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Mountains and masks: Tour de France 2020 – in pictures

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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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Safety first

An employee distributes face masks to spectators prior to the 4th stage between Sisteron and Orcieres-Merlette.



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.



Team Jumbo-Visma rider Primoz Roglic of Slovenia, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey.



Emmanuel Macron President of France after Stage 17 from Grenoble to Méribel - Col de la Loze.



CCC Team rider Michael Schaer before the start of Stage 9 from Pau to Larun.



A spectator dressed up as a rooster wearing a mask stands along the road of the ninth stage from Pau to Larun.



Peter Sagan of Team Bora - Hansgrohe and fellow riders are socially distanced as they speak to the media ahead of the first stage.



Kevin Reza of France and Team B&B Hotels - Vital Concept ahead of the final stage from Mantes-La-Jolie to Paris Champs-Élysées.



A child wearing face mask waits to see the riders before the start of the the 14th stage between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon.



Social distancing measures on Stage 3.



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Starts and finishes

General view of the start of Stage 9 from Pau to Laruns.



The end of each stage is a good place for fans to see all the action.

Members of the EF Pro Cycling team ahead of the start of stage 6 from Le Teil to Mont Aigoual.



Stage 7



Jonathan Castroviejo of INEOS Grenadiers makes his way to the start of Stage 5 from Gap to Privas.



Fans watch the start of Stage 12 from Chauvigny to Sarran Corrèze.



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.



Team Lotto rider Australia’s Caleb Ewan celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 3rd stage between Nice and Sisteron.



Team Education First rider Daniel Martinez celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 13th stage between Chatel-Guyon and Puy Mary.



Valentin Madouas of Team Groupama - FDJ approaches the finish line of Stage 13 from Chatel-Guyon to Puy Mary.



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,



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The scenic route

Riders on Stage 17 between Grenoble and Meribel



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.



A man waves a French flag as the pack rides during the 11th stage between Chatelaillon Plage and Poitier.



The pack rides in late French cyclist Raymond Poulidor’s hometown Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat during the 12th stage between Chauvigny and Sarran.



Riders on the Puy Mary climb on stage 13 from Chatel-Guyon to Puy Mary.



Riders on a climb during Stage 4 from Sisteron to Orcieres Merlette.



Riders on a descent on Stage 2 from Nice Haut Pays to Nice.



Riders traverse Promenade des Anglais in Nice during the second stage of the race.



Marc Hirschi of Sunweb descends off the Col des Aravis during Stage 18 from Méribel to La Roche sur Foron.



The peloton in action near the Eglise Saint Bruno de Voiron during stage 16 from La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans.



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The devil is in the detail

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.



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.



Crousty chicken display in the caravan ahead of stage 16.



Deceuninck-Quick Step rider Julian Alaphilippe reacts after winning Stage 2 from Nice Haut Pays to Nice.



Anthony Perez of Cofidis Solutions Credits looks in pain after a crash on Stage 3 from Nice to Sisteron.



A rider sporting a bandage.



Team Trek rider Toms Skujins rides after crashing during the 10th stage between Le Chateau d’Oleron and Saint Martin de Re.



Riders on stage 11 fromChatelaillon-Plage to Poitiers.



Rider’s tattoo ahead of Stage 5.



Daniel Oss of Team Bora - Hansgrohe during Stage 20 Individual Time Trial stage from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles.



Ineos Grenadiers’ Michal Kwiatkowski cools off during the 18th stage between Meribel and La Roche sur Foron.



Messages on the road during Stage 14.



Benoit Cosnefroy and Team Ag2R La Mondiale on the podium after receiving the Polka Dot Mountain Jersey after Stage 12 from Chauvigny to Sarran Corrèze.



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Watching and waiting

Spectators encourage cyclists during the 14th stage between Clermont-Ferrand and Lyon.



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 spectator clothed as Super Mario waits for the riders during the 11th stage between Chatelaillon Plage and Poitier.



Spectators take a bath as they watch the riders during the 6th stage between Le Teil and Mont Aigoual.



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.



Spectators take pictures along the course during stage 16 from La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans.



Spectators watching the action on a giant screen during the first stage in Nice.



Dayer Quintana of Arkea Samsic is chased by a fan on the Montee de la Selle de Fromentel.



Primoz Roglic of Jumbo Visma in the yellow jersey is cheered on during the Puy Mary climb.



Tejada Canacue of Astana Pro Team is cheered on during Stage 20, an Individual Time Trial from Lure to La Planche Des Belles Filles.



Spectators watch the riders during stage 17 between Grenoble and Meribel, Col de la Loze.



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.



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We have a winner

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.



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.



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, 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.



Fans in Tadej Pogacar’s hometown of Komenda, Slovenia celebrate his win and cheer fellow countryman Primoz Roglic as they gather to wathc ht final stage and award ceremony on television.



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.



source: theguardian.com