do tour de france riders listen to music

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The top Tour de France questions asked of Google, answered by us

Put your feet up, google algorithm. we've got this..

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Dear Google Algorithm, 

We see you. We see the strain you are about to be put under. We know – and you, Google, you know too – that as the premier stage race of the year, the Tour de France is perhaps the only cycling event to transcend the sport’s bubble and cross over to a mainstream audience. 

That’s excellent, because cycling as an activity is wonderful, and as a sport it’s the most beautiful in the world. But there are some uniquely confusing things about the Tour de France, and new fans – quite understandably – have some questions. 

And when you’ve got Tour de France questions, who do you ask? Google, that’s who. But while everyone is OK Googling questions, nobody asks if Google is OK – so in the lead up to this year’s Tour de France, we are here to help. 

These are the questions the internet has about the Tour de France.

Put your feet up, Algorithm. We’ve got this. 

Do Tour de France riders poop? 

That’s the first question you have?! Really? Good grief.

Yes. It is an ordinary human function that is consistent across all humans, even Tour de France riders. If they did not, they would be very uncomfortable for the duration of the race. Maybe they’d even die. I don’t make the rules.

Do Tour de France riders pee their pants? 

Generally not, although I’m not going to say ‘never’. 

Typically, riders in need will pull over to the road side in an organised fashion, kind of angle-parking themselves next to a field or guardrail, before letting it rip. This usually happens in a détente in the day’s proceedings, where the pace slows enough to allow the urinating riders (the peeloton ) to return to the main group (the peloton ).

If a rider is caught out with a sudden tingling urge or the pressure is on, they may drift back in the bunch and take a rolling wee, with some assistance from teammates – either to help them balance or to pace them back. 

There has been recent commentary from certain riders that the bathroom etiquette of road cycling has gone out the window , with Peter Sagan memorably describing the flurries of urine he battles through as “total anarchy”. True story, true quote.

Do Tour de France riders poop their pants? 

Oh, we’re back here again? Sure. I love that for us.

Usually, they do it on the side of the road during quiet moments, but for reasons of privacy they might dismount and head for a ditch (as modelled by the aforementioned Peter Sagan here):

A rider will usually make it through the stage without being struck by the urge, but not always. Sometimes, that will make a rider the butt – hur, hur – of everyone’s jokes ( à la Tom Dumoulin ). Sometimes, a rider will be struck down with explosive diarrhoea (à la Greg Lemond), as the following memorable passage shows, from Richard Moore ‘s excellent ‘Slaying the Badger: Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault, and the Greatest Tour de France’:

“It was 60, 70 kilometers to go, and I took a peach,” LeMond says. “About 10 km later, I went to a teammate, ‘Pass me your hat.’ He was like, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Pass me your hat, please.’ ‘What do you want my hat for?’ ‘Pass me the goddamn hat!’ “I shoved it down my shorts; it didn’t feel like it was going to be diarrhea, but oh, my God, it was so severe. I just felt the shorts go woooooop! And it fills my shorts, then slowly dribbles down my legs into my shoes. I mean literally, it was dripping into my wheels, it was flying off the spokes. And then everyone separated off from me. We were single file, we were going hard, and I was cramping, my stomach.” 

Evocative, no?

What makes the Tour de France so special? 

See above. 

Nah, it’s been around since 1903 and attracts the biggest audience, televised in 186 countries. It has the biggest prize money and the most prestige, and because of that, it’s the most attractive to sponsors of the sport. That makes for a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, making the Tour all but untouchable. 

Also, it is exceptionally beautiful.

Are females allowed in the Tour de France? 

No, although there have been several women’s-specific Tour de France equivalents over the years, including a one-off as far back as 1955, and, from 1984-2009, an event under a shifting cast of names (the Tour de France Féminin, Tour of the EEC Women, Tour Cycliste Féminin and Grande Boucle Féminine Internationale). 

2022 is particularly exciting because it’s the debut of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift – an eight-stage women’s Tour de France, starting in Paris on the same day that the men’s race finishes, run by the same organisers. It’s long overdue, and it’s going to be awesome. 

Do Tour de France riders listen to music? 

No. They typically have earpieces in one ear, but they are used for communication with their team directors or with other teammates. They do, however, listen to often terrible music in their team buses in the morning before each stage.

How many gears does a Tour de France bike have? 

Bike tech is constantly evolving and some of the minor teams may be still on older equipment, but the majority of riders would be riding bikes with two chainrings at the front and 12 sprockets at the back, making for a total of 24 gears.

Do Tour de France riders use disc brakes? 

As noted above, some teams may still be on rim brakes, but the vast majority will now be using disc brakes. Ineos Grenadiers were the sole top-tier team still using rim brakes but they have been riding discs throughout the 2022 season. Defending champion Tadej Pogačar sometimes uses rim brakes on big mountain stages, as they allow for a lighter bike.

Where do the Tour de France riders sleep? 

In hotels, usually with two riders to a room. Sometimes those hotels are nice. Sometimes they are miserable Ibises. It is a nightly lottery.

Do Tour de France riders sleep? 

Yes. The Tour de France is three weeks long and they are exercising very hard throughout. They need to sleep.

Do Tour de France riders drink alcohol?

Not nearly as much as Tour de France journalists and spectators. 

What Tour de France stage is today? 

The Tour de France starts on Friday 1 July, 2022. If you are reading this article before then, there is no Tour de France stage today, but we love your energy.

In the meantime, please enjoy this handy guide to the stages and route of the 2022 Tour de France .

What did Tour de France sign say? 

If I’m being obtuse, there are many signs at the Tour de France, often saying things like ‘Tour de France’, Skoda, LCL, E Leclerc, Continental, and Krys. 

But I think what you are really asking about is the crash on stage 1 of the 2021 Tour de France , where half the peloton was brought down by a spectator, greeting her grandparents with a sign reading ‘Allez Opi-Omi!’. Which means “Go grandpa-grandma!” in a hybrid of French and German.

