1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,587 --> 00:00:16,347 Speaker 2: One of the planet's most iconic sporting events is underway. 4 00:00:16,387 --> 00:00:19,787 Speaker 2: Tonight's our time, the one hundred and twelfth running of 5 00:00:19,867 --> 00:00:23,187 Speaker 2: cycling's Tour de France. It starts in Lille and finishes 6 00:00:23,227 --> 00:00:28,187 Speaker 2: along the Champslice in Paris on Sunday, July twenty seven. 7 00:00:28,427 --> 00:00:32,067 Speaker 2: A great pleasure to welcome in kiw Sam Beuley, double 8 00:00:32,107 --> 00:00:35,947 Speaker 2: Olympic medallist, former elite cyclist, including the Tour de France 9 00:00:35,987 --> 00:00:40,747 Speaker 2: among multiple Grand tours he competed in cycling, podcaster and 10 00:00:40,827 --> 00:00:45,147 Speaker 2: now director of Sport for the Israel Premiere Tech Team, 11 00:00:45,307 --> 00:00:47,827 Speaker 2: one of the entrants in this year's Tour de France. Sam, 12 00:00:47,867 --> 00:00:49,987 Speaker 2: thanks for joining us, mate. Let's start with your role 13 00:00:50,147 --> 00:00:54,147 Speaker 2: as director of sport. What does that actually involve? 14 00:00:56,427 --> 00:00:59,507 Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks for having me on. Looking forward to the 15 00:00:59,507 --> 00:01:03,827 Speaker 3: Tour de France. That once is a rider, done a 16 00:01:03,867 --> 00:01:06,947 Speaker 3: once as a sports director, this is my second time now. Basically, 17 00:01:07,027 --> 00:01:09,467 Speaker 3: what we're what we're doing here is we're just we're 18 00:01:09,467 --> 00:01:12,227 Speaker 3: looking after the riders from in every way we can. 19 00:01:12,307 --> 00:01:14,507 Speaker 3: But obviously the main focus for us is the is 20 00:01:14,507 --> 00:01:16,467 Speaker 3: the strategy how we're going to try to win stages, 21 00:01:16,467 --> 00:01:19,067 Speaker 3: which is our goal here at the tour, looking into 22 00:01:19,187 --> 00:01:22,227 Speaker 3: all the finer details, the roster selection, you know what, 23 00:01:22,227 --> 00:01:24,187 Speaker 3: which riders do we have here, why do we have 24 00:01:24,267 --> 00:01:27,547 Speaker 3: them here, and all of those little things. So ultimately 25 00:01:27,667 --> 00:01:30,627 Speaker 3: we're here to try to direct the guys in the 26 00:01:30,707 --> 00:01:32,947 Speaker 3: right direction to to try to win a stage, from 27 00:01:32,987 --> 00:01:35,547 Speaker 3: from the pre race panning to d in the race, 28 00:01:35,587 --> 00:01:37,387 Speaker 3: in the race car, on the on the rider radio. 29 00:01:37,947 --> 00:01:41,187 Speaker 2: How much does your experience on the tour and other 30 00:01:41,267 --> 00:01:45,227 Speaker 2: tours as well help in terms of preparing your riders 31 00:01:45,267 --> 00:01:48,067 Speaker 2: in the best possible way once you move into a 32 00:01:48,067 --> 00:01:49,347 Speaker 2: sporting direction role. 33 00:01:51,307 --> 00:01:54,667 Speaker 3: I think I think past experience to bike rider is 34 00:01:55,387 --> 00:01:58,067 Speaker 3: is hugely impactful. Actually when you're when you're a sports director, 35 00:01:58,107 --> 00:02:00,467 Speaker 3: it's you kind of you can see things a little 36 00:02:00,467 --> 00:02:03,027 Speaker 3: bit from the human side. It's it's quite easy. It's 37 00:02:03,107 --> 00:02:06,587 Speaker 3: quite easy to sit in the back of behind behind 38 00:02:06,627 --> 00:02:09,507 Speaker 3: the bunch in the team car and try and play PlayStation, 39 00:02:09,587 --> 00:02:12,987 Speaker 3: but it's just not how it works unfortunately. So it's 40 00:02:13,307 --> 