day’s performance does not define a race. The Tour’s epic three weeks of racing allows ample time for a cycle of triumph, despair, disappointment and redemption. The 2022 Tour saw that cycle play out for Team Jumbo-Visma, making for an exciting and unexpected finish with Jonas Vingegaard wearing the yellow jersey on the final podium.

Tadej Pogačar looks to retake his throne and reestablish his reign as a dominating Tour figure after winning the 2020 and 2021 Tours. A three-peat seemed within his grasp through much of the 2022 campaign. However, an unrelenting Vingegaard, supported by green jersey winner Wout van Aert and the rest of his Jumbo-Visma teammates, snatched the yellow jersey away late. This marked the first time in more than half a century that the yellow jersey and green jersey adorned members of the same team at the end of the Tour.

Pre-Tour anticipation has been focused on the Vingegaard-Pogačar duel, but with stage 1 being what Velo calls “arguably the hardest opening stage the Tour de France peloton has ever faced on a Tour’s opening day,” new story lines could develop from day one.

And when rising American rider Matteo Jorgenson of Team Movistar makes a mark, the contribution of the time he took refuge in the Bikeflights van during a thunderstorm at Amateur Road Nationals several years ago cannot be discounted.

As a company of passionate cyclists, not to mention the Official Bicycle Shipping Service of the Tour de France, intra-office communications are abuzz with Le Tour excitement.

Customer Experience Manager Gordon Wadsworth feels the extra energy and excitement every year as July approaches, and imagines the effects it may have on him as a cyclist on his local roads.

“It’s so fun during the month of July that cycling gains this extra bit of cultural relevance here in the US. That makes me as a rider feel a bit special and maybe gives my legs that extra sparkle at every red light!” Gordon says.

Gordon also revels in simply spectating what he calls “the road racing discipline executed to its absolute pinnacle.”

International Customer Service Associate Ali Goulet echoes his appreciation for the opportunity to sit back and witness an extended display of the apex of bike racing.

“July is my favorite month for the simple fact that the Tour de France brings you bike racing all day almost every day!” Ali says.

Others, like Customer Support Associate Sunny Singh, find the exhibition of power, endurance, and determination awe-inspiring.

“After having participated in a few races of my own, I can't even imagine the level of athleticism required to complete the tour. It is such an extraordinary thing to witness!" Sunny says.

Like many of us, Sunny can’t help but compare the racers’ enormous efforts to his own July rides.

“I can't wait to see their Strava activity and compare it to my own effort on my road bike."

Bikeflights Vice President Sue George shares in the excitement for the racing, but also finds herself deeply appreciating the terrain and scenery as a cyclist.

“I love seeing all the beautiful places that the route takes the peloton,” she says.

But she won’t be appreciating the terrain and scenery from behind a screen this year.

“This year will be extra special because I’ll actually be riding my bike on a bike tour in France as the Tour is occurring. And while my route and this year’s Tour route won’t overlap, it will be fun to ride some passes that have been in Tours past and experience what it’s like to be in France as the Tour is happening.”

So whether you’re a Tour superfan hanging on every pedal stroke like a GC leader on a challenger’s wheel, or just looking for some inspiration to take that neighborhood climb a little faster, the Tour has something for every cyclist.

And if you get inspired to ship your bike to France to take on Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc like in stage 15 of this year’s Tour, or maybe you just want to talk about the grueling second week of the Tour as racers endure one Category 1 climb after another, ignoring every signal their bodies can throw at them to stop, and inducing physical pain in those of us just sitting on our couches watching, you know where to find us.

#bikeflights #shipthebestway #weshipyouride #bicycleshipping #bikeshipping #toudefrance #letour

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magicbench · 5 years ago

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*~Update February/Février 2020~*

[Copy/Paste from my Patreon]

It's already February 26th and I feel like it's been ages I haven't wrote down news although it was only last month xD I have both a lot to say and... not so much, in fact...

*First, let's get started with Fujiwara Bittersweet's update!*

The writing is done for a while now and I searched for some additional proofreaders to split the work between them. Seems the project isn't a small one, like I first thought (> o <) Talking about the proofreading, Toshio's route is fully edited, while Ikki, Ryu and Haru are in progress. Kenji will be next once the person in charge of Ryu is done, and Yuta... his state is still uncertain... (hang in there Yuta!).

As for adding the ressources in Renpy (sprites, background, music, etc), I'm done with Ikki's Main route, which is beta-tested right now, and I'll be done soon with Toshio's Main route. It shouldn't take me too long to finish adding his Friend and Sweet routes on Renpy, and he will be most probably be followed by either Haru or Ryu next~

The graphics are all done too, beside the CGs that I'm drawing with the flow O/

In conclusion... the project is making really good progress so far and I hope I'll be able to release it in April (still no promises, but it would be really cool !)

*Now about Colors of Fate*

Not so much to say about it for now, since it's still at the stage of being brainstormed. But if all goes well, all the team members should be available to start working on it in March~

I can't wait to talk about it more, really! (> w <)

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I think that's all for now, I'm really excited to think that Fujiwara Bittersweet will might be done sooner than I thought (crossing fingers for April) and to see/hear people reactions and feedback about the characters and their stories! ❤

★Take care and see you later ★

On est déjà le 26 Février et j'ai l'impression que ça fait des années que je n'ai pas posté de news, alors que ça ne fait qu'un mois seulement xD J'ai à la fois plein de choses à dire et... pas tant que ça, en fait...

*D'abord, Fujiwara Bittersweet !*

L'écriture est terminée depuis un moment et j'ai cherché des des relecteurs qui pourraient se partager le travail entre eux. On dirait bien que le projet n'était pas aussi petit que ce que je le pensais au départ (> o <) En parlant de la relecture, la route de Toshio est entièrement corrigée, alors qu'Ikki, Ryu et Haru sont toujours en progrès. Kenji sera le prochain une fois que la personne en charge de Ryu aura fini, et Yuta... je saurais pas trop vous dire, c'est compliqué... (courage Yuta!).

Quant à l'addition des ressources dans Renpy (sprites, décors, musique, etc), j'ai terminé avec la route principale d'Ikki, qui est actuellement beta-testée, et je vais bientôt aussi avoir fini avec la route principale de Toshio. Ça ne devrait pas prendre trop de temps avant que je n'ajoute sa "Friend" et "Sweet" route dans Renpy, et il sera très certainement suivi de près soit par Haru, soit par Ryu~

Les graphismes sont également finis, mis à part les CGs que je dessine au fur et à mesure.

En conclusion, le projet avance plus rapidement que ce que je ne pensais à l'origine et j'espère pouvoir le publier en Avril (je ne promets rien, mais je ça serait vraiment cool !)

*Et maintenant, Colors of Fate*

Pas grand chose à dire de ce côté là, puisque ce projet en est toujours à l'étape d'être "brainstormé". Mais si tout va bien, tous les membres de l'équipe seront près à travailler dessus en Mars~

J'ai vraiment hâte de vous en parler plus en détail (> w <)

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Je crois que c'est tout pour l'instant, je suis vraiment excitée à l'idée que peut-être, Fujiwara Bittersweet sera terminé plus vite que prévu (on croise les doigts pour Avril) et de voir/entendre les réactions des gens par rapport aux personnages et leurs histoires! ❤

★Prenez soin de vous et à la prochaine★

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P.S : Screenshots (^ o^)/

#fujibittersweet #otome #otomedev #visualnovel #vndev #indiedev

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spookycathymorshaw · 4 years ago

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This is an excerpt of the first chapter of the Phantom of the Opera's novel by the French author Gaston Leroux, read by me for the Gothic lit chat's birthday.

