In the upcoming 2007 Tour de France starting this Saturday (July 7th) numbers really count. For example it’s been reported that due to the Floyd Landis affair there will be no defending champion jersey number 1 when the race begins. In fact, the numbering will start at number 11 since the defending champion’s team usually gets those numbers. Who will be number 11 is still up for grabs.
There are other numbers that are important as well. The Tour also happens to be one of the world’s largest sporting events. Look at some of the numbers behind this awesome cycling race.
4,500: accredited people (organization, teams, media, publicity caravan, service)
2,400: vehicles (including 200 vehicles in-race and 135 trucks in TV technical area at finish line)
725: staff in Tour race organization
1,300: hotel beds reserved each night for Tour race organization and teams
189: professional riders in the Tour Peloton (21 teams of nine riders)
280: team staff members
45: motorcycle patrolmen of the Garde Républicaine
10: policemen of the Tour permanent task force
23,000: police officers along the Tour roadside for traffic control
1700: accredited journalists, photographers, TV cameramen, consultants and producers
185: countries with TV coverage of the Tour
51: countries with live TV coverage of the Tour
4,500,000,000: people will view the Tour de France worldwide on TV
3,200: hours of total TV coverage
12,000,000: roadside spectators (81% French / 19% other)
15,000,000: free gifts handed out during the Tour de France
34: stage cities
And finally, It’s been reported that the number the American Anti-Doping agency (USADA) will do on Floyd Landis will be announced tomorrow, the day before the Tour de France begins. Yes, you read that correctly. The verdict on whether Floyd doped and whether he will remain the 2006 Tour winner is to be announce on the eve of the Tour. Now who said there was no drama in the sport of cycling.
Updated July 9, 2007: Ok. I jumped the gun. The reported announcement on Landis did not happen. Sorry Floyd. I guess we are all too eager to hear what will happen next. Soaps are like that.
