This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
Every year, the Tour de France takes over the roads of France, leaving a trail of excitement, danger, and unpredictability in its wake. The 2019 edition was no exception, with its 3,481 kilometers of varied terrain and 3,576 obstacles, including roundabouts, narrow sections, hairpin turns, and speed bumps.
As I witnessed firsthand, the riders navigated these challenges with ease, gliding effortlessly in and out of the crowds like serene goldfish in a bowl. But beneath the surface, a tension built, fueled by the ever-present shadow of doping and the unpredictability of the route.
According to Jim Ochowicz, manager of the CCC Pro Team, the Tour de France is like the Super Bowl, but with a key difference: the venue is every road in France, and each year the route is different. 'If they are doing road work, if there is a pothole, you have a split second to deal with it,' he said.
As the peloton began to move out of Albi, the temperatures were already in the mid-80s, and the cyclists had more than 100 miles of pedaling ahead of them. The atmosphere was electric, with bands playing and townspeople waving, but beneath the surface, the riders knew that the real challenge was only just beginning.
