Tour de France Twitter keeps its audience engaged during off day

With nine tireless days of cycling completed in the Tour de France, Monday was the first opportunity for respite for the 22 teams competing in the event. The cyclists at last had a chance to rest their legs after chugging along for 1,549 km – a welcome relief, to be sure.

This also means it was the first time in nine days that the Tour de France hasn’t been on the television, leaving avid viewers and fans unable to follow their favorite riders for a day. However, the social accounts of Le Tour and some of the biggest cycling teams were determined to keep them interested.

The official Twitter of the Tour de France made the most of the rest day — whereas on cycling days the account provides updates seemingly every five minutes, it simply retweeted rest day tweets from the cyclists and teams, giving a glimpse of how everyone is keeping their audience engaged.

Team Sky, a British cycling team boasting five yellow jerseys since their inception in 2010, more than made the most of their rest day.

Having a whale of a time on the first #TDF2018 rest day with a team recovery ride… #PassOnPlastic???? #TDFChill pic.twitter.com/BYGrSUVR0k

— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 16, 2018

Plenty of rest day smiles as the ⛰⛰⛰ beckon… #TDFChill

???? @therussellellis pic.twitter.com/kfwnxt24NE

— Team Sky (@TeamSky) July 16, 2018

German outfit Sunweb were all over social media during the rest day as well, providing a video of what their riders were doing before the mountains loomed. This meant refueling, preparing and bike tune-ups.

Rest day doesn't mean rest for us! Check out what we've been up to today. ????????????#KeepChallenging #DoWhatYouCant #TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/z0aqyJGpYq

— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) July 16, 2018

#TDFchill @LeTour #TDF2018 https://t.co/IU6ebCHmyc

— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) July 16, 2018

Other teams across the Tour de France shared their off-day musings as well:

Time to head out for an easy #TDF2018 rest day ride ????????. #TDFChill pic.twitter.com/yX4hhkQLoa

— BMC Racing Team (@BMCProTeam) July 16, 2018

???????? #TDFChill

???? Rest Day for the bike of @vincenzonibali ???? too ???? pic.twitter.com/HCTLwqaN66

— Team Bahrain Merida (@Bahrain_Merida) July 16, 2018

Pas de repos pour notre staff avant les Alpes ????

No rest day for our staff rodage ! #tdf2018 #tdfchill pic.twitter.com/CWsu2IgQ42

— Wanty-Groupe Gobert (@TeamWantyGobert) July 16, 2018

In addition to the Tour de France, La Course — the women’s race to go alongside the Tour — took place on Tuesday. La Course, introduced in 2014, is a one-day race, so their official Twitter account had a busy day just before the start of the men’s Stage 10.

Allez! The riders are rolling out of Annecy. #LaCourse pic.twitter.com/P0oSjv6xlk

— La Course by Le Tour (@LaCoursebyTDF) July 17, 2018

????@LaCoursebyTDF – 40km
The break has now a 2'03 gap⏱️
Quatre échappées à l'avant avec 2'03 d'avance⏱️
????‍♀️@LepistoLotta for @CerveloBigla
????‍♀️@L_Kirch for @TeamSunweb
????‍♀️@JasiGos for @Movistar_Team
????‍♀️Leah Thomas for @UHCprocycling@FDJsport #TDF2018 #LaCourse pic.twitter.com/fiMxrtzA7Q

— La Course by Le Tour (@LaCoursebyTDF) July 17, 2018

After 112.5-kilometer-long race beginning in Annecy, the Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten came away victorious in a thrilling finish.

“I’m so proud. It was a super good showcase for women’s cycling” #LaCourse

An interview with the winner @AvVleuten @MitcheltonSCOTT pic.twitter.com/WFA6tZquVD

— La Course by Le Tour (@LaCoursebyTDF) July 17, 2018

⏪ Relive the best moments of today's race @LaCoursebyTDF with @FDJ and the incredible victory of @AvVleuten! ????#LaCourse pic.twitter.com/GzZ2PNaAG6

— La Course by Le Tour (@LaCoursebyTDF) July 17, 2018

Despite being a ‘rest day’ things were still busy on the Tour on Monday, and by the time Tuesday morning came around and the bikes were back on the road there were two big races to follow. Cycling fans still have a lot of racing to look forward to over the coming two weeks.