The Tour de France Could Use A Little Kick

Electric bikes would bring a real charge to the Tour de France.

Sure, in recent years the three week long road race has been muddied with doping scandals, cheating, and allegations of collusion, but maybe that's a sign that something in the competition needs to be changed.

Perhaps the Tour de France officials need to re-examine the long-held traditions of their esteemed bicycle race, and learn to adapt to changing attitudes and technologies.

Instead of forcing racers to push themselves to their physical human limits (and beyond), which may be one of the underlying causes of these scandals, maybe they could relax their regulations and allow racers to compete using electric bikes!

Why not? Do you realize how difficult it is for an ordinary person to try and pedal up the steep hills of the Alps? Have you ever tried to keep your feet moving for a stretch of 150 kilometres?

With an electric bike you could still pedal as much as you want to, or use the assistance of a 15 horsepower electric motor to keep you in pace with the leaders of the pack! And using an electric bike wouldn't be like cheating. If everyone used an e-bike, then it would be a level playing field...level except for the hills, that is.

Now I don't expect to be wearing a yellow jersey anytime in the near future (unless I spill mustard on my shirt), but maybe someday electric bikes will allow regular people to compete in this elite cycling event. Traditionalists will probably never agree to allowing electric bikes on their race circuit, but maybe another event could be held, like the Tour de Liechtenstein or something.

A Spokes Person's Arguments For Electric Bikes On The Tour de France Cycling Race

Two Tired

If I was allowed to enter the Tour de France with an electric-powered bicycle, I could compete in the world's premier racing event, AND still have enough energy at the end of the day to enjoy some local culture. Besides...what's the point of pushing yourself to near exhaustion if you don't have anything left in the tank to appreciate your efforts? That can't be healthy.

Pedal To The Medal

Electric bikes are progressive and modern, allowing a combination of human pedal-power and battery-cell electricity to power these energy-efficient and eco-friendly bicycles. With all the hype about global warming, the Tour de France would be the ideal platform for endorsing electric bikes.

It's An Uphill Struggle

For three weeks these cyclists race with their heads down, pumping their legs as hard as they can to generate enough power to speed them along, while some of the most beautiful countryside in the world dashes by them. How can one appreciate the scenery if their heads are pointed to the pavement to maximize their aerodynamics? If they had a little extra juice from an electric bike, they could ride and gaze at the same time.