Christian Prudhomme has seen cycling from a privileged perspective. Since 2007 he has been the director general of the Tour de France. RIDE Media caught up with the 62-year-old during a quick visit to Australia this week.

 

 – A video interview by Rob Arnold

 

 

Christian Prudhomme has been the general director of the Tour de France since 2007.

There are many challenges in a job that has a vast range of responsibilities and Prudhomme has managed it all in his stride.

The director of the Tour de France needs to be a diplomate, a politician, a connoisseur of cycling’s culture and history… and, in modern times, they need to be daring enough to innovate an event which has grown into much more than just another bike race.

Prudhomme has all these qualities and, as he approaches the Grand Départ of his 17th Tour as director, it is clear he is still passionate about the sport of cycling.

He was in Australia for a couple of days this week, and he graciously agreed to sit down and have a chat about his job, Le Tour, and the challenges of directing an event that has long set the standard for bike races around the world.

On Thursday afternoon, 16 March 2023, we sat down and talked about cycling…

 

Click ‘play’ on the link above to watch that conversation.

 

 

– Rob

Topics discussed…

  • 2:37 The new generation of GC riders
  • 3:31 Duels in sport – “To have Pogacar versus Vingegaard is very good for cycling”
  • 3:58 Le Tour 2022, a dream scenario for a race organiser
  • 7:34 The elusive French victory – route selection for particular riders… “It’s never the case”
  • 10:41 Vingegaard’s qualities
  • 13:00 Considerations for the organisers – “Safety, safety… safety.”
  • 13:45 Mountains or echelons?
  • 16:26 Wout van Aert – “He’s not only a great champion, he’s a great man.”
  • 17:18 An ambassador for Le Tour, for France… for cycling
  • 21:56 Using drones for coverage of Le Tour
  • 25:25 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
  • 28:47 No Parisian finish for Le Tour in 2024 because of the Paris Olympics
  • 32:14 Remco Evenepoel… an anticipated Tour debut, but not in 2023

 

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