Only five more days until the Tour de France, the most important cycling event of the year. This year, the tour begins in Leeds in Great Britain and four days later, arrives en France, the birthplace of competitive cycling (the first cycling race in recorded history was held in Paris in 1868.) For those true devotees who will travel to France to watch world-class cyclists whiz past them at phenomenal speeds, learning French phrases to ask for directions on back country roads and ordering dinner after a long day of cheering may be top priority, but for those of us who follow the tour from the comfort of our living rooms, here are some French cycling phrases that you may hear used even by English speakers. Click on the word to hear our eTutor, Sev, pronounce each phrase.
peloton (m.)
lit., little ball; the pace line (the English word platoon is derived from this word as well)
dérailleur (m.)
derailleur, derailer (from the verb dérailler ‘derail’ which is what it does to the chain)
sacoche (f.)
pannier, orig. from Old French panier or breadbasket
étape (f.)
stage
maillot jaune (m.)
yellow jersey (winner)
maillot vert (m.)
green jersey (best sprinter)
maillot á pois
polka dot jersey (best climber)
grimpeur (m.)
climber
un velo (m.)
a bike
une échappée (f.)
breakaway
une course (f.)
race
une arrivée (f.)
finish line
être en tête
to be ahead; at the front
dépasser/doubler
to overtake
pédaler
to pedal
un virage (m.)
a turn