00:02:16,427 Speaker 3: I think having that experience and understanding how bike racing work, 41 00:02:16,747 --> 00:02:19,707 Speaker 3: especially especially in this modern world of cycling. It's just evolving, 42 00:02:19,747 --> 00:02:23,627 Speaker 3: so quickly. It's so fast, the strategies are different than 43 00:02:23,667 --> 00:02:25,827 Speaker 3: they used to be, so so it's important to have 44 00:02:25,867 --> 00:02:29,187 Speaker 3: that understanding of of of real world cycling, and I 45 00:02:29,187 --> 00:02:31,627 Speaker 3: think the riders respect that as well, and they understand 46 00:02:31,667 --> 00:02:34,187 Speaker 3: that I've been I've been in this position myself and 47 00:02:34,467 --> 00:02:36,427 Speaker 3: nine times out of ten I came out second pest. 48 00:02:37,347 --> 00:02:38,787 Speaker 3: So you kind of have you kind of had that 49 00:02:38,867 --> 00:02:42,227 Speaker 3: experience and understanding about how tough it is to win, 50 00:02:42,427 --> 00:02:44,787 Speaker 3: especially the tilt of France. It's even the tilt of 51 00:02:44,827 --> 00:02:47,147 Speaker 3: France compared to the other Grand Tours to Jiraitalia or 52 00:02:47,187 --> 00:02:50,667 Speaker 3: the Wild trustpun Is, it's a different beast. Especially it's 53 00:02:50,707 --> 00:02:52,187 Speaker 3: going to be this It's going to be the same 54 00:02:52,227 --> 00:02:54,307 Speaker 3: this year with this first week up in northern France. 55 00:02:54,347 --> 00:02:57,907 Speaker 3: Super stressful, small roads, lots of traffic, islands and roundabouts 56 00:02:57,907 --> 00:03:00,227 Speaker 3: and hopefully not too many, but I'm sure there'll be 57 00:03:00,227 --> 00:03:01,267 Speaker 3: a few crashes as well. 58 00:03:01,627 --> 00:03:05,627 Speaker 2: You mentioned their strategy and how strategies have changed. Can 59 00:03:05,667 --> 00:03:08,507 Speaker 2: you just unpack them for us about Sam, how have 60 00:03:08,627 --> 00:03:11,787 Speaker 2: they changed? What's different now than it was five, ten, 61 00:03:11,867 --> 00:03:12,667 Speaker 2: fifteen years ago. 62 00:03:14,267 --> 00:03:17,067 Speaker 3: I think the biggest thing is just that the champions 63 00:03:17,107 --> 00:03:19,027 Speaker 3: now are the guys that are winning the most. They're 64 00:03:19,067 --> 00:03:22,787 Speaker 3: also young. When I first turned professional, when I when 65 00:03:22,787 --> 00:03:25,387 Speaker 3: I was twenty one years old, it wasn't even an 66 00:03:25,387 --> 00:03:26,907 Speaker 3: option to go to a Grand Tour. You know, you 67 00:03:27,547 --> 00:03:29,787 Speaker 3: had to you had to do your apprenticeship a little 68 00:03:29,787 --> 00:03:31,467 Speaker 3: bit and start with the smaller races, and as you 69 00:03:31,547 --> 00:03:33,227 Speaker 3: got older and a little bit stronger and a little 70 00:03:33,227 --> 00:03:34,867 Speaker 3: bit more experienced than you've got the chance to go 71 00:03:34,867 --> 00:03:37,587 Speaker 3: to the grand tours. Whereas nowadays the guys winning the 72 00:03:37,627 --> 00:03:39,867 Speaker 3: Grand Tours of that age or even younger at times. 