Mountains and masks: Tour de France 2020 – in pictures
Riders are cheered on stage 17 -between Grenoble and Meribel.Photograph: Charly López/A.S.O.
This year’s edition of the Tour de France was due to start in Nice on 27 June but in April, with the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping across Europe, president Emmanuel Macron announced all public events with crowds were to be banned until mid-July to fight the spread of Covid-19. There were fears it wouldn’t take place at all. In the end the race was delayed for the first time during peacetime since its inception in 1903, after event organisers, in agreement with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), decided to postpone the race, with Nice hosting the Grand Départ on 29 August.
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DividerAn employee distributes face masks to spectators prior to the fourth stage between Sisteron and Orcieres-Merlette.Photograph: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images
Safety first
With the race taking place it was important for safety measures to be put in place to protect all involved – spectators, riders, staff and employees.
Hand sanitiser is distributed to fans ahead of the ninth Stage from Pau to Laruns.Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty ImagesBehind the mask it is Jumbo-Visma rider Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey.Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Pool/ReutersFrance president Emmanuel Macron waves after stage 17 from Grenoble to Méribel-Col de la Loze.Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Pool/Getty ImagesTeam CCC rider Michael Schaer before the start of stage nine from Pau to Larun.Photograph: Tim de Waele/Pool/ReutersA spectator dressed as a rooster wearing a mask stands along the road during the ninth stage from Pau to Larun.Photograph: Christophe Ena/APPeter Sagan of the Bora–Hansgrohe team and fellow riders are socially distanced as they speak to the media before the first stage.Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesKevin Reza of France looks on before the final stage from Mantes-La-Jolie to Paris Champs-Élysées.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/Pool/Getty ImagesA child wearing a face mask waits to see the riders before the start of the the 14th stage between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesSocial distancing measures on stage three.Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty ImagesDividerA general view of the start of stage from Pau to Laruns.Photograph: Stéphane Mahé/Reuters
Starts and finishes
The end of each stage is a good place for fans to see all the action.
Members of the EF Pro team wait for the start of stage six from Le Teil to Mont Aigoual.Photograph: Pauline Ballet/A.S.O.A caravan of sponsors pass by before the start of stage seven.Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty ImagesJonathan Castroviejo of Ineos Grenadiers makes his way to the start of Stage five from Gap to Privas.Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesFans watch the start of Stage 12 from Chauvigny to Sarran Corrèze.Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesLotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan wins stage 11 ahead of Bora-Hansgrohe rider Peter Sagan in a frantic finish.Photograph: A.S.O/ReutersTeam Lotto rider Caleb Ewan celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the third stage between Nice and Sisteron.Photograph: Benoît Tessier/Pool/AFP/Getty ImagesTeam Education First rider Daniel Martinez celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 13th stage between Chatel-Guyon and Puy Mary.Photograph: Benoît Tessier/Pool/AFP/Getty ImagesValentin Madouas the Groupama-FDJ team approaches the finish line of Stage 13 from Chatel-Guyon to Puy Mary.Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images,Ineos Grenadier Michal Kwiatkowski (right) celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of teammate Richard Carapaz during the 18th stage between Méribel and La Roche sur Foron,Photograph: Stéphane Mahé/Pool/AFP/Getty ImagesDividerA stunning backdrop as the riders tackle stage 17 between Grenoble and Méribel.Photograph: Charly López/A.S.O.
The scenic route
The riders encounter a variety of environments as they traverse France: from the streets of the cities and towns, to countryside roads and mountainous peaks.
The pack rides through the courtyard of the Louvre museum in Paris on the final stage between Mantes-la-Jolie and Paris.Photograph: Christian Hartmann/Pool/APA man waves a French flag on the 11th stage between Châtelaillon-Plage and Poitiers.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesThe pack rides in late French cyclist Raymond Poulidor’s hometown Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat during the 12th stage between Chauvigny and Sarran.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesRiders on the Puy Mary climb on stage 13 from Châtel-Guyon to Puy Mary.Photograph: Alex Broadway/A.S.O.Riders on a climb during stage four from Sisteron to Orcières-Merlette.Photograph: Charly López/A.S.O.Riders on a descent on stage two from Nice Haut Pays to Nice.Photograph: Alex Broadway/A.S.O.Riders traverse Promenade des Anglais in Nice during the second stage of the race.Photograph: Pauline Ballet/A.S.OMarc Hirschi of Sunweb descends off the Col des Aravis during Stage 18 from Méribel to La Roche sur Foron.Photograph: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com/ShutterstockThe peloton in action near the Eglise Saint-Bruno de Voiron during stage 16 from La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans.Photograph: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com/REX/ShutterstockDividerCycling fan Didi Senft, aka El Diablo, poses for a picture as he waits for the riders on stage seven.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
The devil is in the detail
Imagery from the Tour is not just about wide shots showing the sweeping vistas across the country providing drama and interest, close-up and detail shots of the action can convey just as much to the viewer.