It was a whole thing . 

What caused Tour de France crash? 

There are a lot of crashes at the Tour de France, big and small and usually several times a day. But I think most Googlers are probably pounding the algorithm for the one we just mentioned above. Tour de France crash was caused by one woman’s love for her grandparents.

What time Tour de France start? 

This world has many time zones and I wouldn’t dare presume which one you are in, but here is a useful guide for how to watch the Tour de France on live TV or streaming platforms, wherever you might be. 

What is Tour de France time trial? 

For the purposes of this year’s Tour de France, the time trial is an individual race against the clock, where all riders ride the same course, with staggered start times, trying to post the lowest possible time. For these stages, they use more aerodynamically efficient equipment and special time trial bikes and there’s no drafting allowed.

This year there are time trials on stage 1 (13 kilometres) and stage 20 (40 kilometres). 

Tour de France how long? 

21 stages, and – usually – two rest days. This year, because the race starts in Denmark, there is an extra transfer day on July 4 as the whole show picks up and moves from Scandinavia to France. The dates this year are Friday 1 July – Sunday 24 July. 

Tour de France how many km? 

3,328 kilometres, or 2,067 miles (AKA 66,560 Olympic-sized swimming pools).

Tour de France how do they pee?

The riders wear bib shorts, with straps over the shoulders, which makes undressing complicated. As such, there are two main methods that can be used – flopping themselves over the waistband and hoping not to kink the hose, or the more daring ‘down the leg’ method.

If you’re doing this on the move – from personal experience as a bored teen on country roads when nobody was around other than some very confused cows – the risk is high and the reward is low. 

Is Chris Froome in Tour de France 2022? 

Yes, he will be at the Tour de France . No, he will not win.

Where does the Tour de France start 2022? 

Copenhagen, Denmark – a great city that is conspicuously not in France, but I won’t hold that against it. 

Why is the Tour de France starting in Denmark? 

Are there any American teams in the Tour de France? 

There are two American-registered teams in this year’s Tour de France – Trek-Segafredo, and EF Education-Easypost. They look like this:

Who won all three Grand Tours? 

Only seven riders have won the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and Vuelta a España in their careers:

Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault , Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali, and Chris Froome. 

Who has won the Tour de France the most times? 

That is a surprisingly fraught question. Lance Armstrong won seven consecutive editions of the race from 1999 to 2005, but they were all later stripped from him after he admitted to doping throughout his career. 

There are four riders who have won the Tour de France on five occasions – Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. (The cleanliness of these riders has also often been called into question, but let’s not quibble.)

Do cyclist pee themselves? 

I think we’re done here.

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Pro Cyclists Rarely Listen To Their Favorite Tunes

• Post author: B.Writer
• Post published: 0
• Post category: Questions / Road Bikes
• Post comments: 0 Comments

Tour De France riders are not listening to music while competing. Instead, they have earpieces used to maintain communication with their teams. That said, some Tour De France riders listen to music during training or when warming up before an event.

The Dangers of Listening To Music While Cycling

Blasting music on your phone or mp3 player while riding is dangerous because the sound mutes the environmental audio feedback that you would otherwise receive. This includes accelerating vehicles as well as cyclists and pedestrians that could be trying to tell you something important.

Thus, you may find yourself in a situation when an unexpected motorized vehicle, a cyclist or even an electric scooter comes out of nowhere. For that reason, cycling on a public road with headphones on is prohibited by law in some countries.

The dangers are even greater if the cyclist doesn’t have another feedback source such as a bicycle mirror .

Of course, Tour De France riders are not commuters and cycle on closed roads during competitions. However, the same principle applies. They still have to be aware of the surrounding traffic which includes other competitors as well as support cars and motorcycles.

The riders should also be capable of hearing their teammates and rivals.

• Lack Of Communication

Cycling teams rely on a unique radio frequency to communicate. Thus, the riders have to carry a small radio weighing about 200 grams.

The communication channel serves the following functions

• Inform riders of their position in the race as well as dangers ahead
• Inform support vehicles of crashes and riders in need of a bike replacement or medical help
• General communication between every member of the team.

Since team communication is essential for successful performance, riders are not allowed to listen to their favorite tunes.

• Disturbed Emotional Equilibrium

Music greatly affects the emotional state of a human being. If you listen to sad songs, you’re very likely to start feeling sad yourself. If you listen to motivational hype songs, you’re very likely to feel energized and ready to conquer the world.

Both ends of the spectrum have negatives and disturb one’s emotional equilibrium. Sadness and depression deplete your energy whereas aggressive songs overstress one’s adrenal glands and cause premature burnout. The adrenaline that’s released from listening to epic songs quickly disappears.

In the best-case scenario, the rider’s mood is stable. One should be neither demotivated nor emotionally “amped” to the maximum.

For that reason, music has to go. Otherwise, one is very likely to lose emotional stability and underperform.

At the end of the day, Tour De France competitions are a marathon and last multiple hours. The only way to survive such an event is to use your energy strategically.

• Distraction

By introducing music to the set-up, one is adding another source of distraction. The rider would also have to carry an extra device and manipulate it to switch between songs or increase/decrease the volume.

Those actions act as a pointless distraction especially when you account for the fact that music could easily become harmful to one’s biorhythms.

• Daydreaming

For optimal performance, riders have to stay in the present moment instead of daydreaming.

Music doesn’t help with that goal since it takes you to different places by overstimulating your brain.

Cyclists wear helmets preventing the use of large headphones. Thus, one has to stick to earbuds that go fairly deep into the ear canal. Since Tour De France competitions take place outdoors and are attended by a large crowd, one will also have to increase the volume of the phone or player to a very high level to hear the music.

Blasting loud music through earbuds for hours is very likely to cause ear pain. Since cycling competitions are painful enough on their own, it doesn’t make much sense to introduce yet another source of discomfort.

In What Situations Do Tour De France Riders Listen To Music?

