Every great Tour starts with a journey, and mine began on the 2.5-hour train ride from Zurich to Lausanne. If you’ve never taken a train through Switzerland, it’s non-stop postcard views. Passing by Lake Neuchâtel, the neverending lake, had me pulling out my phone to Google the world’s largest lakes.
- Photos & Words by Zoe Pestoni
But the moment the train doors slid open at Gare de Lausanne, the alpine breeze was nowhere to be found. Anyone who followed the men’s Tour de France in July knew exactly what we were walking into. The men battled through an agonizing, record-breaking European heatwave, with temperatures crossing 40°C (104°F) that left GC favorites suffering and teams operating in survival mode. We all knew the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift was going to inherit this summer furnace.
Still, reading the data on a screen is one thing; standing on the radiating Swiss tarmac is another. The heat hit like a wall. Strangely, the city center felt sleepy at noon.
Descending toward Ouchy, the atmosphere shifted from sleepy city center to a boiling cauldron of cycling fandom. August 1st is Swiss National Day, and the local crowds blended national pride with Tour fever, creating a sea of yellow jerseys and vintage cycling caps.
Lugging a heavy backpack loaded with camera bodies and glass in 30-plus-degree heat will quickly remind you that photography is also an endurance sport. Luckily, my press pass granted me access to the guest zone, a temporary sanctuary of free espresso, shade, and interactive booths by Liv, Zwift, and FDJ United.
The real story, however, was unfolding in the team area. Massive buses rolled in, deploying mechanics who moved with surgical precision over ten-thousand-dollar machines. Fans pressed against the barriers, desperate for a bidon or a signature as the tension of the rollout began to mount.
Visually, nothing quite matched the EF Education-Oatly setup. Their signature pink palette was an electric contrast against the heat-shimmering asphalt, and the quirky stickers across their vans offered a flash of personality amidst the high-stakes preparations.
Then came the caravan – the legendary, earsplitting parade of sponsor vehicles. I stood one-handed, camera poised, hoping for a stray pack of sweets to fuel the afternoon.
Spoiler alert: the caravan gods ignored me completely. No freebies for the photographer today.
As the AG Insurance-Soudal riders assembled, my eyes immediately went to Urška Žigart. Just six weeks ago, she suffered a horrific crash at stage 2 of the Tour de Suisse that left her with a concussion and a broken jaw. To see her standing up there, ready to take the start line of the biggest race in the world, was a profound testament to the terrifying toughness of these athletes.
The buzz around FDJ-Suez reached a fever pitch just before their presentation. In a quiet moment behind the stage, mountain bike legend Kate Courtney arrived with a surprise: freshly minted Red Bull helmets to mark the sponsor’s arrival in the women’s peloton.
On stage, the magnitude of the moment settled in. Demi Vollering, the heavy GC favorite, looked out at the massive Swiss crowds and visibly choked up. It was a glimpse of raw emotion in reaction to the amount of fans supporting women’s cycling.
I fought through the chaotic jumble of fans to sneak into the paddock just minutes before the rollout. A live band struck up the Swiss National Anthem, and thousands of fans sang along in unison. Then, they were gone.
With the race underway and local transit frozen, I retreated to the press room to watch the mid-stage tactical chess on the monitors. But with 40 kilometers to go, the real work began. I hiked the steep incline of the Côte Saint-François, the camera pack digging into my shoulders as I sweated my way toward the finish to secure a vantage point.
The silence of the early afternoon was long gone. The narrow finish straight was a choked corridor of humanity, the crowd banging rhythmically on the plastic advertisement boards. The roar was deafening, physical, and constant.
Reaching the photographers’ square brought a sudden wave of imposter syndrome. I was surrounded by industry titans like Dominique Powers, wielding lenses the size of bazookas. I felt like a student amongst masters.
For now, at least.
Fate intervened when a veteran photographer spotted me struggling and offered a spot on the media bleachers. From that elevated perch, I had a clear, unobstructed line of sight as the peloton exploded over the crest of the final hill.
Everyone expected a pure climber or a heavy puncheur to take the win on this melting terrain, but Team SD Worx-Protime had other plans. Lorena Wiebes – one of, if not the best sprinter of this generation – defied the gradient and absolutely rocketed up the final climb to take an unexpected, roaring victory.
My savior on the bleachers gave me a vantage point I needed, and the moment the dust settled, we flooded the post-finish area. I caught Wiebes collapsing in celebration with her teammates, before she was whisked away for the flash television interviews.
As the sun cast long, golden shadows over Lausanne, the podium protocol began. Wiebes claimed the Green and Yellow jerseys, while Oceane Mahe (Ma Petite Enterprise) took the polka dots. Finally, UAE Team L’IMAD’s Paula Blasi, with some delay, stepped up to claim the White jersey – a symbol of the new generation taking its place.
My feet throbbing, back ruined, and too tired to go on, I secured a quick meal of McDonalds (#studentlife) and hopped back on the train to Zurich. Looking over my memory cards, I felt the excitement all over again.
Great first time at the Tour experience. I hope we will see each other again. Au revoir for now.
The post Roadside: My First Tour de France Femmes – Lausanne Through My Lens appeared first on PezCycling News.
