For a race with the tradition and amazing legacy of the Tour de France, as much effort must go into the preparation of each year’s edition as the riders put into finishing the race in first place. The Tour de France is famous for its length, its variety, and the grueling demands it places on those who attempt to conquer it, as well as the other competitors. Therefore, the race organizers must put a lot of effort and time planning each year’s race, to ensure that each installment is worthy of the reputation that the Tour de France has earned over the last 105 years.
There are many things that have to be taken into account when planning the yearly route of the Tour de France. For one, stages must combine to make a certain overall length that will be similar to races past. At the same time, there must be a variety within the stage types, with small, medium and large climbs to go with sprints and individual time trials. It’s important that the course be balanced, so that neither the climbers, sprinters or the time trial specialists have an unfair advantage over the other racers.
One of the most charming aspects of the Tour de France is the fact that the race highlights French towns that otherwise would never get the kind of global attention that they do during the race. The Tour de France is the one time of year that a relatively small community can become, for one day at least, the center of the cycling universe. The experience can be overwhelming, amazing, and a dream come true all at the same time for the towns involved.
To even be considered as a town that will be part of the Tour de France’s route, towns must submit their request and be part of a long and sometimes tiring selection process. Meetings are had, town leaders give their best arguments for their inclusion and votes are performed, among other things that have to be done to decide which towns will be home to Tour de France stops. The decision can be a difficult one, as towns have to be able to accommodate all of the hoopla and saturation that can occur from being part of such a huge and historical event.
Meanwhile, the individual stages must be combined to make a meaningful whole and to give the race a cohesive feel. The Tour de France has to be planned carefully, so that riders don’t have several stages in a row of huge mountain climbs or sprints. Also, rest days have to be scheduled in, and in a town that can accommodate the swell of humanity that will come and go over a 24 to 48 hour period as a result of the Tour de France stopping by.
It’s also important that the race itself not be a stale retread of the ones from years past. Each Tour de France has to respect the tradition of the race while creating its own identity simultaneously. For this reason, some towns are a part of the race seemingly year after year, while each year, the race organizers attempt to add some new flavors to the proverbial stew to keep things fresh.
As you can see, planning the Tour de France is quite a daunting task. Although the people behind the scenes will never get the fanfare and attention that the riders who traverse the race receive, they are in many ways just as important when considering the outcome of the race and how entertaining it is.
Showing posts with label tour de france. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tour de france. Show all posts
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Yellow Jersey: A Standard of Excellence
When you think of the most iconic trophies in all of sport, you may think of the Stanley Cup, or the World Cup trophy, or the Vince Lombardi trophy. However, it’s hard to imagine an honor more distinctive than the Tour de France’s yellow jersey.
While not exactly a trophy, the jersey is awarded to the winner of each year’s Tour de France. What sets it apart from other awards involves two major differences from the rest: that it is worn by competitors, and that it is actually awarded (and re-awarded) during the competition itself, not just at the end of the competition.
One has to wonder exactly how a tradition like the awarding of the famed yellow jersey got started. If you talked to Philippe Thys, he would have told you that in 1913, Henri Desgrange (the original race organizer) asked him to wear a brightly colored jersey so observers would distinquish him from the field. Thys was not exactly into the idea of becoming a moving target for other riders, but later conceded.
However, the first official awarding of the yellow jersey wasn’t until six years later, in 1919. Eugène Christophe, a French rider, was the first to wear it during the course. Supposedly the distinctive color was either decided upon because of the yellow newsprint of L’Auto, which is the newspaper that created and organized the Tour de France, or because yellow was an unpopular color choice for riders and therefore would stand out and be readily available from manufacturers. It all depends on who you’d rather believe.
Although wearing the yellow jersey today makes one the subject of admiration and praise, Christophe didn’t receive that kind of reaction. Instead, he claimed that spectators would make canary noises as he rode by, as well as just generally heckling his “choice” of attire.
The yellow jersey has gone on to have a history rivaling that of the Tour de France itself. One of the more memorable yellow jersey problems has always been when more than one rider ties for the right to wear the jersey. In years past, it was decided that tie breakers would be utilized to keep from having to have more than one yellow jersey-donning rider at a time.
At times, there have also been a lack of riders wearing the yellow jersey.
Switzerland’s Ferdi Kubler was the first to pass up the chance to wear the yellow jersey, doing so because the previous race leader (Fiorenze Magni) had left the race as a result of alleged threats made to him and his Italian teammates by spectators.