It’s technically possible for a Tour De France rider to listen to music during training and non-sanctioned events. Whether this is happening depends on the particular rider. In general, however, most riders avoid listening to music due to the greater risk of missing crucial traffic sounds.

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Communication in the Tour de France: How Does It Work?

When you have 22 teams of eight riders each, as in this year’s Tour de France, as well as team vehicles, support vehicles from the Tour de France organizers, the ASO, as well as press motorcycles on the road, and the riders are riding kilometers apart, especially on mountain stages, a perfectly functioning communication system is essential to the success of the race. Team directors must be able to communicate with each of their riders, to inform them of their positions in the stage, of the strategy, which often changes during a stage, of each rider’s role in carrying out that strategy, of any obstacles or dangerous patches that may lie ahead and of the time gap between the team leader and his rivals. In addition, riders must be able to alert their racing teams on their physical condition, if they need refreshment and, especially, if they are hurt or their bike has broken down.

The process of setting up a flawless communication system for each team begins several days before the start of the Tour when of the race jury consults with each team to establish its individual and unique team radio frequency for its onboard radio system. That ensures that other teams are unable to listen in on team communications and that there is no accidental radio interference.

When riding a stage, most of the riders are equipped with an onboard radio that weighs about 200 grams. In addition, team cars, which are often stuck behind their cyclists, need to be informed if one of their riders has crashed and where and if they are pulling away from the peloton in a breakaway or are riding alone. The race radio gives permission to these vehicles to break out of the procession order and speed up to catch up to the rider who needs assistance. Cars are not allowed to break out of the procession order – which is determined by team standings in the race – unless they are given clearance to do so. This clearance is usually given if a rider is in a breakaway with a lead of at least 1 minute over the peloton or a rider has crashed or is otherwise in need of medical assistance. Coming to the aid of a rider is less of a problem in the plains when the peloton is usually racing over multilane roads. However, it becomes quite difficult during mountain stages, when roads are often narrow and sinuous.

There is also a radio channel that connects only the two cars serving each team. This enables the team directors to establish who will help which riders and whether to stop and swap rider-specific equipment, a decision that usually depends on a rider’s position in the peloton.

When this communication system works flawlessly, you will see a domestique or a support rider drop out of the peloton to collect water bottles and other refreshments from a team car, a rider with a punctured tire being given a new bike just seconds after he dismounted and a rider on a breakaway being handed a water bottle with 30 kilometers remaining on the stage.

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The musical tastes of riders at the Tour de France

Velon go inside the peloton to find out what riders are listening to at the 2016 tour de france.

RELATED: First ride on the Bianchi Oltre XR4 in Franciacorta, Italy

Cyclists use music for varying purposes but at the Tour de France riders will listen to it on long transfers, when warming up before stages and while cooling down after. Velon went inside the peloton to find out what riders at the Tour de France are listening to discovering the likes and dislikes of Luke Durbridge, Gregory Rast, Simon Geschke, Wouter Poels, Luke Rowe, Bert Jan Lindeman and Michael Schar.

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5 Secrets of a Tour de France Rider

By emily becker | jul 8, 2015.

The Tour de France is not for the faint of heart. The annual 21-stage bicycle race features teams of professional riders from around the world who pedal over 2,000 miles of the French countryside and French Alps before reaching the ceremonial last stage in Paris. We don’t all have the calf muscles to tackle a climb at an incline of 15 percent, but read on to learn some secrets of those who are cycling for the winner’s yellow jersey.

1. They eat constantly.

Getty Images

Three meals a day? Try six. Cyclists burn up to 1,000 calories an hour during the grueling race, and the days involve four hours of pure cycling. The thing a rider does the most when he’s not on the bike is eat. Days start with a massive buffet-style breakfast at the hotel and then racers continue to eat and drink up until the bicycling actually begins. During the leg, each team’s support vehicles hand out fruit, sandwiches, water, and sports drinks that the riders consume while pedaling.

The riders have built up a major calorie deficit during the day, and after the finish line, the work begins during the bus ride to the hotel as the cyclists are served starches like boiled potatoes and rice, and proteins like tuna and ham. At the hotel, riders chow down on a 2,000-calorie dinner that is heavy in protein to rebuild muscle. The day ends with a snack before going to sleep, during which they’re probably not dreaming of food.

2. They’re chatting the whole time.

Four hours is a long time to ride a bike, especially when you don’t have anyone to talk to. Early on in the day’s race, cyclists often talk to each other while pedaling, especially if they end up in the large group of riders that forms after the starting gun (this group is called the “peloton”). Historically, riders would first try speaking to each other in French. If that didn’t work, they would try Italian and then Spanish. It wasn’t until the mid-1980s, when riders from Anglophone countries started appearing at the Tour, that English became widely spoken. The Union Cycliste Internationale, the governing body for the world of international cycling, now operates in both French and English.

3. They can pee while riding.

Riders sweat a lot. To make up for the liquid lost, cyclists drink several bottles of water and sports drinks during the ride, some of which will eventually need to leave the body through another method. Usually, riders in the peloton will stop all together or follow the understanding that the group will slow down if a significant number of riders need to stop for a bathroom break. However, when nature calls, it calls when she wants—whether that’s in the peloton or sprinting to catch up with the leaders during the last miles of the race. In such cases, riders have been known to urinate while on the bike by exposing themselves for a few moments (or just letting it go, as-is).

4. They live longer.

Despite the epic crashes that involve dozens of riders at a time, a study released by the Paris Cardiovascular Center in 2014 showed that male professional cyclists live, on average, 6.3 years longer than the general population. The study compared the lifespans of any Frenchman who finished at least once in the Tour de France against an average Frenchman, and found that mortality rates were 41 percent lower for the riders. Scientists attribute the difference to a cyclist’s generally healthy way of life, including a very small likelihood that a professional cyclist smokes.

5. They’ll only ride a clean bicycle.

It should come as no surprise that the bikes themselves are maintained rigorously during the race. Each bicycle is hand washed first with a degreasing solution before receiving a soapy sponge bath and power wash to remove dirt, grime, and memories of the day’s race. Not only are the bikes cleaned thoroughly, but mechanics also readjust and re-tune every bike—including replacing the cables and bearings—on a daily basis.