A cow statue sporting a yellow jersey during stage 16.Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesThe Crousty Chicken display in the caravan before stage 16.Photograph: Pierre Teysot/Action Plus/ShutterstockDeceuninck-Quick Step rider Julian Alaphilippe reacts after winning stage two.Photograph: Stef Mantey/Pool/ReutersAnthony Perez of Cofidis Solutions Credits grimaces in pain after a crash on stage three.Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesA rider sporting a bandage.Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images,Team Trek rider Toms Skujins rides after crashing during the 10th stage.Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty ImagesCapturing the speed of the riders on stage 11.Photograph: Charly López/A.S.O.A rider’s tattoo ahead of stage five.Photograph: Getty ImagesDaniel Oss of the Bora-Hansgrohe team is seen during stage 20.Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images,Ineos Grenadiers’ Michal Kwiatkowski cools off during the 18th stage.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesMessages on the road during stage 14.Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesBenoit Cosnefroy on the podium after receiving the polka dot king-of-the-mountains jersey after stage 12 from Chauvigny to Sarran Corrèze.Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images,DividerSpectators encourage cyclists during the 14th stage between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon.Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP
Watching and waiting
Back in March, France’s sports minister Roxana Maracineanu said that Tour organisers were considering the option of going ahead without fans, but with the event being postponed until August that option wasn’t explored further and despite the ongoing pandemic French authorities have allowed fans to continue the tradition of cheering on the sidelines. The Tour would be a duller and quieter spectacle if it did not attract the thousands of fans who gather along the route of each stage.
A fan waits for the riders during the 12th stage between Chauvigny and Sarran.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesA spectator clothed as Super Mario waits for the riders during the 11th stage.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesSpectators take a bath as they watch the riders during the sixth stage.Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty ImagesA Dutch family of two brothers and one sister and their husbands and wives eat dinner after coming together to support the Jumbo team. This is the fourth time the siblings have attended the race.Photograph: Julien Goldstein/Getty ImagesSpectators take pictures along the course during stage 16 from La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans.Photograph: Benoît Tessier/ReutersSpectators watch the action on a giant screen during the first stage in Nice.Photograph: Frederic Dides/SIPA/ShutterstockDayer Quintana of Arkea Samsic is chased by a fan.Photograph: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com/ShutterstockPrimoz Roglic of Jumbo Visma in the yellow jersey is cheered on during the Puy Mary climb.Photograph: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com/ShutterstockTejada Canacue of Astana is cheered on during stage 20.Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty ImagesSpectators watch the riders during stage 17.Photograph: Christophe Ena/APPrimoz Roglic, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, climbs the Loze pass during stage 17.Photograph: Christophe Ena/APDividerUAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar, wearing the white jersey for best young rider, seen in action on stage 20.Photograph: Benoît Tessier/Reuters
We have a winner
Having gained the yellow jersey in stage nine and holding a 57-second lead going into the penultimate stage, Primoz Roglic would have been dreaming of glory but a stupendous performance from white jersey holder Tadej Pogacar in the individual time trial gave the youngster the yellow jersey and meant he became theyoungest champion since 1904.
Tadej Pogacar crosses the finish line to win the 20th stage and take the overall leader’s yellow jersey.Photograph: Christophe Ena/Pool/EPAPrimoz Roglic is comforted by teammates after losing the overall leader’s yellow jersey in stage 20.Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson/Pool/APPrimoz Roglic, left, who lost his overall leader’s yellow jersey to Tadej Pogacar, right, hug during the final stage from Mantes-La-Jolie to Paris.Photograph: Christophe Ena/APFans in Tadej Pogacar’s hometown of Komenda, Slovenia, celebrate his win and cheer fellow countryman Primoz Roglic as they gather to watch the final stage and award ceremony on television.Photograph: Luka Dakskobler/SOPA Images/ShutterstockTadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium.Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images
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