Tour De France: A Beginner’s Guide To The World’s Most Famous Bike Race!

[@gcn]

What's the most confusing thing about cycle races? 😵‍💫

[@tjadams9112]

is why cant i see TDF on GCN+ in Canada?? No way to watch it here.

[@bgorg1]

Drafting. People like me, who barely cycle fast enough to experience wind resistance, have no clue of wind tactics. For people really into cycling it’s second nature

[@gcn]

@@bgorg1 Interesting! Do you think it helps to be at a higher personal level of cycling to appreciate what the pros can do?

[@Pep8691]

@@tjadams9112 Flosports is carrying it in Canada.. also a subscription streaming service though.

[@Pep8691]

Being new to it just the overall strategies employed even though I am starting to get the basics of it.

[@bgorg1]

When I got into cycling I didn’t realize how much a stage win, wearing one of the jerseys, or being on the podium means. In some ways there is one big prize but the race can make hero’s out of 3 top finishers, 21 stage winners, and 3 other jerseys. And the teams celebrate the win of one rider because of all their work. It is 23 days of celebration of sport. Stay safe riders!

[@gcn]

A celebration of sport is a great way to put it 🙌We're in for a real treat this year!

[@andrewdeanenglish901]

What I find a little hard to understand, is it the breakaway group of riders that gain the points for the King of the mountain sections and the sprint sections?

[@dbsalex]

Just finished my binge watching of Netflix TDF series and then i got this! Thanks GCN for timely content!

[@gcn]

Glad we could keep the cycling hype going 🙌 If you're looking for more cycling films GCN+ is the place to be 👉gcn.eu/tdf2023

[@G60syncro]

You know what, a series of retrospectives of old tours and some insight on the tech of that time would be really cool!

[@GrumpyOldMan70]

I accidently got to see part of the Tour De France in the early 90's. We had gone to France on a whim and saw a crowd gathering and thought, "Oh cool, a parade" and joined the front of the crowd. A little bit later the break away group came flying by and we realized what we were seeing. It was a cool experience.

[@gcn]

Wow that's epic! Do you remember who won that year? 👀

[@GrumpyOldMan70]

@@gcn No, but Google will remember 😉

[@HFVidShotz]

The most confusing thing is finding it on the tele.😂

[@gcn]

No need to watch it on tele... the GCN+ app is the place catch every unmissable moment 👉 GCN.eu/app

[@patrickwilken7511]

Not in Canada 😢

[@SpicyTrifongo]

​@@patrickwilken7511What is a VPN?

[@liamoconnor2170]

@@patrickwilken7511 Flobikes is the provider for Canada 🇨🇦

[@SquareyCircley]

not in Japan..

[@jackbrado6592]

3 weeks race?, that's dope!

[@NosyNorseman]

Easiest way to explain is 21 stages in 23 days with two rest days, every stage has a winner who comes from either Denmark, Slovenia or Belgium and at the end after 21 stages we have an overall race winner from Denmark or Slovenia 😊 Occasionally other countries are allowed to win a stage to satisfy bigger markets like USA, France, GB, Italy, Australia, Netherlands and Spain. French riders are very easy to spot, just look at the guys in SloMo back of peloton at last climb on every mountain stage, they always gets camera time 😂

[@dylan-5287]

Lmao funny how it works out like that. Downhill mountain biking is almost always dominated by the French with an occasional winner from Canada, Austria, GB. Slopestyle is literally always a Swedish winner except the one time an American won because the Swedish guy got injured.

[@larney37]

This was exactly what I needed to get up to speed! Thank you!

[@gcn]

No worries! If you fancy a deep dive into this years race head over to GCN Racing 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/faOxnqmtrZ6Cea8

[@theOtherNism]

Nice summary. I think the most confusing thing for newcomers, and also one of the most interesting things for fans, is team tactics. That would be a great topic for a follow-up video.

