You Are Never Alone on Race Day
You’re on the start line. Heart rate rising, mind locked onto the road ahead.
The moment you clip in and push the pedals, the race begins — but in reality, everything has been in motion long before that.
At L’Étape by Tour de France, a fair, safe, and authentic racing experience is made possible by a meticulously organized system designed to protect you on the course. This system is called the Race Convoy.
The Race Starts Before You Do
While you prepare on race morning, the course is already under control.
Marshals are positioned at key locations, police units secure critical intersections, and minutes before the start, police motorcycles sweep the entire route to clear the road completely.
The goal is simple:
When you start riding, the road belongs only to the race.
The Iconic Red Škoda at the Front
Just before the start, you’ll notice the iconic red Škoda. This car officially signals that the race is underway. Together with the lead police vehicle, it moves at the front of the peloton, opening the course.
This vehicle:
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Keeps the route closed to traffic
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Guides the lead group safely
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Helps establish a controlled race tempo
It is not your competitor.
It is your partner in setting the rhythm of the race.
Wave Starts and Lead Motorcycles
L’Étape events are organized using a wave start system.
Each wave is led by a police motorcycle and a race control motorcycle.
Their role is to:
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Ensure each wave starts safely
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Maintain flow until faster riders approach the previous wave
The objective is not chaos, but continuous flow.
Safety and Medical Teams: Silent but Essential
You may not notice them, but support teams are always at work around you.
Safety motorcycles monitor hazardous sections and signal warnings when needed. Medical teams, with ambulances and doctor-equipped motorcycles, are ready to respond instantly to any incident.
They are part of the race —
but they never interfere with it.
Why Is There a Time Cut?
Toward the end of the course, you may see a vehicle approaching from behind. This is the time cut (sweep) vehicle, moving at the minimum required speed. If it passes you, you are no longer officially classified in the race.
This is not a penalty.
It is a necessary rule to ensure safety and allow roads to reopen on schedule.
You may continue at your own responsibility or choose to board the sweep vehicle and finish safely.
The Sweep Vehicle and Withdrawing
In every race, withdrawing is also part of racing.
The sweep vehicle exists for riders who are exhausted, injured, or choose not to continue.
This is not giving up —
it is making the right decision.
When the Race Ends, the Road Returns to Life
After the final riders pass, cleanup crews restore the course and police reopen the roads. The city returns to normal, carrying the echoes of cheering crowds.
Racing L’Étape by Tour de France is not just about strength.
It is about experiencing the discipline and precision of one of the world’s most prestigious cycling events.
The Race Convoy exists for your safety, for fairness, and for a flawless race experience.
You focus on the pedals.
Everything else has already been planned for you.
