Tour de France Talk

In case you didn’t know, the Tour de France is in full swing.  The tour started July 3rd and ends the 23rd running from Rotterdam to Paris.  To help you sound like you know what you’re talking about, here are some key words to use in your conversation:

• 2241 Miles in 20 stages running 3 weeks
• Yellow Jersey: General Classification Leader – fastest combined time of the race.  Each stage has its own winner, yellow is overall.
• Green Jersey: Points Standings Leader.
• Red-Polka Dotted Jersey: King of the Mountains, best climber.
• White Jersey: Young Rider Standings – under 25 years of age 
• Peloton – Largest group of riders in the race.  French for platoon or little ball, riders ride tightly together to keep draft down and that saves them pedaling energy.
• Money at stake 3.5 million dollars.
• 9 riders on each team. 
• 3 mountain summit finishes

If you’re at that cocktail party here’s what you can say:  “Have you been watching the Tour?  What Tour?  Why the Tour de France!  We’re in the middle of the 2241 miles, but since it runs 3 weeks  and 20 stages there’s time to watch it.  I sure hope that Lance Armstrong wins the yellow jersey, he could get the polka dotted.  What’s the polka dotted jersey?  Well, the polka dotted is the King of the Mountain, we’ll see how he does on the three mountain finishes.  He’s too old for the White Jersey, could get the Green.  Even with 9 riders on his team, Lance wears out a bike chain each day.  3.5 million dollar price purse will purchase many more, right?”  Then walk away because you’ve used up your knowledge and can’t follow up with anything else.  What would you add?