2023 Women’s Tour de France: Navigating Rest Stops for Nature’s Call in the Peloton
Endurance athletes on bicycles, consuming liters of water daily and pedaling for hours, the female cyclists must strategically plan restroom breaks, coordinating their stops with quieter moments in the race. Secret Struggles of Female Cyclists Tour de France Restroom Dilemmas.
“For inappropriate or indecent behavior (urinating in public): Penalty – 100 Swiss francs [104 euros].” This reprimand, handed down by race officials after the initial stage of the 2023 Women’s Tour de France on July 23rd, was issued to Karlijn Swinkels from the Jumbo-Visma team. This penalty serves as a reminder that restroom breaks are a non-trivial matter for female riders, whose stops are far more complex to arrange compared to their male counterparts. This becomes a pertinent factor as the peloton embarks on the longest leg of the Tour, covering 177.5 kilometers from Cahors to Rodez on July 26th.
For these essential needs, female cyclists have few alternatives but to pause. “We can’t do it like the men, who can sometimes relieve themselves without getting off the bike. For us, it’s impossible. We have to find a spot, somewhat suitable, with a bit of privacy,” explains Séverine Eraud from Team Cofidis. The challenge lies in finding the right timing and location.
“Choosing the right moment is crucial. If we want to stop at a certain place and it’s a vulnerable spot for attacks, the peloton won’t stop just for us.”
Juliette Labous, leader of Team DSM-Firmenich, shared with Franceinfo: sports Most often, these breaks coincide with “moments of lull, when not much is happening, and when we’re not taking significant risks,” explains Morgane Coston of Cofidis. “Typically,” continues Juliette Labous, “I ask the team director through the earpiece if it would be okay to stop in the next kilometers, as they have a good overview of the race. Then, we check with other teams, other leaders if anyone else wants to stop. Next, we need to move to the front of the peloton to signal that we’re stopping. Generally, there’s a form of respect from other teams not to attack during that time.”
An unwritten code of honor among riders Similar to the male peloton, there’s an unwritten code of honor among female cyclists. “Normally, when the leaders stop, others can stop too. There’s no acceleration at that moment. There’s no ambiguity,” notes Gaël Le Bellec, Cofidis sports director.
“We don’t attack during restroom breaks, just as we don’t attack after a major crash. These things aren’t explicitly said, but they are understood and generally not accepted if they happen.”
Severine Eraud, Cofidis rider, told Franceinfo: sports While this code is generally adhered to, some may break it. For instance, during the Vuelta in early May, Dutch leader Demi Vollering lost the red jersey and the overall victory after a move by Annemiek van Vleuten’s team (Movistar), the winner of the previous year’s Tour de France, while Vollering was taking a restroom break.
Minimizing time loss Once the right time and spot are identified, cyclists must undress and redress swiftly. “I’m pretty fast at undressing. The trickiest part is being cautious with the radio on our back, which could fall. That’s the most challenging aspect,” notes Juliette Labous. “We start taking off the jersey a bit while still on the bike, and then we stop in cyclo-cross mode” [quickly, on the side], jokes Morgane Coston, a Cofidis rider, as she shares her tips.
Every second counts during these restroom breaks. “On average, I lose between forty seconds and a minute,” says Juliette Labous. Afterward, cyclists must get back on their bikes, rejoin the race, and catch up with the peloton. “Theoretically, we’re still in the line of follow cars, which makes it ‘easier’ to get back. But it’s still an effort to catch up,” notes Juliette Labous, the leader of Team DSM-Firmenich.
However, stopping isn’t always the norm. “In my team, many don’t stop, and they probably never will because they’re afraid of not being able to catch up. It’s a risk, for sure. But in my opinion, it’s still important not to have a full bladder, especially if there are three more hours of racing left; it’s not optimal for performance either. You need to find the right balance,” elaborates Juliette Labous.
Essential breaks during the Tour In a Tour de France with eight consecutive stages and high energy expenditure, restroom breaks are often unavoidable. “During the Tour, we drink a lot, and it’s often very hot, so all of this factors in,” adds Juliette Labous. However, what’s true for the Tour might not apply to other races. “In certain competitions like the early-season Classics, which are highly competitive and fast-paced from start to finish, I hesitate to stop because it would be too challenging to get back into the race,” remarks Séverine Eraud.
“On stage races like the Tour, it’s different, as we have consecutive days of racing, we drink more, so we have more needs.”
Séverine Eraud, Cofidis rider, told Franceinfo: sports “Sometimes, on certain tough stages, we don’t need to stop because we sweat so much that we don’t even think about it. But the toughest moments are the ones where it’s a bit calmer,” admits Juliette Labous. “There are moments when it’s really urgent, and holding back is uncomfortable, so we don’t have a choice,” Morgane Coston adds. Occasionally, some riders refuse to lose those precious seconds and decide to urinate on the bike or just pull aside their shorts. Although this approach is used, it’s not favored by riders due to hygiene concerns.
To facilitate these restroom breaks, equipment manufacturers are sought to design easier-to-remove gear. “A few years ago, we had a system of straps on the shorts, like a clip,” recalls Juliette Labous. “So, we could just open the jersey without removing it, unhook the clip, and then lower the shorts. It was really practical. This year, we changed the design, but I asked our equipment supplier, and they assured me that the topic is under consideration. It’s a crucial matter, and I hope it will become more widespread among bike brands.” This progression aligns with the evolution of women’s cycling.
