EASY DOES IT

The Tour de France peloton took a particularly cautious approach during the opening week. Peter Cossins explains the series of factors that resulted in a few easy days for the riders

- Peter Cossins

Thomas De Gendt’s tweet said it in a nutshell. “First breakaway of the Tour done. Breakaway of 172 riders until 10km to go. Good legs.”

The Belgian breakaway specialist’s tongue-in-cheek message was posted after the fifth stage between Gap and Privas, ‘the day without a break’ as it will no doubt be remembered. It did come to thrilling life at its finale, where Wout van Aert provided the latest demonstration of his unparalleled all-round ability by winning the bunch gallop. The Belgian’s verdict? “It was the easiest stage that I’ve ever ridden. It was really surprising for me. I haven’t been in the WorldTour for that long but since I got here this is the first day ever that no one was even interested in being in the break.”

As the peloton bowled along, journalists in the Tour press room were as mystified as van Aert and struggled to remember another stage where there hadn’t been a single breakaway. While the last day in Paris is often described as processional, there’s always plenty of action once the riders reach the Champs-Elysées. “Has there ever been one?” a colleague asked.

It was, it appeared, an unprecedented moment. At the same time, though, it encapsulated the feel of the Tour’s opening week. The action was often so supine that it appeared the riders had signed a non-aggression pact.

Two principal reasons were proposed by many for the softly-softly approach: the widespread uncertainty among riders about their endurance and form as a result of the Covid-enforced lack of racing, and the difficulty of the route.