The first thing to remember about the Tour de France is that it’s French, even though it starts in the Netherlands on 3rd July 2010. Furthermore, the Tour de France typifies its country in the way that baseball is quintessentially American, and Wimbledon English. What saddens French cyclist aficionados is the way that foreigners now dominate their national sport.
70 Years Ago – Tour de France 1940
Tour de France 2010 – Starts in Rotterdam
The Tour de France has ridden through the city of Rotterdam three times before: in 1954, in 1978, and in 1978 the Tour made a third procession through the city.
Results of the 2009 Tour de France
Yellow Jersey Alberto CONTADOR of ASTANA 85h 48′ 35″
Green Jersey Thor HUSHOVD of CERVELO 280 pts
Polka Dot Franco PELLIZOTTI or LIQUIGAS 210 pts
Gallic Humour
The French have a great penchant for laughing out loud at crude or trivial jokes, while Anglophiles prefer subtler humour. As a result, it is easier to tell a racy joke at a French café than in an English pub.
As well as bouffonnerie, the French also like cutting remarks designed to wound rather than to amuse. Thus, compared with English humour, Gallic wit is cruel rather than kind, and intellectual rather than absurd. 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
2010 Yellow Jersey
Alberto Contador Andy Schleck Dennis Menchov
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
2010 Points Classification
Allesandro Petacchi Mark Cavenish Thor Hushovd
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.
Polka Dot – Maillot à Pois Rouges
2010 King of the Mountains
Antony Charteau Christophe Moreaux Andy Schleck
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 BlancThe 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.
Tour de France Route 2010 – July 3rd to Sunday July 25th
The 97th Tour de France consisted of the prologue and 20 stages. It will cover a total distance of 2,263 miles.
Will and Guy’s ‘Magnificent Seven To Watch’ in the 2010 Tour de France
- Lance Armstrong, USA, Team Radio Shack. Seven times winner is now 38 years old and is participating in his 13th and probably final tour. He is no longer the best but he is extremely combative and certainly one to watch.
- Alberto Contador, Spain, Team Astana. Known as El Pistolero, he is the justifiable favourite. He is the best time triallist and climber in the tour. We think only bad luck will prevent him winning his 3rd tour.
- Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo bank. Could give Contador problems in the mountains although he is nowhere near as good at time trials. Backed by probably the strongest team in the race he finished 2nd in 2009.
- Bradley Wiggins, UK, Team Sky. He of track racing fame, finished 4th in 2009 could now have the nous to challenge for the Maillot Jaune.
- Mark Cavendish, GB, Team HTC – Columbia. Has not been prominent this year. Probably he will attempt to win the Green jersey and some stages.
- Cadel Evans, Australia, Team BMC Racing. The 33 year old world champion is always a major presence in tours but is yet to win one. He is good in the mountains and at time trials. His team are not too strong.
- Edvald Boasson-Hagen, Norway, Team Sky. Won last year’s Tour of Britain and is an extremely talented youngster. He is making his tour debut in 2010. A good bet, we feel, for a stage win and perhaps more.
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
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Soap
Please send us your 2010 Tour de France humour
