It's one of the most exciting times of the year for cycling enthusiasts! The Tour de France is in full swing and our friends are back with some fun perspectives on the action.
Q: What's your first memory of the Tour?
Stephen Clancy (IRL): The Tour started in Ireland in 1998 when I was six. I remember going to see it and I was surprised by how quickly the riders passed by after waiting so long! At that time, I was more impressed by all the promotional vehicles than anything else. [caption id="attachment_11543" width="1024"]
Q: What makes the Tour so special to you?
Stephen Clancy: It is one of the world's biggest sporting events. Even people who know nothing about cycling often ask me if I've raced the Tour de France. I'd love to answer yes to that question one day. Chris Williams: The Tour de France is why I got into cycling in the first place. It used to be the only big cycling race that was televised in Australia, and it was my first insight into the sport. Umberto Poli: I think the Tour is really special because the only cycling race that everyone in the world follows. Also, the atmosphere is electric every day with all the people lining the route and watching on TV. In Europe, many people only watch football, but when the Tour starts, for a whole month everyone only speaks bike racing and the Tour with me. It feels special. Andrea Peron: The Tour is special because it is the most important race. When I was a U23 (an under 23 rider), my director said to me that you can’t consider yourself a professional rider until you race the Tour de France.Q: Have you ever been to the Tour in person? What did you take from that experience?
Chris Williams: In 2011, I was lucky enough to see Australian Cadel Evans take the yellow jersey to win the Tour. It was a special year for Australians at the Tour! Umberto Poli: I've never been to the Tour. Andrea Peron: No, I've never been to the Tour.Bonus: Team Novo Nordisk has experience at the Tour de France
Team Novo Nordisk's Sports Director, Massimo Podenzana from La Spezia, Italy, actually raced in the Tour de France! Massimo Podenzana: Racing the Tour de France is the highest aspiration of every professional cyclist because it is the most important stage race in the world. As a rider, I think it is the only time you can fully understand the immense power and presence of all the cycling fans as they line the roads during the stages. You also realize the countless sponsors and hundreds of journalist and TV crews from all over the world that come to follow the race. Racing the Tour is a unique emotional experience because you are there up against the best in the world and you have to deal with them every day, stage by stage, sprint after sprint, climb after climb. The climbs to the Tour are epic and exhausting, but if you can get to the impossible summits and handle the inevitable fatigue, you experience an extremely unique sensation; it is a bit like winning a stage. [caption id="attachment_11553" width="1200"]
Bonus: mySugr's Kyle Rose adds his thoughts
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