When not being tuned up or transported or ridden, the bikes for each team remain under lock and key in the team truck. The Cannonade Garmin team is said to park a second team truck directly behind the one that holds the bikes so, even if the lock somehow gets picked, thieves can’t open the rear swinging doors.

What Does a Day in the Life of a Tour de France Femmes Racer Look Like?

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a pro cyclists is like? Five riders in the Tour de France Femmes walk us through a day of racing.

To find out, we asked several of the pro cyclists who are racing this year’s Tour de France Femmes to walk us through a day in the life.

Wake Up Time

For the racers, mornings are one of the few moments of solitude during a hectic day. Some will sleep in until the last possible moment in order to get as much recovery sleep time as possible, while others will rise a bit earlier to have those precious moments alone. Because stages typically start at 12 or 1PM, mornings aren’t super rushed. “I wake up, I have a little prayer, and I start to make my coffee in the room,” says Canyon//SRAM’s Kasia Niewiadoma . “It's a moment for myself before I jump into the team dynamic.”

Most meals are served in a communal space, typically buffet-style since every racer has specific preferences, especially for their pre-race meal. “I like more salty, savory breakfast, so I have eggs and bread and fruit,” says Canyon//SRAM’s Elise Chabbey. Other riders will opt for oats, rice, toast or other carb-based options with a small amount of protein.

The nice thing about having a WorldTour level staff is that your baggage is generally taken care of. Riders will either leave packed suitcases in their rooms or lug them to the lobby where they’re collected by the team staff, and then riders will hop on the team bus and head to the race venue. “I’ll always pack my bag the night before so I don't have to like worry about that the next day,” says Canyon//SRAM’s Alice Towers.

Two Hours Until the Start

Riders will start to get into race mode, often turning on some music and having another snack. “We listen to music and we kind of build ourselves up and try to create a good atmosphere so people feel good before the race starts,” says Niewiadoma.

Last Minute Prep

“What we normally do is we take some stuff with us from breakfast to eat before the race depending on what time we start,” says Human Powered Health’s Marjolein van't Geloof. In addition to a warmup, riders will often have one more quick carb-based snack or a few sips of a sports drink, check that their race radios are working and that their numbers are pinned on properly, and then head to the start line.

You know how this goes!

At the Finish Line

“Even in a stage race, you still want to do a short cooldown, especially if you finished with a sprint,” says Towers. “I’ll go for like a five minute spin and chat to people about the race. Sometimes it’s with your teammate, sometimes you might bump into someone else from another team.”

Post-Race Race

After the race is its own race: The faster a team gets loaded into the bus and back to the hotel, the faster the riders can get down to the business of recovery.

The post-race finish line resembles a pit change at a NASCAR race: Riders are handing bikes off to mechanics, being handed shakes with a combination of protein and carbohydrates, and either doing their post-race interviews and podiums or quickly getting changed and hopping onto the bus and being handed a lunchbox.

Most buses are also equipped with showers, so many riders are pretty much ready for bed by the time they get to the hotel. “Especially when we know that the transfer is super long after a stage, it’s like a very speedy, speedy process post-race,” says Niewiadoma.

Riders look forward to this moment all day. “If it’s been like a hectic day, sometimes it’s just nice to get a bit of peace and quiet on the massage table,” says Towers.

Dinner Time

“Usually, we’re not hungry, but you have to force yourself to eat something,” says Chabbey. Typically, this means white rice or pasta plus a protein like chicken or fish, with limited vegetables or fat. If someone was on the podium in the stage, maybe a small glass of wine will be on offer.

Team Meeting

Riders meet to go over the stage from the day, and talk about what’s coming next. “We’ll always have a quick debrief of the of the day,” says Towers. “What what went well, what went poorly, what can we do better? What’s coming the next day?”

Some racers will opt to turn off the lights and get to sleep instantly, but others will spend some time connecting with loved ones. But these chats are usually brief, since getting to bed quickly is often more important than a long conversation.

Find a Movie

Most riders avoid scrolling social media before bed since it can be too stimulating, and lead to too much rumination on the day’s race. Instead, they scroll Netflix to try to find something easy to watch—but not so interesting that they stay up late.

Get Some Sleep

Most racers have their sleep routine dialed (and really, being a good sleeper is part of being a pro!). Many will travel with their own pillows, and ear plugs and eye masks are common to ensure quiet and dark conditions, especially when sharing a room with another racer.

Molly writes about cycling, nutrition and training, with an emphasis on women in sport. Her new middle-grade series, Shred Girls, debuts with Rodale Kids/Random House in 2019 with "Lindsay's Joyride." Her other books include "Mud, Snow and Cyclocross," "Saddle, Sore" and "Fuel Your Ride." Her work has been published in magazines like Bicycling, Outside and Nylon. She co-hosts The Consummate Athlete Podcast.

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Tour de France: the classical music-lover’s guide

Martin Buzacott

• X (formerly Twitter)

Have you ever sat up late at night watching the Tour de France on television and found yourself more interested in the French scenery and culture than in the actual bike race?

And you’re meant to. The original intention of the organisers was to showcase the beauty of France while selling copies of the newspaper that started the event.

Unlike most other sports, the ‘playing field’ for the Tour is the landscape of France itself, the villages, roads and meadows where ordinary French people live their lives, and party as the Tour passes through. The backdrop to the race is an abundance of sunflower fields, sublime mountains, sparkling waterways and fairytale castles.

So it’s the ultimate event for the armchair traveller who wouldn’t necessarily know an echelon(1) from a lantern rouge(2).

And as the Tour winds through almost 4,000 kilometres over 22 days, commentators will be interrupting their race analysis to wax lyrical over France’s various architectural features, narrating statistics on local agricultural production, and even offering recipes drawn from the local cuisine.

