Pit stop at the Tour de France

Just because we’re older, we often wonder how bike racers relieve themselves on the Tour de France, as we realize that no one is strong enough to “hold it” for more than four or five hours. 

Of course TV never delves into the details of that quintessential natural need, so most of us are left wondering how racers do it. If catching a racer in the act isn’t common, it’s simply because it’s forbidden to do it, willy-nilly, in front of the public.

Those who forget can be fined from 50 to 150 euros and a few of them have had to pay that fine. That said, there are three general techniques available for peeing during the race. 

The first one is the organized pit-stop along the way. This happens when a group of cyclists agree to stop at the same time, in an area free of spectators and offering some privacy (trees, bushes, forest). If they do it, they rely on an implicit rule that no one will break-away during such a pit-stop. 

Then, there's the “peeing-as-you-ride” technique that was quite common in the old day but that is more and more replaced by the collective stop we talked about earlier.. For those well-balanced risk takers that are ready to do it on their bikes, they’ll try direct the spray towards the shoulder of the road, providing there is no one to see them, or no one standing in the way. 

Sometimes a team member can help maintain the balance at the risk of getting sprayed himself. 

Obviously, there remain the option of doing it inside one’s pant remains. By cold weather it will provide a welcome, short lasting warming sensation and otherwise the temporary discomfort should be largely eclipsed by the huge efforts the race demands. 

As for “Number Two”, that’s much trickier. A stop behind a bush may be “de rigueur” even though there are exception to that outdoor-rule: In 2014, French racer Arnaud Démare spotted one of the many RVs standing alongside the road, knocked at the door and successfully borrowed the toilet. 

Earlier in 1986, Greg LeMond being sick did it in his pants and managed to win the Tour in the end. 

So, the morale of that story is “always remain creative and leave no stone unturned!”