How track manager Gouvenou stages a spectacle

Stage 13 of the tour when conquering the Grand Colombier Image: dpa

Small, steep climbs – and straight away full throttle: route director Thierry Gouvenou is making this year’s Tour of France a spectacle. How did he manage that?

Thierry Gouvenou’s job is a difficult one. On the one hand, it is easy because a generation of super riders has taken over the regiment, who do not see cycling as an administrative act, even in three-week races such as the Tour de France, but enliven it with a constant drive to be offensive. As the route manager of the tour, he only has to put a course in front of the tires for these racers, which they then use as their target.

His job is also enormously complicated because a cascade of different interests must be taken into account until a Tour route (also for the women’s race) is in place. From drivers and teams, sponsors and mayors. Where to, where from, when and for how long – these are highly political questions in France, where the tour is considered a national shrine. Finally, on the way, money has to be collected from the pearl belonging to the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the tour organizer.