But what about the music? Which composers came from the regions on the route, and what should the soundtrack be for the locations on the Tour?

Over the next three weeks, I’ll share my rough guide to classical music on the 2018 Tour de France, as the race moves through different regions of France.

Week 1 Loading...

7 – 13 July: North-Western France This year the ‘Grand Depart’ of the Tour takes place at Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile, where the beautiful River Loire meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Loire Valley itself is not only home to some of France’s most spectacular chateaux and the most ‘pure’ version of the French language, but it was also the birthplace of the French composer Henri Dutilleux. Check out his Cello Concerto, Symphony no 2, and also the orchestral work Metaboles.

Further upstream on the Loire, the opera and ballet composer Leo Delibes came from the village of La Fleche, and Jean Francaix was born just slightly further upriver at Le Mans.

When the inevitable crashes occur in the Tour’s first week, use the glorious Flower Duet from Lakme to calm the nerves, and the Francaix Wind Quintet to lift the spirits.

A less well-known composer from the area is Jean Hure, whose Cello Sonata always receives a positive response when played on ABC Classic FM. Use it to break the routine when it seems every stage comes down to a sprint finish.

From the Loire, the Tour then makes its way up toward Brittany which has a rich musical history. Of particular interest will be Stage 5 on 11 July, which ends at Quimper. It’s alongside Douarnenez Bay, the supposed location for the mythical sunken city of Ys. That legend inspired Debussy's famous piano prelude, The Sunken Cathedral, evoking a mysterious, ruined cathedral, submerged under the sea.

Debussy loved this area of France and once persuaded a ship’s captain to take him and some friends out to sea during a storm off the Britanny coast. The impressions of that event influenced his orchestral work La Mer – the perfect accompaniment as the riders battle the coastal winds.

The story of doomed lovers Tristan and Isolde is also set in the area, even though its most famous musical representation is by the German Wagner! Might be a good choice if German green-jersey contenders Andre Greipel and Marcel Kittel are dominating in the sprints.

At the end of the week, the Tour then transits across the north of the country, passing quite close to the hometowns of northern-born composers like Erik Satie (Honfleur), Daniel Auber (Caen) and Maurice Durufle (Louviers). For distraction from Team Sky spending hours on the front keeping their leader Chris Froome out of trouble in pursuit of his fifth Tour de France victory, try Satie’s Gymnopedies and Gnossiennes to add a little hypnotic to the robotic.

14 - 21 July: North-Eastern France and the French Alps It will be an emotional weekend on 14 and 15 July, when the Tour pays homage to victims of World War I as it races two Stages around the famous battlefields of the Somme.

Several leading French composers come from this north-eastern part of France, including two from Lille – Eduard Lalo whose Symphonie Espagnole might just have to wait until the Pyrenees later in the Tour, and cellist-composer Auguste Franchomme, a close friend of Chopin's.

Other French composers from the north-east include Guillaume de Machaut (Reims) and Albert Roussel, who came from the village of Turcoing, just near the finish of Stage 9 at the legendary cycling city of Roubaix. Try Roussel’s bustling Sinfonietta as the lead-out trains of the fast men assemble in the final minutes of the stages.

Music associated with the Somme also includes works by several English composers who served there during World War 1. Vaughan Williams’ Pastoral Symphony was inspired by the ‘Corot-like’ landscape that he saw from Mont Saint Eloi, just outside Arras.

Nearby Pozieres is also close to where Ivor Gurney composed his greatest songs, including Severn Meadows and In Flanders. No visit to the area is complete without a visit to the Thiepval Memorial to those whose remains were never found, including George Butterworth who died in heroic circumstances not far from there. His A Shropshire Lad Rhapsody and two English Idylls are poignant reminders of his loss.

From there, the riders of the Tour de France board a plane and fly south to the French Alps for the first of the mountain stages that not only provide the decisive moments of every Tour, but also the most spectacular scenery.

The famous Alpe d’Huez (known as ‘Hollywood’ to cyclists because of its famously compact 21 bends and guaranteed race-drama) is just a bike ride away from where Hector Berlioz was born. Check out the first movement of Berlioz’s Harold in Italy – ‘Harold in the Mountains’, especially if Italian former Tour-winner Vincenzo Nibali is making his move at the time. And no excuse is ever needed to enjoy the Symphonie Fantastique.

Nearby Chambery – a beautiful mountain town – is the birthplace of current French world-beaters, violinist Renaud Capucon and his cellist-brother Gautier. Listen to Renaud’s much-acclaimed 2016 album featuring music by Lalo and Bruch.

On the flatlands, just to the west, Jules Massenet was born in St Etienne so definitely time to break out his immortal Meditation from Thais, and a little further on, Joseph Canteloube collected his Songs of the Auvergne, which probably speak of the French countryside more than any other music.

I’ll be joining the Tour here in the Alps, riding some of the mountain passes ahead of the Tour itself.

22-29 July: Across southern France to the Pyrenees

Stage 14 on 21 July begins the transition stages across southern France toward the Pyrenees. This year they’re not going up the majestic Mont Ventoux, but they’ll be skirting Provence - many people’s favourite part of France - where Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen were both born.

Check out Milhaud’s Suite Provencale – a loving portrait of his home region, and also Mireille by Charles Gounod, who spent three months in the area researching the background to that opera.

Then as the race heads across the south, a northern glance back toward the Auvergne and then forward to Languedoc will reveal the birthplaces of composers like Emmanuel Chabrier (Ambert) and Georges Auric (Lodeve), while down further to the south are the childhood haunts of composer Henri Tomasi and the flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal (both from Marseille).

Chabrier’s Suite Pastorale is the perfect choice here, as unheralded riders try to make their mark among the sun-drenched, picture-postcard vistas of the south of France.

And while the favourites for the Tour like Froome, Nibali and Landa hide in the peloton (3) during these transition stages, listen to the lovely piano piece En Languedoc by Deodat de Severac, who adored that area at the Gateway to the Pyrenees and captured it in music.