73 00:03:40,947 --> 00:03:43,587 Speaker 3: So you know, this youthful exuberance these guys are coming, 74 00:03:43,987 --> 00:03:45,867 Speaker 3: they're coming out of the junior ranks or out of 75 00:03:45,867 --> 00:03:49,227 Speaker 3: the under twenty three ranks, and they're winning straight away. 76 00:03:49,267 --> 00:03:53,227 Speaker 3: So there's the hierarchy of cycling has kind of gone 77 00:03:53,267 --> 00:03:56,347 Speaker 3: in some in some degree. You know, every young rider 78 00:03:56,347 --> 00:03:58,587 Speaker 3: that turns professional thinks they're capable of winning, and they 79 00:03:58,627 --> 00:03:59,947 Speaker 3: want to win, and they want to race in a 80 00:03:59,947 --> 00:04:02,227 Speaker 3: way that they can win. So it's a lot more 81 00:04:03,467 --> 00:04:06,507 Speaker 3: aggressive style of racing. It's a lot faster. Races are 82 00:04:06,547 --> 00:04:08,947 Speaker 3: starting from from a long way out now, you know 83 00:04:08,947 --> 00:04:11,867 Speaker 3: how like traditionally that there'd be there'd be a structure 84 00:04:11,867 --> 00:04:13,947 Speaker 3: to it by Crasis. The start would happen after a 85 00:04:13,947 --> 00:04:16,067 Speaker 3: few kilometers, a little breakaway would go, a team would 86 00:04:16,107 --> 00:04:18,627 Speaker 3: control it and then and then we'd race in the 87 00:04:18,627 --> 00:04:20,827 Speaker 3: final part of the stage. But nowadays that's just racing 88 00:04:20,907 --> 00:04:23,147 Speaker 3: from from kilometer zero all the way to the finish line. 89 00:04:23,187 --> 00:04:27,187 Speaker 3: And obviously today Pagacha, who's could be the best cyclist 90 00:04:27,227 --> 00:04:29,707 Speaker 3: that's ever lived or head and heading that way at least, 91 00:04:30,587 --> 00:04:33,987 Speaker 3: you know, his dominance is also changing strategies because other 92 00:04:34,067 --> 00:04:36,747 Speaker 3: teams and competitors have to look at different ways to 93 00:04:36,787 --> 00:04:38,507 Speaker 3: try to beat them, because it's not so easy to 94 00:04:38,507 --> 00:04:39,907 Speaker 3: beat them when you just get to the last climb 95 00:04:39,947 --> 00:04:41,587 Speaker 3: and try and race him from bottom to the top. 96 00:04:42,147 --> 00:04:44,387 Speaker 2: Yeah, Derek g of course get an impressive fourth at 97 00:04:44,387 --> 00:04:46,987 Speaker 2: the Zero. Recently he's not on the Tour de France. 98 00:04:47,107 --> 00:04:50,227 Speaker 2: So does that mean that you don't target the yellow jersey? 99 00:04:50,267 --> 00:04:54,107 Speaker 2: That stage wins are what you're all about exactly. 100 00:04:54,347 --> 00:04:57,067 Speaker 3: We're we're here for stage wins. We've we've brought quite 101 00:04:57,107 --> 00:04:59,387 Speaker 3: a different team to what we to what we had 102 00:04:59,387 --> 00:05:01,867 Speaker 3: at the Giro, for example, to support Derek. So it's 103 00:05:01,907 --> 00:05:03,747 Speaker 3: all about it's all about stage wins and trying to 104 00:05:03,747 --> 00:05:07,387 Speaker 3: have a have a a divert this group that's capable 105 00:05:07,387 --> 00:05:10,507 Speaker 3: of winning on different terrains, and that's why we're here. 106 00:05:11,067 --> 00:05:13,547 Speaker 3: At the end of the day, the yellow jersey could 107 00:05:13,547 --> 00:05:15,747 Speaker 3: still be possible. The first stage is a bunch sprint. 108 00:05:16,227 --> 00:05:19,787 Speaker 3: We've got Pascal Lachman here who's our main sprinter in 109 00:05:19,827 --> 00:05:23,107 Speaker 3: our team, so he's here to try to try to 110 00:05:23,147 --> 00:05:24,907 Speaker 3: win the sprint stages and if he wins the first one, 111 00:05:24,947 --> 00:05:27,867 Speaker 3: he gets the ollow jersey. But there's definitely no ambitions 112 00:05:27,867 --> 00:05:30,147 Speaker 3: of having a high GC result once we get to Paris. 113 00:05:30,227 --> 00:05:31,987 Speaker 3: It's all just about trying to pick off the stages 114 00:05:32,027 --> 00:05:34,827 Speaker 3: that suit us and hopefully hopefully walk away in three 115 00:05:34,827 --> 00:05:36,627 Speaker 3: weeks time with at least one. 116 00:05:37,027 --> 00:05:40,267 Speaker 2: You're planning, I'm sure as metronomic you know before the 117 00:05:40,347 --> 00:05:43,067 Speaker 2: race starts and here we are it's just about to begin. 