[Audio description :

Chapitre 1 : Est-ce le fantôme ?

Ce soir-là, qui était celui où MM. Debienne et Poligny, les directeurs démissionnaires de l’Opéra, donnaient leur dernière soirée de gala, à l’occasion de leur départ, la loge de la Sorelli, un des premiers sujets de la danse, était subitement envahie par une demi-douzaine de ces demoiselles du corps de ballet qui remontaient de scène après avoir « dansé » Polyeucte. Elles s’y précipitèrent dans une grande confusion, les unes faisant entendre des rires excessifs et peu naturels, et les autres des cris de terreur.

La Sorelli, qui désirait être seule un instant pour « repasser » le compliment qu’elle devait prononcer tout à l’heure au foyer devant MM. Debienne et Poligny, avait vu avec méchante humeur toute cette foule étourdie se ruer derrière elle. Elle se retourna vers ses camarades et s’inquiéta d’un aussi tumultueux émoi. Ce fut la petite Jammes — le nez cher à Grévin, des yeux de myosotis, des joues de roses, une gorge de lis, — qui en donna la raison en trois mots, d’une voix tremblante qu’étouffait l’angoisse :

— C’est le fantôme !]

*Side note : I can't be certain of the pronunciation of "Jammes" but I tried the Frenchiest way

English translation of this part (by Alexander Texeira de Mattos) :

CHAPTER I : IS IT THE GHOST?

It was the evening on which MM. Debienne and Poligny, the managers of the Opera, were giving a last gala performance to mark their retirement. Suddenly the dressing-room of La Sorelli, one of the principal dancers, was invaded by half-a-dozen young ladies of the ballet, who had come up from the stage after "dancing" Polyeucte. They rushed in amid great confusion, some giving vent to forced and unnatural laughter, others to cries of terror.

Sorelli, who wished to be alone for a moment to "run through" the speech which she was to make to the resigning managers, looked around angrily at the mad and tumultuous crowd. It was little Jammes—the girl with the tip-tilted nose, the forget-me-not eyes, the rose-red cheeks and the lily-white neck and shoulders—who gave the explanation in a trembling voice:

"It's the ghost!"

#phantom of the opera #le fantome de l'opera #gothic lit #gothic lit chat birthday #glc birthday

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oneburningmatch · 5 years ago

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Fr : Salut là dedans.

On espère que vous allez bien même si le monde devient fou… En même temps, ce n'est pas un phénomène nouveau…

De notre coté, comme pour tout le monde, l'actu vient quelque peu bouleverser nos plans , projets etc …

Comme vous pouvez vous en douter, avec les mesures de confinement et la fermeture des frontières, nous sommes obligés d'annuler nos prochaines dates en France et notre tournée Européenne. Nous avons vu avec les organisateurs, on essaiera de replanifier les dates quand se sera possible.

À ceci s'ajoute que ces dates et cette tournée devaient être nos dernières aventures avec notre guitariste, Max, avec qui nous partagions la scène depuis 8 ans et membre fondateur du groupe… Ce qui rend ces annulations encore plus amers et tristes. On essaiera tout de même de se faire un dernier concert ensemble pour fêter son départ correctement.

L'histoire OxBxM ne s'en termine pas pour autant. Nous allons travailler avec notre nouveau guitariste, Théo, durant les 6 prochains mois qui arrivent. Tenaces, nous reprendrons donc la route pour l'Automne de cette année et reprogrammerons une nouvelle fois cette tournée annulée pour le début de l'année 2021.

Étant donné que baisser les bras n'est pas trop le genre de la maison, on va plutôt regarder devant nous, dessiner le futur et profiter de ce temps de latence pour composer, créer, bosser de nouvelles vidéos etc… Avec ce post, nous allions donc le geste à la parole par le biais de cette petite video faite maison réalisée par Johnny Moustache notre batteur alias Hardcore Coffee et sa chérie Mimi en direct de leur confinement. Merci à eux.

On vous met également ci dessous le texte à qui nous dédions cette vidéo.

En dehors du contexte musicale, quoique lié, il nous reste également les combats que cette crise sanitaire ne doit pas nous faire oublier ou endormir… Les différents fronts écologique, sociale, égalitaire, démocratique ouverts avant cette crise et qui seront toujours à mener après. Nous continuerons d'y apporter notre contribution, aussi humble soit elle, en tant que groupe ou en tant qu'individu.

Quoi qu'il en soit, prenez soin de vous, de vos proches.

Avec plein d'amour.

OxBxM

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Texte accompagnant la vidéo :

22 03 20 – Jour 5 de confinement en France.

Comme tu le sais, cette vidéo sort dans un contexte particulier.

Nous la dédions à tous les groupes qui ont été contraints d'annuler leurs tournées, tous les organisateurs contraints d’annuler leurs dates, toutes les salles, bars, clubs etc… contraints d'annuler la venue des groupes, tous les bénévoles participants aux organisations des événements, tous les intermittents du spectacle travaillant sur des projets annulés. Pour certains pré cités, ce n'est qu'un loisir, une raison de vivre peut-être, ça n'en est pas pour autant moins important.

Nous voulons également la dédier à tous ceux qui, à cause de la situation actuelle, sont contraints de rester chez eux. Et nous aurons une pensée plus forte encore pour les personnes seules, malades de dépression, en situation de handicap dont le confinement va accentuer le sentiment d'isolement… des personnes sans attaches, coupées de leur famille ou sans famille, sans ami.e.s, des personnes isolées, des parents isolés avec leurs enfants, des femmes isolées avec un mari violent… Sans oublier ceux qui à l'inverse ne sont pas en situation de confinement mais dont la situation est déjà difficile à vivre au quotidien… migrants sans refuges, ou encore SDF que l'on verbalise parce que n’étant pas en confinement…

Tout notre respect va aussi aux professionnels de santé qu'il ne suffit pas d'applaudir chaque soir à 20h mais tous les jours de l'année… pour les personnes travaillant en grande surface, toujours là pour remplir les rayons… aux éboueurs encore là pour ramasser tes ordures… aux livreurs qui te livreront ta pizza… aux chauffagistes qui réparera ta chaudière… aux travailleurs sociaux aidant les plus démunis, aux pompiers qui sauvent des vies etc…

En résumé, cette vidéo est pour tous ceux qui, quelle que soit la crise, sont toujours là pour essuyer les plâtres, les plus petits salaires, ceux qui galèrent…

En dépit des circonstances actuelles, gardons les yeux ouverts, l'esprit vif, ne nous laissons pas berné, restons unis et solidaires.

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En : Hey Friends,

We hope you’re fine even if the world is becoming totally crazy…But it’s not really a new phenomena…

By our side, as for everyone, the current events have upset our plans, projects etc …

As you can imagine, with the confinement measures and the closure of the borders, we are forced to cancel our next dates in France and our European tour. We’ve seen with all the promoters, we will try to reschedule these dates when it will be possible.

Add to these circumstances, this tour had to be our last adventures with our guitarist and founder member, Max… We have shared the stage for 8 years together … which makes these cancellations even more bitter and sad. We’ll still try to have a last show together to celebrate his departure correctly.

