Alex Baudin’s family spaniel, everybody.
There are few home comforts in the world of professional cycling, with its athletes whisked relentlessly around the planet in pursuit of UCI points. So the moments when there is something familiar at a stage start for the riders is a cherished thing: maybe some gifts, the embrace of a loved one, or a furry friend by one’s side.
Almost accidentally, documenting the last one has become an annual tradition at Escape Collective. There have been great dogs in Tours de France past – Hugo Hofstetter’s enormous Rottweiler, Petrus; Adam Yates’ cloud-like Samoyed, Zoe; Ben Healy’s floppy-eared Dachshund, Olive – but this year, dog visitation seemed way down on years past* and I’d resigned myself to a year without a definitive Goodest Boy/Girl of the bike race. [*Olive was there again, but it seemed unfair to all the other deserving doggos of pro cycling to give her back-to-back wins, no matter how charismatic she is.]
And then, one morning in Bollène, we saw HER: Alex Baudin’s family spaniel, Phoebe.
If you want to know more about Phoebe (and I think you do) you’ll need to join us as a member. Escape Collective is 100% membership-funded, with no advertising and no affiliate links in our product reviews. Our work is only possible through your support.
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