2015 Tour de France Lanterne Rouge Award

by Robert Warren Hess

The Tour de France is, without question, the toughest bicycle race in the world. The Tour de France lasts 21 days and covers 3,660 kilometers – that’s 2,276.704 miles! Just finishing the Tour de France is an incredible feat. The journey of a lifetime for a professional cyclist.Prostate Cancer Awareness Project Lanterne Rouge Cycling Jersey

But, as is almost always the case, the focus is almost soley on the most talented riders – the race leaders, CG contenders, king of the mountain contenders, and the sprinters. There’s even a special category for the best younger rider and the most courages rider of the day. But there is no recognition for the riders at the end of the 198-man strong peloton. Until now, that it.

We award King and Queen of the Mountain jerseys to the fastest climbers in their age category in our cancer awareness ride – Alpine Loop Gran Fondo and the Hotter than Hell Mt. Baldy climb. But we wanted to  create something very special for the last person to finish the ride. The person that just ‘gutted it out’ and made it happen. So we created our Lanterne Rouge Jersey.

So once again this year, just for fun, we’re keeping track of each stage Lanterne Rouge rider. Our hat is off to them!

The PCAP 2015 Tour de France Lanterne Rouge Awards

It’s that wonderful time of year when the Tour de France arrives. I’m sitting watching the final 30 miles of Stage 2 as the North Sea wind has shattered the peleton and Vincenzo Nibali, last year’s winner, is fighting to close a 58 second gap. Allez!

Stage 1 – Mikael Cherel | AG2R
Stage 2 – Brice Feillu | Bretagne – Seche Environnement | + 13′ 32″
Stage 3 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +26′ 46″
Stage 4 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +43′ 58″
Stage 5 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +58′ 13″
Stage 6 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +1 hr +01′ 31″
Stage 7 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +1 hr +02′ 14″
Stage 8 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +1 hr +11′ 13″
Stage 9 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +1 hr +16′ 10″ [riding with a broken rib!]
Stage 10 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +1 hr +42′ 47″ [riding with a broken rib!]
Stage 11 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +2 hr +04′ 14″ [riding with a broken rib!]
Stage 12 – Michael Matthews | Orica Greenedge | +2 hr +34′ 21″ [riding with a broken rib!]
State 13 – Sam Bennett | Bora-Argon 18 | 2 hr 43′ 06″
Stage 14 – Sam Bennett | Bora-Argon 18 | 2 hr 59′ 08″
Stage 15 – Sam Bennett | Bora-Argon 18 | 3 hr 14′ 49″
Stage 16 – Sam Bennett | Bora-Argon 18 | 3 hr 27′ 13″ [withdrew]
Stage 17 – Sebastien Chavanel | FDJ | 3 hr 33′ 49″
Stage 18 – Sebastien Chavanel | FDJ | 4 hr 06′ 38″
Stage 19 – Sebastien Chavanel | FDJ | 4 hr 34′ 40″
Stage 20 – Sebastien Chavanel | FDJ | 4 hr 56′ 59″
Stage 21 –
Question for Comment

Do you think the TdF organizers should award a Lanterne Rouge jersey?

 

 

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