The OxBxM story doesn’t end here. We will work with our new guitarist, Theo, for the next 6 months to come. Tenacious, we will hit the french roads again in Fall of this year and reschedule again this canceled tour for the beginning of 2021.

Given that giving up is not really the kind of the house, we’ll rather look ahead, draw the future and take advantage of this latency period to compose, create, work on new videos etc … By this post, we put our money where our mouth is with this little homemade video made by our drummer Johnny Moustache aka Hardcore Coffee and his darling Mimi in live from their confinement. Thanks to them.

Below, we’ve put a text for those whose we dedicate this video.

Outside of the musical context, although connected, it remains all the fights that this health crisis should not make us forget or fall asleep… All the different ecological, social, egalitarian, democratic fronts opened before this crisis and which will have to be led after. We will continue to bring our contribution, however humble, as a band or as an individual.

Anyway, take care of yourself and your loved ones.

With all our love.

OxBxM

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Video’s accompanying text :

22 03 20 - Day 5 of confinement in France.

As you know it, this video is released in a particular context.

We dedicate it to all bands who have been forced to cancel their tours, all promoters forced to cancel their dates, all the bars, clubs etc … forced to cancel the welcoming of bands, all volunteers in the organization of events, all intermittent workers who were working or have to work on canceled projects… For some above mentioned, it is only a leisure, perhaps a reason to live , it is not less important.

We also want to dedicate it to all those who, because of the current situation, are forced to stay at home. And we will have an even stronger thought for lonely people, depressed people, people with a handicap situation, those whose this confinement period will accentuate the isolation feeling … people without social ties, cut off from their family or without family, without friends, isolated people, single parents with their children, isolated women with a violent husband … Without forgetting those who, conversely, are not in a situation of confinement but whose the situation is already difficult to live in everyday life … migrants without shelters, or even the homeless who are verbalized because they are not in confinement …

All our respect also goes to health professionals… it’s not enough to applaud them every evening at 8 p.m. but we’ve to do it every days of the year… for people who are working in supermarkets, always there to fill the shelves… garbage collectors still there to collect your garbage… delivery men/women who will deliver your pizza… the heating techician who will repair your boiler… the social workers helping the poorest, firefighters who save lives etc …

To sum up, this video is for all those who, whatever the crisis, are always there on the front line, the lowest wages, those who struggle …

Despite its current circumstances, let’s keep our eyes open, our minds sharp, let’s not be fooled, let’s stay united.

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kevinjnr29 · 5 years ago

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Départ de Paris pour Francfort puis Singapour, je suis jamais sorti de l’Europe, j’ai donc jamais pris l’avion aussi longtemps car 14 heures de vol, c’est long même très long. Je suis à la fois très excité de partir et un peu déçu de ne pas avoir pu profité de l’été avec mes potes.

Après 4 mois c’est déjà la fin de mon stage, il est temps de déménager l’appart et de partir direction le Sud de la France à Aix-en-Provence. (oui je sais le sud c’est cool, il y a du soleil quasi toute l’année et surtout il fait chaud). C’est l’heure de dire au revoir à ses potes parisiens, se serrer dans les bras et de prendre la route dans une voiture pleine à craquer de bagages, planches de skateboard / longboard, un vélo et une paire de ski ! ( et oui il y en avait des choses dans cet appartement mais bon au moins avec cet équipement je peux à la fois skier dans de la bonne poudreuse, surfer sur le bitume, parcourir des kilomètres et vivre de bonnes aventures)

Petit saut à St Denis les Bourg pour dire au revoir à sa petite famille, cousins & grands parents, oncles & tantes puis direction Aix.

Le temps de décharger la voiture, de faire ses valises et de profiter du soleil, il était déjà l’heure de partir direction l’aéroport Charles De Gaulle. On se dit au revoir, on se dit que tout va bien se passer, qu’on se reverra dans 6 mois. Une dernière raclette, une bouteille de blanc et quelques morceaux de fromage & saucisson et voilà parti ! C’était dur quand même de tout quitter pour partir à 13 000 kilomètres de chez soit. J’me dit que je pourrais pas revenir pour les vacances ou même pour passer quelques jours.

Le temps dans le TGV passe vite et me voilà arrivé à l’aéroport, je trouve enfin le moyen d’arriver à l’hôtel en me perdant à plusieurs reprises mais voilà j’y suis. Le temps de dormir quelques heures et faut déjà se lever direction l’aéroport, puis enregistrer ses bagages au comptoir et enfin partir...

Departure from Paris to Frankfurt and then Singapore, I have never left Europe, so I have never taken the plane for so long because 14 hours of flight is long, even very long. I am both very excited to leave and a little disappointed that I couldn't enjoy the summer with my friends.

After 4 months it is already the end of my internship, it is time to move the apartment and leave for the South of France to Aix-en-Provence. (yes I know the south is cool, there is sunshine almost all year round and above all it is hot). It's time to say goodbye to your Parisian friends, hug each other and hit the road in a car packed with luggage, skateboard / longboard boards, a bike and a pair of skis! ( and yes there were some things in this apartment but at least with this equipment I can ski in good powder, surf the asphalt, travel miles and have good adventures)

Small jump to St Denis les Bourg to say goodbye to his little family, cousins & grandparents, uncles & aunts then direction Aix.

By the time the car was unloaded, packed and enjoying the sun, it was already time to leave for Charles de Gaulle Airport. We say goodbye, we say to each other that everything will be fine, that we will meet again in 6 months. One last squeegee, a bottle of white wine and a few pieces of cheese & sausage and off you go! It was still hard to leave everything and leave 13,000 kilometres from home. I told myself I couldn't come back for the holidays or even to spend a few days.

Time in the TGV passes quickly and here I am at the airport, I finally find a way to get to the hotel by getting lost several times but here I am. The time to sleep a few hours and you already have to get up to the airport, then check in your luggage at the counter and finally leave...

#departure #travel #13000kmit'sfar

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sportsclassic · 5 years ago

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Unforgettable images from Tour de France

The 2019 Tour de France was the 106th edition of the Tour de France, one of cycling's three grand tours. The 3,480 km (2,162 mi)-long race consisted of 21 stages, starting on 6 July in Brussels, Belgium, and concluding on 28 July with the Champs-Élysées stage in Paris. The opening stages of the Tour (known as the Grand Départ) were held in Brussels in honour of the 50th anniversary of the first Tour de France win of Eddy Merckx. A total of 176 riders from 22 teams participated in the race. The overall general classification was won by Egan Bernal of Team Ineos who, at age 22, became the third-youngest all time winner of the Tour de France and the youngest ever winner of the yellow jersey (worn since 1919). He is also the first Colombian and Latin American winner of the Tour de France. Teammate Geraint Thomas finished second while Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo–Visma) came in third.

#Cycling #Sports #Tour de France #Tour de France in Pictures #World

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favouritecyclistpoll · 1 year ago

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Semi-Finals, Match Two: Matej Mohorič v. Jonas Vingegaard

Matej Mohorič Propaganda

Jonas Vingegaard Propaganda

He is CUTE, he is SMOL, he has a CUTE NOSE and FRECKLES and EYES AS BLUE AS THE ENDLESS SKY---

OK no but seriously, he's amazing. As absurd as it can sound since this is one of the best riders in the world, he's always the underdog in people's minds. Somehow, no one ever thinks "OK I think Jonas is going to win this stage today", and when he does, they're like "OK he won but he still wasn't out of this world, it's because the others were having a bad day", and when he has a stellar day they're like "HE'S DOPING FOR SURE". It's like nothing he ever does is good enough and YET he doesn't give a fuck and keeps performing despite the pressure.

