Tour de France rest day tweets: Riders in pools, Lidl madness, and Movistar perfect a dance
It's time to pause at the world's biggest bike race, so here are some social media posts to look at instead
It has been a hectic first week of racing at the Tour de France, a week that has seemed to be endless for the riders, with action from the gun in Bilbao to the final metres of the Puy de Dôme on Sunday evening.
For the 170 riders left in the race, Monday is a time to pause and relax, to reset, and to answer some more questions from pesky journalists. It also means no action on television for all you poor souls back home, so it is the perfect time to take a look at some of the most interesting social media posts of the last week.
One, quick sidebar: it is very hot in Clermont-Ferrand right now, so sorry if the quality of your usual tweets of the week suffers a slight bit - normal service will be resumed once it gets cooler*.
*I am led to believe it might never get cooler, thanks climate change.
So while the riders work on their sensations and keep their legs good, just keep scrolling to see some of the best tweets and Instagram posts from the last week and a bit of professional cycling. Simple.
We have multiple riders in small bodies of water (is a pool a body of water?) as they keep the heat down or do some advertising. There are also a billion Lidl jokes, predictably, and Movistar making a pitch to be a synchronised swimming team rather than one of the best cycling outfits.
1. At least Elynor Backstedt has the grace to warn us that the Lidl puns aren't going to stop any time soon. The Welsh rider had the misfortune of riding in some of the worst weather seen at a bike race in a while, before the Giro Donne opening stage was eventually called off. Can't wait to cycle in the rain again.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
A post shared by Elynor Backstedt-Calvert (@elynor_backstedt)
A photo posted by on
2. Ellen van Dijk, meanwhile, might be having the first Lidl baby sometime soon
Yep, there's Lidl one inside#TdF2023 @Laura_Meseguer pic.twitter.com/1OWrxBXdDZJuly 1, 2023
3. Louis Meintjes being at the back of the peloton is DEFINITELY A PLAN don't worry everybody
Louis Meintjes is strategically placed at the back of peloton so our sponsors are always visible 👍 #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/HtXijTXcnXJuly 1, 2023
4. The Basque fans got a bit too close for some of the fans, but you have to say, they were special. Never before has a motorbike been cheered so much
Para que os hagáis una idea del ambiente en Pike Bidea. Aquí se anima hasta al de la grúa que carga una moto averiada de la organización 😂Espectacular la fiesta que les espera a los corredores. @Eurosport_ES #TDF2023 #TourEurosport pic.twitter.com/phzKoO8xojJuly 1, 2023
5. The Yates twins. Inseparable at the Tour de France, just like childhood. Incidentally, I'm a twin called Adam, but I have not worn the yellow jersey. Yet.
A post shared by UAE Team Emirates🇦🇪 (@uae_team_emirates)
A photo posted by on
6. Absolutely fantastic tweet until you realise that the Elon Musk account is a parody. Didn't Intermarché have better things to be doing at the Tour de France than tweeting about Twitter?
Bro it's Twitter not Onlyfans we ain't paying your Twitter Blue mate 😂😂😂 https://t.co/an9Ntsp5bbJuly 2, 2023
7. Poor Enric Mas, whose Tour de France didn't even last two days. He looks OK, though.
A post shared by Enric Mas Nicolau (@enric_mas_)
A photo posted by on
8. Mark Cavendish will have mixed memories of his last Tour de France, but he definitely gave himself some room to be sentimental...
A post shared by Astana Qazaqstan Team (@astanaqazaqstanteam)
A photo posted by on
9. Rigoberto Urán has never heard of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. And yet, he looks more like Frank Spencer than Michael Crawford himself.
A post shared by EF Education–EasyPost (@efprocycling)
A photo posted by on
10. The first pool post, don't say I didn't warn you. The UAE Team Emirates plunge pool is very popular in the searing heat of France. Pogačar looks like a very cool customer indeed
A pool recovery session for the guys.🫧🌊😌#UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/8Z5sM932jOJuly 3, 2023
