2009 Tour de France Humour funny pictures

The first thing to remember about the Tour de France is that it's French and not American or even English.  In fact, the Tour de France typifies the country in the way that baseball is quintessentially American, and Wimbledon English.  What saddens the purists or xenophobics is the way that foreigners now dominate the national sport.

2009 Tour de France Humour

• The Devil Rides with the Tour de France
• Tour de France Jerseys
• Who will be 'Le Patron' of the Tour de France in 2009?
• Expressions Heard on the Tour de France

The Devil Rides with the Tour de France

The Tour attracts massive crowds with all kinds of people, supporters, exhibitionists and eccentrics: The photo of the devil was taken by Bogdan Cristel and Le Diable is known as Didi watch out for him in the 2009 tour de France.

Gallic Humour

The French have a greater ability to laugh out loud at crude or trivial jokes, while Anglophiles prefer subtler humour.  In consequence it is easier to tell a racy joke at a French cafe than in an English coffee house. As well as bouffonnerie, the French also like cutting remarks designed to wound Rather than amuse.  Thus, compared with English humour, Gallic wit is cruel rather than kind, and intellectual rather than nonsensical. French love their irreverent Astérix books, British prefer Monty Python sketches.  I would also suggest that we British are better at laughing at ourselves than the French.

Language Barrier?

The tour riders are truly multi-national, here are examples of a linguistic misunderstand that could occur between a Frenchman and Australian. Cyril Dessel to Cadel Evans:  Chaussee deformer? (Are you a contortionist?) Cadel Evans to Cyril Dessel:  Dacor Moi Aussie (Of course, I am an Australian.)

Tour de France Jerseys

Yellow - Maillot Jaune The Yellow Jersey of the Tour de France is awarded to the rider with the quickest overall time and is, therefore, the race leader. It was created in 1919 as an homage to the yellow paper of l'Auto magazine, founder of the Tour de France in 1903. Eddy Merckx wore the Maillot Jaune for a record 111 days.  This Eddy did because he was a good time time-trialist, proficient climber and great 'Le Patron' of the race. Green - Maillot Vert The next most prestigious jersey is given to the leader in the points classification which rewards sprinters. During each stage, points are attributed during the intermediary sprints and at the finish. The jersey was introduced in 1953. Germany's Erik Zabel won it a record six consecutive times between 1996 and 2001.  Mark Cavendish was a big contender until he was controversially disqualified on stage 14 and lost vital points. Polka Dot - Maillot à Pois Rouges Awarded to the rider who earns most of the points at each summit of a hill or pass. The winner is known as the 'King of the Mountains'. Although the award was introduced in 1933, this distinctive jersey was not introduced until 1975. White - Maillot Blanc The newest jersey, the white, was introduced in 1975. Given to the best young rider [under 25] in the general classification, it was abandoned in 1989 but reintroduced in 1999. In 2009 Andy Schleck was considered a 'shoo in', and duly won the White Jersey, and finished 2nd overall.

Who will be 'Le Patron' of the Tour de France in 2009?

Traditionally the Tour de France has a Patron.  A leader who rules the peloton like a medieval warlord rules his kingdom.  Will and Guy remember back to the 1960s when Jacques Anquetil was lord of the peloton. Since then we have seen the role of Patron pass to Eddie Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Greg Lemond, and Miguel Induráin.  What's intriguing about the 2008 race is there is no natural Patron. So what are the characteristics of a Patron?  Firstly he has to be fierce rider; relentless at time trials, capable of sprouting wings on mountain stages.  More than pure cycling ability, Le Patron has a dominant Alpha male personality.  The final characteristics for dominating the peloton are the cunning of a fox, and the strategic planning of chess grandmaster. What's intriguing about the 2009 Tour de France is that Lance Armstrong was a former undisputed Patron, yet this year the number one rider of his Astana team is the 10-year younger, and more recent winner, Alberto Contador. Will Armstrong use his Patron powers to guide Contador to victory? Alternatively, will he use his wily skills to mastermind his own victory?

Lance Armstrong - A French View

A cartoon has appeared in Le Monde, the French newspaper, which perhaps sums up the French attitude to the Tour. Unable to provide a Frenchman as overall winner since Bernard Hinault the French people look upon Lance Armstrong with a mixture of ignorance and vitriol: 'Lance Armstrong is unbelievable.............He walked on the moon, he survived cancer, he won the Tour de France seven times, he revolutionized jazz..........and you're telling me he isn't on drugs?' Thanks to Jason Burke, journalist: The Observer.

Expressions Heard on the Tour de France

Lanterne Rouge This mocking expression is used for the last-placed man in the overall classification, named after the red light shown on trains to mark the rearmost carriage. Will and Guy agree that in a race where just finishing is a considerable achievement even being last is still an honour. Voiture balai This is the "Broom wagon" - literally translated as car brush; this vehicle rounds up race stragglers and boots them out of the race.  Peloton "Herd" or pack; the word used to describe the racing group.  Domestiques "Servants" or team helpers. These participants support their team leader. They do the donkey work that enables their leader to thrive, or sometimes simply to survive. This may mean fetching and carrying water and supplies from the team car. It may mean providing a small slipstream [not permitted in an individual time trial] by spending a lot of time at the front of the peloton. Or it could even mean handing over their bike to allow their team leader to continue riding while they wait for a replacement. Grimpeur Climber.  Those who ride up mountains with wings of angels have their own honour system; for example, on a mountain ascent if one grimpeur in the lead group punctures, the others will slow down, and none will attack until he changes his tyre and safely rejoins the break-away group.

Expressions Not Heard on The Tour de France

• Sprinters discussing which of them will be wearing the 'King of the Mountains Jersey'.
• Grimpeurs crying out for room in a bunch finish on a flat stage.

An Alternative View: French Testing Methods Revealed

Thanks to Terry C Wise

Anti French Sentiment [not supported by Will and Guy] CNN is reporting that Lance Armstrong may be stripped of his 7th Tour de France title.  In a random check for banned substances, three were found in Armstrong's hotel room. The 3 substances banned by the French, that were found in Lance's hotel room were as follows:

1. Toothpaste
2. Deodorant
3. Soap

Footnote: Please send us your 2009 Tour de France humour