In 1971, the great Eddy Merckx, widely considered as perhaps the best cyclist of all time, started a tradition of sorts by declining to wear the jersey when the previous leader crashed. Luis Ocaña was in the lead when he crashed on the col de Mente, and Merckx wanted no part of the yellow jersey when he was able to take the lead as a result.
This new tradition was followed by Joop Zoetemelk, who opted out of the yellow jersey in 1980 when Bernard Hinault withdrew from a knee injury, Greg LeMond, who did the same after Denmark’s Rolf Sorenson was eliminated from the race by a crash, and most recently Lance Armstrong in 2005. Armstrong wouldn’t start with the yellow jersey on because the previous wearer, David Zabriskie, was taken out of the race by a crash. Armstrong later reconsidered at the urging of Tour de France organizers.
The only rider who refused the yellow jersey based upon its actual composition was Louison Bobet. Bobet, an eventual multiple time champion of the Tour de France, did not want to wear the yellow jersey because it contained synthetic fabrics. It seemed that Bobet was a wool man through and through, and he would not budge from his position. Finally, another jersey had to be rushed out (this one was pure wool) to avoid the lack of a yellow jersey wearer in the next stage.
Although the yellow jersey has evolved into one of the most recognizable honors in all of sport, it had its growing pains, probably more so than any other sports award. As you can see, the yellow jersey didn’t become a prestigious symbol of accomplishment overnight!
While not exactly a trophy, the jersey is awarded to the winner of each year’s Tour de France. What sets it apart from other awards involves two major differences from the rest: that it is worn by competitors, and that it is actually awarded (and re-awarded) during the competition itself, not just at the end of the competition.
One has to wonder exactly how a tradition like the awarding of the famed yellow jersey got started. If you talked to Philippe Thys, he would have told you that in 1913, Henri Desgrange (the original race organizer) asked him to wear a brightly colored jersey so observers would distinquish him from the field. Thys was not exactly into the idea of becoming a moving target for other riders, but later conceded.
However, the first official awarding of the yellow jersey wasn’t until six years later, in 1919. Eugène Christophe, a French rider, was the first to wear it during the course. Supposedly the distinctive color was either decided upon because of the yellow newsprint of L’Auto, which is the newspaper that created and organized the Tour de France, or because yellow was an unpopular color choice for riders and therefore would stand out and be readily available from manufacturers. It all depends on who you’d rather believe.
Although wearing the yellow jersey today makes one the subject of admiration and praise, Christophe didn’t receive that kind of reaction. Instead, he claimed that spectators would make canary noises as he rode by, as well as just generally heckling his “choice” of attire.
The yellow jersey has gone on to have a history rivaling that of the Tour de France itself. One of the more memorable yellow jersey problems has always been when more than one rider ties for the right to wear the jersey. In years past, it was decided that tie breakers would be utilized to keep from having to have more than one yellow jersey-donning rider at a time.
At times, there have also been a lack of riders wearing the yellow jersey.
Switzerland’s Ferdi Kubler was the first to pass up the chance to wear the yellow jersey, doing so because the previous race leader (Fiorenze Magni) had left the race as a result of alleged threats made to him and his Italian teammates by spectators.
In 1971, the great Eddy Merckx, widely considered as perhaps the best cyclist of all time, started a tradition of sorts by declining to wear the jersey when the previous leader crashed. Luis Ocaña was in the lead when he crashed on the col de Mente, and Merckx wanted no part of the yellow jersey when he was able to take the lead as a result.
This new tradition was followed by Joop Zoetemelk, who opted out of the yellow jersey in 1980 when Bernard Hinault withdrew from a knee injury, Greg LeMond, who did the same after Denmark’s Rolf Sorenson was eliminated from the race by a crash, and most recently Lance Armstrong in 2005. Armstrong wouldn’t start with the yellow jersey on because the previous wearer, David Zabriskie, was taken out of the race by a crash. Armstrong later reconsidered at the urging of Tour de France organizers.
The only rider who refused the yellow jersey based upon its actual composition was Louison Bobet. Bobet, an eventual multiple time champion of the Tour de France, did not want to wear the yellow jersey because it contained synthetic fabrics. It seemed that Bobet was a wool man through and through, and he would not budge from his position. Finally, another jersey had to be rushed out (this one was pure wool) to avoid the lack of a yellow jersey wearer in the next stage.
Although the yellow jersey has evolved into one of the most recognizable honors in all of sport, it had its growing pains, probably more so than any other sports award. As you can see, the yellow jersey didn’t become a prestigious symbol of accomplishment overnight!
