Sporting Event: Tour de France
Last year, delays saw the Tour de France pushed back to September. Fortunately, for fans of this mammoth cycling event, it looks like Le Tour de France will be arriving on time this year. It will begin on 26th June, and finish on the 18th July.
With the new route confirmed, and a host of riders on top form, this year’s event is set to be an exciting race. So, who are the favourites to take the yellow jersey? And where will we see them cycling?
The Routes and Riders of the Tour de France 2021
Though initially slated to begin in Denmark, this years Tour de France is set to stick to France and Andorra. Despite this, the route will still cover over 3300km. Riders will start on the hilly roads of Brest in the North West, before moving over flat routes towards Tours.
At stage 8, riders will be heading east into mountainous territory, stopping for a rest at Tignes. Next, there’ll be a mix of flat and mountainous stages, until they arrive in Andorra. From stage 16, the riders will be taking on the hilly and mountainous routes of the south coast. They’ll carry on moving west before the penultimate stage takes them north up to Libourne.
Finally, it’s on to the famous Champs-Elysee stage. But who’s likely to be wearing the yellow jersey?
After his historical win in last year’s event, Tadej Pogača is still a firm favourite to take the top spot. With recent wins in the UAE and Tirreno-Adriatico tours, he’s in fine form. But there’s another young Slovenian to watch: Primož Roglič. Going into the 2021 Tour off the back of a win in the Itzulia Basque Country event, Roglič may prove a strong opponent for Pogača.
Meanwhile, Frenchman David Gaudu has placed well in a sweep of recent tours, and will take plenty of momentum into the event. If you’re looking to back a British favourite, Geraint Thomas inspires confidence with his recent third place finish in Catalonia.
Gearing Up for the Tour de France
With the longest stage nearing 250km, this year’s riders are going to have to work up a sweat to reach the finish. Of course, they have the help of world class bikes and equipment. With disc brakes and aerodynamic fittings, each team can quickly get their riders up to speed – and down again.
Inspired by the competition of the Tour de France, cyclists closer to home this year might be on the lookout for some new gear. At STC Teamwear, we create custom cycling gear and kits to give riders the edge wherever their routes take them. Our shirts for example are designed to deal with sweat and help keep riders cool.
Our custom online kit designer will help you easily create a unique cycling jersey, jacket or pair of short for yourself or a team. Contact STC Teamwear to find out more about our cycling kits and equipment.