[@gcn]

Great idea! Team tactics can take some time to get your head around, Jeremy powers did this great video for us on how to watch a bike race 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnTboYKcfLGfnZo Hopefully this helps 🙌

[@MonetaCaffeine]

Netflix documentary brought me here! Fell in love suddenly with this sport.

[@gcn]

That's super cool to hear! If you are wanting more cycling films GCN+ is the place for you 👉 GCN.eu/tdf2023

[@DeseraeSteckley]

Began watching 5 years ago. Thank you for clarifying the shirts. They information was extremally helpful.

[@gcn]

Glad we could help! Now go enjoy this years race 🙌

[@brianfarrelly7151]

Conor recently completed a USA gravel event and wondered what his next challenge should be. He’s totally suited to your longest tour event in Iowa - love to see him do it.

[@alinapopescu872]

I started watching cycling in the summer of 2000, with that year's Tour. I learned the rules & other subtleties on the road, thanks to the commentators of the Romanian language Eurosport. Nothing was particularly confusing.

[@mikelbarea6839]

This will be my first year watching cycling and I couldn't be more lucky! The second stage starts in my city!

[@gcn]

Wow that is so cool! Did you go and catch the start of the stage? 👀

[@mx2000]

It is also worth mentioning that the teams have radio communication, so most of the thinking happens back in the team car, the riders are really just executing what the DS is telling them.

[@Ronald-Reggae]

not Van Aert :)

[@aeggeska1]

Lol. Nah. Yes they have radios, but they have brains for themselves.

[@mx2000]

@@aeggeska1 did you see the women’s road race at the tokyo olympics? The dutch team (supposedly the best in the world) was completely clueless without radios, lol. So yeah, „understanding strategy“ and „paying attention to the race“ are definitely not requirements for becoming a world-class road cyclist.

[@aethylwulfeiii6502]

It kind of makes the races without radios seem more legit.

[@gcn]

We have a full video on race radios here 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWGWdI2Hjruqq5o - The world of DS is a different video perhaps 🤔

[@peterfox7404]

Very enjoyable. Well presented.

[@AleksandarGospic]

I started watching TDF as a teenager in the 90's, during the Miguel Indurain era. My friends would go to the beach and I would stay at home, sweating like crazy, with towel around my neck, and watch TDF 😂 Even though I know all of this, it was still fun video to watch 🙃Let's go Tadej!

[@gcn]

A true old school fan! Love to hear it 🙌 Great to hear you enjoyed the video, it's always good to have a refresh. You can catch our deep dive over on GCN Racing 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/faOxnqmtrZ6Cea8 - We are loving the Pog vs Jonas battle 🥊

[@DavidJGreenwood]

fantastic round up!!! Very informative. thanks

[@autothrust330]

Thank you for this video!

[@minidini10]

I love that the video editor showed Nairo in green from the Vuelta when they're talking about the points competition.

[@DavidMackenzie]

Really good explanation Connor.

[@red-one5923]

Im not a beginner but i watch this! Good job GCN team

[@gcn]

Glad you could take something from this, What do you make of the 2023 tour so far? 🚴

[@red-one5923]

@@gcn The Tour 2023, looks already like a great vintage wine! And i feel like unsual things will happen. But i saw the two Monsters pogacar or vingegaard to win it! No one can match them, if yes he's still hidding in the peloton!

[@justinmaurice9697]

Well done. Thank you!!

[@Ronald-Reggae]

Startet watching the tour in the late 80s with my dad. I really hope Vingegaard and Jumbo Visma does it again. We Danes we bike :)

[@gcn]

They are looking strong! We'll have to wait and see! 👀

[@notmyrealname6272]

Hey Connor ❤ Great video. Having watched and enjoyed the men’s tour preview show with Si and Dan, I was wondering if there was one for the women’s tour and if not why not..?

[@gcn]

Watch this space! More Women's race content coming out closer the the race start 🙌

[@notmyrealname6272]

@@gcn great! Can’t wait!

[@cleftoftherock6797]

Very good. Thanks

[@jimking6484]

I don’t understand the time trial aspect. I watched last year and you didn’t explain this. Love your channel. I’ve incorporated your VO2 max training days into my regimen.

