A Tour de France is 21 stages and 3,350 kilometers but also countless stories. There are three, among dozens, of this 2022 Tour. Three curiosities that should not fall into absolute oblivion.
The secret guide. Before starting the competition in the pages of Le Monde they opted for one of the most curious presentation formulas: a graphic of each stage designed for those who doze on the sofa... or those who discreetly follow the race from the computer of your workplace. Each stage was developed with its start and finish time and with the sections clearly marked in two colors, to distinguish when it was necessary to open your eyes and when you could continue your nap –or the daily task– until the next hot spot. On Hautacam day, for example, a nap was allowed from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., attention to the screen until 3:55 p.m., a new rest and maximum interest from 4:20 p.m. All scheduled.
The bike plate. An interesting novelty of this Tour has been to incorporate a tiny but visible mark with the number of stages won by the rider in question on the plate of each rider's bicycle. Peter Sagan wore a 12 and Pogacar started with a 6 and ended with a 9, because the number was updated daily. It did not appear in all cases and on all bicycles, as it was not a mandatory use sign that could also disappear in the event of an unexpected change of bicycle or any other incident.
The flying vest. In the Copenhagen time trial, Geraint Thomas forgot to take off the vest he was wearing under his jersey during warm-up. He thus disputed the stage and then decided to give the garment, with the colors and the Ineos brand, to a fan. From the social networks a challenge was launched: the vest had to pass from hand to hand among the fans until it reached Paris, again at the hands of the Welsh cyclist. Tag: wheresGsgilet. Day by day the adventures of Thomas's vest have been followed, which, already in Paris, will end up auctioned for charity.
