Just to keep things in perspective
In 2009 I completed a century ride (a ride that exceeds 100 miles). It was a hard course and it had many hills. When I was finished I was elated having completed this grueling course. In addition I paid for it days later with sore muscles and the overwhelming need to keep on drinking for what felt like days of constantly being thirsty. I was proud of this effort and have always thought of it as a big deal.
As the 2013 Tour de France approaches I decided to take a look at what the effort looks like for this race. First of all it is a 21 stage race and is run over 23 days - that means in total there are 2 days off! I have decided to ignore the speeds of the riders and the grade and rating of the mountains that they climb because these two statistics are untouchable by mere mortals. Instead I just looked at the distances that each of the riders have to endure.
Keeping in mind there are three days that are short 15.5 miles; 20.5 miles and 20 miles, but each of these days are time trial days. The racers are going at their top speed over these distances. Even though these distances might look to be within reach, the speeds are not. Other than these three days there are only three other days that fall below the 100 mile mark. The first is day/stage two at 97 miles and day/stage three at 90 miles. However the race starts with the first stage being a 135 mile day. The last stage (21 - Day 23) is only 82 miles however this more of a traditional celebratory ride and usually does not count towards the final outcome of the overall champion of the tour.
Including the three time trials and the three “short” rides the average for the tour is 100 miles per day. Stage 15 is 150 miles long. By the time the riders get to the first rest day they will have covered 940 miles! More than 2100 miles will be ridden by each of these riders in just 23 days. I know that it is hard to translate data into real effort but these numbers are inconceivable.
I know that Lance Armstrong’s confession of breaking the rules (blood doping, banned substances and other violations) has given some people reason to dismiss the sport. It is easy to understand why we could all feel that way. And when so many riders have been accused of the same type of abuse it is hard to look past the negativity and be able to clearly see the effort involved in this race. Having said all of that, that is not what defines this race!
I know of no other contest that lasts as long or demands the amount of hours and the diversity of talent. If you can climb you are typically not built to sprint. If you sprint well, the mountains look like vertical walls that are not meant to be climbed on a bike. If you can time trial you can tax your body during one of these stages in a way that will impact other aspects of the tour. And of course, if you lead you wear yellow and you become the most chased rider. It is a sport of strategy, endurance, strength, drive and talent. No matter what, drugs can not impact ALL aspects of what is demanded of these riders.
I will never condone what has been done by many riders from the past. I will not even acknowledge the circumstances of their missteps. At the same time I will not let the cheats take my love of this sport away from me. It has always been bigger than the biggest names. It is about the Tour. That is why even though I will never be able to relate to their speeds, climbs, distances, endurance or glory, I will always be able to connect to this sport. It is the RIDE. The love of being out there. The joy of powering a machine to lift you over a hill, and to hit speeds that you didn't know you could experience with only your body as the engine.
I set out to show how a casual rider is nothing like a professional competitor. Much in the same way that a casual rider compares to a professional, the tour itself brings perspective. The efforts of the men of the race will never be able to match the grandeur of the event.
As the 2013 Tour de France approaches I decided to take a look at what the effort looks like for this race. First of all it is a 21 stage race and is run over 23 days - that means in total there are 2 days off! I have decided to ignore the speeds of the riders and the grade and rating of the mountains that they climb because these two statistics are untouchable by mere mortals. Instead I just looked at the distances that each of the riders have to endure.
Keeping in mind there are three days that are short 15.5 miles; 20.5 miles and 20 miles, but each of these days are time trial days. The racers are going at their top speed over these distances. Even though these distances might look to be within reach, the speeds are not. Other than these three days there are only three other days that fall below the 100 mile mark. The first is day/stage two at 97 miles and day/stage three at 90 miles. However the race starts with the first stage being a 135 mile day. The last stage (21 - Day 23) is only 82 miles however this more of a traditional celebratory ride and usually does not count towards the final outcome of the overall champion of the tour.
Including the three time trials and the three “short” rides the average for the tour is 100 miles per day. Stage 15 is 150 miles long. By the time the riders get to the first rest day they will have covered 940 miles! More than 2100 miles will be ridden by each of these riders in just 23 days. I know that it is hard to translate data into real effort but these numbers are inconceivable.
I know that Lance Armstrong’s confession of breaking the rules (blood doping, banned substances and other violations) has given some people reason to dismiss the sport. It is easy to understand why we could all feel that way. And when so many riders have been accused of the same type of abuse it is hard to look past the negativity and be able to clearly see the effort involved in this race. Having said all of that, that is not what defines this race!
I know of no other contest that lasts as long or demands the amount of hours and the diversity of talent. If you can climb you are typically not built to sprint. If you sprint well, the mountains look like vertical walls that are not meant to be climbed on a bike. If you can time trial you can tax your body during one of these stages in a way that will impact other aspects of the tour. And of course, if you lead you wear yellow and you become the most chased rider. It is a sport of strategy, endurance, strength, drive and talent. No matter what, drugs can not impact ALL aspects of what is demanded of these riders.
I will never condone what has been done by many riders from the past. I will not even acknowledge the circumstances of their missteps. At the same time I will not let the cheats take my love of this sport away from me. It has always been bigger than the biggest names. It is about the Tour. That is why even though I will never be able to relate to their speeds, climbs, distances, endurance or glory, I will always be able to connect to this sport. It is the RIDE. The love of being out there. The joy of powering a machine to lift you over a hill, and to hit speeds that you didn't know you could experience with only your body as the engine.
I set out to show how a casual rider is nothing like a professional competitor. Much in the same way that a casual rider compares to a professional, the tour itself brings perspective. The efforts of the men of the race will never be able to match the grandeur of the event.
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