Watching the Tour de France: Feel Grateful and Look Ahead

The Tour de France is arguably one of the world’s most prestigious and grueling sporting events, watched by millions of people around the globe. Today was the ninth stage, but it left an already captivated audience in a sense of awe. As with other races, the Tour de France promotes a sense of camaraderie, as well as admiration for the participants’ amazing feats of endurance. But beyond this appreciation for the physical struggle that cyclists must endure, the Tour de France also regularly kindles an energy of gratitude, as we watch racers know there is hard work, discipline, and persistence that lies in the foundation of the event.

I want to let you know why I feel grateful for watching the Tour de France, and how we can look ahead and remain hopeful for its future.

Why We Should Feel Grateful for Watching the Tour de France

The Tour de France is the world’s longest-running cycling event, having been held every year since 1903 (even during Covid!). Created by two French newspapers, the race attracts thousands of competitors from all over the world and is now considered the most prestigious and well-attended cycling race in the world.

Those who watch the Tour de France are lucky to witness the hard work and sheer dedication of the participants. The grueling mountains and breathtaking scenery that cyclists must overcome instill admiration for those who take on the challenge. There is also an amazing sense of camaraderie among the racers, as each competes to achieve their own goals of victory and personal bests. One of the things that I love about it is that the competitors are so happy for each other even when someone else wins. So much competition and so much love among them.

The Tour de France also offers a unique kind of escape in my modern life of digital overload and constant communication. Watching the race ensures us a few precious hours of bliss and distance from the digital noise, encouraging us to be mindful of our own lives and the beauty of the landscapes.

The Tour de France also promotes physical and mental well-being, since it demands immense physical strength from the participants and provides spectators with lessons from the cyclists’ commitment and dedication.

Looking Ahead and Staying Hopeful

As we (my wife and I – she likes to watch me get excited as I watch the race) continue to watch the Tour de France this week, we cannot deny that it takes immense courage and commitment of the participants to make it happen. While the race will conclude in the a couple of weeks as the competition steadily narrows and cyclists’ progress to their long-term goals, we have nonetheless been inspired by their dedication, belief and courage.

It is worth noting that the Tour de France should not be seen only as a once-a-year event, but, rather, as an opportunity to stay hopeful for the future. By recognizing our own abilities and talents, and that of others, we can look toward the future with optimism and strength.

Additionally, Tour de France has been an example of progress and diversity within sport, with competitors coming from different nations, backgrounds, and cultures. We can take inspiration from this sense of unity and mutual respect as we look to further improve and focus on cycling as a form of physical activity.

As we have seen, the Tour de France is an example of camaraderie, admiration, and courage. Offering a much-needed break from our increasingly digital world, the race is also an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of sport and feel the excitement of watching riders determinedly pushing to the finish line.

The Tour de France should bring a sense of gratitude, and, as we watch this month, we can tap into this feeling to stay hopeful for the future, further promoting physical well-being, unity and competence.