What does a directeur sportif do?

At professional level, a directeur sportif follows the team in a car and communicates with riders, personnel and race officials by radio. The directeur sportif warns of obstacles or challenging terrain, updates the team on the situation in the race, and provides mechanical help.

What does DS mean in cycling?

Directeur sportif The DS is often a former professional rider and their office during the Tour is the team car. They decide on tactics and speak to the riders – and sometimes other teams’ directeurs – about strategy. They can often be seen handing a bottle or shouting encouragement to a cyclist through the car window.

What does gr stand for in Tour de France?

Grand Tour Cycling’s three most prestigious stage races, each lasting three weeks; the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España are known as Grand Tours.

What does LCL mean in Tour de France?

The company has been a commercial partner of the Tour since 1981. It awards a toy lion – le lion en peluche – to each day’s winner as a play on its name. In 2007, sponsorship of the jersey was credited to LCL, the new name for Crédit Lyonnais following its takeover by another bank, Crédit Agricole.

What does COL mean in Tour de France?

According to official French definitions, a col is a mountain pass. It is the highest part of a road, in between two higher mountaintops. However, not all climbs in this tour are cols, and not all cols are climbs. Of the 111 named cols only some 70 are indicated as climbs.

What does Cote mean in Tour de France?

It is the highest part of a road, in between two higher mountaintops. However, not all climbs in this tour are cols, and not all cols are climbs. Of the 111 named cols only some 70 are indicated as climbs. Other climbs, that cannot be characterized as “cols” are called “côtes”, which simply means “slope”.

What does Allez mean in Tour de France?

“Allez” means “go” in French, according to Google Translate, while “opi” and “omi” are German terms for “grandpa” and “grandma,” according to Dict.cc. So the sign would translate to “Go grandpa-grandma.”

What does Gr mean in cycling?

General classification in the Tour de France

Sport Road bicycle racing
Competition Tour de France
Awarded for Overall best time
Local name Maillot jaune (French)
History

Why do cyclists shave their legs?

For over a century cyclists have been shaving their legs and as a result shaving your legs is seen by many as a sign of dedication and commitment to the sport, it’s a way of ensuring a rider is perceived as a “serious cyclist”. It’s the fashion, the tradition.