Our columnist Marley Blonsky is at the moment on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. For a lot of racers, the nine-day battle for the long-lasting yellow jersey is the most important occasion of the yr. For Marley, it is her first ever in-person expertise at a WorldTour highway race, and he or she’s obtained questions.
How do riders pee mid-race? What do they eat to outlive such intense efforts? What do they hear in these earpieces? And what’s with all of the totally different races taking place inside the race?
Marley, an unapologetically curious and new biking fan, is right here to ask all of the “dumb” questions you’ve all the time puzzled about however by no means dared to ask.
To assist decode the expertise, she turns to Veronica Ewers, a professional bicycle owner for EF Training–Oatly who rode herself into the highest 10 of the overall classification on the 2022 Tour de France Femmes. Although Ewers isn’t racing this yr’s version, her expertise and no-nonsense solutions supply a singular, insider take a look at what actually goes on within the peloton.
The Video Interview:
Interview highlights
Haven’t got time to observe the entire video? Not an issue. Listed below are the highlights:
How does stage race just like the Tour de France Femmes work?
“There are a number of races throughout the race. Every stage is a race, however then there is a race of all the levels collectively, which is the overall classification. The person who finishes all the levels with the least period of time is the overall classification winner.
“Then after all there’s the winners of every stage. These are the primary individuals to cross the road.
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“There’s the very best younger rider classification, which is similar as the overall classification however for riders beneath the age of 23.
“Then there’s a queen of the mountain classification. That is [about collecting] probably the most factors on the climbs. Say there are 4 massive climbs in a single stage. Possibly three of them are thought-about Queen of the mountain climbs and every of these can have factors. When you get to the highest as the primary individual, you then get probably the most quantity of factors crossing the road excessive. And the extra factors you accumulate, then that goes to the Queen of the Mountain classification. And in case you have probably the most factors, you then get to put on the polka dot jersey, which is de facto cool.
“Then the final [race] is the dash jersey. There are additionally intermediate sprints inside every stage, which simply helps make the race much more thrilling. Much like the Queen of the Mountain classification, it is for every dash. So should you cross the road of the dash first, you get a specific amount of factors. And in case you have probably the most factors, you then get to put on the [green] sprinter’s jersey.”
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
How do you go pee in the course of the race? Is it an agreed upon mile marker? Do you all chat within the peloton? How does that work?
”That could be a nice query and I personally am fearful of going pee throughout a race as a result of, for us ladies, it is somewhat bit harder than simply, , whipping out your penis and peeing actually simply. We have now to type of absolutely unclothe to go to the lavatory, which takes a bit extra time.
‘If I wanted to pee, I’d say it within the radio to my workforce: ‘Hey, I must pee. Does anybody else must?’. As a result of it is higher to cease with different individuals as a way to work collectively to get again to the peloton.
“In longer races, normally you may hear any individual within the peloton yell ‘pee cease’, after which half the bunch stops for a pee. That is typically the way it goes. We have now to guarantee that we’re out of cities a great quantity to try this, only for public decency, which I can positively perceive.”
So you are not sporting drop tail bibs?
“No, usually, uh, we will probably be sporting velocity fits, which is simply the zipper up entrance. So it’s a must to take the highest off after which pull all the things down. So that you’re just about bare on the facet of the highway.”
Kristen Faulkner talks on the radio to her workforce
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Are of us chatting within the peloton? Are you guys speaking to one another? Is it like zone 5 effort the entire time and simply respiratory to remain alive?
“It’s extremely depending on the state of affairs. Most races aren’t full fuel your entire time, though generally it feels that approach. However there are positively moments, particularly within the impartial, after we’ll simply be chatting amongst buddies who is likely to be on different groups or with teammates.
“Then in the course of the race as effectively, if there is a extra calm second, we’ll possibly chat. If I am subsequent to teammates, I am normally speaking about possibly technique or simply checking in with them and seeing how are you doing? Do you want something? Particularly if I’ve a race chief, I am going to ask in the event that they want one thing.