As for the Pyrenees themselves, I’ll be reporting daily from there on Mornings as the Tour passes through, and introducing you to classical music associated with that magnificent mountain range on the border with Spain.

Included will be pieces by Gabriel Faure, who grew up in Foix, and Maurice Ravel, whose hometown of Ciboure is where the penultimate stage of this year’s race finishes. Its sister-town Saint Jean de Luz is where Ravel composed his Piano Trio and Bolero, among other masterpieces – essential listening when the Tour reaches there, as is Faure’s Pavane and Requiem at any time of year.

And then there’s Camille Saint-Saens’ ground-breaking First Piano Trio, composed while on holiday in the Pyrenees - but stand by for much more from me about that!

What to recommend as a soundtrack for that final stage? Well there will be so many people from around the world lining the famous boulevard up to the Arc de Triomphe that George Gershwin’s An American in Paris might be the go.

And as the sprinters fight it out for final bragging rights, a momentary break from the classical music genre is justified, with Queen’s We Are the Champions - because that’s what every rider who finishes the Tour de France really is.

1. An echelon is the diagonal formation that cyclists create to shelter from strong crosswinds (think of the way swans fly in formation) 2. The ‘Lantern Rouge’ is the name given to the rider who finishes last in the Tour de France. Unlike in other sports, it’s a surprisingly prestigious position, firstly because the Tour is so gruelling that anyone who finishes is lauded, but secondly, because coming last indicates that the rider has given their all, and forsaken any chance of personal glory, in support of their team leader.

3. The peloton is the large bunch that the riders form in order to shelter from the wind and ride with greatest efficiency. Sports scientists estimate that riders can save up to 30% of their energy by riding in a group rather than solo, so where (or if) a rider is positioned in the peloton becomes crucial to race tactics. It’s why the eventual winner is often not even sighted until the final few hundred metres!

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Tour de France: Can riders change bikes during the stages?

The Tour is one of the most important competitions in cycling.

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• Tour de France: Can riders listen to music?
• Tour de France Stage 1: Yves Lampaert takes yellow jersey after opening time trial NACHO LABARGACOPENHAGUE (DINA

The Tour de France is one of the most demanding competitions in existence. Along the way there are mountain climbs, downhills, time trials, sprints. For all this you can't use just one bike, the cyclists have a lot of equipment at their disposal.

The cyclist chooses the bike that best suits him/her according to the moment he/she is in and the stage of the competition.

Generally, the TT bike will be faster in most conditions, which shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given the focus on aerodynamics, both in terms of body position and the bike itself.

But in a stage where there is climbing , where there is also flat terrain and curves, the TT can be a very heavy bike and aerodynamics would not help much.

There is a team chasing the rider

It can also happen that the bike breaks down, a tire may be out of air, the rim of the tire may bend, the handlebars may move, etc., then the competitor notifies his team and the team prepares for a bike change.

To compete in the Tour de France you can use any bike that is openly available for sale to the general public, you don't need a bike specially made for the competitors .

Voigt used a child's bicycle

In the 2010 Tour de France something of the most curious of the competition happened, the German cyclist Jens Voig was leading the competition, but suffered an accident and his bike was useless, it was when he asked a child who was a spectator for his bike and with it he reached the finish line. He was neither fined nor penalized for this action, as he did not break any rules.

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How to Train Like a Tour de France Cyclist

• By Marc Lindsay

While you might not be able to line up next to Chris Froome and Peter Sagan at this year's race, that doesn't mean you can't train like a pro. Whether it's rolling hills, crosswinds, sprint finishes or a Hors Categorie climb, to make it to the finish line in Paris, Tour de France riders have to be able to do it all. Include these three workouts that mimic the challenges of the famous race, so you can become a more well-rounded rider.

Saint Girons to Foix

Length: 100km Skills needed: Conquering steep gradients; Descending The stage: A new trend in pro cycling stage racing is the short mountain stage where anything can happen. While the Latrape, Cold d'Agnes and the Mur de Peguere aren't terribly long, they are some of the steepest gradients Tour riders will face. The final 3.3km of the Mur will feature gradients in the double digits, reaching into the 20-percent range on occasion. Even though this will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge, to reach the finish cyclists will need to stay sharp on the long 27km descent into Foix.

• You'll need plenty of power to tackle steep pitches. Since 20-percent gradients will require maximum effort, you'll need to include a few high-power output hill repeats into your weekly workouts.
• Find a hill that is at least one to two miles long. If you don't have any hills in your area, you can do this workout on an indoor trainer.
• To mimic the distance of the Mur de Peguere, which is about six miles, you'll need to complete four to six of these hill repeats depending on the length of the climb you're training on.
• If you're training with a power meter, the pace you'll want to begin the repeat with is threshold. If not, ride at a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of about 8 or 9 out of 10.
• During each 1- to 2-mile interval, ride for 15 seconds as hard as you can (RPE-10/10) two times with a short recovery between each effort. Your two 15-second efforts will mimic those really steep 20-percent gradients you'll need to crest.
• Recover for one to two minutes in between each interval or the time it takes you to get back down to the bottom. Remember to practice your descending skills on the way down, since you'll need to be a good descender to reach the finish line first.

Briacon to Izoard

Length: 178km Skills needed: Ascending monster climbs The stage: There are only three summit finishes in this year's Tour, and this one on the 14.1km Izoard promises to be the most decisive. In addition to this Hors Catgorie climb, cyclists will also need to ascend the challenging Col de Vars beforehand, which is 9.3km at 7.5 percent gradient.

To get to the top of a really long climb, you'll need to find your sweet spot. This means maintaining a consistent effort for a fairly long duration. Pacing is key so you have enough energy to reach the top.

