​Viva le Tour de France

Long live the Tour de France!  The 2020 version of the world’s greatest cycling event is later in the calendar this year, but it is still taking place--at least the initial stages.  The 107th edition of this grand tour is steeped in tradition, but this year some things will be different and some things will still be the same. 

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What is the same

• French pride - The Tour de France is a source of pride for the French and has the support of the French government and people.
• Scope – on paper the event has not been scaled down and includes the usual sprints, time trials, and routes through mountains, countrysides, and towns.  It is still scheduled to finish in Paris.  There is a podium to recognize the winners of each stage, although all participants must be masked.  The parade of sponsors 1-2 hours before the peloton roles into a town is still on.
• Course –has 21 daily stages, and while the total number of miles varies slightly from year to year, this year’s course is typical, 2,165 miles.
• Teams – 22 teams from 30 countries, 8 riders per team like last year, or 176 riders.
• American riders – there are 3, Tejay Van Gardenen, Sepp Kuss, and Neilson Powless which is a typical number.  Since 1981 in each race there has been at least 1 American , peaking at 11 riders in 2011.
• Therapy for frustrated tourists – can’t travel to France?  Coverage features images of chateaux, villages, vineyards, forests and fields of sun flowers that sooth the soul.   

What is different

• Covid-19 testing - besides the usual testing for banded performance enhancing substances, there is additional testing for Covid-19 what can send individual riders and/or their team mates home.
• Nervous peloton – Riders will be unsettled resulting in more crashes.  Many of the spring classic races were cancelled.
  • Riders have not had a chance to fine tune skills riding in a group, a skill that cannot be trained for, and
  • Fitness level of key contender is unknown because we have not seen them in a race situation this year.
• Fewer crazy fans – many routes will limit or ban spectators and social interaction among riders outside their team is prohibited so no autographs, no family visits, and media interviews occur at a respectable distance usually with a cell phone on a selfie stick. 
• Contenders – many of the favorites, former tour and stage winners, are not participating because their fitness level did not result in them making their team’s cut.  These include Chris Froome, Gerant Thomas, and Mark Cavendish.  This means it will be an exciting, wide open race. 
• Threat of a shorten race – if Covid-19 testing reveals too many positive cases, race organizers say they will close the entire race down and declare the winner the rider with the most points at that time.  This will have an impact on team race tactics, they will want to get on the podium early and stay there.   

In these unusual times adjustments must be made by everyone, including the Tour de France.  But the race must go on!   ​