[@gcn]

Hi Jim, what is it about time trials that you are struggling to get your head? 🤔

[@jimking6484]

@@gcn is there more than 1 time trial day? Is there a certain stage that is always time trial day? Do they avoid high climb segments for time trial day? Is time trial day typically beneficial for sprinters? Is time trial a shorter day? Do they incorporate time trial day with another shorter ride?

[@theralphster8492]

Brilliant overview...

[@tweeling1977]

would like to see and be interesting in GCN Which famous bicycle Brands never makes in the tour de France, but they are good and well known brands. Peugeot is known today for its cars, however, few people know that the company produces some of the best quality mountain, road, and commuter bikes, and has been doing so since the early 19th century. Peugeot bikes have a Tour de France count of 10, with some of the best cyclists, like Lucien Georges Mazan and Louis Trousselier riding for the company. While Peugeot’s official count is 10, the company technically has 13 wins, as they were a part of the group La Sportive, which was formed after the First World War, and has won three races in the Tour de France.

[@blkjak]

In 2019 I was in Colmar where the Tour finished one of its stages. I got a spot on the road about 2KM from the finish, 2+ hours before they were to come by. It was hot, almost 30 if I remember correctly. I had goosebumps when they were approaching. Then they passed in a blur, It was over in a matter of 20 seconds. Would I do it again........in a heart beat! Bucket list item.....check!!!

[@gcn]

Amazing! The only thing better than watching the Tour on GCN+ is watching it live right in front of you! Did you pick up any freebees?

[@blkjak]

@@gcn left those for the young fans.

[@palicar]

I was always confused about breakaway tactics and strategy as well as rider classifications and politics.

[@gcn]

Hope this helped clear some things up! If you need a deeper dive into this years race head over to GCN Racing 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/faOxnqmtrZ6Cea8

[@SpecialeyesRider]

@gcn Does each team have yellow, green, polka-dot and white jerseys on stand-by ready to go in the event of their rider winning a stage or GC? Also, in the event of a bike change for a rider how do they sync their wireless devices when they switch bikes? I don't think I've seen head unit swaps in an emergency. Do they just write off that data or do they have a better system than us weekend riders to capture their data?

[@conordunne1]

Hey, thanks for watching! Race organisers provide the leaders jersey. Normally relevant sponsors of each riders are transferred onto jerseys I believe, but it's the brand associated with the TDF who makes and provides the clothing (usually you get a full wardrobe of stuff not just the yellow jersey.. rain jackets etc) Normally if a rider is calm enough they'll swap head unit onto spare bike if they can it's easy enough to do. In a panic though I think they wouldn't worry to much and just want to jump onto a new bike) Hope that helps!

[@mlmillenson]

The most confusing thing was the breakaway of different riders from different teams at the beginning. Why do it if you’re not going to win the stage? This helped explain. Good video!

[@gcn]

Glad we could clear things up, it can be super complex sport to get your head around, have you been following the this years male tour? 👀

[@awan_24]

Kereeen

[@irenesupica5571]

Great review! Took me years of watching to figure lots of this out. What does punchy mean? What does grippy mean? Why do most English language commentators say "tore" instead of "tour" when referring to this glorious race?

[@mioszmaciejczak8036]

Great video, thanks for that! What about the drafting rules? I've seen for example some cyclist drafting behind their team's car after the crash - are there any limitations/regulations regarding this?

[@conordunne1]

Supposedly it's not allowed, but a blind eye is turned at times depending on situation. Generally you can't really ride behind a team car for long time without getting a fine. Trick is to hop between cars!

[@mioszmaciejczak8036]

@@conordunne1 Thank you Conor! 🙏

[@senseiskier8093]

Which category climb is hardest? Does it count upwards or downwards?

[@CHRoOMAX]

Here for the thumbnail, stayed for Jonas.

[@AKSHAY-eb6ie]

Can I watch it live through GCN+ in India?????? or any other way??