118 00:05:43,587 --> 00:05:46,547 Speaker 2: How much do your plans change, Sam over the three weeks? 119 00:05:46,947 --> 00:05:48,827 Speaker 2: You know, if we get to three weeks from now, 120 00:05:48,827 --> 00:05:50,507 Speaker 2: will we get to the Champs less on the twenty 121 00:05:50,547 --> 00:05:52,867 Speaker 2: seventh and look back, will it have gone to plan? 122 00:05:53,067 --> 00:05:54,067 Speaker 2: Probably or not? 123 00:05:55,787 --> 00:05:56,187 Speaker 3: Probably? 124 00:05:56,187 --> 00:05:56,307 Speaker 2: Not? 125 00:06:02,427 --> 00:06:05,227 Speaker 3: Yeah, You've got to be in these long and these 126 00:06:05,267 --> 00:06:07,227 Speaker 3: long three week races have to be you have to 127 00:06:07,227 --> 00:06:09,427 Speaker 3: be ready to adapt on a dime, you know, because 128 00:06:10,027 --> 00:06:14,067 Speaker 3: the anything that is in the same position you come 129 00:06:14,067 --> 00:06:16,067 Speaker 3: here with the leader. We come here with with Pascal 130 00:06:16,107 --> 00:06:18,427 Speaker 3: Akamen as our main guy for the bunch prints and 131 00:06:19,027 --> 00:06:22,307 Speaker 3: there's six opportunities for him. But if you if you 132 00:06:22,347 --> 00:06:24,027 Speaker 3: lose them on the first day from a bit crash, 133 00:06:24,107 --> 00:06:25,867 Speaker 3: then you have to you have to switch, You have 134 00:06:25,907 --> 00:06:27,627 Speaker 3: to make you have to come up with different ideas 135 00:06:27,627 --> 00:06:30,907 Speaker 3: in different ways to try to win stages. And uh, 136 00:06:31,067 --> 00:06:33,627 Speaker 3: it's it's likely that that our team and other teams 137 00:06:33,667 --> 00:06:35,907 Speaker 3: are gonna are going to have bad moments where you know, 138 00:06:36,187 --> 00:06:39,187 Speaker 3: sickness comes in or there's crashes and injuries and you 139 00:06:39,267 --> 00:06:42,307 Speaker 3: lose riders. Hopefully not, but it's always possible and you 140 00:06:42,387 --> 00:06:43,787 Speaker 3: have to be you have to be pretty quick to 141 00:06:43,827 --> 00:06:45,947 Speaker 3: adapt and react to those situations. You've got to get 142 00:06:46,107 --> 00:06:48,627 Speaker 3: the guys motivated again, get them aspired again, get them 143 00:06:48,667 --> 00:06:51,747 Speaker 3: back on track when things don't go well. So you 144 00:06:51,827 --> 00:06:53,547 Speaker 3: do have to be you do have to be pretty 145 00:06:53,547 --> 00:06:55,787 Speaker 3: adaptable in these in these three week races, and and 146 00:06:55,827 --> 00:06:58,147 Speaker 3: that that's the same for a team riding for to 147 00:06:58,147 --> 00:06:59,747 Speaker 3: try to win until to France or a team that's 148 00:06:59,787 --> 00:07:00,747 Speaker 3: just trying to win stages. 149 00:07:01,387 --> 00:07:03,747 Speaker 2: You've got a couple of key weis in the in 150 00:07:03,787 --> 00:07:05,867 Speaker 2: the team with you, but you haven't selected them for 151 00:07:05,867 --> 00:07:09,507 Speaker 2: the tour. George Bennett and Corbyn Strong. How tough are 152 00:07:09,507 --> 00:07:12,427 Speaker 2: those conversations for you? Uh? 153 00:07:12,467 --> 00:07:15,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, George was especially tough. It was never it was 154 00:07:15,187 --> 00:07:17,187 Speaker 3: never in Corbyn's plan this year. The plan for him 155 00:07:17,227 --> 00:07:19,187 Speaker 3: was to go the Jyra, which he did and came 