The Tour De France – 23 Days of Extreme Sport

Home , Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Chris Froome

Listening comprehension by Martin Ehrensberger

The Tour de France – 23 days of extreme sport

Read On • September 2018 Issue • page 4 page 1 of 17

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page PRE-LISTENING TASK 1: a) Matching 2 b) Discussion 3 c) Mind map 3 d) Presentations 4 TASK 2: a) Describing pictures 5 b) Discussion 5 c) Online work 6 d) Writing 6 e) Pro-/con discussion 7 VOCABULARY TASK 1: Noun salad 8 LISTENING COMPREHENSION TASK 1: Completing sentences 10 TASK 2: Tick true or false 10 READING-COMPREHENSION TASK 1: Reordering sentences 11 TASK 2: Reordering the text 12 TASK 3: Guided writing 13

POST-LISTENING Full text 14 Answer key 15 Sources 18

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PRE-LISTENING TASK 1: a) Are you cycling pro? – Part 1

Matching: Combine the pictures of these famous professional cyclists (PIC 1 – PIC 6) with their corresponding names below. Be careful! There are more names than you need.

PIC 1 PIC 2 PIC 3

PIC 5

PIC 6 PIC 4

a) Vincenzo Nibali b) Bradley Wiggins c) Cadel Evans d) Alberto Contador e) Chris Froome f) Carlos Sastre g) Geraint Thomas h) Andy Schleck i) Lance Armstrong

Picture 1 2 3 4 5 6 Name

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b) Discussion Discuss the following questions with your partner and then in class. Give reasons and explanations for your answers.

 Are you interested in cycling?  How often do you cycle? Where do you go?  Do you cycle in a team?  What kind of bike have you got?  What is the longest distance you have ever ridden?  Did you watch the Tour de France on TV?  What do you think of professional cyclists?  Did you recognise any of the professional cyclists in the previous task? They have got one thing in common. What might it be?

c) Mind map. Create a mind map with your spontaneous ideas. Share your ideas with your partner and then in class.

Why do you think so many people like cycling?

PIC7

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Why do you think people want to become professional cyclists?

PIC 7

d) Presentations Divide your class into groups. Each group picks one of the following cyclists and creates a presentation. a) Vincenzo Nibali b) Bradley Wiggins c) Cadel Evans d) Alberto Contador e) Chris Froome f) Carlos Sastre g) Geraint Thomas h) Andy Schleck i) Lance Armstrong j) Jan Ulrich j) Marco Pantani j) Miguel Indurain k) Eddy Merckx l) Bernard Hinault m) Greg LeMond

Include the following aspects:

- general facts - career achievements - early and amateur career - teams and equipment - personal life - any other interesting info

Create a PowerPoint presentation with pictures and videos. Duration: 4-5 minutes. Try to speak as freely as possible.

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TASK 2: a) Describe the pictures to a partner without showing them to each other.

PIC 8

PIC 9

b) Discussion Discuss the following questions with your partner and then in class. Always give reasons and explanations for your responses.

 What similarities and differences can you see in the two pictures?  What do you know about the Tour de France?  Would you like to watch a stage of the Tour de France live?  How important is equipment for a professional cyclist?  Why are so many people fascinated with the Tour de France?

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c) Online work Go online with your partner and research the following aspects of the Tour de France. Create a PowerPoint-presentation and present it to the class.

HISTORY & ORIGIN GENERAL FACTS

STAGES (INCLUDING START CLASSIFICATIONS & FINISH) OF THE TOUR

MEDIA & BROADCAST TEAMS & THEIR ORGANISATION

DOPING & POLITICS RECORDS & STATISTICS

d) Writing Imagine you are a professional cyclist in the Tour de France. After a long, hard stage in the Alps you write about your feelings and experiences in your online blog. Write down your emotions and feelings about the previous stages and the ones you still have to complete. Write about 150 words.

______

______VOCABULARY ______TASK______1: Word salad ______Read the definitions below and find the nouns in the grid. ______

______

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e) Pro-/con discussion Read the statements below. Find five pros and five cons. Discuss them with your partner and then in class.

It’s impossible to be successful in the Tour de France without doping. Doping should be legalised.

+++ PROS +++ --- CONS ---

______

The Tour de France should be made easier for cyclists.

+++ PROS +++ --- CONS ---

______

______g) Writing.

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VOCABULARY

TASK 1: Noun salad Read the definitions below and find the corresponding nouns in the grid.