[@senseiskier8093]

How does the timing work? Is every competitor timed or does each bunch of riders share the same time as it’s leader?

[@kathyastrom1315]

Every rider gets their own time. At the end of every stage, the race standings list the cumulative totals for all of the remaining racers.

[@jtbrock9067]

Do the jersey numbers have any significance in a rider’s standings?

[@kathyastrom1315]

Jersey numbers are just the identifying numbers for each rider. The team of the previous year’s winner will be given numbers 1-8, then the rest of the teams are given numbers 101-108, 111-118, 121-128, etc. The lead rider for each team typically gets the 1/101/111/etc. number, and the returning champion gets #1. Getting to know various riders’ numbers is handy when all you can see of a rider is from the back because the camera person on the motorcycle is not allowed to ride in front to prevent any possible drafting. Also helps if it is a particularly rainy/muddy day and the riders are absolutely filthy (see pics from the one-day Paris-Roubaix race in 2021 for examples of that).

[@richardharris8538]

I finished watching, but don't remember any mention of time trials, either individual or team. But I am getting old.

[@Microbit0]

Just tell me which channel in germany os going to broadcast the race?

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

I maintain that TdF should maintain at least one vintage or rollback stage per year. Original stage distances along the border of France, and rules; no team cars or outside technology, and must be self supported. You break your bike? If you can't fix it yourself, guess you're a DNF.

[@gcn]

That sounds brutal! Maybe the transcontinental is the race for you 👉kzbin.info/www/bejne/epiYpJ2ofp6cr6c - This self supported epic has a similar vibe to those original tours.

[@2ForceCycles]

Can I watch on GCN+ if I'm located in the USA?

[@SlimOneable]

Research and sign up for a VPN. Log in to GCN+ from a region that is not restricted.

[@Mavrik-60]

Connor? Can you do that again pretending to talk to a group of five year olds. And cover the unwritten rules too . Thanks your the greatest. Keepemcoming

[@lukkevin]

Can you review the price money of the TDF / stages in comparison to others? Just wondering the difference in magnitude.

[@Ronald-Reggae]

wiki

[@jaydibernardo4320]

Thx for the excellent explanation. Excuse me now while i dust off my 10 year old Felt...

[@fabianozig]

hi from brazil!

[@happybird7924]

where can i get your sweat shirts? it's so cute

[@gregknowsbest]

You left the bit out where who ever has the best doctor is going to win

[@LikeACactus]

Why not a introduction to the Giro Donne?

[@deskotjes6536]

Why don't they combine the male and female race just like it's done in ultra running?

[@gowings9127]

Got shutdown on the book buy. I didnt have a discount code.

[@leodacayanan7693]

What happen if there's No team radio ?>

[@mlee6050]

I wonder if anyone won all the jersey in a year and no second winner of any of them

[@Dirtydreamer2023]

I find it a bit confusing when I see a cyclist on the wheel of their opponents. I just watched Vingegaard riding a big part of a stage behind Pogaçar 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@gcn]

sitting behind a rider allows you get in the slip stream and work less. Jonas is trying to keep his time gap to Pog. Sitting behind allows Jonas to monitor and react to Pog.

[@ace8184]

Can any one of the eight riders on any given team win the race?

[@iwonanatalia5476]

Theoretically yes they can!

[@ace8184]

@@iwonanatalia5476 so that rider can win it all instead of the intended individual?

[@iwonanatalia5476]

@@ace8184 yeah, for example if leader crashes and is out of race. But if You ask if a domestique can „break free” and stop protecting leader and go for his own goal in GC- that would never happen. I mean it’s theoretically possible, there is No UCI rule against it.

[@kathyastrom1315]

@@iwonanatalia5476 Riders can’t be seen as rebels who go rogue instead of supporting their team, not if they want to continue to be employed.

[@primaltone]

In most simplest terms, I often dumb things down to: you're a sprinter or a climber. It'd be nice to see a good explanation of the various specializations (as you eluded to) and perhaps examples of each category. i.e. The Twig is a _________ (if you don't know, you've not watched enough GCN).