Being consistently good when everyone expects you to win is talent, but being consistently good when everyone hopes you'll lose is something else too.

And he's an incredible human being to boot. He's kind, he's compassionate, he's sensitive, he doesn't have a mean bone in him, he's affectionate, thoughtful. Remember that time during TdF 2022 when he asked Grischa to tell him if he could slow down at the end of the TT to let Wout win the stage? Yeah. He's that kind of guy.

More under the cut:

He's a crier. It's cute and it makes me want to hug him. He loves his family and he always has a good word for his rivals and he's humble and I relate so much to his introverted personality and he's a cinnamon roll and a cutie patootie. But when he puts on his sunglasses, he looks like A WAR MACHINE.

(but a cute one)

He got a lot of heat when he didn't wait for Sepp on the Angliru during this Vuelta, only the instructions of the team before that clusterfuck stage were to battle it out between them and he probably liked it even less than us because he wanted Sepp to win the Vuelta from the beginning.

And need I say anything about the absolute sportsmanship of this man? When he lost his balance in the Col of Spandelles, TdF 2022, Tadej didn't miss the opportunity and powered away from him, but when Tadej was the one who crashed two minutes later, he waited for him. HE WAITED FOR HIM.

And he made the sport all the better for it and gave us one of the finest images in cycling history.

if you like MvDP, consider that though in these days when van der Poel is showing up with a mullet, Jonas did long hair earlier and better.

though there has been a change of style

If you like WvA, consider that some of the BEST hug pictures only exist due to Jonas being the kind of teammate whom others want to hug AND eminently sized for hugs/lifts

(we've all seen this but we can look at it again)

He's got sportsmanship. He's got incredible skills. He's even a dad! Maybe he's not always good at smiling for the cameras but he can sure smile for his family

Most importantly, he's a TdF winner with the time trial of the year and he cannot ride his goddamn bike without hands without his body language screaming oh god someone help me

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#tumblr’s favourite cyclist poll #poll tournament #cycling #matej mohoric #jonas vingegaard #semifinals #Youtube

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weshipyourride · 2 years ago

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Tour de France Recap

Chapeau bas! That's a wrap on the Tour de France 2022. The culmination of 21 days of racing came to an end over the weekend when the men’s peloton arrived in Paris, France for one last stage. This year’s Tour is already being regarded as one of the best editions in many recent years as it captured the attention of nearly 15 million roadside viewers and about one billion television viewers because it was unpredictable and filled with excitement. To celebrate the completion of the race, we’re sharing a gallery of photos of our favorite moments.

Jonas Vingegaard celebrates victory in the 2022 Tour de France.

The Tour de France Grand Départ was in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Stage 5 of the 2022 Tour de France had 11 sectors of cobblestone roads.

Rigoberto Uran of Team Education First plays to the crowd in Denmark.

The cobblestone roads were one of the most anticipated features in the first week of racing.

Wout van Aert won the stage 4 bunch sprint while wearing the yellow jersey.

By the first rest day, Tadej Pogacar was comfortably in the lead of the general classification.

Tadej Pogacar climbed his way to three stage wins.

The Alps hosted the first mountain stages.

Hugo Houle dedicated his Tour de France stage 16 win to his late brother Pierrick.

The sunflower fields of France are an iconic scene at the Tour.

Stage 20 featured a 40km time trial and was Jonas Vingegaard’s final test before securing the overall victory.

The Tour de France concludes in Paris on several laps of a circuit around the Champs-Élysées.

Jasper Philipsen sprinted for the final stage win on the Champs-Élysées during stage 21.

Jonas Vingegaard won the yellow jersey with a time of 79 hours, 32 minutes and 29 seconds.

Wout van Aert won the green jersey with 480 points.

BikeFlights is the official bicycle shipping service of the Tour de France and we're honored to have been able to be part of 2022's successful race. We’d like to thank Jared and Ashley Gruber for their amazing work to capture so much of the race and for sharing their images with us.

The racing continues with the return of the Tour de France Femmes!

