How Hard Is The Tour De France & Is It Getting Tougher?

How hard is the Tour de France, and is it getting harder? The intensity of racing has led to several veterans of the peloton such as Thomas De Gendt, Mark Cavendish and Greg Van Avermaet to claim it's the hardest they've ever done, but is that backed up by the data? We teamed up with WHOOP and EF Education-Nippo to look at some of the recovery, sleep and stress levels that riders have encountered at this tour.

We also talk with Lachlan Morton, who is riding the route of the tour and all the transfers solo and self-supported. He gives us some insight into what it's like to ride that sort of distance without any help.

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[shahilj]

This year seems a lot more brutal than many other tours that I’ve watched. Riders are visibly broken at the end of the stages and the amount of crashes has definitely done something to the race.

[NihilimZA]

The fact that a great rider aims at making the race as hard a possible just to drop out after 9 days without injury would make the race way harder than if all the riders were planning on finishing. Its like someone only trying to lead a marathon for 15 km or 20 km knowing you will stop then and all the regular racers thinking they have to stay with him or loose the race.

[markopodganjek]

"Stage 17 will probably be the hardest, but something dramatic can happen tomorrow. If you have a bad day, each stage can be decisive. I feel a little tired, it's hot in the sun after all these days. I haven't slept well the last few days because we worked so hard. It demanded its price. Today we relaxed, enjoyed Andorra and we will make good use of this day of rest, "Pogačar said at an online press conference. Due to the high altitude (1800 meters), they did not overdo the training, they only did something easier.

The wearer of the yellow jersey still doesn't want to think about Sunday on the Champs Elysees. "We have a whole week of racing ahead of us, three more days in the Pyrenees, we will definitely be tired. I learn something at every big race, on the one hand I also look forward to the Pyrenees as a test for last week. So far I have ridden more defensively because I was not in offensive mode, but we'll see how it goes this week. Whichever way it turns out, it's going to be a good Tour, "Pogacar explained. He last had such an advantage a week before the end of the 2000 Tour by Lance Armstrong, who was later proven to have misused the illicit means.

He doesn’t grimace, but he still suffers
He also answered the question if nothing suffers in the race, because some competitors show with facial expressions how hard cycling on the Tour is: "Everyone suffers in a different way. I don't show it on my face, I don't have some grimaces, but I also suffer. It doesn't look difficult, but I can say it is. "


She has a big advantage, a good team that has great control over rivals, and her first member does not lose power unnecessarily. Perhaps there remains only one more challenge to get a stage as a yellow jersey holder. Pogačar remains realistic: "This is not my priority. There are 150 people here who want to get a stage, so it is very difficult. I would not defend it, but I will not be in a bad mood if it is not. The first goal is to be in yellow in Paris "My goals are clear that I don't lose anything against the others, or at least minimally. Every day is closer to Paris, every day is a little easier and more motivated. Day by day we are closer and I can't wait to be even closer."

Doping questions are embarrassing as the history of cycling has not been rosy
Doping questions are repeated at every press conference. The yellow T-shirt has a varied history on the Tour ...

"I'm not angry. The questions are embarrassing because the history of cycling has not been rosy. So we need to understand these questions. But I haven't prepared the answers. I much prefer to sit on the bike and race. I can only assure you that I come from a good family where I was brought up fairly, ”he stressed.

Sharing this information with the public can affect tactics
He reiterated that he does not intend to publish details of his biological passport and blood tests. "If you share this information with the public, it can affect tactics. Competitors see where your limit is and where you are vulnerable, " the cyclist from Klanac near Komenda explained the decision.

[tonypapas]

If you consider narrowing streets for sprints, including 90 degree turns less than 300m from the finish - yes.
Also, stage 15 with 3 or 4 category 1 climbs so close together was really hard.
I will also say that the double-climb of Mont Ventoux was clever by the to shake up the status quo.

[Gooners]

You should not forget that it’s been only a few years since teams are 8 riders instead of 9, so even if distance or speed remain the same, it is harder

[jedisdad]

Perhaps the course and distances are not getting tougher, BUT the competition is. This is probably a result of parity in equipment and training science at the top level of racing.

[BlueLn]

It might just be me but I think it would be awesome if more riders joined up to do an Alt Tour next year and made an unofficial, self-supported TdF route race.

[TheMarman]

I have been watching the Tour since I was a kid, and the organisers always try to set new tests each year. The last years have been putting stages together which are as standalone races sometimes almost as tough as the one-day-classics. They mix up the stresses on the riders bodies so that a decent recovery is out of the question. Add to that the care-not attitude of the new breed of young riders who hit every stage really hard, and for the guys who have been riding the Tour for 10 years suddenly find that the best numbers they've been producing for a long time don't mean squat when the younger guys are burying themselves every day.

[tinobommelino]

I think this year seems harder for many riders since it’s not a pure climbing competition anymore. You need to be a complete rider. And not all riders are as versatile as wout van Aert or Pogacar. That gives them a hard time. But in the early 90s it was also that way. And I regretted that the organizers had cut out the longer time trials. Time trials require a broader preparation than only climbing. I love this years TdF you never know what comes next.

[mr.piccolo]

As the saying goes... It never gets easier, You just go faster.

[markjthomson]

Chappeau Lachlan... he is a legend. There is also another ultra rider, Jack Thompson, he is riding the full tour length - driving or flying the transfers... but gave the tour riders a 10 day head start. He also plans to arrive in Paris the same day as the tour. Check him out as well, Jack Thompson - The Amazing Chase.

Here's a big whoop advert disguised as a TDF video, thanks GCN for you amazing content once again.

[BIKEPACKINGcom]

Unreal effort. The "joke tour" comment is really interesting. I would be curious to see how he would perform on the Tour Divide. I think he would do well but the off road element might present more of a challenge? I know he had a really strong run on the Colorado Trail a few years back, where he slept a bunch and almost beat the course record. I just his style, we need more of it "road cycling."

[Livlifetaistdeth]

I think the current financial situation in professional cycling has made racing much more emotionally draining. There is little room for relaxation knowing only the strongest will survive season to season and even that isn't guaranteed.

[Soldier]

Always makes me think doping, if the riders are getting considerably better all the time, but I hope I’m wrong

[srinjandas]

I don't know let's send hank to one to find out?

[antares]

I'm a newbie to bike racing, so I can't offer an opinion as to its current as opposed to previous difficulty. I can say this: I have a profound respect for the riders that I didn't have in the past. I had no idea how difficult this sport can be and can't imagine the physical condition required to participate at the highest levels. Whether this TDF is more difficult, less, or the same is interesting, but let's face it, it's never easy. Hat tip to all.

[workingguy-OU]

This was really interesting. Thank you, GCN.

[ThetrueDave]

9:38 But then 1998 was quite an exceptional year for riders dropping out, what with the Festina affair...

[Ystadcop]

Seriously, a great episode, classic.
Conor, I don't know if you had any editorial input, but your presentational skills are second to none. (Well, perhaps up there with the late, lamented Matt, who had to go and work in a bike shop).
Only down side was Cillian's poo-coloured tee shirt.
Dump.