[@gcn]

Great idea! Maybe we should use some of our presenters to show off the different types of racers... we've pretty much got them all 👀

[@primaltone]

@@gcn that would be awesome!

[@jonwong1692]

The 3km rule 🥴?

[@CMWren87]

Thanks, I guess, for at least showing a majority of Green Jersey examples with Peter Sagan. Although, why the reluctance to even mention HIS name almost all season?

[@2ForceCycles]

He is retired

[@kjphillips671]

#1 rule for Cycling races…A race is not a fast. Races are not about who is the fastest, they is about who is the smartest, and which TEAM has the best balance of riders for all the stages and the segments to carry their leader forward. No rider can win a stage race alone, and no where is this more true that the TdF!

[@HFVidShotz]

Miss the Manx Missle.

[@gcn]

He's not gone anywhere... will he get his 35 win this year? See what Dan thinks over on GCN racing 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/faOxnqmtrZ6Cea8

[@irispecorari3411]

You forgot the bonus seconds

[@RobBelanger]

White for young riders, but what about a jersey for the oldest riders, say aBove 35???

[@Garfie1d73]

Thank you, you ruined my evening ... 😁

[@uranusjr]

The jerseys by far are so confusing. People wearing the same colours are on the same team obviously, and a few special ones for each race. And then there are some other special jerseys and variants you’re just expected to remember? So bad for casual viewers that don’t follow everything. Also I wish the UCI puts down some regulations on colours so teams look more different, some of the jerseys look just way too similar.

[@AlexRochette]

I just received an email from GCN “Tour set to start with a bang” about the departure from Basque Country. 😮😢 Don’t make jokes about bombings…

[@looseshoulderssumali7311]

What was the reason for having 9 riders to 8 riders in a team? Money?

[@andreasolsson2336]

numbers at the start of stage one are not numbers at the end of the last stage. game of attrition for the domestiques, plus injuries etc.

[@looseshoulderssumali7311]

@@andreasolsson2336 I know about the game of attrition. But is there a real reason why the reduction in the number of riders in a team?

[@termita358]

You forgot to mention that cyclist are not allowed to tackle each other. 😂😂😂

[@seethingg]

forsenCD TOUR DE FRAN

[@Kevinschart]

Tour de France does an absolutely horrible job of explaining what's happening for the casual fan or new comer. Every year I have to watch a youtube video to understand what I'm looking at. I've been watching every day for at least a week and not one mention of an explanation of the jersey's, points, time and how it all comes together. They are leaving money on the table by not pulling new fans into the sport. There's so much "down time" during the race that they could pause for 30 seconds and just explain the points situation and connect it to a jersey.

[@Dreggz1312]

I feel like the womens race should be before the men's not after. When the women go second it probably seems to a lot of people like the opening band playing last. Will people have lost interest after 3 weeks of men's racing? If the women go first i think there would be more interest because then they would be part of the hype buildup to the 'real' race instead of an afterthought. People who would normally only care about the men's tour might be more likely to watch the women and give them a chance instead of writing them off.

[@SpicyTrifongo]

It doesn't matter. People want to watch the fastest riders in the world.

[@Dreggz1312]

@@SpicyTrifongo I'm trying to figure out how you think your comment addresses anything that I said.

[@SpicyTrifongo]

@@Dreggz1312 If the women were faster than the men, nobody would want to watch the men.

[@Dreggz1312]

@@SpicyTrifongo literally still does not address my point in any way. Weird.

[@SpicyTrifongo]

It directly addressed your point. You just aren't willing to accept the conclusion that people want to watch the fastest people in the world race, and the gender isn't really a consideration. Why aren't the using the "opening band" as an "opener"? Probably marketing. When "Tour de France 2023 begins" starts rounding through headlines and generating clicks, they wants their headlining band to be on display, not the slower product that races shorter routes.