11. Lorena Wiebes: not just the fastest woman in the peloton, but also an entertainer. I wish I could be so cool.
A post shared by Lorena Wiebes (@lorenawiebes)
A photo posted by on
12. For those of us watching the Giro d'Italia Donne, it has been difficult to watch anything other than Annemiek van Vleuten surging to victory
#GiroDonne23 pic.twitter.com/k1Dc69b7n5July 4, 2023
13. Speaking of Movistar, this is a wonderful synchronised dance routine. All credit to Floortje Mackaij
💖💃🙌🏼 Queens of the 🇮🇹 #GiroDonne23 🎩🙏🏼 Credits to @floortjemackaij for the art direction!Ⓜ️ @LianeLippert | @audebiannic | Floortje | @AvVleuten | @sheyarcoiris | @paulapb291 | @SamartinmartinA pic.twitter.com/RT9WJuqD6FJuly 7, 2023
14. Aren't people who are good at everything annoying
MV(D)P! 👑 @mathieuvdpoel #TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/d0b6JnyVZJJuly 4, 2023
15. When Jonas Vingegaard spoke to Emmanuel Macron, he just exchanged pleasantries. Alberto Bettiol tried some cultural negotiations, so props to the EF rider.
Monsieur le Président, please give us back the Monnalisa 🇮🇹, and thanks for coming to @LeTour 🇫🇷#bettiolife @EFprocycling #TDFF2023📸 @jeredgruber pic.twitter.com/J2Lp7vnCRLJuly 7, 2023
16. Another pool! And a Lidl brand opportunity! Mads looks at home in his crazy towel and trunks, I think I want them?
A post shared by Lidl-Trek (@lidltrek)
A photo posted by on
17. Not sure you could get two more different riders than Filippo Ganna and Ben Tulett. Sometimes you are reminded that it's a sport for all different sizes. My answer, by the way, is that you can get two Tuletts in a Ganna.
Little and large 🤣 @bentulett01 @GannaFilippo #howmanytulettscanyougetinaganna pic.twitter.com/2l4bWlwBsXJuly 9, 2023
18. Victor Campenaerts, GC prospect... start the rumour now
A post shared by Victor Campenaerts (@campenaertsvictor)
A photo posted by on
19. Finally, while Pogačar looked at peace in the pool, Florian Vermeersch looks... scared? It actually looks like some kind of baptism.
When there's no @LeTour on TV today 😞 Who can relate? 😅#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/3QAZNF9JLoJuly 10, 2023
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling, he's happy. Before joining CW in 2021 he spent two years writing for Procycling. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds.
Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to riding bikes.
-
'With a few changes, it'll be class' - Josh Tarling optimistic about Ineos Grenadiers future
'Everybody wants to get better and get back to winning,' 20-year-old tells audience at Rouleur Live
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'Knowing the course in a virtual race is maybe even more important than in road racing': Former e-sports World Champion's top tips
Speed skater turned eSports world champion, Loes Adegeest, on how to become virtually unbeatable when racing indoors
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Tour de France 2025 route: Pyrenees triple, Mont Ventoux return and Alps climax on menu
Race to take place 5-27 July, with Grand Départ in Lille, before an anti-clockwise route
By James Shrubsall Last updated
-
'It's going to damage cycling in the UK' - Ned Boulting, David Millar and Pete Kennaugh react to ITV losing Tour de France rights
Channel's commentary team warn of 'devastating effect' of not having free-to-air race coverage
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'One of the boys thinks I’ll be walking about in armour': Mark Cavendish knighted in ceremony at Windsor Castle
Manxman says he was “nervous” after being made a Knight Commander by Prince William
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
UK in 'ongoing discussions' to host Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027
British Cycling and UK Sport supporting bid to bring race back
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Kasia Niewiadoma and Tadej Pogačar both finished in yellow - but the Tour de France Femmes winner took home less than a tenth of the prize money
To put it in Euro per kilometre, the 2023 men's Tour paid €142.94 per km while the women earned €52.7 per km
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: 'I was putting myself in some situations where someone would have found me dead in the morning'
Former Tour de France winner and Olympic champion reveals further details about his mental health struggles and suggests 2022 interview potentially saved his life
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Coppi, Pantani, Van Vleuten, Pogačar: A look at the Giro-Tour double winners club
Tadej Pogačar has now officially joined the club, becoming the eighth man to achieve one of professional cycling’s most sought after accolades
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How do Tour de France time cuts work?
Any riders finishing too far behind are eliminated from the race - we look into the details of the complicated system
By Alex Ballinger Published