From Brest to Paris with Continental

From Brest to Paris with Continental

Bold breakaways, long-distance solo rides, spectacular mass sprints through the valleys, coupled with triumphant mountain-top finishes on the peaks of the Alps and Pyrenees, and hundreds of thousands of spectators lining virtually the entire route – the Tour de France is unrivalled as the largest and most prestigious cycling race in the world.

The 2021 Tour de France commenced on Saturday 26 June in Brest, the ancient port city in Brittany in Northwest France, and will have concluded on the Avenue des Champs-élysées in Paris on Sunday 18 July, after completing 21 gruelling stages over a distance of 3 383 km.

The route profile of this year is more classic and more balanced than in previous years, with eight flat stages, five hilly stages, and six mountain stages, with only three slightly less extreme mountain-top finishes at Tignes, Saint-lary-soulan col du Portet, and Luz Ardiden. For the first time since 2017, there will be two individual time trial stages covering a total distance of 58 km, the first between Changé and Laval Espace Mayenne on stage five (27 km), and the second between Libourne and Saintémilion on stage twenty (31 km). The 248 km stage eight from Vierzon to Le Creusot will be the longest of the Tour since 2000. Prize money totals €2.3 million that will be awarded to the riders and teams, with €500 000 up for grabs for the overall winner.

Spectators are waiting in eager anticipation to see whether last year’s winner, Tadej Pogacar – the youngest tour winner of all time at just 21 years of age – will be able to defend his title this year. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that the overall winner will be decided until the penultimate day.

Of the 23 teams that will compete in the Tour de France this year, six teams will compete on Continental’s Competition Pro LTD tyres. This high-tech racing tyre is manufactured by hand, and weighs a mere 250 grams. Manufactured from a coated tube including a fine ribbed outer profile, this high-pressure tyre reduces the rolling resistance, which is particularly advantageous to the riders on long stages and during extreme climbs. In addition, the tubularcontinental tyres are bonded directly onto the rims, preventing the tyre from slipping off, even in the event of a loss of pressure.

The most striking feature of the tyre is its rolling resistance-optimised, extremely narrow contact surface, which is capable of safely transferring steering action and braking force on the road when cycling downhill at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Further technological tyre development has been a key factor in increasing the average hourly speed from 25 km/h to 40 km/h since the inception of the first stage road race in the world – despite the ever increasing challenges of the route profile.

In addition to supplying bicycle tyres to France, the Continental Group is also the principal Tour de France partner. As in previous years, the official vehicles from the tour organisation will also be driving through France on the tried-and-tested Continental Premiumcontact 6 tyres. This high-tech product, optimised for mid-size and premiumclass vehicles, is rated for speeds of up to 300 km/h, combining the properties of a comfortable sedan tyre and a sports car tyre.

When it comes to the race for the yellow jersey, the quality of the tyres determines the victors and rankings as much as the individual effort of the riders. Numerous top teams therefore rely on the technological expertise of Continental developers.

May the best rider win!