1. Fans frenzy
An open-air circus, a summer festival, a carnival. All of these are true. Thousands of fans travel across Europe to see their favorites and the sporting competition firsthand. They bring national flags, favorite team jerseys, banners with the names of their idols, spray encouraging slogans on the road, but above all, they cheer. They cheer enthusiastically and very loudly for everyone. Not only for every racer who passes by during the race but also for us amateur cyclists who climb to the stage finish to cheer somewhere close to the end. Where else can you experience being cheered on by thousands of spectators? And the loudest cheers are on the steepest sections. Even if you feel like you can’t go on, the energy pushes you forward.
2. Right in the action
You stand by the track, somewhere on the final hill, in a corner with a good view, preferably on a very steep section where the racers ride relatively slowly. You get swept up in the atmosphere, cheering on every rider, clapping, shouting, waving your flag, blowing your trumpet… You have time to enjoy the entire race, from the fastest at the front, through scattered trailing groups, to the struggling grupetto with a half-hour delay. You see maximum effort, total exhaustion, the aftermath of crashes, or just the struggle to reach the finish line. Add to that the madness of support vehicles and the deafening noise of people banging on barriers and urging the racers to the finish. All this literally a meter away and completely different from how it looks on TV.
3. Riding with the pros
If the stage finish is on a hill, team buses often stay at the bottom, and the racers “have to” ride back down after crossing the finish line. And because there are large time gaps on big hills, it often happens that the fastest of the stage descend while much of the race field is still climbing. Once everyone has crossed the finish line, the hill “opens up,” spectators start descending into the valley, and those who arrived by bike ride down and enjoy the many-kilometer descent. And from above, the pros descend. They elegantly weave through thousands of cyclists, and if needed, they blow a whistle that each one has around their neck. And you ride with them. When else will you get the chance to greet Mathieu van der Poel while riding or have Tom Pidcock whistle at you before a corner?
4. Pre-race party vibes
The entire tour route is lined with caravans and spectators’ cars. The highest concentration is at mountain finishes. You need to arrive several days in advance, not only to get a good spot but also because the road closes the day before the race and the police won’t let anyone through. The night before the race, the whole hill turns into one big party. Caravans decorated, grills sizzling with sausages, sometimes a tent with a tapped keg, and a spontaneous disco with portable speakers. People of all nationalities walk along the road, occasionally stopping for a chat or immediately starting to discuss how everything will turn out the next day…
5. The ad caravan spectacle
Think what you want, but the tour is a huge business. An integral part of it is the advertising caravan of various painted vehicles that travels two hours ahead of the peloton. It’s like a moving disco, electrifying spectators along the route and throwing out promotional items. You might shake your head at the absurdity of it, but gradually the mood around you pulls you in, you’ll shout at the passing vehicles, wave at their occupants, and occasionally catch a flying promotional gift. The caravan consists of about 100 vehicles, and the best is done by Leclerc, who sponsors the polka dot jersey for the best climber. They give out replicas of the jersey, which everyone then immediately puts on. The entire hill is then filled with fans in polka dot jerseys.
6. Flawless organization
It’s worth watching how everything runs perfectly, how the race is prepared down to the last detail, and especially how everything can move to a different location every day. Not only the race teams with their buses and support vehicles but also the start, finish, all the crossing gates, barriers on the last kilometers, advertising banners of partner companies, and so on. Add to that city closures, thousands of police officers and firefighters.
7. Climbing an iconic hill yourself
We are enthusiastic amateur athletes, and when we go to the Tour de France, we take our bikes to climb the final hill we came to cheer on, but mainly to tackle some Galibier, Izoard, or Madeleine in the following days. We push ourselves hard on the way up and enjoy the long descent down. France offers many such places. Beautiful hills, endless climbs, winding roads, good asphalt, the feeling of inner victory at the top, and an exhilarating descent down!