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a) how well or poorly you do something; how well or poorly something works b) a person or an organisation that competes against others, especially in business c) the process by which living things receive the food necessary for them to grow and be healthy d) a place where something happens or exists; the position of something e) the height above sea level f) a downward slope g) a person who competes in sports h) a person who rides a bicycle i) harm done to a person’s or an animal’s body, for example in an accident j) how heavy somebody/something is, which can be measured in, for example, kilogrammes or pounds k) the size or measurement of something from one end to the other l) a gas that is present in air and water and is necessary for people, animals and plants to live m) the wide curved set of bones at the bottom of the body that the legs and spine are connected to n) an act of climbing up a mountain, rock or large number of steps; a period of time spent climbing o) a person who rides a horse, bicycle or motorcycle p) a person who rides a bicycle, especially a mountain bike q) a period or state that something/somebody passes through while developing or making progress r) any material that produces heat or power, usually when burnt

click: key

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LISTENING COMPREHENSION TASK 1: Listen to the text and complete the sentences below. Use two to six words for your answer. a) The Tour de France is one of the world’s greatest sporting events, and the ______. b) Their average speed on flat terrain is ______. c) The location is ideal, because the ______. d) A winner needs to be strong yet ______. e) “It’s the Tour. It’s not your average race. I’m definitely ______.”

TASK 2: Listen to the text and decided whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

T F a) The Tour de France is the world’s greatest sporting event. b) Each stage is held in France. c) British cyclists have won most of the last Tour de France titles. d) The distance of the race is exactly 3,500 km. e) The right food is very important for a professional rider. f) A professional biker trains about 35 to 37 hours a week. g) Christ Froome trains in South Africa, near Johannesburg. h) The average length of a Tour de France stage is under 180 km. i) Riders start eating as soon as the day’s race has finished j) A winner needs to be strong and very thin as well. k) Good equipment and mental strength is very important.

click: key

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READING COMPREHENSION click: key

TASK 1: Read the text below. Some sentences have been removed from the text. Bring them (1 - 6) into their correct positions. Be careful! There are more positions than you need.

The Tour de France – 23 days of extreme sport

By Moya Irvine

The Tour de France is one of the world’s greatest sporting events, and the ultimate test for an athlete. The race is held in France of course – with occasional stages in other countries – but in recent years, British cyclists have dominated it. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win, and since then, Chris Froome has won four times. [ A ] For 23 days in July, competitors ride up hills and mountains, make brutal descents and speed along roads, covering around 3,500km with only two rest days. Their average speed on flat terrain is 40 to 45 km/h. In order to have any chance of success, riders need months and years – yes, years! – of intensive and carefully planned training and the right food. When they are preparing for the race season, riders spend a lot of their time on their bikes. Geraint Thomas told the Guardian newspaper: “During the off season we generally train in four-day blocks – three long training days followed by an easy day on the fourth day. [ B ] .” Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya and went to school in South Africa, trains near Johannesburg. The location is ideal, because the city is high above sea level. The air is thinner here – it has less oxygen. The body adapts to lower oxygen by producing more red blood cells. [ C ] Other riders do their altitude training in places like Tenerife. A rider racing over 180 km, the average length of a Tour de France stage, burns more than 6,000 calories. So the right nutrition is very important. [ D ] Riders start off with a 9.00 breakfast with lots of carbohydrates and protein followed by a snack with more carbs at 10.30. During the ride they use special drinks, gels and energy bars to stay hydrated and get more calories. Immediately after the race, they start eating again and back at their hotel, they fill up with a nutrient-rich dinner at 20.00. Food is important during training too. [ E ]Chris Froome, for example, is 1.86 m tall and weighs only 68kg. The four-time champion says you need to watch “every little thing you put in your mouth” because every gramme of weight counts on climbs. But even the best training and diet alone won’t make a Tour de France winner. He also needs an excellent bike, a great team and lastly, mental strength. That’s what keeps a rider going when every muscle is protesting. Even injuries can’t stop these elite athletes. In 2013, for example, Geraint Thomas fractured his pelvis in a fall in the Tour de France. Most of us would see that as a good reason to give up, but Thomas told journalists: “It’s the Tour. [ F ] I’m definitely going to keep fighting.”

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1 We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week. 2 A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. 3 Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets. 4 It’s not your average race. 5 Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British. 6 This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes.