156 00:07:19,187 --> 00:07:21,347 Speaker 3: close to winning the stage there. So the Tour ti 157 00:07:21,427 --> 00:07:24,627 Speaker 3: de France wasn't on his on his program this year, 158 00:07:24,947 --> 00:07:27,107 Speaker 3: and that changes year by year based on the courses, 159 00:07:27,147 --> 00:07:31,227 Speaker 3: based on our on our team's ambitions. But George certainly 160 00:07:31,347 --> 00:07:33,667 Speaker 3: was was was gunning for the Tour de France, and 161 00:07:33,947 --> 00:07:36,067 Speaker 3: it wasn't. It wasn't an easy decision made by the 162 00:07:36,547 --> 00:07:39,827 Speaker 3: by the performance group. And yeah, it's tough because he's 163 00:07:39,827 --> 00:07:41,147 Speaker 3: one of my best mates as well, so you have 164 00:07:41,187 --> 00:07:43,387 Speaker 3: to you have to have those conversations with him from 165 00:07:43,427 --> 00:07:46,187 Speaker 3: a from a human side, been trying to be a 166 00:07:46,187 --> 00:07:47,907 Speaker 3: friend and support him so and then try to be 167 00:07:47,947 --> 00:07:51,307 Speaker 3: professional and make the right decisions and explain why those 168 00:07:51,307 --> 00:07:53,747 Speaker 3: decisions have been made. So it was it was definitely 169 00:07:53,747 --> 00:07:55,347 Speaker 3: tough to leave George at home. Would have would have 170 00:07:55,347 --> 00:07:58,267 Speaker 3: been great if we didn't have to, but he's he's 171 00:07:58,307 --> 00:08:00,707 Speaker 3: still he's still on track for some big races coming 172 00:08:00,787 --> 00:08:01,867 Speaker 3: up this year and. 173 00:08:01,867 --> 00:08:04,267 Speaker 2: Across at red Ball. That leaves Lawrence Pithy is the 174 00:08:04,307 --> 00:08:06,707 Speaker 2: only key we competing in the Tour of the Do 175 00:08:07,267 --> 00:08:08,987 Speaker 2: you keep half an eye on him being being a 176 00:08:08,987 --> 00:08:10,347 Speaker 2: fellow New Zealander. 177 00:08:10,907 --> 00:08:13,147 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely try to keep an eye on all the keys, 178 00:08:13,187 --> 00:08:17,227 Speaker 3: but Lawrence especially. He's a super young, talented guy. He's 179 00:08:17,347 --> 00:08:21,707 Speaker 3: had a big breakthrough season last year and he's been 180 00:08:21,707 --> 00:08:23,667 Speaker 3: writing really well this year and his new team in 181 00:08:23,747 --> 00:08:28,067 Speaker 3: Bora Red Bull and the first the first six or 182 00:08:28,067 --> 00:08:30,227 Speaker 3: seven days of this tour to France really suits at 183 00:08:30,387 --> 00:08:33,067 Speaker 3: the start of writing. He's obviously here in a support 184 00:08:33,147 --> 00:08:36,067 Speaker 3: role for pretty much Rogl's. He's coming here to try 185 00:08:36,067 --> 00:08:37,427 Speaker 3: to win the Tour de France, so that would be 186 00:08:37,507 --> 00:08:40,507 Speaker 3: his primary objective to support him. But he's also the 187 00:08:40,587 --> 00:08:42,947 Speaker 3: kind of writer who, like I say, he suits the 188 00:08:42,987 --> 00:08:44,667 Speaker 3: start of racing in the first week of the Tour 189 00:08:44,667 --> 00:08:47,987 Speaker 3: de France, and he's getting better and better every year, 190 00:08:48,307 --> 00:08:50,787 Speaker 3: so I wouldn't be surprised when New Zealand shouldn't be 191 00:08:50,827 --> 00:08:53,107 Speaker 3: surprised if you see him see him up there fighting 192 00:08:53,107 --> 00:08:54,107 Speaker 3: for his own stage. 193 00:08:53,787 --> 00:08:57,587 Speaker 2: Ones outstanding at times. Yeah, and and the iconic stages 194 00:08:57,627 --> 00:09:00,427 Speaker 2: through the Pyrenees. How much do you look forward to those? 