Keep in Time with the Tour de France
The Tour de France is a worldwide event. Spectators travel from across the Globe to witness the champion emerge once completing the final time trial in stage 21, and countries, cities, towns and villages can spend anything from €50,000 to €2million. However, keeping in time with results and the timings of all the partaking cyclists can be overwhelming and challenging in itself. One incorrect number can change the whole hierarchy and misplace someone on the podium. Every second and minute counts in each and every stage; throughout the entire championship.
The Watch Gallery has provided an infographic detailing the importance and popularity of the Tour de France. With such a large audience, everything must run smoothing. 60km of cables are used each and every day to ensure the broadcast runs smoothly; showing the live results to 190 countries worldwide. Results must be recorded and correctly calculated from stage-to-stage to ensure the real winner is crowned champion. That means keeping tabs on each cyclist’s seconds (and milliseconds).
For example, the infamous race between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon highlights the importance of optimal timings in such a popular sport. LeMond and Fignon found themselves separated by as little as eight seconds in the 1989 Tour de France – the closest win in the whole history of the Tour de France! Without innovative and reputable timekeeping systems, it may be hard to determine who is deserving of 1st place when another close call comes around again.