‘When it is a high-stress second, for instance, throughout a lead out, there’s lots of yelling. Nicely-intentioned, however , ‘transfer proper’, ‘transfer left’. ‘Go!’ means, go tougher, ‘off’ means get off the entrance in order that remainder of the individuals can go. So it’s a must to pay attention fairly intently, and just remember to can hear your teammates.”
What do you hear in your ear items?
“All people [on the team] hears the identical factor on the radio, so if one in every of my teammates speaks, all of us hear it after which the director within the automotive additionally hears it. If the director speaks into the radio, all of us hear what they’re saying.
“Most of what we hear is details about what’s arising. For instance, if there is a city with a bunch of roundabouts arising, it is actually useful to know that as a result of roundabouts may be fairly hectic and harmful at occasions. Usually we’ll have accomplished our analysis to know when sure cities are arising but it surely’s only a good reminder to listen to that.
‘We’ll even be reminded to eat and drink, which is de facto necessary. After which, yin the finale, if one in every of us is upfront, you simply hear, ‘go, go, go, push, push, push. You gotta maintain going’. You recognize, lots of motivation, which is de facto enjoyable to listen to should you’re off the again, simply attempting to complete, however can also be actually motivating while you’re that individual on the entrance.”
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
What are you consuming and consuming and the way continuously?
“My workforce makes use of Amacx Diet, which is de facto strong. It has an power line, which is 30 grams of carbs per serving. After which there’s the turbo line, which is 40 grams of, carbs per serving. We typically get to find out which we might like to make use of, besides when it is a sure temperature, then we’re supposed to make use of power due to the sodium content material.
“However yeah, the overall rule is to have no less than 80 grams of carbs per hour. However I consider most groups are pushing 110 [grams of carbs] per hour.
That is gels or it may be rice desserts that our soigneurs make. It may be bars, it may be drink combine.’
Veronica Ewers on the Tour de France Femmes
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
How do you get better and prepare for the following day?
“That’s in all probability a very powerful factor to be trustworthy. My workforce’s protocol usually is while you end, you cross the end line, we’ve got instantly a cherry juice restoration drink in addition to water if we want. Then we’ll get to the bus, and we’ll have a carb- and protein-dense restoration drink on our bikes whereas we heat down. Then we’ll bathe after which have our post-race meal.
“So we’re simply guaranteeing that we’re refueling to organize for the following day. Whereas we’re on the bus to switch, we’ve got the squeezy boots for massaging our legs, or cooling tools if it is actually scorching. Then we’ll get to our lodge, have massages with the soigneurs, and largely simply keep off our toes as a lot as attainable.
“We’ll have dinner and attempt to sleep as a lot as attainable.”
What’s your favourite factor to eat after a meal or after a giant journey?
“Usually I’d say I am not probably the most hungry after. I believe at a race, I simply need one thing easy, so like rooster and rice with some type of first rate sauce. However generally we’ll have gnocchi and rooster, which is good.
“Simplicity. Salty, truly, as a result of we’ve got a lot candy stuff whereas we’re on the bike.”
What do you eat earlier than the stage?
“It’s extremely depending on what time the race begins. If it is a mid-morning begin, I am going to have a fairly massive breakfast, which will probably be eggs and rice pudding with fruit. If it is a day race begin, we can have rice and eggs.”
Veronica Ewers on the 2025 Giro d’Italia Ladies
(Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
So I lately discovered that the ladies’s Tour is shorter than the boys’s. Why?
“That is a great query. Actually, do not have a solution. I believe there are lots of logistics. I believe, traditionally, there’s this false impression that ladies aren’t able to longer races, which clearly is not true as a result of the unique Tour was 17 or 18 levels.
“I believe at one level it, it may have been that lots of ladies’s groups, [didn’t have] deep squads, however we’ve got very deep squads now and it is a very, very sturdy peloton. We’re greater than succesful. I believe it is simply lots of logistics and misconceptions.”
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