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mimimindy · 7 years ago

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[ENG]Here is my translation of Momoka’s graduation live speech and messages from the other members. I apologize in advance for my bad english >_<. [FR]Voici la traduction du discours de Momoka lors de son dernier live ainsi que les messages que les autres membres lui ont adressé: Reni-chan: [ENG] When you announced that you will quit the group, to be honest the first thing I thought was "You're really stupid!" and I asked you several times if you did not want to change your mind. You must have found me annoying. But I want you to know that they are many things you did I am grateful for: First, when you just joined the group, every time I told you that I could not do this dance step correctly, you always told me "What if you tried like that, or like that ?" while showing me the movement so that I can improve my dance. Also, whenever I was anxious, you took my hand to reassure me. When my foot was injured and that I couldn't do silly things on stage because of this, you did it instead of me. When I had surgery for my foot, when it was my birthday or when I had my solo concert, you always sent me messages. You really supported me a lot. I wondered what will Momoclo become without you. But you have to live your own life so I decided to go forward as 4 member group while having fun from now on. I want the 4 of us to build a new landscape even bigger than now while remembering the one we built with 5 members. I would like you to consider these 8 years together as a treasure. Thank you for all your efforts. [FR] Quand tu nous as annoncé ton départ, pour être honnête la première chose que j'ai pensé c'est "T'es vraiment trop bête !" et je t'ai demandé plusieurs fois si tu ne voulais pas changer d'avis. Tu as du me trouver pénible. Mais sache qu'il y a beaucoup de chose pour lesquelles je te suis reconaissante: D'abord, quand tu venais d'intégrer le groupe, à chaque fois que je te disais que je n'arrivai pas à faire tel pas de danse correctement, tu me disais toujours "et si tu essyais comme ça, ou comme ça" en me montrant comment faire pour que je puisse m'améliorer. Aussi, toutes les fois où j'étais angoissée, tu me prenais la main pour me rassurer. Quand je me suis blessée au pied et que je ne pouvais pas faire l'idiote sur scène, c'est toi qui l'a fait à ma place. Quand je me suis faite opérer pour ma blessure, quand c'était mon anniversaire ou quand j'avais mon concert solo, tu m'as toujours envoyé des messages. Tu m'as vraiment énormément soutenue. Je me suis demandée ce qu'on allait devenir sans toi. Mais toi tu dois vivre ta vie alors j'ai décidé qu'on avancerait désormais à 4 tout en s'amusant. Je veux qu'à 4 on construise un nouveau paysage encore plus grand tout en se souvenant de celui qu'on a construit à 5. Je voudrais que tu considères ces 8 années passées ensemble comme un trésor. Merci pour tous tes efforts. Aarin: First of all, thank you for your work during 8 years. When I think back to all my memories with you, the most memorable is the one when you joined the group. Me too, I joined it after the other member and everyone was very kind to me. So when I heard that a new member was going to join the group, I wanted to welcome her in the same way. Except that she was an incredibly talented girl. You were already famous, so I thought "That's THE Momoka!" and suddenly I had not anything to teach you neither in singing or dancing. But during all the years as Momoclo members, there have been many moments of doubt and I thought I was happy to have been able to be with you during these moments even just a little bit. From today, you will discover many things and I would like you to become happy to the point of you will think "It was the good decision to leave the group". And that you do your best to the point of making us think "She took the good decision by leaving the group". After your departure, I will feel lonely, I will not have anyone next to me in the car anymore and I will not be able to take a picture with you anymore. From now on I intend to do my best with the 3 others while keeping in mind that you had been there with us. Congratulations for these 8 years and thank you for being with us until now. Tout d'abord, merci pour ton travail durant ces 8 années. Quand je repense à tous mes souvenirs avec toi, le plus marquant reste celui du moment où tu as intégrée le groupe. Moi aussi je suis arrivée après les autres et tout le monde a été très gentil avec moi. Alors quand j'ai appris qu'une nouvelle membre allait intégrer le groupe, je voulais l'accueillir de la même manière. Sauf qu'en fait c'était une fille incroyablement douée. Tu étais déjà connue à l’époque, alors je me suis dis "C'est LA Momoka !" et du coup que ce soit en danse ou en chant, je n'avais rien à t’apprendre. Mais durant toutes les années où l'on a été dans les Momoclo, il y a eu beaucoup de moments de doutes et je me dis que j'ai été heureuse d'avoir pu vivre tout ça avec toi ne serait-ce qu'un peu. A partir d'aujourd'hui, tu vas découvrir pleins de choses et j'aimerais que tu deviennes heureuse au point de te dire que tu as bien fait de quitter le groupe. Et que tu fasses de ton mieux au point de nous faire dire à nous "C'est une bonne chose qu'elle ait quitté le groupe". Après ton départ, je vais me sentir seule, je n'aurai plus personne à côté de moi dans la voiture et je ne pourrai plus prendre de photo avec toi. A partir de maintenant je compte faire de mon mieux avec les 3 autres tout en gardant en tête que tu avais été là avec nous. Encore félicitation pour ces 8 années et merci d'avoir été à nos côtés jusqu'à aujourd'hui. Shiorin: Thank you for these 8 years. Suddenly, I realized that it was already 8 years! I remember the day when you joined the group as if it was yesterday. The first thing I thought was "Her hair looks so smooth and silky !" (They laugh.). At the beginning we were the two small ones of the group and now we are the ones with the most difference in term of height. We also share the same blood type but our personnality are total opposite. You keep your blog up to date and you are hard worker while I am not. Sometimes I watched you and I always thought you looked so beautifully calm and serene. And in the group, I saw you a bit like my rival (in a good way). From today we will follow two different paths but the fact that you have been there until now is something irrefutable. I wish you did not forget it. From now on we will do our best with 4 members so that you can know what we become without even having to use your high skill in net research. Merci pour ces 8 années. Tout à coup, j'ai réalisé que ça faisait déjà 8 ans ! Je me rappelle de ton arrivée dans le groupe comme si c'était hier. La première chose que j'ai pensé c'est "ses cheveux semblent tellement lisse et soyeux" (elles rient). Au départ on était les deux petites du groupe et maintenant on est celles avec le plus d'écart en taille. On a aussi le même groupe sanguin mais niveau personnalité on est tout l'opposé l'une de l'autre. Toi tu tiens ton blog à jour et tu es une bosseuse, moi pas du tout. Parfois je t'observais et je me disais toujours que tu avais l'air posée et sereine, je trouvais ça beau. Et dans le groupe, je te voyais un peu comme ma rivale (dans le bon sens du terme). A partir d'aujourd'hui on va suivre deux chemins différents mais le fait que tu aies été là jusqu'à maintenant est quelque chose d'irréfutable. J'aimerais que tu ne l'oublies pas. A partir de maintenant on va faire de notre mieux à 4 pour que tu puisses savoir ce que l'on devient sans même avoir à utiliser tes super compétences en recherches d'informations sur internet. Kanako: You worked hard during these 8 years, congratulations. We shared advices on pills for mouth ulcers. If you ever find new pills, send me a message. (Everybody laugh) Really, I can not imagine the Momoclo with 4 members. But when you announced you leave the group, I understood that deep down, your decision was already taken so I did not say anything. But still there was a part of me that could not digest it and wondered what I was supposed to do. But you too were very anxious and you chose to make this difficult decision alone so I figured the best thing to do was we encourage you. (She thinks for a long time) In fact, there is something very straightforward that I could not tell you until now: I really wanted to celebrate our 10th Anniversary as a 5 members group. (She keeps quiet) There's a part of me that thought we could really do it with 5 members, but suddenly I realized that there is also dreams that would not come true.... From today, we will mutually follow a new path but I wish us all to be able to achieve the new dreams that we will find there and us, we will also do our best with 4 members. Now, follow this new path with a smile and take all our and Mononofu's feelings with you, please. Thank you again for everything you have done so far. Tu as bien travaillé durant ces 8 années. On s'échangeait des conseils sur les cachets pour les aphtes. Si jamais tu trouves des nouveaux cachets, envoie-moi un message. (Tout le monde rit) Vraiment, je n'arrive pas à m'imaginer les Momoclo à 4. Mais quand tu nous as annoncé ton départ, j'ai bien compris qu'au fond de toi, ta décision était déjà prise alors je n'ai rien dit. Mais malgré tout il y avait une part de moi qui n'arrivait pas à le digérer et qui s'est longuement demandée ce que j'étais censée faire. Mais toi aussi tu t'étais beaucoup angoissée et tu as choisi de prendre cette décision difficile toute seule alors je me suis dit que le mieux à faire était que nous t'encouragions. (Elle réfléchit longuement) En fait, il y a quelque chose de très franc et direct que je n'ai pas réussi à te dire: je voulais vraiment qu'on fête les 10 ans du groupe à 5. (Elle fait une pause) Il y a une part de moi qui pensait qu'on pouvait vraiment le faire à 5 mais tout à coup j'ai réalisé que tous les rêves ne se réalisaient pas forcément.... A partir d'aujourd'hui, nous allons mutuellement suivre un nouveau chemin mais je nous souhaite à toutes de pouvoir réaliser les nouveaux rêves que l'on trouvera là-bas et nous de notre côté on fera aussi de notre mieux. Maintenant, avance sur ce nouveau chemin avec le sourire en emportant tous nos sentiments ainsi que ceux des Mononofu avec toi s'il te plaît. Encore merci pour tout ce que tu as fais jusqu'à maintenant. Momoka's message to other members/ Message de Momoka pour les autres membres: I caused a lot of trouble to the group that will remains with 4 members instead of 5 and despite everything you took the trouble to prepare a farewell song, thank you very much. So first of all, Reni, Kanako, Shiorin, Aarin, I really want to thank you. Aarin, you who are an idol 24 hours a day, thank you for teaching me so much about how to become one. Shiorin, you always looked after us calmly and kindly, thank you. I was very surprised to see how much you had become a strong adult in such a short time. Kanako, you were the very embodiment of a responsible person. I followed you knowing that we could count on you in all circumstances, thank you. And finally Reni, no matter how much you were sad or anxious yourself, you showed me that you were always there to take care of others in a warm and kind way. Thank you for saving me so many times. J'ai causé énormément de soucis au groupe qui va se retrouver à 4 au lieu de 5 et malgré tout vous avez pris la peine de me préparer une chanson d'adieu, merci beaucoup. Alors avant tout, Reni, Kanako, Shiorin, Aarin, je tenais vraiment à vous remercier. Aarin, toi qui est 24h/24 une idole, merci de m'avoir appris autant de choses sur la façon d'en devenir une. Shiorin, tu veillais toujours sur nous avec calme et gentillesse, merci. J'ai été très surprise de voir à quel point tu étais devenue une adulte forte en si peu de temps. Kanako, tu étais l'incarnation même d'une personne responsable. Je t'ai suivi en sachant que l'on pouvait compter sur toi en toutes circonstances, merci. Et enfin Reni, peu importe à quel point toi-même tu souffrais ou angoissais, tu m'as montré que tu étais toujours là pour prendre soin des autres de manière chaleureuse et très gentille. Merci à toi de m'avoir sauvée tant de fois. Momoka's message to Mononofu and staff/ Message de Momoka pour les Mononofu et le staff: Reni, Kanako, Shiorin, Aarin, I'm really glad you were there. I too thought I could go to the 10th Anniversary as 5 members. But for the future of the 4 of you that begins now, I had to make a decision. We were often called the "5 miracles girls". But to be honest I never felt that way. I think the group of 5 that are Momoclo is you 4 plus the fans. So, dear Mononofu, whether for 10 years, for 20 years or much later, I count on you to support them. Dear staff members, thank you for creating this stage for me today. My dear fans, if I could reach 8 years, it is thanks to you who supported me warmly and kindly in any situation. Thank you for giving me this idol life full of happiness for 8 years. During these 8 years, I have the feeling I have accomplished all that I wanted, so I leave without regrets. That's why I want to be happy to the point of making you proud of me. To you who have followed me for 8 years and you, despite my selfish decision and my sudden departure, who told me "Congratulations, you did a great job.", thank you very much. From now on, I entrust you the 4 others. Reni, Kanako, Shiorin, Aarin, je suis vraiment heureuse que vous ayez été là. Moi aussi je pensais pouvoir aller jusqu'aux 10 ans du groupe à 5. Mais pour votre futur à vous 4 qui commence maintenant, j'ai du prendre une décision. On nous appelait souvent les "5 enfants miracles" mais pour être honnête je ne l'ai jamais vu de cette manière. Je pense que les Momoclo à 5 c'est vous 4 et les fans. Alors cher Mononofu, que ce soit pour 10 ans, pour 20 ans ou encore bien après, je compte sur vous pour les soutenir. Chers membres du staff, je vous remercie d'avoir créé cette scène pour moi aujourd'hui. Mes chers fans, si j'ai pu arriver au bout de ces 8 années, c'est grâce à vous qui m'avez soutenu chaleureusement et avec beaucoup de gentillesse dans n'importe quelle situation. Merci de m'avoir donné cette vie d'idol si heureuse durant 8 ans. Pendant ces 8 années, je pense avoir accompli tout ce que je voulais, alors je pars sans regrets. C'est pourquoi je souhaite devenir heureuse au point de vous rendre fiers de moi. A vous qui m'avez suivi durant 8 ans et qui, malgré ma décision égoïste et mon départ si soudain, m'avez dit "Bravo, tu as bien travaillé.", je vous remercie énormément. A partir de maintenant, je vous confie ces 4 autres filles. Kanako’s last message to Mononofu/ Dernier message de Kanako pour les Mononofu: Thank you all. So we are only 4 now. I do not know what awaits us from now on but to think about it, it was laways like this until now. We go to the unknown but I want us to do our best by having fun to make you smile. I apologize for all the confused feelings you could have had today, but I hope you will continue to support us. Merci à tous. Nous ne sommes donc plus que 4. Je ne sais pas ce qui nous attend à partir de maintenant mais à bien y réfléchir, on a toujours avancer de cette manière jusqu'à aujourd'hui. Nous nous lançons vers l'inconnu mais je veux qu'on fasse de notre mieux en nous amusant pour vous faire sourire. Je m'excuse pour tous les sentiments confus que vous avez du ressentir aujourd'hui mais j'espère que vous continuerez de nous soutenir.

