Because sometimes I have to say it even though no one may be listening.
Some things to know about me:
I am owned by a French Bulldog, Miss Izzie, check out her blog frenchiesrule.tumblr.com.
I like to spend my time reading, travelling, swimming and going to the cinema.
French is my first language and I adore French and British stuff.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Three years ago neckgear and I were in Paris watching the end of The Tour de France.
Here are some french words for you in honor of Le Tour.
le cyclisme cycling, biking
la Grande Boucle literally, “the big loop” - le Tour de France’s informal nickname
un autobus group that rides together to finish within time limit
un commissaire referee who travels by car
un coureur rider, cyclist
un cycliste rider, cyclist
un directeur sportif manager
un domestique support rider
un échappé breakaway
une équipe team
un grimpeur climber
un grupeto same as autobus
un peloton pack, bunch
un poursuivant chaser
un rouleur smooth and steady rider
un soigneur rider’s assistant
un sprinteur sprinter
la tête de course leader
à bloc riding all out, as hard and fast as possible
la cadence pedaling rhythm
chasse patate riding between two groups (literally, “potato hunt”)
la danseuse standing up
un bidon water bottle
un casque helmet
une crevaison flat, puncture
un dossard number on rider’s uniform
un maillot jersey
une musette feed bag
un pneu tire
un pneu crevé flat tire
une roue wheel
un vélo de course racing bike
une voiture balai broom wagon
une borne kilométrique ~milestone (literally, a kilometer marker)
un col mountain pass
une côte hill, slope
une course race
une course par étapes stage race
une descente downward slope
une étape stage, leg
la flamme rouge red marker at 1 kilometer from finish
hors catégorie beyond classification (extremely difficult)
une montagne mountain
une montée upward slope
un parcours route, course
une plaine plains, flat land
une piste track
une route road
la bonification bonus points
une chute fall, crash
le classement standings
contre la montre time trial
la lanterne rouge last rider
le maillot à pois polka dot jersey (worn by best climber)
le maillot blanc white jersey (worn by best rider under 25)
le maillot jaune yellow jersey (worn by overall leader)
le maillot vert green jersey (worn by leader in points / best sprinter)
accélérer to accelerate
s’accrocher à to cling, hang on to
attaquer to attack, spurt ahead
changer d’allure to change pace
changer de vitesse to shift gears
courir to ride
dépasser to overtake
déraper to slip, skid
s’échapper to break away
grimper to climb
prendre la tête to take the lead
ralentir to slow down
rouler to ride
