The morning is sacred. The morning is coffee, staring out the window, pretending the world isn’t coming for you.
The morning is for slowly remembering what you did last night.
You don’t waste a good morning suffering up a French mountain.
The Tour de France riders? They know this. They don’t wake up thinking, Let’s ride until our legs turn into cement.
No, they wake up, sip their espressos, eat something that looks like food but feels like fuel, and wait.
Because they know. The suffering comes later.
And when it does, it’s for a reason. Seven, actually.
1. Because TV Runs the Show, Not Cyclists
You think this is about the glory of sport? No. This is about TV ratings. The Tour de France is a soap opera on wheels, and the best drama happens when people are watching.
Afternoon starts mean the race finishes around 5:30-6:00 PM local time.
That’s perfect. People get off work, grab a beer, turn on the TV, and watch men in spandex punish themselves for our entertainment.
Broadcasters love it, advertisers love it, and the sport survives because of it.
You want a 7 AM start? Great. Enjoy watching the final sprint while you’re stuck in a traffic jam.
2. The Roads Need to Be Cleared (And France Doesn’t Wake Up Early)
Ever tried shutting down a country road in France before noon? Good luck. The Tour isn’t just a race; it’s an invasion. Thousands of people, barricades, team buses, helicopters, and police escorts. That takes time.
And let’s be honest—no French town wants to wake up at dawn to move their parked cars because some guy in a yellow jersey needs a clear path.
3. The Caravan Comes First (Because Capitalism Always Wins)
Before the riders even clip in, there’s a parade. The Tour’s promotional caravan rolls through every stage first, throwing candy, hats, keychains, and whatever else corporate sponsors want to shove in people’s faces.
Kids love it. Adults pretend they’re too cool for it but still fight over free stuff. And it eats up hours of the day. You can’t rush a spectacle.
4. The Weather Might Be Bad—But It’s Predictable
Yes, riding in the afternoon means riding in the heat. But early starts don’t guarantee cooler temperatures.
Mornings can be cold, foggy, and unpredictable—especially in the mountains.
Riders don’t want to be shivering down a descent, squinting through mist, praying they don’t miss a turn. At least in the afternoon, they know exactly what they’re dealing with: brutal, soul-crushing heat.
A fair trade.
5. Fans Need Time to Get There (and Get Properly Loud)
The Tour isn’t the Tour without fans losing their minds on the side of the road.
People in Viking helmets, shirtless men running alongside riders, somebody dressed as the devil—this is all part of the show.
And guess what? These people don’t teleport to the racecourse. They drive. They hike. They camp. Give them time to get there, give them time to drink, and by the time the peloton arrives, you’ve got yourself a party.
Start too early, and all you’ll hear are birds and regret.
6. Logistics: Moving a Circus Takes Time
The Tour de France isn’t just a race. It’s a rolling city. Team buses, motorcycles, police escorts, helicopters, production trucks, press vans—it’s chaos on wheels. And moving that kind of operation every single day takes hours.
You don’t just tell a few hundred people to “get going” and expect it to happen. The wheels don’t turn that fast.
7. Because It’s Always Been This Way (And That’s Reason Enough)
Cycling loves tradition. The Tour de France has been around since 1903. And afternoon starts? That’s just how it’s done.
Change it, and the world might not end, but it sure won’t feel right.
Table Summary:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| TV Money | Late finishes mean prime-time viewership, which means cash. |
| Clearing Roads | Shutting down France takes time. |
| Promotional Caravan | Free hats before suffering. |
| Weather | Heat is bad, but unpredictable fog is worse. |
| Fans | Let them wake up, travel, and get loud. |
| Logistics | Moving this beast takes time. |
| Tradition | You don’t mess with history. |
The Conclusion: You Thought You Knew, But You Didn’t
The Tour doesn’t start late for the riders. It starts late for you.
The guy waking up in Illinois, watching before his wife gets up. The office worker catching the last 30km. The retiree who wants his sports without the hassle.
The Tour de France is the greatest endurance race in the world, but it’s not built for the riders. It’s built for the audience. They suffer so you don’t have to.
Think about that next time you sip your coffee and watch someone climb a mountain.
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