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deepartnature · 5 years ago

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1903 Tour de France

"The 1903 Tour de France was the first cycling race set up and sponsored by the newspaper L'Auto, ancestor of the current daily, L'Équipe. It ran from 1 to 19 July in six stages over 2,428 km (1,509 mi), and was won by Maurice Garin. The race was invented to boost the circulation of L'Auto, after its circulation started to plummet from competition with the long-standing Le Vélo. Originally scheduled to start in June, the race was postponed one month, and the prize money was increased, after a disappointing level of applications from competitors. The 1903 Tour de France was the first stage road race, and compared to modern Grand Tours, it had relatively few stages, but each was much longer than those raced today. The cyclists did not have to compete in all six stages, although this was necessary to qualify for the general classification. ..."

Wikipedia

1903 Tour de France

YouTube: Can We Ride And Survive A Stage Of The 1903 Tour de France?, Grand Départ de Montgeron 1903, Tour de France 1903 départ devant le café “Au Réveil Matin” à Montgeron

2008 July: Tour de France 2008, 2009 July: Tour de France 2009, 2010 July: Tour de France 2010, 2011 July: Tour de France 2011, 2012 July: 2012 Tour de France, 2015 July: 2015 Tour de France, 2015 July: Tour de France 2015: Team Time Trial Win Bolsters American’s Shot at Podium, 2015 July: Tour de France: Chris Froome completes historic British win, 2016 July: 2016 Tour de France, 2017 July: 2017 Tour de France, 2018 May: 2018 Giro d'Italia, 2019 July: 2018 Tour de France, 2019 June: 2019 Tour de France

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pakcricwiz · 5 years ago

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Tour de France quiz: how much do you know about cycling's greatest race?

The organisers are hoping the race will still take place this year. How well do you recall previous races?

More quizzes: sliding doors, globetrotters, stadiums and keepers

What distance was the longest stage in Tour de France history?

182km

282km

382km

482km

How many Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España) did Australian Adam Hansen complete in consecutively?

Where is the 2020 Tour de France scheduled to start?

Brussels, Belgium

Nice, France

Budapest, Hungary

Rennes, France

When did a French rider last win the race?

1980

1985

1990

1995

How many times has the UK hosted stages of the Tour de France?

Once

Twice

Three times

Four times

Who was the first Irishman to win a Tour de France stage?

Stephen Roche

Sean Yates

Martin Earley

Shay Elliott

How many times has Chris Froome won won the Tour?

Three

Four

Five

Six

Which year’s Tour set the record for the highest overall average speed across the entire race?

1985

1995

2005

2015

How many Tour de France stages has sprinter Mark Cavendish won?

Who was the first Briton to win a stage at the Tour de France?

David Millar

Brian Robinson

Barry Hoban

Mark Cavendish

Which rider holds the record for the most appearances at the race, with 18?

Jens Voigt

Haimar Zubeldia

George Hincapie

Sylvain Chavanel

French riders have won the most stages overall, but which country comes second in the historical list?

Spain

Belgium

Italy

Who holds the record for the fastest ascent of Mont Ventoux?

Chris Froome

Nairo Quintana

Iban Mayo

Marco Pantani

Which of these riders did not win five Tours de France?

Greg LeMond

Bernard Hinault

Jacques Anquetil

Miguel Induráin

Where is the Grand Départ scheduled to take place in 2021?

Copenhagen

Oslo

Rome

Cairo

3 and above.

Ah well. It was a tough one.

2 and above.

Ah well. It was a tough one.

1 and above.

Ah well. It was a tough one.

4 and above.

Ah well. It was a tough one.

5 and above.

Ah well. It was a tough one.

6 and above.

That's a decent score.

7 and above.

That's a fine score.

8 and above.

That's a fine score.

9 and above.

That's a fine score. Well played.

10 and above.