• If you're using a power meter, these efforts should be just below your functional threshold power or FTP. If you're using RPE to gauge your effort, you should ride these intervals at about a 7/10. This means continuous conversation should be difficult but you can still talk throughout these efforts.
• Begin with a 15-minute warm up, spinning easy at a cadence higher than 90 revolutions per minute.
• Complete three sets of 20-minute sweet spot intervals. If you have a long gradual climb near you that takes 20 minutes to get to the top, consider yourself lucky. If not, try these on an indoor trainer with your front wheel raised.
• During each of your three intervals, stand out of the saddle and sprint for 5 to 10 seconds every 3 to 4 minutes. This will help you deal with any gradient changes on the course.
• In between each interval, recover with 15 minutes of easy spinning.
• Cool down for 10 minutes in a high cadence.

Marseille Time Trial

Length: 23km Skills needed: Sustained power The stage: This short, individual time trial will take place in Marseille for the first time in the Tour's history. The course is flat except for one lone climb up the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde cathedral.

While you can expect most Tour riders to be well under the 30-minute mark, this effort will probably take you at least 35 minutes if you're in good shape. The duration of your time trial intervals should be slightly more than this amount of time.

• Do these intervals on a flat road where you won't have to stop very often. You can also do these on an indoor trainer. If possible, try to do one of the four interval sets below on a moderate climb or by raising your front wheel on the indoor trainer.
• Begin with a 15- to 20-minute warm up, spinning easy.
• For the main set, complete three to four 12-minute intervals at race pace with 3 minutes of easy spinning in between each interval. If you're using a power meter, these efforts should be at or just above lactate threshold. If you're using RPE, your effort should be in the 8/10 range. Try to keep your effort level as even as possible for each interval.
• Cool down with 15 to 20 minutes of easy spinning.

Next Gallery

The 7 Wildest Tour de France Stories You'll Never Believe

About the Author

Marc lindsay.

Marc writes gear reviews, training, and injury prevention articles for Active.com. He is also a contributor to LAVA Magazine, Competitor Magazine, and Gear Patrol.com. He is a certified Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) and earned his M.A. in Writing from Portland State University. Marc resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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How do Tour de France riders celebrate their birthday at the race?

Cycling Weekly chats to some of the people who have their special days throughout the Tour

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Almost every morning at the Tour de France , if you listen carefully to the unmissable podium presentation, there's usually, at one point, a diversion from the ordinary schedule. Amid the usual fluff - the interview with Peter Sagan , the roar for Thibaut Pinot, and the Tour's catchy announcement music - if you listen carefully, you might just hear the strains of Happy Birthday To You .

It's not a nice rendition, it should be said, with the Tour composers trying a bit too hard to tie it in with the race's usual jingles, so it comes out sounding electronic and strangled.

Birthdays are not unusual at the Tour; 176 riders start and the race happens over 23 days, so the odds are not low for an individual to have their special day while racing. Essentially, if you are a July baby and a professional cyclist, the chances are you will have a bemused crowd in a random French town, at a stage start, singing happy birthday to you at some point of your career.

For Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe), the 1 July was not only the first ever time the German had pinned on his race numbers at the Tour de France, but it was his 25th birthday. Some day.

"It's super special," Meeus told Cycling Weekly . "It's my first Tour, so to already be here it is super special, and yeah, first Tour stage on my birthday, makes it even more special. I had a cake, it was pretty nice. 

"I think for my first Tour, I couldn't think of a better birthday than yesterday. We will see in the future if I keep thinking like this, but I enjoyed yesterday a lot."

He was not the only man to have his birthday on stage one, that was shared by Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar), who turned 24.

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"It's nice, it's awesome," the American explained. "They sang happy birthday to me after the presentation, it's a good vibe." However, unliked Meeus: "No, definitely no cake."

For some, having a birthday at the Tour de France is a life goal realised. That was the case of Lars van den Berg (Groupama-FDJ, who also turned 25 this year, on stage seven.

"It's special, riding the Tour is something you dream of and to have your birthday too, it's something really special," the Dutchman explained. "I would rather be doing nothing. If you're doing the Tour de France... you only have a few opportunities in your life, so I'd rather be here. That would be great if I could have a few more, I would sign for that right now."

Unlike any normal person, however, professional riders can hardly celebrate their birthday. There's no party, no beer, no gathering with your family and friends - unless your friends are your teammates.

Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) has experienced quite a few birthdays at the Tour over the years, with 10 editions under his belt, and so is a bit tired of the very average celebration he experiences on the roads of France.

"I'd prefer if I was at home," the Norwegian explained. "No, you can't celebrate at all. I will get a cake after dinner, not for dinner. It's not a big celebration, in the mountains. I don't think I ever did really well on my birthday, so I cannot pick out one.

"I've had no great results either [on my birthday]. Maybe the first time I had a chance, but I got dropped. Before I turned pro I had some good memories, but not after. After I retire it will be better, with my family. At least I got a song this morning from my kids."

One also had to feel for Chris Juul-Jensen (Jayco-AlUla), who has had two of the hardest days he has experienced on his bike over the last two years, on his birthday.

"Last year it was the cobbled stage, this year it's a mountain stage," he said. "If it wasn't for seeing it on social media, and my family, then I probably wouldn't have given it too much thought this morning, especially given we have three massive mountains to get over. 

"Any birthday surrounded with all my mates, if I can't spend it with my family... it's the next best option. Regardless of what kind of stage it is, it's enjoyable. I expect a cake."

Given the relentlessness of the Tour, it escapes some rider's minds. "I don't know what day it is, but it's on 8 July. To be honest, I don't care at all," Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) said. "I think it's a possible sprint day, but it's the same motivation.

"Of course, you like to get messages from your family or friends, but for me it's more important that they will congratulate me on a result. It's hard work, so I won't be able to enjoy it that much."

Philippe Gilbert celebrated 12 birthdays at the Tour de France over his career, but thanks to his work with GCN+/Eurosport at the race, still hasn't made it home for one, despite rertiring.

"It's always special, you get a lot of attention," the Belgian said. "It's a special day because everyone wants to celebrate your birthday. I would say it's an extra stress but it's a nice moment. But in the end, you try to focus on those moments and also to try and enjoy your job.