195 00:09:00,507 --> 00:09:02,787 Speaker 2: Or is that the wrong phrase? Do you do you know, 196 00:09:03,267 --> 00:09:06,107 Speaker 2: have a sense of dread around those stages as well? 197 00:09:06,187 --> 00:09:07,347 Speaker 2: Or do the riders. 198 00:09:08,907 --> 00:09:11,027 Speaker 3: The riders probably do. I don't say much anymore. I 199 00:09:11,147 --> 00:09:14,627 Speaker 3: used to, but they're they're a little bit easier for 200 00:09:14,707 --> 00:09:17,027 Speaker 3: me now. But now that I do look, I do 201 00:09:17,107 --> 00:09:18,747 Speaker 3: look forward to those stages. I think at the end 202 00:09:18,787 --> 00:09:20,587 Speaker 3: of the day that the Tour de France is, the 203 00:09:20,587 --> 00:09:22,427 Speaker 3: Tour de France is the biggest bi cration in the world, 204 00:09:22,467 --> 00:09:24,507 Speaker 3: one of the biggest sporting events in the world. And 205 00:09:24,507 --> 00:09:26,427 Speaker 3: and like you say, those stages and the Pyrenees and 206 00:09:26,427 --> 00:09:31,147 Speaker 3: the Alps are what make this what make this race iconic. Yeah, 207 00:09:31,187 --> 00:09:33,107 Speaker 3: this first this first week is going to be stressful. 208 00:09:33,147 --> 00:09:36,227 Speaker 3: I think a lot of teams, including ours, are looking 209 00:09:36,307 --> 00:09:38,627 Speaker 3: forward to so having a crack at trying to win, 210 00:09:38,667 --> 00:09:41,107 Speaker 3: to win some of these stages, but ultimately probably looking 211 00:09:41,147 --> 00:09:43,347 Speaker 3: forward to getting out of out of northern France and 212 00:09:43,347 --> 00:09:45,827 Speaker 3: down to the Pyrenees where where the racing is a 213 00:09:45,867 --> 00:09:49,267 Speaker 3: bit more historical. Everybody understands how those mountains work. And 214 00:09:49,947 --> 00:09:51,587 Speaker 3: a bit more familiar and a little bit a little 215 00:09:51,587 --> 00:09:53,907 Speaker 3: bit safer in some ways as well. So looking forward 216 00:09:53,907 --> 00:09:56,067 Speaker 3: to getting down there and getting into those stages and 217 00:09:56,147 --> 00:09:58,187 Speaker 3: just that that's where you really feel like you're the 218 00:09:58,187 --> 00:10:00,187 Speaker 3: tiur to France. The big crowds, the you know, the 219 00:10:00,227 --> 00:10:02,107 Speaker 3: barbecues on the side of the road, all of that stuff, 220 00:10:02,107 --> 00:10:05,987 Speaker 3: the passionate spectators. So, uh, those those stages are certainly 221 00:10:06,067 --> 00:10:07,787 Speaker 3: ones I think everybody looks forward to at the Tour 222 00:10:07,867 --> 00:10:08,827 Speaker 3: de France just. 223 00:10:08,867 --> 00:10:10,867 Speaker 2: To finish, sham, Can you put into context for us 224 00:10:10,947 --> 00:10:13,907 Speaker 2: just how big the Tour de France is. You know, 225 00:10:14,107 --> 00:10:17,027 Speaker 2: there there are a lot of cycling events, right, but 226 00:10:17,787 --> 00:10:21,067 Speaker 2: is this one clearly above all the rest? And by 227 00:10:21,107 --> 00:10:21,547 Speaker 2: how much? 228 00:10:23,227 --> 00:10:27,067 Speaker 3: Yeah? It is? Yeah, I think like from a from 229 00:10:27,067 --> 00:10:30,467 Speaker 3: a bike rider's point of view, the way that racing 230 00:10:30,507 --> 00:10:34,307 Speaker 3: has changed, the every every single bike race now is hard, 231 00:10:34,387 --> 00:10:37,787 Speaker 3: and the Till de France is not necessarily physically harder 232 00:10:37,827 --> 00:10:41,347 Speaker 3: than the Giro or the Walter Espania. That all three 233 00:10:41,387 --> 00:10:43,707 Speaker 3: of those