That's a fine score. Well played

11 and above.

That's a very fine score. Well played

12 and above.

That's a superb score. Well played

13 and above.

That's a superb score. Well played

14 and above.

That's an incredible score. Well played

0 and above.

Ah well. It was a tough one.

15 and above.

That's an incredible score. Well played

Continue reading... from Blogger https://ift.tt/3dBPIkz

#http://worldsportspoint1.blogspot.com/2020/03/tour-de-france-quiz-how-much-do-you.html Tour de Franc

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junker-town · 6 years ago

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A taxonomy of all the fans you see at the Tour de France

Ryan Siu

The Tour de France has the most colorful cast of fans in the world. Here is one man’s attempt to categorize them all.

The Tour de France claims to be the most-attended sporting event in the world. It’s certainly the world’s largest arena. Anyone can walk up and claim a spot along 2,000-plus miles of roadside and see it live, for free, no ticket necessary. As a result, there may not be a more colorful cast of fans anywhere.

Here is a taxonomy of the people you might see next to the road of the Tour de France. It is as exhaustive as I could make it, but by no means complete. Please let me know if I missed a key subgroup in the comments. Or just @ me.

Locals

“Local” here is loosely defined as anyone who easily blends into the scenery. I reckon most of the people you see by the side of the road don’t come from far, but it’s a specific set who are so comfortable with the environment they can seem like a natural part of it.

Locals with furniture

Locals without furniture

Ryan Siu

Some people don’t think through their day at the Tour de France as much more than showing up, standing around for hours, snagging a free hat, yelling their asses off for the three seconds that riders are going by, and going home.

On the far end, some locals won’t watch the Tour go by except in utmost comfort, hauling out full living room sets by the side of the road so they can eat a four-course lunch, smoke cigarettes, snag a free hat, yell their asses off for the three seconds that riders are going by, and go home.

Man in a ditch sleeping at a 90-degree angle on a mountain

A surprising number of people like to sleep next to the Tour de France. While others are picnic-ing, drinking, chatting, or doing any of the things people usually do to pass the time before a sporting event, others are curled up on some nearby grass using a jacket as a pillow.

Something about the brutal climb up to La Planche des Belles Filles made one man supremely comfortable. He stuck his butt in the ditch next to the road, bent his body into a perfect ‘L’, and slumbered peacefully before the riders came by.

Keepers of the regional flag

Ryan Siu

Usually young men, these people have taken upon themselves the duty of reminding people where they are. It’s a noble task, given how quickly the Tour passes in and out of regions. A notable subset of these people are Bretons, who will show up anywhere and everywhere to wave Brittany’s flag.

Note: France’s regional flags are beautiful.

French local industry protestors

Either in favor of industry or against industry, and usually equipped with a spray-painted burlap sign. In the Vosges mountains it was against industry, namely loggers who had been clearing out the area. On rural roads everywhere, it was local farmers standing up against corporate mega-farming. A good reminder that the gorgeous scenery is made up of real places and doesn’t simply exist over the course of the 23 days we get to stare at it through our TVs.

Window creepers

I see you, peeking down at the road around a half-closed shutter.

Window flaunters

We see you, standing with a glass of wine and a cigarette with a perfect view down onto the finish line that everyone who’s mushed up against the barrier would kill to have.

Un-boozed

Banging on the plastic panels lining the final meters into the finish in an enthusiastic yet still-hinged manner.

Boozed

Ryan Siu

Just murdering that shit.

Cheeky old people

La Planche des Belles Filles was the first Category 1 climb of the 2019 Tour, at seven kilometers and gradients that tipped into 20 percent near the top. Its name translates to “The Plank of the Beautiful Girls,” and references the legend of a group of local girls who fled into the Vosges mountains to escape capture by Swedish mercenaries during the Thirty Years’ War. They committed suicide by throwing themselves off the mountain into the lake below rather than be taken captive.

Ryan Siu

This terrible story that gets repeated every time La Planche is featured in the Tour also set up this terrible exchange between a group of old friends sitting in folding chairs and me as I was mid-climb to the top, and very tired.

Them: “Keep going! The Belles Filles are at the top!”

Me: “Look for the plank, right?”

Them: “Oui!”

Fin.

Old guys just hanging out by themselves

Ryan Siu

LOTS of them. Just there to see what the hubbub’s about. Often reading a newspaper.

Seekers

What’s the point being at the Tour de France if you can’t get proof? And else are you gonna do when Julian Alaphilippe is suddenly two feet away from you? Leave him be? Don’t be stupid.

Autograph kids

At the start of every stage, every rider has to ride up to a big dais on a stage where an emcee is jabbering away in French to a crowd. On the way, they often have to ride along fencing where adorable children beg for autographs and look very sad when a rider goes by without stopping.

Which, in actuality, is surprisingly rare. Most riders stopped, especially if they were among the bigger names. I saw Geraint Thomas, Julian Alaphilippe, Thibaut Pinot, and Peter Sagan — perhaps THE four most popular riders in the 2019 edition of the Tour — all give their time to the kids who wanted their attention, despite being in the throes of one of the most competitive Tours in memory.

Autograph adults

Only got anything signed when they essentially shoved a pen in a rider’s hand and moved it for them.

People who will do anything for the Gram

Ryan Siu

Surprisingly few during the nine stages I saw in 2019, so I’d like to think the world is becoming a better place where people feel less and less compelled to document their every move, even to the potential physical detriment of themselves and others, in hopes of capturing fleeting joy of accruing internet points.

But I also wasn’t in the high mountains like I was in 2014, where Gram-happy fans were a pox.

People who will do anything for a polka-dot hat

Ryan Siu

Of all the iconic pieces of swag at the Tour de France — the hats, the kits, the flags, the signs — nothing is more sought after than any item with polka-dots on it. The dots represent the jersey given to the rider leading the King of the Mountains classification. More importantly, as far as swag goes, they aren’t flat yellow — which feels sacrilegious to wear — or green or white — which are far too boring.

When the caravane comes by tossing out polka-dot hats (brought to you by the fine people at Leclerc superstores), the barriers are crushed with fans. Better to politely ask someone who got two if you can have their spare.

People who will do anything for a glimpse of AlaPinot

As much as fans interfere with the riders of the Tour de France, and as taxing as it must be to deal with knuckleheads on a daily basis while also trying to stay focused on the unfathomably difficult race at hand, it is refreshing to see world-class athletes commune with the people who adore them.

Before each stage, team buses are typically situated near stomach-high metal fencing where fans might be able to stand within 15 feet of riders as they come off the team bus and mill around. For the biggest heros — the Alaphilippes, or Pinots — even just catching a glimpse of their kits through the photographers and journalists surrounding them is a thrill. After all, could you imagine ever getting so close to Tom Brady or Lionel Messi as they stretched?

For lesser riders, you can even have a conversation. And by “lesser” I don’t mean bottom of the peloton riders. I saw Rigoberto Uran, a pre-Tour yellow jersey contender and second-place finisher in 2017, walk off the Education First bus to a group of Colombian fans who had been chanting his name. EF isn’t having the strongest Tour, granted, but the scene was quiet around the bus compared to the French squads, and Uran stood with his arm up on the fence for a good three or four minutes, chatting and smiling with the people who came just to see him.

Then he popped his helmet on and prepared to put his body through hell.

Creatures

Unlike locals, creatures exist solely to stand out amongst the scenery. They’re there to be seen — photographers love them, and they love photographers. Whether anybody else gets a kick out of them is another matter, but also entirely besides the point.

