There were so many pictures taken throughout the entire Tour de France, I decided to pick out some of my favourites, just as I did after this year’s Giro. This is in no way comprehensive and I don’t think there’s a single podium picture in here, because I wanted to show the pictures that were behind the scenes, of riders caught off guard or just a good crop. Hope you enjoy them! (All photographs ©ASO.)
The quirky and the crazy
The penguin awaits
Feeling bullish
Dutch royalty
These boys look like a whole heap of trouble!
Words fail me
And they still fail me
Just horsin’ around on the mountain!
As Van Halen would say – you might as well jump
The joy and the suffering
Jan Bakelants and the pure joy of the maillot jaune
Mark Cavendish and the sheer frustration of your team car not seeing you need a new bike
Sylvain Chavanel and the joy (?) of the press scrum
Jens Voigt and the award he was born to win : combativity
It doesn’t matter what teams you’re on, you can still be happy for your friend
Julien Simon and the sufferfest that is Ventoux
Christophe Riblon just missing the dark clouds of the Alpe
Richie Porte and Chris Froome and the joy of being teammates
Matteo Trentin gets some Pharmer love
Peter Sagan and the exuberance of youth
Signing and solitude
Marcel Kittel whistling a victory tune
Mark Cavendish making a fan’s day
Pierre Rolland hopefully signing a vow never to wear pox shorts again
A moment of reflection at the very end for Jens
Jerome Cousin and his impressive tache
When you’re a cross between Superman and a chicken, you’ll find yourself alone a lot
The ever watchful Bernard Hinault