The Tour de France: a well-managed event!

While the 2019 Tour de France is in full swing, security must be one of the priorities amid the excitement. Since 1903, the Tour de France has brought French people together on the roadside. It's an event that is an integral part of the country's identity; it must be supervised. For this, more than 20,000 law enforcement representatives are counted to participate in this great mission!

Summary:

• The gendarmes and the caravan: organization and objectives
• A mission that never stops
• Gendarmes and Tour de France, a story that doesn't date from yesterday

The force composed of police officers and gendarmes is distributed across different operations such as the emblematic presence of motorcyclists among the peloton as well as the long-awaited passage of the advertising caravan.

This year, a team of twelve gendarmes (six women and six men) is in charge of leading the advertising caravan. Aboard their car screen-printed in Tour colors, the gendarmes must ensure safety and compliance with given instructions.

Their upstream preparation was structured around reviewing first aid gestures and weapon maintenance in particular. They also followed "media" training to adapt to this very popular event, broadcast on airwaves around the world! 

To follow the stages, the gendarme teams' car maintains a speed of 30km/h to ensure good safety distances and anticipate dangers. This mandatory speed is maintained over hundreds of kilometers!

But what are the real objectives of having officers present? 

The gendarmes must above all convey prevention messages and invite the public present along the roads to remain vigilant.

This close contact with spectators also serves to deploy recruitment campaigns. Indeed, a multitude of positions need to be promoted!

Early in the morning, before a stage, the officers begin cleaning their vehicle. Then, they go greet the dozens of brands present on the Tour to reload the cars with the famous "goodies" distributed throughout the stage for the greatest pleasure of the spectators. 

From the last orders given around 9 a.m. until the finish line, the gendarmes perform their duties. 

When the stage is finished, the gendarmes must return to their hotel, sometimes very far from the day's site. The riders and their teams occupy the nearest hotels, which is why the gendarmes travel about an hour to get to theirs. 

On the occasion of the 2019 Tour de France edition, the official website of the national gendarmerie published exclusive and original photos that capture the work of today's and yesterday's officers! 

https://www.gendarmerie.interieur.gouv.fr/Notre-communication2/Galeries/Photos/Tour-de-France

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