14 Fun Tour De France Facts You Can Use To Impress Your Friends

How do riders pee on the bike? Why is there no women's tour? Why is the leader’s jersey yellow? We’ve got the answers.

- Molly Hurford

HOW DO TOUR DE FRANCE RIDERS PEE?

LONG, HOT JULY DAYS MEAN THE PROS ARE HYDRATING A LOT ON THE BIKE, which also means bathroom breaks are inevitable. In the first five to 10 minutes of a race, when the pace is more leisurely, “riders pull to the side of the road, pull their shorts down just like you would underwear – you know, pull the front down, do your business,” says retired pro cyclist Ted King, who’s ridden the Tour de France several times. During this neutral roll-out, King says, there’s plenty of time to catch up and get back into the peloton before the race starts in earnest.

Once the pace picks up, riders still use this tactic to pee while racing. “It’s a lot easier to wait for a lull in the race when a large proportion of the peloton pulls to the side of the road rather than doing it solo because that solo chase is tough!” King says.

But nature calls doesn’t mean riders even have to slow down. You can also pee off the bike while riding. (Too much information? Maybe, but now you’ll know why riders sometimes look awkward when they’re coasting.) “If peeing to the right, your right leg is in a 6 o’clock position, left at 12. Left hand on the handlebars, right-hand holds the shorts down, and coast while relieving yourself,” King advises.

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