[@bizzehdee]

what are GCNs views on the Lotto Dstny situation where their sports director allan davis has been sending creepy messages to women all over twitter, and then those women getting theatened by allan and the teams press officer when they spoke about it, and on top of that, he has been threatening journalists for daring to retweet any of it

[@scottconlon5124]

How the F did you forget NO ATTACK IN FEED ZONE!?!

[@MTBScotland]

be more interesting if they didn't get so much help.

[@joseleasdfsadsadfsadfas7394]

Landa winner Tour 2023

[@adzaharmdsharipin641]

Nice try Hank. Couldn't fool me with that lip foliage disguise

[@FilipBasty]

Would be cool if the woman’s race would be the week before, as a hype up!

[@gcn]

The mens race is a hype up for the women's 🙌

[@strokenumber3]

Nothing about PEDs? It's a massive part of pro cycling history. Massive.

[@Tickettoride1952]

GCN.....Keep on promoting black clothing for cyclists in your videos and then one day you will understand to other road users (car drivers) visibility matters if cyclists are to stay safe......

[@teebone25]

Such a confusing explanation tbt

[@Neilhuny]

D cups? You exaggerate, sir

[@christianherbrik205]

First lets try how to pronounce france correctly

[@cosmostrek2001]

They are all on drugs😮

[@ace8184]

All I remember is from the Lance Armstrong days when he was considered the winner and no one else was. WHY only him and no one else's times counted? Are his other teammates eligible to win as well? Are they racing against each other? You do not explain this in the video and this is the most confusing part. Not the history of the race. You need to do a more thorough job of explaining the roles of each of the teammates (you mentioned water / weather info / tactics) and you may have mentioned the strongest blocking the winds (but i don't recall you saying anything about a dedicated role to this). Please let us know can ANY of the 8 riders on ANY given team win?

[@Reggaeshark.]

How do you not understand the simple concept of the best time wins? Yes any team mate can win 🤦‍♂️

[@ace8184]

@@Reggaeshark. then why aren’t they all trying to win

[@kathyastrom1315]

@@ace8184 Let’s take an example of a hypothetical team. You have one GC contender who is there to try and win the overall race-he is your team leader and the one that theoretically everyone else is there to support. His teammates will help him by keeping him fed and watered, providing pacing assistance if he’s having a bad day, and in emergencies like a flat tire or a crash at a crucial point of the stage, can hand over their own bike to the team leader if his replacement bike isn’t readily available from the team car. But, your team might also have a sprint specialist whose goal is to accumulate those sprint points and win the flat stages with a terrific burst of speed at the end. To get into prime position to win a sprint, he’ll need a group of supporters, called a train, to lead him to the point in the last few hundred meters where he can launch for the finish line. Not many teams can afford to have top-tier GC contenders and sprint specialists, as well as the team supporters for both, so the smaller teams will usually chose one or the other. Everyone on a team has a part to play, one that he is specifically getting paid for. If you are a sprint train rider, not only do you lead the sprinter to the finish line, but you might also be tasked to get that sprinter to the finish line in a mountain stage when the sprinter is struggling just to finish within the time limit. If you are a great climber, you help your GC contender by giving him a draft up the slopes and keep his pace or making sure he doesn’t fall behind his competitors. But, plans can always change. You are the GC contender’s right-hand man, but he is taken out by an injury or illness on day 3? Guess what, you are now the new GC contender! Too bad if you hadn’t been training for that role at all, nor are you prepared for the increased amount of press time you now have to fit into your pre- and post-race schedule or the added pressure now on your shoulders from your team director and sponsors. Stuff like that is why a lot of riders have no wish to be a GC contender.

[@ace8184]

@@kathyastrom1315 thank you for the lengthy answer and I now understand it. Much appreciated!!

[@grayxenon]

is cycling the whitest sports of all? this is not a racism but as a kid i notice, it is all white, no black, asian or latinos..why is that?

[@Callzer]

speak to the hand

[@Callzer]

take a hike buddy

[@Callzer]

no

[@Callzer]

NO ONE ASKED