TASK 2: click: key

Sections of the text have been mixed up. Put the portions of text in the correct order.

The Tour de France – 23 days of extreme sport By Moya Irvine

D We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week.” Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya and went to school in South Africa, trains near Johannesburg. The location is ideal, because the city is high above sea level. The air is thinner here – it has less oxygen. The body adapts to lower oxygen by producing more red blood cells. G During the ride they use special drinks, gels and energy bars to stay hydrated and get more calories. Immediately after the race, they start eating again and back at their hotel, they fill up with a nutrient-rich dinner at 20.00. Food is important during training too. A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. Chris Froome, for example, is 1.86 m tall and weighs only 68kg. B Their average speed on flat terrain is 40 to 45 km/h. In order to have any chance of success, riders need months and years – yes, years! – of intensive and carefully planned training and the right food. H The four-time champion says you need to watch “every little thing you put in your mouth” because every gramme of weight counts on climbs. But even the best training and diet alone won’t make a Tour de France winner. He also needs an excellent bike, a great team and lastly, mental strength. E This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes. Other riders do their altitude training in places like Tenerife. A rider racing over 180 km, the average length of a Tour de France stage, burns more than 6,000 calories. So the right nutrition is very important. F Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets. Riders start off with a 9.00 breakfast with lots of carbohydrates and protein followed by a snack with more carbs at 10.30. A In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win, and since then, Chris Froome has won four times. Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British. For 23 days in July, competitors ride up hills and mountains, make brutal descents and speed along roads, covering around 3,500km with only two rest days. C When they are preparing for the race season, riders spend a lot of their time on their bikes. Geraint Thomas told the Guardian newspaper: “During the off season we generally

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train in four-day blocks – three long training days followed by an easy day on the fourth day.

That’s what keeps a rider going when every muscle is protesting. Even injuries can’t stop these elite athletes. In 2013, for example, Geraint Thomas fractured his pelvis in a fall in the Tour de France. Most of us would see that as a good reason to give up, but Thomas told journalists: “It’s the Tour. It’s not your average race. I’m definitely going to keep fighting.”

TASK 3: Guided writing

Write an article for your school newspaper about the Tour de France. Include the following aspects:

 General facts about the Tour de France  Positive aspects  Negative aspects  Your personal opinion about the Tour de France

Write about 200 words.

Hinweis: Sie können Ihre Vorlage aus dem Read On Übungsmaterial für Ihren eigenen Unterricht gerne vervielfältigen. Ihre Zugangsdaten dürfen Sie jedoch nicht an Dritte weitergeben. Jede Art der Mehrfachnutzung Ihres persönlichen Abos verstößt gegen das Urheberrecht.

August 2018 Issue • page 4 page 14 of 17

Full text:

The Tour de France – 23 days of extreme sport

SPORT Riders need lots of training and the right food for the 3,500 km road race.

By Moya Irvine

The Tour de France is one of the world’s greatest sporting events, and the ultimate test for an athlete. The race is held in France of course – with occasional stages in other countries – but in recent years, British cyclists have dominated it. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win, and since then, Chris Froome has won four times. Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British. For 23 days in July, competitors ride up hills and mountains, make brutal descents and speed along roads, covering around 3,500km with only two rest days. Their average speed on flat terrain is 40 to 45 km/h. In order to have any chance of success, riders need months and years – yes, years! – of intensive and carefully planned training and the right food. When they are preparing for the race season, riders spend a lot of their time on their bikes. Geraint Thomas told the Guardian newspaper: “During the off season we generally train in four-day blocks – three long training days followed by an easy day on the fourth day. We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week.” Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya and went to school in South Africa, trains near Johannesburg. The location is ideal, because the city is high above sea level. The air is thinner here – it has less oxygen. The body adapts to lower oxygen by producing more red blood cells. This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes. Other riders do their altitude training in places like Tenerife. A rider racing over 180 km, the average length of a Tour de France stage, burns more than 6,000 calories. So the right nutrition is very important. Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets. Riders start off with a 9.00 breakfast with lots of carbohydrates and protein followed by a snack with more carbs at 10.30. During the ride they use special drinks, gels and energy bars to stay hydrated and get more calories. Immediately after the race, they start eating again and back at their hotel, they fill up with a nutrient-rich dinner at 20.00. Food is important during training too. A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. Chris Froome, for example, is 1.86 m tall and weighs only 68kg. The four-time champion says you need to watch “every little thing you put in your mouth” because every gramme of weight counts on climbs. But even the best training and diet alone won’t make a Tour de France winner. He also needs an excellent bike, a great team and lastly, mental strength. That’s what keeps a rider going when every muscle is protesting. Even injuries can’t stop these elite athletes. In 2013, for example, Geraint Thomas fractured his pelvis in a fall in the Tour de France. Most of us would see that as a good reason to give up, but Thomas told journalists: “It’s the Tour. It’s not your average race. I’m definitely going to keep fighting.”