Great Cyclists of the Tour de France: Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich was one of the great riders and personalities of the Tour de France. A German cyclist born in 1973, he would go on to become the first German rider to ever win the Tour de France. He also built a career on his legendary consistency that unfortunately coincided with that of Lance Armstrong. He finished in the top three of the Tour de France an incredible six times, with one win, four second place finishes and a third place finish. He also finished fourth in 2004.
Ullrich was known as a powerful rider with great natural ability and athleticism. He was often criticized for getting too far out of shape in the offseason, but maintained that it was not an issue, since he was always ready to race when the time came. His start in competitive cycling came when he was 11 years old, as he had his first win at that age. He turned professional in 1994, signing with team Telekom.
Although his first couple of years as a professional weren’t very memorable, Ullrich experienced great success in his first ever Tour de France. Ullrich had the chance to compete in the Olympics in 1996 for his native Germany, but he passed up on the opportunity to compete in the Tour de France. It was a decision he wouldn’t regret. He made quite a splash, finishing second overall and winning the coveted white jersey as the best rider at age 25 and under. He also won Stage 20 that year, finishing behind his own teammate, Bjarne Riis, by one minute and forty-one seconds.
Ullrich quickly earned a reputation as a team player, as he dismissed any speculation that he would have won the race had he not been focusing on assisting his teammate, Riis. His performance nonetheless impressed many Tour de France veterans, including the great Miguel Indurain. He would go on to be one of the favorites for the 1997 race.
In 1997, Ullrich would build upon his previous success by winning his first and only Tour de France. He won stages 10 and 12, while holding off a courageous comeback attempt by Marco Pantani, and was able to win the yellow jersey as well as a second consecutive white jersey in the overall competition. His win captured the hearts of his home country and sparked a resurgence of interest in the sport of cycling there.
The next year began a rough period for Jan Ullrich. He fought hard but lost the 1998 Tour de France, finishing second as Marco Pantani won. It was a moral victory of sorts for Ullrich, as he had been fourth and several minutes back earlier in the race, but a disappointment nonetheless. Then, in 1999, a knee injury caused by a crash would keep him out of the Tour de France. It was the same year when Lance Armstrong won his first of seven straight Tours.
From then on, Ullrich unfortunately became known as the “eternal second” to Armstrong. He was never able to beat Armstrong, although he finished just 61 seconds behind in 2003. He also struggled with depression at times at this point in his career, disappointed that he couldn’t seem to defeat his rival. In 2007, Ullrich retired, finishing one of the most storied careers in the history of cycling.
Ullrich was known as a powerful rider with great natural ability and athleticism. He was often criticized for getting too far out of shape in the offseason, but maintained that it was not an issue, since he was always ready to race when the time came. His start in competitive cycling came when he was 11 years old, as he had his first win at that age. He turned professional in 1994, signing with team Telekom.
Although his first couple of years as a professional weren’t very memorable, Ullrich experienced great success in his first ever Tour de France. Ullrich had the chance to compete in the Olympics in 1996 for his native Germany, but he passed up on the opportunity to compete in the Tour de France. It was a decision he wouldn’t regret. He made quite a splash, finishing second overall and winning the coveted white jersey as the best rider at age 25 and under. He also won Stage 20 that year, finishing behind his own teammate, Bjarne Riis, by one minute and forty-one seconds.
Ullrich quickly earned a reputation as a team player, as he dismissed any speculation that he would have won the race had he not been focusing on assisting his teammate, Riis. His performance nonetheless impressed many Tour de France veterans, including the great Miguel Indurain. He would go on to be one of the favorites for the 1997 race.
In 1997, Ullrich would build upon his previous success by winning his first and only Tour de France. He won stages 10 and 12, while holding off a courageous comeback attempt by Marco Pantani, and was able to win the yellow jersey as well as a second consecutive white jersey in the overall competition. His win captured the hearts of his home country and sparked a resurgence of interest in the sport of cycling there.
The next year began a rough period for Jan Ullrich. He fought hard but lost the 1998 Tour de France, finishing second as Marco Pantani won. It was a moral victory of sorts for Ullrich, as he had been fourth and several minutes back earlier in the race, but a disappointment nonetheless. Then, in 1999, a knee injury caused by a crash would keep him out of the Tour de France. It was the same year when Lance Armstrong won his first of seven straight Tours.
From then on, Ullrich unfortunately became known as the “eternal second” to Armstrong. He was never able to beat Armstrong, although he finished just 61 seconds behind in 2003. He also struggled with depression at times at this point in his career, disappointed that he couldn’t seem to defeat his rival. In 2007, Ullrich retired, finishing one of the most storied careers in the history of cycling.
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