Advertisement

Mountains and masks: Tour de France 2020 – in pictures

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.

Click on an image and then the ‘i’ icon for its caption info.

Divider
An employee distributes face masks to spectators prior to the 4th stage between Sisteron and Orcieres-Merlette.
An 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 9th Stage from Pau to Laruns.
Hand sanitiser is distributed to fans ahead of the ninth Stage from Pau to Laruns. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Emmanuel Macron President of France after Stage 17 from Grenoble to Méribel - Col de la Loze.
France president Emmanuel Macron waves after stage 17 from Grenoble to Méribel-Col de la Loze. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Pool/Getty Images
CCC Team rider Michael Schaer before the start of Stage 9 from Pau to Larun.
Team CCC rider Michael Schaer before the start of stage nine from Pau to Larun. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Pool/Reuters
A spectator dressed up as a rooster wearing a mask stands along the road of the ninth stage from Pau to Larun.
A spectator dressed as a rooster wearing a mask stands along the road during the ninth stage from Pau to Larun. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP
Peter Sagan of Team Bora - Hansgrohe and fellow riders are socially distanced as they speak to the media ahead of the first stage.
Peter 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 Images
Kevin Reza of France and Team B&B Hotels - Vital Concept ahead of the final stage from Mantes-La-Jolie to Paris Champs-Élysées.
Kevin Reza of France looks on before the final stage from Mantes-La-Jolie to Paris Champs-Élysées. Photograph: Marco Bertorello/Pool/Getty Images
A child wearing face mask waits to see the riders before the start of the the 14th stage between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon.
A 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 Images
Social distancing measures on Stage 3.
Social distancing measures on stage three. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Divider
General view of the start of Stage 9 from Pau to Laruns.
A 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.

Stage 7
A caravan of sponsors pass by before the start of stage seven. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Jonathan Castroviejo of INEOS Grenadiers makes his way to the start of Stage 5 from Gap to Privas.
Jonathan Castroviejo of Ineos Grenadiers makes his way to the start of Stage five from Gap to Privas. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Fans watch the start of Stage 12 from Chauvigny to Sarran Corrèze.
Fans watch the start of Stage 12 from Chauvigny to Sarran Corrèze. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan wins the stage ahead of BORA-Hansgrohe rider Peter Sagan and Deceuninck-Quick Step rider Sam Bennett wearing the green jersey, and Team Jumbo-Visma rider Wout Van Aert in this photofinish handout of the finish of Stage 11 - Chatelaillon-Plage to Poitiers.
Lotto Soudal rider Caleb Ewan wins stage 11 ahead of Bora-Hansgrohe rider Peter Sagan in a frantic finish. Photograph: A.S.O/Reuters
Team Lotto rider Australia’s Caleb Ewan celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 3rd stage between Nice and Sisteron.
Team 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 Images
Team Education First rider Daniel Martinez celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 13th stage between Chatel-Guyon and Puy Mary.
Team 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 Images
Ineos Grenadier’ Michal Kwiatkowski (right) celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of teammate Richard Carapaz during the 18th stage between Meribel and La Roche sur Foron,
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 Images
Divider

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.
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/AP
A man waves a French flag as the pack rides during the 11th stage between Chatelaillon Plage and Poitier.
A man waves a French flag on the 11th stage between Châtelaillon-Plage and Poitiers. Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
The pack rides in late French cyclist Raymond Poulidor’s hometown Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat during the 12th stage between Chauvigny and Sarran.
The 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 Images
Divider
Cycling fan Didi Senft, aka El Diablo, poses for a picture as he waits for the riders during the Stage 7 between Millau and Lavaur.
Cycling 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.

Cow statue sporting a yellow jersey during Stage 16 from La Tour-Du-Pin to Villard-De-Lans.
A cow statue sporting a yellow jersey during stage 16. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Deceuninck-Quick Step rider Julian Alaphilippe reacts after winning Stage 2 from Nice Haut Pays to Nice.
Deceuninck-Quick Step rider Julian Alaphilippe reacts after winning stage two. Photograph: Stef Mantey/Pool/Reuters
Anthony Perez of Cofidis Solutions Credits looks in pain after a crash on Stage 3 from Nice to Sisteron.
Anthony Perez of Cofidis Solutions Credits grimaces in pain after a crash on stage three. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Team Trek rider Toms Skujins rides after crashing during the 10th stage between Le Chateau d’Oleron and Saint Martin de Re.
Team Trek rider Toms Skujins rides after crashing during the 10th stage. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images
Rider’s tattoo ahead of Stage 5.
A rider’s tattoo ahead of stage five. Photograph: Getty Images
Ineos Grenadiers’ Michal Kwiatkowski cools off during the 18th stage between Meribel and La Roche sur Foron.
Ineos Grenadiers’ Michal Kwiatkowski cools off during the 18th stage. Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
Messages on the road during Stage 14.
Messages on the road during stage 14. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Divider
Spectators encourage cyclists during the 14th stage between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon.
Spectators 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.
A fan waits for the riders during the 12th stage between Chauvigny and Sarran. Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
A spectator clothed as Super Mario waits for the riders during the 11th stage between Chatelaillon Plage and Poitier.
A spectator clothed as Super Mario waits for the riders during the 11th stage. Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
Spectators take a bath as they watch the riders during the 6th stage between Le Teil and Mont Aigoual.
Spectators take a bath as they watch the riders during the sixth stage. Photograph: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images
A Dutch family of two brothers and one sister and their husbands and wives eat dinner after coming together to support the Jumbo team and their leader Primos Roglic ahead of the 17th stage in Meribel, France. This is the fourth time the siblings have attended to the tournament together and their third stage for this year.
A 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 Images
Spectators take pictures along the course during stage 16 from La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans.
Spectators take pictures along the course during stage 16 from La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans. Photograph: Benoît Tessier/Reuters
Tejada Canacue of Astana Pro Team is cheered on during Stage 20, an Individual Time Trial from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles.
Tejada Canacue of Astana is cheered on during stage 20. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Spectators watch the riders during stage 17 between Grenoble and Meribel, Col de la Loze.
Spectators watch the riders during stage 17. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP
Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, climbs the Loze pass during stage 17 of between Grenoble and Meribel Col de la Loze.
Primoz Roglic, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, climbs the Loze pass during stage 17. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP
Divider
UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar, wearing the white jersey for best young rider, in action on Stage 20’s individual time trial from Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles.
UAE 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 the youngest champion since 1904.

Tadej Pogacar of the UAE-Team Emirates wearing the best young rider’s white jersey crosses the finish line to win the 20th stage an individual time trial from Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles andt take the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
Tadej Pogacar crosses the finish line to win the 20th stage and take the overall leader’s yellow jersey. Photograph: Christophe Ena/Pool/EPA
Primoz Roglic is comforted by teammates Tom Dumoulin, left, and Wout van Aert, second left, after losing the overall leader’s yellow jersey in stage 20.
Primoz Roglic is comforted by teammates after losing the overall leader’s yellow jersey in stage 20. Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson/Pool/AP
Primoz Roglic, left, who lost his overall leader’s yellow jersey to Tadej Pogacar, right, hug during the twenty-first and last stage from Mantes-La-Jolie to Paris.
Primoz 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/AP
Team UAE Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey celebrates on the podium after winning the 107th edition of the Tour de France.
Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, celebrates on the podium. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images