Traditions of the Turn in France

The turn in the life of the French

Custom and habits of the Turn of France

A vehicle of the caravan of the Turn in 2005. Approximately an hour before the passage of the runners, the “caravan of the Turn” passes and distributes objects in any kind. The vehicles generally strange and are decorated with publicity. This advertizing procession is created in 1930 and is always an immense success near the spectators.
“Radio-Turn” informs spectators, journalists and sporting directors of all the events punctuating the race in real time. In spite of the recent multiplication of the means of communication, “Radio-Turn” is still essential today for all the speakers of the Turn. The slater, who has of a slate and a chalk, follows to motor bike the runners and transmits the variations to them communicated by radio-Turn.
The “red Lantern” indicates the last of the general classification. It is a reference to the red lights which announce the back of a vehicle. This “trophy” was formerly required because it made it possible its “winner” to obtain better premiums at the time of the critériums according to-Turn. Sometimes, but it is rarer today, the last of the general classification affuble him even of a red lantern.
The spectators are estimated at 100.000 at the time the first edition; they are approximately 15 million today at the edge of the roads of the Turn. The Turn is admittedly a free spectacle which goes to the front of its public. This last ignited for the test as of the first edition, and the incidents violent one are numerous until the years 1950. Eddy Merckx is even victim of a blow of fist in the liver in full rise of the puy of Dome. These spectacular incidents remain insulated and today it is rather the festive spirit of the public of the Turn which is praised. Tourism obliges, the spectators present along the roads are not more only French. The rise of certain collars gives place to surrealist scenes where the runners must cut through a path through an exuberant crowd massed on the roadway. The arrival of Alpe d' Huez is the sporting test which gathers the most spectators over one day.
The Post office makes follow the mail of the runners on the Lathe. Thus, it possible, and is even recommended to the supporters, to write with its runner preferred during the test by indicating as a recipient “Runner X, Tour of France”. Each day, the factor of the Turn makes its round and, of stage in stage, delivers the mail of the fans to the runners. The Tour de Francepublishes a classification of the runners receiving the most letters of fans lasting the test!

 

History of the Turn of France:

  1. History of the Turn of France: Beginnings of the Turn
  2. The turn of France: Doping and Media
  3. Chronology of the TDF: the TDF in dates
  4. The turn: shirts of the Turn of France
  5. Prize list of the turn of France: successes!
  6. Stages of the Turn of France: revive the courses
  7. France and the Turn: habits and custom
  8. To bet on the tour de France: Dimensions and councils