The
tour retinue
The Tour de France is more than just the race cyclists and the scenes shown in the television. There will be a lot happening behind the scenes in the Tour. Two hours before the actual start of the stage, the guide vehicle drives the length of the course and closes it to traffic with red flags. Then the course goes through foreign territory and the French Police take over supervision of the stage. A big column of advertising cars (about 250) depart. The spectators like them because some are really strange and bizarre and they will get promotional (information, materials, gifts).
After that a motorcycle relay will close the course with yellos flags and secure especially dangerous places. Press- and guest vehicles (about 600) followed by a motorcade are the beginning of the Tour retinue. The 200 racing cyclists will be visible for just a moment as they travel past with an average speed of about 42 km/h. The director of the Tour, Jean-Marie Leblanc along with other guest vehicles will form the end of the field. The supply vehicles of the racing teams and emergency cars with doctors, catering vehicles and the “rag-collector” are the final participants of the Tour stage. The motorcycle relay at the end will clear the road with the green flag. But even after the race we will not be finished.
Watch the rest of the race from Gernsbach to Géradmer on our large-screen projection installed on the “Rathausplatz” during our great “Tour-Festival”.
The composition of the tour retinue
1. Führungswagen Charlie 2 mit roter Flagge
2. advertising cars
3. selling cars
4. motorbike squadron with yellow flaggs
5. leading car Alpha 2
6. press and guest cars
7. motorbike squadron at the beginning of the field
8. racing cyclist in companion with motorbike squadron and cars
9. Tourdirektor, motorbikes with further guest and press cars
10. motorbike squadron with material cars of the racing teams
11. ambulance, emergency doctor, cars for supply
12. motorbike squadron with green flagg at the end to release the stretch
Timetable
You can download a timetable from the 8th stage tour route from Pforzheim to Gérardmer in .pdf-format (425 kb).
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