| e casual observer, the Tour De France is just a | | | | and adjusted according to humidity and temperature. |
| bicycle race, a feat of strength and endurance, | | | | All the while the athletes and coaches are trying to |
| participated in by teams of men from around the | | | | accomplish one simple goal. They want the competitor |
| world. But winning this almost century old race has | | | | to be at his physical peak on the day of the start of |
| more to do with mental toughness and team strategy | | | | the Tour de France. |
| than one would imagine. Lance Armstrong recognizes | | | | Race Strategy |
| this better than anybody, as evidenced by his long | | | | The first race strategy you’ll probably witness |
| string of consecutive Tour De France victories. Of | | | | in the Tour De France is the Peloton. Peloton is a |
| course, to win, you also need incredible strength and | | | | French term that means rolled up in a ball. In a |
| stamina, several high dollar touring bicycles, a multitude | | | | mass-start race, most of the field winds up in one or |
| of bicycle accessories, years of course preparation | | | | two large pelotons for a large part of the race. The |
| and the work ethic of an eighteenth century immigrant. | | | | drivers use the Peloton to shelter in each |
| To really have a chance to win the Tour De France | | | | others’ draft. Weaker team members |
| takes more than a year’s subscription to the | | | | sometimes bolt to the front of the Peloton to shelter |
| Cycling News. You need more than just the incredible | | | | their team leader from the headwind. |
| strength of Lance Armstrong the leader of the | | | | In the time trials, the competitors start separately, |
| Discovery Pro Cycling Team, the ultra-rare | | | | usually at 30 second or one minute intervals. Drafting is |
| combination of slow and fast twitch muscles and an | | | | not allowed in an individual time trial so there are no |
| incredibly expensive performance touring bike. You | | | | team tactics. It’s just the cyclist against the |
| need to understand the peloton and the role it plays in | | | | clock. Hence, time trials are referred to by the |
| supporting the leader. You must understand the | | | | competitors as “the race of truth” |
| importance of the time trial. You also have to | | | | Racing strategy reappears during the team trials. |
| understand and embrace the chivalrous code of racing | | | | Competitors take turns leading the pack and drafting |
| practiced by these incredible athletes. | | | | off of each other. This complicated dance requires |
| Limits of this Article | | | | great precision in rotating position within the team. |
| To cover bicycle racing strategy completely would fill | | | | This Years Tour de France |
| volumes. Bicycle racing is a science that has been | | | | The 2005 Tour de France is made up of 21 stages |
| researched for over one hundred years by thousands | | | | and covers a total of 3500 kilometers. These 21 |
| of dedicated enthusiasts. Therefore, to conform to the | | | | stages include 9 flat stages, 3 medium mountain |
| space and time constraints of this article, I’ll | | | | stages, 6 mountain stages, 2 individual time trial stages |
| mention just a couple of the major points. | | | | and1 team time trial stage. Some of the distinctive |
| Peaking at the Right Time | | | | aspects of this, the 92nd running of the Tour de |
| Pre race strategy is probably the most important | | | | France include 3 mountain finishes, 2 rest days, 74 |
| ingredient in the formula to win a Tour de France. | | | | kilometers of individual time trials, 66 kilometers of team |
| Competitors arrive in France weeks, sometimes | | | | time trials, a transfer by plane and another by train. |
| months in advance to train on the course. For them, | | | | This year 20 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level |
| this is no casual European bicycle tour. | | | | passes will be climbed. There are nine new stop over |
| Riders and coaches evaluate every variable. Heart | | | | towns, including Fromentine, Noirmoutier-en-‘Ile. |
| rates are measured and recovery rates are | | | | Les Essarts, La Chataigneraie, Chambord, Gerardmer, |
| scrutinized. Blood samples are taken on training days | | | | Miramas and Agde et Lezat-sur-Leze. |
| and then again on days off to measure glycogen and | | | | It’s easy to see, especially in this years 2005 |
| lactic acid. Nutrition is a science for these dedicated | | | | running of the Tour de France, that strategy will play |
| athletes and their coaches. Food is analyzed at the | | | | important part in determining the Champion. |
| molecular level; menus are planned months in advance | | | | |