Ryan Siu

Lapinou

Lapinou is a man dressed in a pink bunny costume. Lapinou holds a sign telling you he is Lapinou. Lapinou is the creepiest anthropomorphic bunny since Frank from Donnie Darko.

Zaza and Sasha

Zaza wears a gymnast uniform. Sasha is her brother. You know it’s them because above their camper is an enormous sign that says “ZAZA AND SACHA.” Vehicles in the caravane stop and talk to them on a daily basis.

The Devil

Getty Images

Tales of this man’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Didi Senft has been a fixture on the Tour since 1993. He’s stuck around long enough to become a mostly welcome sight for fans and riders. He was reportedly going to retire in 2014, but he has continued to attend the Tour, appearing on every stage thus far in 2019.

Bro in far too little clothing

Did you know that people are still busting out Borat mankinis for laughs? In 2019!

Color

Not necessarily a local, but not necessarily looking to be noticed, either, those who add to the color of the Tour de France are perhaps the best, most earnest subset of fans. They’re not trying to stand out, but they shine all the same by making the atmosphere undeniably better.

Belgians

Ryan Siu

The Grand Départ in Brussels showed me what cycling fanaticism truly means.

In many ways, Belgium embodies the Tour better than its eponymous nation. France likes to wield the Tour with a subdued sense of duty. Belgium, a country lopped onto France’s head like a brain slug, wields it like the sack of firecrackers that it is. Belgium regularly gets Tour stages, but not regularly enough to get used to the novelty. Saturday in Brussels will be the first Belgian start for the Tour de France since 2012, and the city is filled to the cracks with decorative yellow and green and polka dot nods to the race.

The people came in many varieties — there were the locals at a Flemish bar, a dad who knew Tiesj Benoot, two old ladies drinking beer in lawn chairs just off their curb — but they all wanted to tell you their best Eddy Merckx story, and they were all supremely friendly.

The people who cheer at everyone who rides a bicycle like they’re in the Tour de France

Before every stage, fans can ride the course on their own. And every one gets cheered like they’re Bernard Hinault. I probably heard “Allez Pinot!” directed 10,000 times to people who definitely weren’t Pinot, and it never got old.

The fans who brought every nation’s flag to the Tour

Louis Bien

An evolution of cheering everyone who rides a bicycle in the Tour de France is bringing a flag of every country represented in the Tour so that, when you find out where someone is from, you can bust out their flag and shout a former national hero at them, like the German man who got “Jan Ullrich! Jan Ullrich!”

The four fans claimed to be from Belgium, Luxembourg, Uzbekistan, and Romania.

Old woman in a bright green vest who blew kisses at every vehicle that passed by

She was miniscule, appeared to be in her 80s, and walking briskly up a mountain at the time.

Guy who spent 15 minutes blowing up an inflatable lobster

No notes.

Amateur cyclists, especially geriatrics with calves of coiled steel

Ryan Siu

A lot of people like to ride their bikes before the Tour de France: some in full kit, some in cargo shorts; some with a tow rope attached around their kid’s bike, some who look and ride like they once hoped to taste Tour glory.

They’re all heroes, especially those who brave the major climbs that the professionals will be taking on later in the day. But none are quite as awe-inspiring as the older set who have faces like your grandma and legs like Pawel Poljanski. They have never gone anywhere except via bicycle, and they are both inspiring and frightening.

Mega cycling legend stuffed in a suit

They will be hauled up on stage to shake hands and be gawked at. They will either appear extremely happy to be there, or extremely uncomfortable. And they will have a look that seems to wonder if perhaps the crowd could love them more.

Bros

Bros dominate the Tour landscape, from big groups of bros to intimate groups of bros, across all ages and levels of verve. Sitting around and drinking in a weird place has been a staple of brohood since the beginning of man, making the Tour perhaps the ultimate bro out event.

Bachelor party bros

Ryan Siu

Soccer is their favorite sport, actually, but the Tour was coming right by and how could you not? Heading to a music festival later.

Old man bros

Sittin’ ‘round a cooler that they hauled up in the trunk. Not into dressing up.

Young bros

Sittin’ ‘round a cooler that they hauled up in the trunk. Shirtless or wearing a team kit and cycling casquette, most likely.

Bros who fiercely stan one rider

Ryan Siu

Usually in groups while wearing matching T-shirts and exhibiting personality traits befitting the riders.

A sampling:

Dumoulin Fan Club: Respectful, demur, cool like the rider himself. Also thoroughly lost, given Dumoulin is rehabbing in another country.

King Küng Freunde, AKA the KKF: Loyal, pensive, and happy to be here.

Sagan Team: Won’t stop jumping up and down for one goddamn second.

Bros in a cycling caravan dragging mini kegs of Heineken down the road

Ryan Siu

Tempting to call them creatures, but their friendship is real and they charm the pants off everyone who stops and talks with them. Plus they make it all the way up a mountain on that contraption.

Campers

The hardest of the hardcore drive themselves to every stage and live out of an RV for three weeks. The people residing in them are a combination of the Locals, Color, and Creatures above. But there are some delineations worth discussing.

River bathers

Showerers

Ryan Siu

Perhaps the biggest distinction among the campers is how they take care of their personal stank. If you can afford it, you get a camper with a fully-equipped shower in it, in which you case you’re probably also the type who will be rolling out an incredible spread of red wine, paté, and fine cheeses on a card table before every stage.

If you can’t afford it, you’re showering at campsites when you can find them, or, in a pinch, rinsing off in a nearby body of water. Your spread will look more like a standard sporting-event fare of salty snacks eaten on top of a cooler, but you will still have a bottle of red wine because you’re in France, for God’s sake.

Caravaners

Ryan Siu

RVs traveling in packs of three or more are particularly impressive because that means sometimes spending hours the night before a stage hunting for the perfect spot big enough to accommodate everyone. Doing that every night for three weeks represents a level of dedication to friendship that is both touching and ill-advised.

DOGS

Lots of people bring their dogs to the Tour de France. They are usually better behaved than their humans, and they are all good.

Officials

People need to run and document this massive three-week enterprise. They walk around with badges and are only semi-sure how anything is supposed to work.

Cops

Ryan Siu

Lots of them! Enough to be their own subspecies. Briefly, we have:

Good cops (Will help you cross the course)

Bad cops (Is upset you asked to cross the course)

Clueless cops (Possibly from out of town, not sure where the course is)

Cops who are taking their jobs way too seriously (Will point you to the 30-minute drive you’re supposed to take to cross the course)

Cops who don’t have nearly enough to do (Will help you cross the course, but first wants to hear about your life for 30 minutes)

Cops who probably aren’t taking their jobs seriously enough (Too busy trying to get a polka-dot hat to help you cross the course)

People with badges and green polos

Tour pro tip: Show up to the course with a yellow lanyard and a plain green polo, and you’ll have free reign over the Tour de France. On race day, no one is more respected than the person who you think looks official.

Over-eager emcee

Simultaneously calling the race for fans at the finish line, while also keeping the atmosphere FUN and ENERGETIC and just, real quick, double checking that everyone is having FUN even though the riders are two hours away still. Incomprehensible except when he’s pronouncing every rider’s name like there’s a period between each syllable, so that Thibaut Pinot is actually TEE. BO. PEE. NO.

Journalists

Also get yellow lanyards. Allowed to wander in the fence sometimes. Have it pretty good, actually.

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