A Rookie’s Guide to the Tour de France – Types of Rider

As I mentioned in the last post, one of the best things about the Tour de France is the variety offered by having what is essentially 21 different races in a 23 day span. Just as the stages vary significantly, so do the riders that contest them. The riders that contend for a stage in the high mountains of the Alps are very different from the riders that are in contention on the flat finish of the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

In this installment of A Rookie’s Guide to the Tour de France I am going to take a look at the different types of rider in the race and what each type brings to the table.

All-rounder

The all rounder is a rider who is skilled at both climbing mountains and riding alone in time-trials. As I have mentioned several times previously, mountains and time trials are the key ingredients to winning the Tour, and these riders are well suited to make a charge at the GC. Typically a team will have only a single all-rounder riding for the GC win because all rounders are rare and good ones are hard to find. These riders are often known as team leaders and they are protected by teammates whenever possible.

Climber

The climber is a skinny rider who is able to produce a good power to weight ratio and move quickly when the road turns up. Climbers are ideally suited for the KOM competition or to help a GC rider in the mountains. Teams going for the GC may have 2 or 3 top notch climbers to ensure their all-rounder has teammates in the mountains. The main thing that separates elite climbers from the rest of the peloton is their ability to attack one another several times in rapid succession. This trait can lead to epic duels up the mountains between two or three skilled climbers who go back and fourth with scintillating attacks.

Sprinter

The sprinter is a rider who can produce massive power and finish quickly on flat ground. Sprinters aim to win individual stages of the race and the green points jersey. A team with a good sprinter usually brings 2 or 3 more sprinters to the race to protect their leading sprinter when the speed ramps up at the finish. These riders are known as lead-out men and are essential to win a flat stage of the Tour de France. The best sprinters can claim 3, 4, or even 5 stages in a single Tour de France.

Puncheur

The puncheur is a versatile rider who excels at speeding up hills. These riders rarely can hang with the best in the sprints or in the mountains, but they serve as valuable teammates and can win races that finish on a small to medium sized hill. Also, puncheurs are excellent wild card candidates for winning stages out of breakaways.

Rouler

Finally, the rouler is a big, plodding rider who does not pack a fast finish or climb mountains well. Rather, roulers excel at protecting teammates on flat ground and pacing the group for the miles between the start and the finish. These riders are strong and can ride at the front for hours at a steady pace. These riders are also tremendous teammates and will often sacrifice themselves for a team leader. Every team packs at least 2 or 3 roulers. Because of their ability to hold a pace for extended periods of time, roulers often find success in the time trials, which require drawn out individual efforts.

So there you have it, I have outlined to the best of my ability the different types of rider in the Tour de France. Stay tuned for more to come in A Rookie’s Guide to the Tour de France.

Other Parts of The Series:
Part 1 – Introduction – Click Here

Part 2 – Races within the Race – Click Here

Part 3 – Basic Bike Race Strategy – Click Here

Part 4 – Types of Stage – Click Here