Whats your Role in the TDU?
I'm Moto Yellow Flag #1 (of 7 of us!). We're classified as Race Officials, as we work for the race organisation. Our job is to help keep the race safe by warning riders of upcoming turns or obstacles.
Yellow flag motorcycles are allowed to pass the peloton and take up positions within the race convoy. Generally I try to ride behind the Logistics car which is just on front of the peleton, until I have a planned or unplanned assignment over the radio where I will either jump forward to the pre-assigned point, or stop at the unplanned point as directed or spotted, then park somewhere safe, get off the bike and take up position in front of an obstacle or provide course direction information with a whistle and a triangular yellow flag to warn the riders about the danger. Usually there's a spectator who appears who asks what my job is 😅
Then jump back on and re-overtake all the race caravan and peloton by riding past it either on course or by attempting an off-course short-cut, but not on-course when there's a sprint/feed or KOM coming up - I have to just be patient during those.
When passing any small bunches I have to ask permission from the Commissaire car, or the Race Regulator (red motorbike official) for the main bunch, as they need to ensure sporting fairness that a passing motorbike won't give any advantage or be a hazard at that point in the race.
How did you get this role?
The OG women's Race Director Kimberley Conte recommended I give it a go in about 2019(?) - they were looking for people for both Tours that could ride a motorcycle well, and could read the bunch so you'd know when was a good time to pass the peleton, and on which side depending on the wind and race situation. It's a much shorter day than working as a team mechanic which I had done previously, but it's much more stressful! I've been asked back every year since. The motorcycles have been supplied by the race organisation each year except during the COVID year, where we had to supply our own, so I get a free bike for two weeks with fuel. This year was the third year we have been on Yamahas, which is nice, and getting them a few days before racing starts gives me enough time to get used to a different bike.
Whats your day look like?
I get up and check the bike over quickly (I got a puncture this year in the Norton's stage!), and head straight to the tour village via the BP for a full tank of fuel, and arrive about 40mins before the race convoy leaves for the start. Collect my lunch that is supplied everyday, and visit the poor coffee machine which the riders and mechanics hammer all day so it's only working 50% of the time. First job is to help get the team cars and vans out of the compound in the correct order (harder that is sounds) then jump into the race convoy that travels under police escort to the start. Then a quick meeting with the other Moto Yellows, race logistics and sweep car that will be ahead of us checking for last minute hazards on route that we might have to flag. Then we have about 50mins before the race start so another coffee and a snack and a last minute loo stop before rolling out to the first point assigned to me, usually within the Neutral Zone.
If I'm lucky I'm ahead of the race at the finish to watch the sprint, otherwise I cover for any dropped riders to ensure they're safely escorted to the finish, you'd be surprised how many cars and particularly cycling spectators think the race is done and become oncoming hazards.
Then I'm off straight home to plan for the following day, checking out the course maps and particularly checking elevation, (downhills and wiggly roads make it impossible to pass riders) planning any possible shortcuts, and writing the notes I carry on my tank bag each day of planned stops.. I cut up the race manual for these.. Upload the course GPX to both my phone and Garmin that I have on the moto to be doubly sure I don't get lost.
📸 Carl & Virginia