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I know many people are addicted to Project Runway. I’ve only seen it once so I’m not sure if it’s the fashion itself or the judges that has everyone on the edge of their seats but I was not intrigued with what I saw.
Then again, it would be hard for Runway to compete with an even more powerful fashion drama, one that keeps me on the edge of my seat for 21 days every July: The Tour de France.
I know, I know, the Tour is actually a physically grueling, 21 day, 2,000+ miles race that includes 9 mountain stages and two time trials. But for me, it’s so much more than that.
First, there are the team uniforms. For years my favorite was the pink jersey and black shorts worn by the German team, T-Mobile. But that team has disbanded. My current favorite this year is an all white uniform with lime green accents (and a touch of electric blue) worn by Team Agritubel. It has nice clean lines and looks very refreshing—which helps after the riders have been sweating in them for five hours at a time.
Last week a rider from the Spanish team Caisse D’Epargne road to a stage victory in his dashing red and black uniform which he accented with yellow bike shoes. I did not understand his choice until I got a closer look at the collar of his uniform, which had a soupcon of yellow in it. He chose to accent this yellow with the shoes and I must say, it rather worked on him. Of course, on his body anything might have worked.
Ahh, the models. I mean, racers. Unlike the overly skinny models who prance around Project Runway, these guys look great. I’m talking long, lean bodies, sculpted faces, sinewy arms. The camera crew on the Versus channel must feel the same way I do because they regularly treat viewers to long tracking shots of the racers from the back of the peloton, providing ample opportunity to admire the way their shorts fit.
The spectators bring their own haute to the racing couture. Many sport jerseys from their favorite teams, although an older woman who was knocked over by a cyclist last week was in the village square wearing in a simple, unadorned black dress which worked for her as there were no serious holes in the fabric when the other villagers picked her up off the street. Last year a spectator of one of the mountain climbs decided to bare all as he jogged up the hill next to the racers and I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciated the thought he put into his outfit.
Then there is the fashion parade that takes place at the end of each day’s race or stage. There are several awards given out each day: a white and yellow jersey for the winner of that day’s stage; an emerald green jersey for the rider with the most points; a red and white polka dot shirt for the best climber, the “king of the mountain”; a white jersey for the best young rider and of course the maillot jaune or coveted yellow jersey for the race leader.
Now, here’s the best part: prior to each winner taking the podium, two coordinated women step out on either side of the podium carrying flowers and the award for the racer. And by coordinated I don’t just mean they match each other—no, they also match the jersey! So, the women who hand off the flowers to the winner of the yellow jersey wear yellow outfits! And the women who do duty for
