Tour de France Etiquette

The Tour de France is an annual three week cycling race throughout France and bordering countries that is broken down into stages. The cyclists battle to win the stages of the race, which ultimately determine the race champion. Although there are specific rules for this complex race, there is also an unspoken cycling etiquette. This cycling etiquette includes rules such as no attacking in a feed zone, and more importantly, respecting the leader by not attacking during a leader's bathroom break, when involved in a crash, or when suffering a mechanical problem. Since the leader position rotates throughout the years and different races, the cyclists take this etiquette seriously and hold each other responsible when the etiquette is breached so that the same respect is given to each leader. The cyclists, believe that to be the true champion you must follow the etiquette and stall where appropriate so that you are sure to be competing and beating the best leaders on the path to the win.

Yesterday, during stage 15 of the 2010 Tour de France, Alberto Contador took the race lead from Andy Schleck when Schleck's bike chain dislodged. Contador violated the race etiquette by attacking instead of failing to wait for Schleck to fix his chain. Contador initially denied any etiquette violation by stating that he was already on the attack upon the mechanical incident, but later posted an apology on YouTube. The pair have a history of race etiquette disputes and this incident simply adds to the fire - expect Schleck to be after Contador in the upcoming stages.

Despite the long established history of cycling etiquette, the etiquette rules seem to be in conflict with the nature of the sport. The goal of the race is to win by following the rules, but also by attacking the weaknesses of your opponents. When a cyclist has to urinate, has a mechanical problem, or even is unable to avoid a crash, you, as a competitor, should attack, because you have trained to urinate less frequently, to prepare the best bike, and to avoid crashes. Being constrained to an etiquette that compels a cyclist to not capitalize on their strengths and attack their opponents' weaknesses ultimately devalues the win for the leader. The leader is the one that then fails to compete against the best his opponents have to offer.

Contador should not have to apologize for his attack. Rather, all of the competing cyclists should have been on the attack when Schleck's chain dislodged. Even Schleck should realize as the leader, that in order to merit that position, he must beat the best. Regardless of whether Schleck could have avoided the chain incident, every athlete knows that a little luck is also a part of winning. The Tour de France is a competition to be the best and the cyclists must step up their game - follow the etiquette and risk having a champion who failed to compete against the best opponents or throw it out and attack all weaknesses.