"Yesterday, I was on the motorbike, so it was more relaxed, a lot of sport directors came and wished me something. I enjoy it more, but at the end of the day I would prefer to be with my family now. "

It is not just current and former riders who have their birthdays on Tour. Another lucky man is Ned Boulting, the ITV commentator. The nature of the Tour means that his experience of the special day is also disrupted.

"I almost forgot in the morning, I always require someone to remind me," Boulting said. "On this occasion, it was Eurosport's Laura Meseguer, who came out of a lift and said happy birthday to me. She has a birthday on Tour as well, it's lodged in her memory for some reason. For 21 years she's told me happy birthday.

"I'm embracing it, but my youngest kid is 20 and has never been with me on my birthday, ever. I've been at it for so long, I've probably had another birthday in Issoire."

"We may be on the same race but we live in different worlds," he said of the difference between himself and the riders. "The whole thing about celebrating a birthday on the Tour de France is quite mad, because it just flips past, it just happens. It happens so often, so many of us celebrate our birthdays on the Tour, because it's so flipping long."

It's not all bad; Boulting can actually have a mini party and drink. "Early on, I had a rest day on my birthday, when Chris Boardman was still quite new to ITV, and we were in Chamonix," he said. "We had a big, slightly boozy lunch, with culminated in Chris Boardman ringing up my parents to berate them that they'd forgotten. Olympic medallist Chris Boardman."

Just remember, next time you switch on the Tour de France, that it is more likely than not that one of the peloton will be celebrating their birthday. It probably won't be fun, though.

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Adam is Cycling Weekly ’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.

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Stage Three Of Tour De France A Rocky Road

It was a bumpy, even painful ride Tuesday at the Tour de France. Riders tried to keep their balance as they sped over cobblestones in Stage 3 of the race. Melissa Block talks to Phil Liggett, sports commentator for Versus TV, about who managed to come out on top, and who wasn't so lucky.

MELISSA BLOCK, host:

After two days full of crashes on the Tour de France, it was yet another day of bumps, bruises and broken bones today. Cyclists raced over miles of cobblestones today. The third stage of the race was 132 miles between Belgium and France, about eight of those miles on ancient cobblestone roads that can upend even the most skilled cyclists.

Here's Phil Liggett calling the race on the Versus Network.

Mr. PHIL LIGGETT (Commentator, Versus Network): But with these tires pumped up like this, there's no easy way over the cobbles, you simply pedal as hard as you can and as fast as you can. But there's always the risk of a compression puncture, as the cobbles bite out at those small tires. And they're going to have to live with that fear now to the finish. There's no help for them here.

BLOCK: You know, it's quite something to watch these racers speeding, bumping over these stones. How unusual is it for the Tour de France to have these sections of cobblestone roads?

Mr. LIGGETT: It's pretty unusual. They dont include them every year. These are Napoleonic roads, which were built for the armies of Napoleon a long time ago and now they're all protected by law. They can't resurface them with normal hard surfaces. Theyve to leave the cobbles and we call the region The Hell of the North and thats what they are. They're very painful, but theyve only been in the Tour de France on occasion. And this is the first time in number, since 2003. So it's the seven year itch.

BLOCK: Hmm. Well, how do they tweak the bikes to deal with these stones?

Mr. LIGGETT: They actually put a gel underneath the handlebar tape, which they wrap around the handlebars for normal grips so that you dont arrive with blisters all over the palms of your hand, or bleeding from the inside of your thumbs where youve gripped the brake hoods on the handlebars.

They put special compression on the forks sometimes. They should, in fact, leave the tires just a little bit softer than they would normally blow them up. Now, normally the pressure in a racing bicycle tire is four times that you would put into a car tire. So they're not quite as hard as that.

The biggest danger is they bounce so hard on the cobbles that the inside of tire fractures and down they go. And, in fact, that happened to Lance Armstrong today, and it turned out to be a bad day for Lance because he lost time. And although he certainly hasnt lost the Tour de France, it was on a day when he should have gained some time. And he's 18th in the tour now when he started day in fourth place. So, not a good day for Lance.

BLOCK: The yellow jersey for the overall leader is now being worn by Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. But the winner today was a Norwegian. Tell us about him.

Mr. LIGGETT: It was. We call him the god of thunder with a name like Thor. Thos Hushovd(ph), hes just won the championship of Norway the week before the Tour started. This is only his second win of the season. Today, he got maximum points and he's defending the green jersey championship. So he's off to a great start and he'd love to try and win it for a third time.

BLOCK: And if he's defending the green jersey that would explain why he was so angry yesterday. He was furious with Fabian Cancellara for staging whats been described as a mini protest in the race. What happened?

Mr. LIGGETT: Yep, that is absolutely correct. He was one rider that didnt subscribe to the protest. I think we all felt sorry for the riders because the weather turned ugly, very dangerous slippery descent off this little hill out in the Ardennes in Belgium. And many riders did fall down, so it was treacherous. And Cancellara decided, as he was the leader of race in the yellow jersey, hed take control, slow the race down for those that didnt fall and wait for those behind who did.

I think that was sportsmanship but they continued their little silent protest all the way to the finish in the Belgian town of Spa. And they didnt sprint for the line. The judges said, right, then therell be no points for the green jersey competition.

And, of course, Hushovd was in the lead in group all day. He would have probably have cleaned up from the bunch. So when he finished yesterday, he was pretty annoyed.

BLOCK: Well, Phil, whats coming up tomorrow in the tour?

Mr. LIGGETT: I can tell you it's going to be a normal day in the Tour de France. And if it is, it'll be the first one since we left Rotterdam because we've had something controversial everyday. The terrain is fairly rolling but it's nothing (unintelligible) to challenge these riders, and so it should be day for the sprinters. And the poor boys who are nursing a lot of bandages on the legs, arms, elbows, shoulders, et cetera, will have a chance to recover a little bit.

BLOCK: Phil Liggett is calling the Tour de France for the Versus Network. Phil, thanks so much.

Mr. LIGGETT: A pleasure, thank you.

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