August 2018 Issue • page 4 page 15 of 17

ANSWER KEY

PRE-LISTENING

TASK 1 a) Are you a cycling pro? – Part 1

Picture 1 2 3 4 5 6 Name i e a d e h

b) They have all won the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong lost all of his titles because of doping.

VOCABULARY

TASK 1:

LISTENING COMPREHENSION

TASK 1: a) ultimate test for an athlete. b) 40 to 45 km/h. c) city is high above sea level. d) also incredibly thin.

August 2018 Issue • page 4 page 16 of 17

e) going to keep fighting.

TASK 2: a) F b) F c) T d) F e) T g) T h) F i) T j) T k) T

READING COMPREHENSION

TASK 1:

1 We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week. B 2 A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. E

3 Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets. D 4 It’s not your average race. F 5 Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British. A 6 This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes. C

TASK 2:

D We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week.” Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya and went to school in South Africa, trains near Johannesburg. The location is ideal, because the city is high above sea level. The air is thinner here – it has less oxygen. The body adapts to lower oxygen by producing more red blood cells. G During the ride they use special drinks, gels and energy bars to stay hydrated and get more calories. Immediately after the race, they start eating again and back at their hotel, they fill up with a nutrient-rich dinner at 20.00. Food is important during training too. A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. Chris Froome, for example, is 1.86 m tall and weighs only 68kg. B Their average speed on flat terrain is 40 to 45 km/h, about twice that of an ordinary fit biker. In order to have any chance of success, riders need months and years – yes, years! – of intensive and carefully planned training and the right food. H The four-time champion says you need to watch “every little thing you put in your mouth” because every gramme of weight counts on climbs. But even the best training and diet alone won’t make a Tour de France winner. He also needs an excellent bike, a great team and lastly, mental strength. E This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes. Other riders do their altitude training in places like Tenerife. A rider racing over 180 km, the average length of a Tour de France stage, burns more than 6,000 calories. So the right nutrition is very important. F Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets. Riders start off with a 9.00 breakfast with lots of carbohydrates and protein followed by a snack with more carbs at 10.30. A In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win, and since then, Chris Froome has won four times. Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British. For 23 days in July, competitors ride up hills and mountains, make brutal descents and speed along roads, covering around 3,500km with only two rest days. C When they are preparing for the race season, riders spend a lot of their time on their bikes. Geraint Thomas told the Guardian newspaper: “During the off season we generally train in four-day blocks – three long training days followed by an easy day on the fourth day.

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SOURCES: PIC 1: Lance Armstrong By Haggisnl [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Lance_Armstrong_Tour_2010_team_pres entation.jpg PIC 2: Chris Froome By Jaguar MENA [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Chris_Froome_- _The_First_Man_to_Cycle_through_the_Eurotunnel_%2814593593775%29_%28cropped%29.j pg PIC 3: Vincenzo Nibali By filip bossuyt from Kortrijk, Belgium (156 nibali) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/2016_Giro_nibali.jpg PIC 4: Alberto Contador By filip bossuyt from Kortrijk, Belgium (14-7_2 contador) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Tour_de_France_2017%2C_contador_% 2836124024546%29.jpg PIC 5: Cadel Evans Matthieu Riegler, CC-by [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Cadel_Evans_- _Criterium_du_Dauphin%C3%A9_2012_-_1ere_%C3%A9tape.jpg PIC 6: Andy Schleck Matthieu Riegler, CC-by [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Andy_Schleck_- _Crit%C3%A9rium_du_Dauphin%C3%A9_2012_-_Prologue_%285%29.jpg PIC 7: cyclists Martin Ehrensberger https://pixabay.com/de/rennrad-radfahrer-marathon-himmel-3469499/ PIC 8: Tour de France https://pixabay.com/de/tour-de-france-244348/ PIC 9: Tour de France https://pixabay.com/de/tourdefrance-grand-d%C3%A9part-radrennen-2485107/