those three week races sort of sit on 234 00:10:43,747 --> 00:10:46,947 Speaker 3: par now with with their physical level, but the tlder 235 00:10:46,987 --> 00:10:50,787 Speaker 3: France just brings that big hype, you know, brings the 236 00:10:50,827 --> 00:10:53,267 Speaker 3: pressure for the ride as it's it's the biggest, the 237 00:10:53,307 --> 00:10:55,427 Speaker 3: biggest race in the world. Everybody's watching it. We had 238 00:10:55,747 --> 00:10:59,267 Speaker 3: a briefing yesterday with one hundred and ninety one hundred 239 00:10:59,267 --> 00:11:02,267 Speaker 3: and ninety countries. It's televised in so you know all 240 00:11:02,347 --> 00:11:04,347 Speaker 3: all of that stuff. It's just it's just cycling on 241 00:11:05,547 --> 00:11:08,267 Speaker 3: such a biggest scale and with that comes pressure. With 242 00:11:08,307 --> 00:11:11,187 Speaker 3: it comes viewers, with it comes eyes on the race, 243 00:11:11,227 --> 00:11:14,827 Speaker 3: on the riders. So it is an enormous sporting event 244 00:11:14,907 --> 00:11:17,667 Speaker 3: and it's hard to hide from that, especially when you 245 00:11:17,707 --> 00:11:19,747 Speaker 3: get to the you get to the stage. Starts every 246 00:11:19,827 --> 00:11:21,867 Speaker 3: day and there's just thousands and thousands of people, So 247 00:11:22,067 --> 00:11:23,747 Speaker 3: that's why everybody wants to be here, and that's what's 248 00:11:23,747 --> 00:11:24,987 Speaker 3: so exciting about the Tour de France. 249 00:11:25,187 --> 00:11:26,827 Speaker 2: Absolutely well, there are a lot of people on the side 250 00:11:26,867 --> 00:11:28,547 Speaker 2: of the world, as I'm sure you'll know, stocking up 251 00:11:28,587 --> 00:11:31,147 Speaker 2: on coffee for the next three weeks or so to 252 00:11:31,907 --> 00:11:33,827 Speaker 2: watch it through the night. Sam, all the best to 253 00:11:33,867 --> 00:11:36,627 Speaker 2: you and the Israel Premier Tech team for the running 254 00:11:36,627 --> 00:11:38,747 Speaker 2: of the Tour de France this year. Appreciate you very 255 00:11:38,787 --> 00:11:40,067 Speaker 2: much taking the time to jet to us. 256 00:11:40,227 --> 00:11:42,267 Speaker 3: Cool. Thank you very much, No, thank you mate. 257 00:11:42,267 --> 00:11:45,107 Speaker 2: That is Sam Beauley with the Tour de France starting 258 00:11:45,107 --> 00:11:49,787 Speaker 2: tonight in lell and just some spectacular scenery as always, 259 00:11:50,107 --> 00:11:52,907 Speaker 2: to be enjoyed well during the night over here, of course, 260 00:11:52,987 --> 00:11:57,187 Speaker 2: but certainly those cycling enthusiasts among you will, as I 261 00:11:57,187 --> 00:11:59,467 Speaker 2: said to Sam, there be stocking up on the coffee 262 00:11:59,507 --> 00:12:02,027 Speaker 2: and making sure that they don't miss a moment, or 263 00:12:02,067 --> 00:12:04,787 Speaker 2: not too many moments. Anyway, of the one hundred and 264 00:12:04,867 --> 00:12:07,987 Speaker 2: twelfth running of Cyclings of France. The only key we 265 00:12:08,027 --> 00:12:11,347 Speaker 2: in the field is in the red ball side, that 266 00:12:11,507 --> 00:12:14,187 Speaker 2: is Lawrence Pithy, so we will keep eyes on him 267 00:12:14,507 --> 00:12:17,307 Speaker 2: in particular as the Tour de France gets underway tonight 268 00:12:17,547 --> 00:12:18,907 Speaker 2: in Leale. 269 00:12:18,947 --> 00:12:22,107 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 270 00:12:22,227 --> 00:12:25,507 Speaker 1: to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow 271 00:12:25,547 --> 00:12:27,147 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio