tour de force brand

Tour de Force

• The Inspector Cockrill Mysteries, Book 6

By: Christianna Brand

• Narrated by: Derek Perkins
• Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
• 4.6 out of 5 stars 4.6 (10 ratings)

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Heads You Lose

• Inspector Cockrill Mysteries Series, Book 1
• Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins
• Overall 3 out of 5 stars 18
• Performance 4 out of 5 stars 16
• Story 3.5 out of 5 stars 16

As war rages in Europe, the citizens of London flee to the country. At Pigeonsford, a group of guests plays cards - but Grace Morland knows the strong emotions that lurk beneath the placid social surface. She's painfully in love with Stephen Pendock, the squire of Pigeonsford, but Pendock's smitten with young beauty Francesca Hart. One afternoon, Fran debuts a new hat, and Grace's jealousy gets the better of her. She exclaims, "I wouldn't be seen dead in a ditch in a thing like that!" She will soon be proven wrong. Grace is found dead with the hat on her head.

• 5 out of 5 stars

A Murder Mystery As Only The Brits Write

• By John on 05-05-22

He Who Whispers

By: John Dickson Carr

• Narrated by: Kris Dyer
• Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 11
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 6
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 6

When Miles Hammond is invited to a meeting of the Murder Club in London, he is met instead with just two other guests and is treated to a strange tale of an impossible crime in France years before; the murder of a man on a tower with only one staircase, under watch at the time at which the murder took place. With theories of levitating vampires abounding, the story comes home to Miles when he realises that the librarian he has just hired for his home is none other than Fay Seton, a woman at the heart of this bizarre and unsolved past murder.

Long Long Ago when writers were golden

• By Kathie Pritchard on 11-19-23

The Theft of the Iron Dogs

By: E. C. R. Lorac

• Narrated by: David Thorpe
• Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 28
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 24
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 24

While hot on the heels of serial coupon-racketeer Gordon Ginner, Chief Inspector MacDonald of Scotland Yard receives word of an intriguing incident up in Lancashire – the summer cottage of local farmer Giles Hoggett has been broken into, with an assortment of seemingly random items missing which include a complete reel of salmon line, a large sack, and two iron dogs from his fireplace. What first appears as a simple break-in quickly spirals into a mystery of contested land grabs for fishing between farmers, made all the more enticing to MacDonald when a body is then found in the river.

• 4 out of 5 stars

Another interesting Lorac

• By Nick B. on 05-17-24

Twice Round the Clock

By: Billie Houston

• Narrated by: Nick Rawlinson
• Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 13
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 11
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 11

Horace Manning, scientist, recluse and 'closed book' even to his friends, is found dead in his study at 4a.m., following a dinner in honour of his daughter's engagement. An ivory-handled carving knife rests between his shoulder blades as the houseguests gather round to witness the awful crime. The telephone line has been sabotaged - a calculated murder has been committed. Rewinding twelve hours, the events of the afternoon and evening unfold, revealing a multitude of clues and motives from a closed cast of suspects.

• 1 out of 5 stars

Vile, predictable, trigger warnings. Great reader.

• By Meep on 03-10-24

Death of Mr. Dodsley

By: John Ferguson

• Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 10
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 10
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 9

Mr. Richard Dodsley, owner of a fine second-hand bookshop on Charing Cross Road, has been found murdered in the cold hours of the morning. Shot in his own office, few clues remain besides three cigarette ends, two spent matches and a few books on the shelves which have been rearranged. In an investigation spanning the second-hand bookshops of London and the Houses of Parliament - since an MP's new crime novel Death at the Desk appears to have some bearing on the case - John Ferguson's series sleuth MacNab is at hand to assist Scotland Yard in an atmospheric fair-play bibliomystery.

By the book

• By S. Langlais on 09-28-23

Murder at Everham Hall

• A Marius Quin Mystery, Book 1

By: Benedict Brown

• Narrated by: George Blagden
• Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 98
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 86
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 86

December 1927. Mystery-writer Marius Quin has one previous bestseller, endless looming mortgage payments, and no idea how to write his next book. When his childhood friend Lady Isabella Montague invites him to an intimate New Year’s Eve party hosted by a narcissistic actor, Marius seizes upon the distraction. With his perpetually glum Basset hound along for the ride, he navigates the snowy lanes to the opulent estate of Everham Hall. As the celebrations begin, fireworks light up the sky, champagne corks pop, and then the host is murdered…

• 3 out of 5 stars

Lack luster

• By RACHEL GREEN on 12-21-23

The Case of the Canterfell Codicil

• The Anty Boisjoly Mysteries, Book 1

By: PJ Fitzsimmons

• Narrated by: Tim Bruce
• Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 346
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 291
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 289

There’s a literary niche for all tastes including those who think that either Agatha Christie wasn’t funny enough or that PG Wodehouse didn’t feature anywhere near as many baffling murders as he could have. The Case of the Canterfell Codicil is a classic, cozy, locked-room mystery written in the style of an homage to PG Wodehouse.

Relaxing old fashioned mystery

• By Laurie S on 11-01-22

Death in Zanzibar

By: M. M. Kaye

• Narrated by: Bahni Turpin
• Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 88
• Performance 4 out of 5 stars 81
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 79

Dany Ashton is invited to vacation at her stepfather's house in Zanzibar, but even before her airplane takes off there is a stolen passport, a midnight intruder - and murder. In Zanizbar, the family house is Kivulimi, the mysterious "House of Shade", where Dany and the rest of the guests learn that one of them is a desperate killer. The air of freedom and nonchalance that opened the house party fades into growing terror, as the threat of futher violence flowers in the scented air of Zanzibar.

Old Favorite Now in Audio

• By Marie on 01-13-13

Murder at Madingley Grange

By: Caroline Graham

• Narrated by: John Hopkins
• Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 54
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 47
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 47

When a failed entrepreneur is temporarily left in charge of his aunt's huge gothic home, he knows he must be able to make a profit from it somehow. Murder, he decides, is the only way to do it. For Madingley Grange is the perfect venue for a 1930s murder-mystery weekend, and Simon Hannaford – with the reluctant help of his long-suffering sister – soon hatches a plan for money-spinning mayhem. From the conservatory to the claret cellar, the clues are carefully sprinkled. But when the guests arrive, it is obvious that the game won't be going as planned.

Charming criminal caper

• By Avalon on 10-01-23

Death of an Author

• Narrated by: Simon Mattacks
• Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 38
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 32
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 32

Vivian Lestrange - celebrated author of the popular mystery novel The Charterhouse Case and total recluse - has apparently dropped off the face of the Earth. Reported missing by his secretary Eleanor, whom Inspector Bond suspects to be the author herself looking for publicity, it appears that crime is afoot when Lestrange's housekeeper is also found to have disappeared. Bond and Warner of Scotland Yard set to work to investigate a murder with no body and a potentially fictional victim.

Modern classic mystery

• By AlmanacJEA on 06-11-23

Murder at the Spring Ball

• A 1920s Mystery (Lord Edgington Investigates..., Book 1)
• Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 529
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 486
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 486

England, 1925. After years shut away from the world, former detective Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall plans a grand ball to celebrate his seventy-fifth birthday. But when someone starts bumping off members of his scheming family, the old man enlists his teenage grandson to help find the killer, before one of them is next.

Not that great

• By Julie on 01-23-22

Murder at Little Minton

• By: Karen Baugh Menuhin, Zoe Markham
• Narrated by: Corrie James
• Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 285
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 261
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 261

Miss Busby helped Major Heathcliff Lennox solve a series of murders at Bloxford in the Cotswolds. Now, she finds herself drawn into a new murder, but this time, it's just her, and she must rely on her sharp mind and sharper wits to catch a Cotswolds killer, along with a handsome police inspector and a reporter who's keen to make her mark.

I Really Tried

• By Stephanie Lannan on 09-21-23

By: Karen Baugh Menuhin , and others

Murder on the Golden Arrow

• Kitty Worthington Mysteries Series, Book 1

By: Magda Alexander

• Narrated by: Kim Bretton
• Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 86
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 72
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 72

England. 1923. After a year away at finishing school where she learned etiquette, deportment, and the difference between a fish fork and a salad one, Kitty Worthington is eager to return home. But minutes after she and her brother Ned board the Golden Arrow, the unthinkable happens. A woman with a mysterious connection to her brother is poisoned, and the murderer can only be someone aboard the train. When Scotland Yard hones on Ned as the main suspect, Kitty sets out to investigate.

Cozy mystery

• By Patricia V. on 06-26-23

The Josephine Tey Collection: 6 Alan Grant Novels; Brat Farrar; & Miss Pym Disposes

• The Man in the Queue; A Shilling for Candles; The Franchise Affair; To Love and Be Wise; The Daughter of Time; The Singing Sands; Miss Pym Disposes; Brat Farrar

By: Josephine Tey

• Narrated by: Karen Cass
• Length: 61 hrs and 21 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 85
• Performance 5 out of 5 stars 75
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 75

The Josephine Tey Collection includes unabridged recordings of Tey's 8 major novels in one audiobook, including all 6 of the novels in the Inspector Alan Grant series.

Thank you Audible - best spent credit ever

• By Lynn on 05-14-23

The Gray Man

By: Mark Greaney

• Narrated by: Jay Snyder
• Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 23,123
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 20,107
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 20,046

Court Gentry is known as The Gray Man—a legend in the covert realm, moving silently from job to job, accomplishing the impossible, and then fading away. And he always hits his target. But there are forces more lethal than Gentry in the world. And in their eyes, Gentry has just outlived his usefulness. Now, he is going to prove that for him, there's no gray area between killing for a living-and killing to stay alive.

The gray man talks about gentry in the 3rd person on the court

• By Safekeeper on 07-26-17

Murder on Black Swan Lane

By: Andrea Penrose

• Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart
• Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 2,141
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,905
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,896

The Earl of Wrexford possesses a brilliant scientific mind, but boredom and pride lead him to reckless behavior. He does not suffer fools gladly. So when pompous, pious Reverend Josiah Holworthy publicly condemns him for debauchery, Wrexford unsheathes his rapier-sharp wit and strikes back. As their war of words escalates, London's most popular satirical cartoonist, A. J. Quill, skewers them both.

• By Kathi on 10-02-17

The White Priory Murders

By: Carter Dickson

• Narrated by: John Telfer
• Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 41
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 33
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 33

James Bennett, nephew of Sir Henry Merrivale (the cantankerous yet genius sleuth), has been invited to stay at White Priory for Christmas, among the retinue of the glamorous Hollywood actress Marcia Tait. Her producer, her lover, her playwright and her agent are all here along with the haughty master of the estate, Canifes and his daughter. So many suspects they become when Marcia Tait is found dead on Christmas morning in the lakeside pavilion, having been left there alone the night before and with a distinct lack of footprints in the snow to reveal any possible killer.

More, please.

• By Mildred Witte on 02-27-23

These Names Make Clues

By: E. C.R. Lorac

• Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 113
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 96
• Story 4 out of 5 stars 95

Chief Inspector Macdonald has been invited to a treasure hunt party at the house of the Graham Coombe, the celebrated publisher of Murder by Mesmerism . The clues of the hunt have been devised by Coombe's thriller-writer friends, disguised on the night under literary pseudonyms. The fun comes to an abrupt end, however, when 'Samuel Pepys' is found murdered in the telephone room in bizarre circumstances.

• By peter on 03-12-22

Publisher's summary

Inspector Cockrill's dull vacation is jolted by a Mediterranean murder.

From the moment he steps on the plane, Inspector Cockrill loathes his fellow travelers. They are typical tour group bores: the dullards of England whom he had hoped to escape by going to Italy. He gives up on the trip immediately, burying his nose in a mystery novel to ensure that no one tries to become his friend. But not long after the group makes landfall at the craggy isle of San Juan el Pirata, a murder demands his attention. The body of a woman is found laid out carefully on her bed, blood pooled around her and fingers wrapped around the dagger that took her life. The corrupt local police force, impatient to find a killer, names Cockrill chief suspect. To escape the Italian hangman, the detective must find out who would go on vacation to kill a stranger.

• Series: The Inspector Cockrill Mysteries , Book 6
• Unabridged Audiobook
• Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

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One of the best novels that I really think I hate.

• By Darwin8u on 01-29-14

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• Overall 4 out of 5 stars 71
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• By Mr. Eyuz on 01-31-20

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• Two Bestselling Agatha Christie Novels in One Great Audiobook

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• Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars 39
• Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars 35
• Story 4.5 out of 5 stars 35

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Agatha Christie and Emilia Fox are Fantastic!

• By Jane Ross on 05-13-23

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Easily the best audiobook I have ever heard!

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good debut novel

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What listeners say about Tour de Force

• 4.5 out of 5 stars 4.6 out of 5.0
• 5 out of 5 stars 4.9 out of 5.0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews, amazon reviews.

• Overall 4 out of 5 stars
• Performance 4 out of 5 stars
• Story 4 out of 5 stars

What an unexpected twist at the end! For me, the middle was a bit slow, but I truly enjoyed the ending.

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In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel

Spoiler-free reviews of fair play detective fiction, tour de force (1955) by christianna brand.

Inspector Cockrill is heading off on holiday – a package holiday to Italy. He is less than enthused by his travelling companions, but as the group settles into their hotel on the island of San Juan el Pirata, bonds begin to form between the holidaymakers. Romance begins to blossom, some appropriate, some less so, but tensions begin to form as well. And soon, inevitably, murder strikes…

Unfortunately, everyone has a seeming ironclad alibi for the crime, namely Inspector Cockrill himself – all of the suspects were in his eyeline when the murder took place. With the local police having their own agenda (namely arresting and executing anyone they feel like), it falls to Cockrill to find the truth. But when the killer strikes again, there seems a reasonable chance that no one is getting off the island alive.

Tour De Force was Christianna Brand’s eighth mystery novel and, I think, the sixth outing for Inspector Cockrill. To my slight surprise, I’ve read all of the preceding books – Heads You Lose , Green For Danger , Suddenly At His Residence , Death Of Jezebel and London Particular . The reason I’m surprised at that is that I genuinely didn’t realise that I’d read that many of her books. People in my corner of the reading world tend to rave about Brand’s work but for the most part, she’s never quite clicked for me. Not that I haven’t enjoyed her work – I think I’d say that I did really like all of the preceding titles that I did really enjoy them, with the exception of London Particular – and she has a very distinctive voice, but they’ve never quite clicked with me. Even the legendary Death Of Jezebel has a little bit too much going on in the solution – they really stuck a SPOILER in the SPOILER?

So what about Tour De Force?

I’ve mentioned that recently – well, for the past few months – I’ve had trouble getting into a book. If it doesn’t grab me instantly, I’ve got to lock myself away with it to absorb the first few chapters. That’s what I did with this one, and it certainly worked. I’d recommend reading this all the way to the murder and you’ll probably find yourself hooked. It’s definitely a book that needs reading in largish chunks to absorb the atmosphere and get to know the characters.

As for the mystery – well, it’s an impressive deception on the part of Brand. While it isn’t really an impossible crime, it’s certainly a puzzler and while everything is there for the reader to piece together, as is usual for Brand, everything is there for a number of multiple fake endings. It’s a gambit that only works in the hands of a great mystery writer – heck, even Christie fluffed it once – but Brand plays it just right here.

I think there’s a possibility that this might be my favourite Brand title so far – I do need to give Green For Danger another look soon – and there are still gaps in my reading. But there are affordable copies of this out there on the second hand website, and I can heartily recommend this if you haven’t read it yet.

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22 comments

I unfortunately read this one having known who the murderer was… I still loved the character and the atmosphere, though, and I think that this has Brand’s best cluing.

I wonder which Christie you’re mentioning. I can think of one or two that could fit the bill. One is a favorite of mine, the other not so much…

Like Liked by 1 person

I read this last autumn, when I found myself in an “I really should read more Brand” frame of mind. I really wish I’d had your advice about reading at least through the murder in one go. Because, though I liked it and found it diverting, I had real trouble remembering which name went with which character; and I could have used a map, as I found it hard to visualize the crucial locations with the precision needed. So it didn’t quite add up for me, though I enjoyed the experience along the way. I suspect I just didn’t concentrate well enough.

Interesting, as mine had a map in the text – it seemed to be in the wrong place though, about twenty pages too early…

I like this one, but my problem with it is somewhat akin to my problem with casting a 1941 model Mary Astor in The Maltese Falcon. Astor is believable to me as a woman that Bogart might be attracted to. But I don’t find her believable as a woman who is so universally desirable that she can count on getting any man she wants.

Similarly, I believe that the deception in this work might work on somebody. I just don’t believe it’s a deception that the culprit would feel safe that it would work on everyone!

The clueing is magnificent, but I’m just too bogged down by what I consider the central credibility problem?

I’m one of the Death of Jezebel zealots. What is your difficulty with it? Please PM me, email me ([email protected]) or put it in ROT13 here.

It’s not that I dislike it, I just find the mechanics of the solution too contrived. While some will find the “Urnq va gur uryzrg” wonderfully creepy, which it is, I also find it too bizarre that anyone would have thought they’d get away it. I prefer my impossible mysteries to have simple, if unlikely, solutions, not those that no one would ever try…

I’m the biggest Death of Jezebel mark out there, I revisit the audiobook every few months, and even I try not to dwell too much on aspects of the solution which go from implausible to just downright absurd, such as the detail you allude to. The fact that I’m so in love with gur obql guebja qbja sebz gur gbjre gheavat bhg gb abg or n qenzngvp pyvpur ohg n qryvorengr npg prageny gb gur fhpprff bs gur gevpx helps me turn a blind eye to some of the other elements.

It’s funny, I have no problem with that element. The culprit is a bit of a risk-taking nut, and it’s a rather pragmatic alibi device, really (and it was originally intended to serve the double purpose of torturing a later I ended victim so recognized as not deserving of such punishment) . I have more problems with the fact that character whistles the only tune she knows. I understand only being able to play one song on the piano or ukulele, but only knowing one sing to whistle? That doesn’t make sense.

As for Tour de Force, again, I think someone could get fool someone with it, but I can’t believe anyone could believe that they’d fool EVERYONE with it. This ain’t a couple of inches of visibility around the eyes.

I’m not sure pragmatic is the word I would use. It’s an utterly bonkers alibi trick. So much so that Brand didn’t even try to explain away how n uryzrg pbagnvavat n urnq vafvqr jbhyq unir erznvarq onynaprq ba na rzcgl fhvg bs nezbhe. Gb n yrffre qrterr, V nyfb svaq vg hayvxryl gung gur phycevg jnf noyr gb erzbir gjb fhvgf bs nezbhe sebz gur unyy jvgubhg nalbar abgvpvat, rfcrpvnyyl nf gurer jnf n punenpgre jubfr bayl wbo jnf gb fvta va gur xavtugf nf gurl neevirq. Gurerf nyfb gur snpg gung abg n fvatyr crefba abgvprq gung gur fcner fhvg bs nezbhe gung jnf NYJNLF gurer jnf fhqqrayl tbar. Honestly, it wasn’t until I started looking at DoJ as Brand lampooning the impossible crime genre, particularly the convoluted solutions, and stopped trying to convince myself that any part of it was meant to be practiceable or taken seriously, that I became far more able to enjoy it for what it is.

Regarding Tour de Force, gur ivpgvzf snpr jnf nyjnlf pnxrq jvgu urnil znxr hc, gurer jnf n fgebat snzvyl erfrzoynapr, gur phycevg jnf noyr gb anvy ure pbhfvaf znaarevfzf, rirelbar ryfr ba gur gbhe unq bayl xabja gurz n znggre bs qnlf naq nal creprvirq punatr va nccrnenapr bs punenpgre pbhyq nyjnlf or nggevohgrq gb tevrs. Like I said, it does strain credulity somewhat but I have encountered conceits much harder to swallow than that.

I’ve only ever been able to get my hands of two of her books, this one and GREEN FOR DANGER. I liked both but I liked TOUR DE FORCE more. The deception worked on me.

There are Kindle Editions of many (most?) of her books available.

Only in USA !

Not in the UK, annoyingly. There were some – I’ve got Green For Danger and Heads You Lose but they’re not available any more.

I don’t do the e-books thing. I’m strictly a physical media guy.

I read this recently and remember it fondly for the eureka moment I had eight chapters in, when I tumbled to the trick. I had another theory in mind at that point, but I wasn’t able to have one aspect of it agree with the known facts. And then the true solution came to me. I have less trouble accepting the conceit than others, it stretches credulity and yet under the singular circumstances of the story and the relationship (or lack thereof) between certain characters it might just be pulled off. Overall, punctuated by thickly laid on melodrama though it was, TDF succeeded in being an excellent example of a well clued fair play puzzle plot in a way I think her prior “Fog of Doubt” woefully failed to.

I think I read once that she wrote a sequel to this that is not a mystery novel.

Yes, The Three-Cornered Halo. It is set in the same island. Inspector Cockrill is not there, but his sister Harriet and Cecil are.

If I can ever get my %^#$ together, I’m going to re-read Brand from the beginning. This is perhaps my favorite. I don’t care what Scott says about the improbability of the trick working; on this island with THESE people, it works. I was totally fooled by it, kicked myself in the head for not noticing that glaring early clue, and – best of all – felt a real emotional tug by the ending. (One gets that same tug at the end of Green for Danger .) I’ve pretty much forgotten Death of Jezebel except, I think, for the name of the killer, but I can only remember that it was clever, nothing more. Decades later, I might change my mind after a deeper read, but for now, I heartily concur with your praise for Tour de Force !

See, we can agree on something. First time for everything… I do need to re-read Green For Danger though, but I think this is the best Brand so far

Definitely my favourite Brand. Totally taken in. I’ve just recently read ‘Death of Jezebel’ and although it’s very good I don’t know what all the fuss is about. One slight problem I have with Brand is that I don’t much like any of her characters in any of the books I’ve read.

Glad you enjoyed this one.

Probably my favourite Brand so far…

Checking my ranked list it was also my number one favourite.

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Tour de France bikes 2024: The ultimate equipment guide

A rundown of the bikes and kit used by the 22 teams at this year's Tour de France

Team equipment table

Tour de france team bikes, tour tech predictions.

The 2024 Tour de France begins on Saturday the 29th of June in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy, before working its way into France. It is the biggest bike race in the world and sees the very best cyclists from the sport's biggest teams do battle over 21 stages. 

If you want to know more about the 22 teams involved, head to our Tour de France team guide for a comprehensive breakdown. 

This Tour de France bike guide looks at each team's bikes and equipment in depth. It can be hard to spot individual bike brands in the peloton while the racing is on, but we have a list of all the individual components and equipment teams are using. So if you're wondering what computers, frames or saddles a certain team is using, we have the answers. How about groupsets? 18 teams are using Shimano Dura-Ace and four teams are using SRAM Red AXS, for example.  

You can also check out our feature on last year's Tour de France winner's bikes if you want to refresh your memory or relive the excitement from 2023 to get into Tour spirit ahead of this year's racing. 

A lot of new equipment and bikes get released before the Tour, and are first seen underneath riders at the Critérium du Dauphiné. This year we spotted four new bikes and lots of interesting tech ahead of the main event, including a new unreleased Trek ridden by Mads Pederson and his Lidl-Trek teammates. 

Cyclingnews will be at the Grand Départ of the Tour de France to cover all the breaking tech news as it happens, so check the website tech section for all the latest news.

Astana-Qazaqstan Team

• Bikes : Wilier Zero SLR, Wilier Filante SLR, Wilier Supersonica SLR TT, Unreleased Wilier spotted in recent races. 
• Groupset : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc 12 Speed
• Wheels : Vision Metron
• Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro
• Clothing : Biemme
• Saddles : Prologo
• Finishing Kit : Wilier
• Computers : Garmin

Astana-Qazaqstan have ridden with Wilier bikes for five seasons now and the team can now make use of the brand-new and very expensive Supersonica SLR TT time trial bike. 

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All eyes will be on Mark Cavendish, who recently became a knight of the realm in the UK, as he tries to take the outright Tour de France stage win record of 35 stages. Don't be surprised to see Cavendish on a custom or specially painted bike for the race, and look out for his custom Nike shoes.

The team should also have access to a new unreleased lightweight Wilier, which was spotted beneath Wilier's other sponsored team, Groupama FDJ. Elsewhere the team use Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets, Vision wheels and Vittoria Corsa tyres, some of the best road bike tyres around.

Bahrain-Victorious

• Bikes : Merida Reacto, Merida Scultura, Merida Warp TT
• Groupset : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Disc
• Wheels :  Vision Metron - various options 
• Tyres: Continental GP5000 S TR
• Clothing : Alé
• Finishing Kit : FSA, Vision

Bahrain-Victorious will be racing on the Merida Reacto aero bike and the Merida Scultura all-rounder for road stages during the Tour, and a Time Warp TT bike against the clock. Like Astana-Qazaqstan, they also use Dura-Ace groupsets and Vision wheels but instead use Continental GP5000 S TR tubeless tyres, a peloton favourite and now available in several versions. 

Ahead of last year's race, the team rolled out a new paint job which featured a lot more white and paid homage to Bahrain's pearl fishing industry. We're yet to see a 2024 change-out design, but there's still time. Matej Mohorič managed to win a stage last year on his custom bike.  

Bora-Hansgrohe

• Bikes : Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8, Specialized S-Works Shiv TT
• Groupset : SRAM Red AXS
• Wheels : Roval
• Tyres: Specialized Turbo
• Clothing : Sportful
• Saddles : Specialized
• Finishing Kit : PRO, Specialized
• Computers : Hammerhead Karoo  

The main change at Bora-Hansgrohe this year is the updated SRAM Red AXS groupsets and new Hammerhead Karoo computers the team have fitted to their bikes. 

They use the S-Works Tarmac SL8 frame from Specialized as well as some special new wheels from Roval that were recently released, in which the hub leaves the paint off the hub shells to save weight. 

The team will also formally announce a partnership with Red Bull ahead of the race so look out for some new look kit and bikes. 

• Bikes : Look 795 Blade, 796 Monoblade RS (TT)
• Wheels : Corima
• Tyres: Michelin Power Tubular
• Clothing : Van Rysel
• Saddles : Selle Italia
• Finishing Kit : FSA/Vision
• Computers : Wahoo

French team Cofidis use equipment from several French brands. Their Look frames, Corima wheels and Michelin tyres are all French. Look frames have long been famed for their quality carbon fibre construction.

The team race on the Look 795 Blade frameset module which Victor Lafay rode to a stage win last year. They also rolled out a cool Mondrian-inspired Tour paint job last year so keep your eyes open for something special this year. 

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale

• Bikes : Van Rysel RCR / XCR time trial bike
• Wheels : SwissSide Hadron
• Clothing : Rosti / Van Rysel 
• Saddles : Fizik
• Finishing Kit : Deda / Van Rysel 

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team have enjoyed a stellar start to 2024 and have taken over 20 victories already. So much so that the team currently sits 2nd in the UCI Team rankings. 

The team has a new equipment package for 2024, including the Van Rysel RCR frame, owned by parent company Decathlon, which caused a stir in the media for being one of the most affordable bikes to have graced the WorldTour peloton in years. We have it on good authority the team may just have one of the fastest kit packages around. 

The team uses the Van Rysel FCR — one of the best aero helmets — which finished in the top five in our recent aero helmet wind tunnel test . 

EF Education-EasyPost

• Bikes : Cannondale SuperSix Evo LAB 71, SystemSix, SuperSlice (TT)
• Wheels : Vision
• Clothing : Rapha

EF Education-EasyPost race on the Cannondale SuperSix Evo LAB 71 frame and is famous for limited edition pain jobs or collaborations in big races. Their team edition frame also just became available to buy for the public. 

The team also have the option to race on the more aero SystemSix frame, but riders seem to stick to the SuperSix. That is with the exception of aero-obsessed Irish rider Ben Healy. The team also have access to the fastest helmet around, the new POC Procen Air

Elsewhere, EF are another Shimano team, using Dura-Ace equipment, though they buy their own parts as they're not directly sponsored, and they use FSA power meter chainsets. 

Groupama-FDJ

• Bikes : Wilier Zero SLR, Wilier Filante SLR, Wilier Supersonica SLR TT 
• Wheels : Shimano C35, C50, C60
• Tyres: Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR / Competition tubular 

Groupama-FDJ switched to Wilier bikes for the 2024 season and rolled out a fairly classy, predominantly white and blue paint job. The team have the same models available to them as the Astana squad, including the new hyper-expensive Supersonica SLR TT time trial bike and an unreleased climbing bike. 

Over the past few years, we have seen a mix of Continental GP5000 tubeless and Competition tubular (glued-on) tyres being used by the team. We'll be keeping an eye on whether the team fully transitions to tubeless at the Tour. 

Ineos Grenadiers

• Bikes : Pinarello Dogma F, Bolide (TT)
• Groupset : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12 Speed
• Wheels : Shimano (Princeton Carbonworks / Tactic and Aerocoach will be present as non-sponsored additions)
• Tyres: Continental GP5000 S TR
• Clothing : Gobik
• Finishing Kit : MOST

Pinarello, Ineos-Grenadiers' long-term bike sponsor, just launched a new version of the Dogma F ahead of the Tour, so expect to see the team riding the brand-new bikes there. 

The team's equipment package which is mostly from Shimano (groupsets and wheels) remains unchanged. But Ineos Grenadiers have been known to change to aftermarket, special wheels for key stages of the race or for time trials, such as the £1000 Tactic hubs , we spotted them using last year.

Intermarché - Wanty

• Bikes : Cube Litening C:68X, Aerium C:68 (TT)
• Wheels : Newmen
• Tyres: Continental GP5000 S TR
• Clothing : Verge
• Finishing Kit : Cube
• Computers : Bryton

Intermarché - Wanty has stuck to a fairly standard - even unexciting dare we say it -equipment setup for the last few years. 

The team use Cube Litening road frames with Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets and Newmen wheels. Their bright green handlebar tape and silver wheel decals always stand out. Team leader Biniam Girmay will be looking to win a stage on his Cube bike.

Alpecin-Deceuninck

• Bikes : Canyon Aeroad CFR / Ultimate CFR / Speedmax (TT)
• Wheels : Shimano
• Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro
• Clothing : Kalas
• Finishing Kit : Canyon / Selle Italia 
• Computers : Wahoo 

Alpecin-Deceuninck's equipment package hasn't changed for a long time and the team has enjoyed a lot of success aboard their Canyon Aeroad bikes. The team also technically has the Canyon Ultimate all-rounder to use alongside the aero model, but we hardly ever see any team riders using it. 

Let's not forget team sprinter Jasper Philipsen, who last year raced a custom green Aeroad as a result of leading the green jersey sprints competition. 

We have seen glimpses of a special custom-painted frame for World Champion Van der Poel and rumours are circulating of a new Canyon Aeroad which we will be keeping an eye out for at the Tour. 

Visma-Lease a Bike

• Bikes : Cervélo S5, R5, Caledonia, P5 (TT)
• Wheels : Reserve 
• Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro
• Clothing : Agu
• Finishing Kit : Cervelo / FSA

Visma-Lease a Bike will be aiming to defend defending champion Jonas Vingegaard's yellow jersey from last year using their Cervélo bikes. 

The team used custom painted bikes last year, but stuck to the yellow and black theme. This year, however, they've changed their colourway entirely, to a dark blue palette that pays tribute to the Renaissance . 

The team has an aero and lightweight all-rounder to use. The S5 is the team's aero model and R5 is the climbing bike. The team also has the more comfortable Caledonia as well as the Soloist at their disposal but we don't expect to see these bikes as much. For the time trials, it will be the aero P5. 

The team has also switched to the new SRAM Red AXS groupset and Vingegaard was reportedly testing the new carbon cranks at last year's Tour. 

Visma are famed for leaving no stone unturned regarding equipment and we expect them to use 1x drivetrain systems on at least one stage as well as plenty of other tech hacks and optimisations.

Arkéa B&B Hotels

• Bikes : Bianchi Oltre RC, Specialissima, Aquila (TT)
• Groupset : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• Wheels : Vision Metron - 45 and 60 
• Tyres: Vittoria Corsa Pro 
• Clothing : Ekoi
• Finishing Kit : Reparto course by Vision / FSA

Arkéa - B&B Hotels have been riding Bianchi bikes for two years and have two road models to choose from: the Oltre RC aero bike, and lightweight Specialissima. There's also the Aquila TT for time trials. 

The Oltre RC aero bike has not been without controversy during its lifespan after mechanical issues resulting in snapped handlebars and issues at Paris-Roubaix . Bianchi responded to some of the allegations made in a statement at the time. 

The Tour de France is a harsh test and every team arrives with its equipment in perfect order and ready for a hard three weeks. 

• Bikes : Canyon Aeroad CFR, Ultimate CFR, Speedmax CFR (TT)
• Wheels : Zipp - various options 
• Clothing : Gobik / BORN
• Finishing Kit : Canyon

Movistar are another team, like Ineos Grenadiers, who have been with the same bike supplier for a long time, and 2024 marks the 11th year of the partnership. 

The Spanish squad has more climbers than Alpecin-Deceuninck, so you see a lot more of the Canyon Ultimate model alongside the Aeroad. 

The team also have the new SRAM Red AXS groupset to use this summer after its release in May.

Soudal-QuickStep

• Wheels : Roval - various options 
• Clothing : Castelli

Soudal-QuickStep has ridden Specialized bikes for a long time now and rides the Tarmac SL8 model in the top-tier S-Works version, which was released at the Glasgow World Championships last year.

The team or 'Wolfpack' as they like to be known, will be built around Remco Evenepoel's tilt at the overall classification this year. The Belgian, who is also the World Time Trial Champion, has a custom-painted rainbow Shiv TT bike to use. 

Elsewhere the team uses Dura-Ace groupsets from Shimano, along with Roval finishing kit by Specialized. We also expect to see Roval's limited edition Rapide CLX II Team wheels being used during the race.

Team Jayco-AlUla

• Bikes : Propel Advanced SL, TCR Advanced SL, Trinity (TT)
• Wheels : Cadex
• Saddles : Cadex
• Finishing Kit : Giant

Team Jayco Al-Ula races on Giant bikes, with Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets and wheels from Cadex, a subsidiary brand of Giant.

The team can choose between the aero-focused Propel Advanced model or the longstanding all-rounder the TCR Advanced SL which received an update earlier this year.

The team's eye-catching paint jobs have drawn attention this year and look great out on the road. Look out for Australian Champion Luke Plapp's custom kit and bike which really stand out. 

Team DSM - Firmenich PostNL

• Bikes : Scott Addict RC, Foil RC, Plasma (TT)
• Wheels : Shimano C36, C50, C60
• Tyres: Vittroria Corsa Pro
• Clothing : Nalini
• Saddles : Syncros
• Finishing Kit : Syncros

Team DSM - Firmenich PostNL race on Scott bikes, and the lightweight Addict model has been around for over fifteen years in its various guises. Like several other teams, they can also choose to race on an aero-focused model. In this case, that is the Foil RC, a bike that first broke cover at the 2022 Tour, and which team sprinter Fabio Jakobsen will likely choose to ride. 

Shimano Dura-Ace takes care of the groupset and wheel package, whilst Syncros provide the integrated handlebars.  

• Bikes : Trek Madone, Emonda, Domane, Speed Concept (TT)
• Wheels : Bontrager
• Tyres:  Pirelli P Zero
• Clothing : Santini
• Saddles : Bontrager
• Finishing Kit : Bontrager

Lidl-Trek is a team to watch this year on the equipment front, there are plenty of techy changes to spot this summer. 

The team has been spotted using a brand new frame that looks like a more lightweight, all-rounder compared to the team's Trek Madone model. We expect to see more of this at the race. 

The team also switched to the new SRAM Red AXS groupset this year, and will also race on the brand-new Pirelli P Zero tyres that launched recently. 

Trek released a series of special custom bikes for last year's Tour, Mads Pederson's in particular caused quite the sir . 

UAE Team Emirates

• Bikes : Colnago V4Rs, TT1 (TT)
• Groupset : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 / Carbon-Ti chainrings and rotors
• Wheels : Enve 
• Tyres: Continental GP5000 S TR 
• Finishing Kit : Colnago

Fresh from victory at the Giro d'Italia , Tadej Pogačar looks to be in unstoppable form this year. He will aim to win his third Tour this year using his Colnago V4Rs which he uses for all stages. As well as the TT1 time trial model pictured above. 

UAE Team Emirates uses Dura-Ace groupsets and Enve wheels and handlebars. Notably, the team have used exotic Carbon Ti carbon chainrings and disc rotors to save even more weight. 

We have heard the team have made some extra tweaks to their bikes ahead of the Tour to make them even lighter so will be keeping our eyes peeled for any extra modifications. 

Lotto-Dstny

• Bikes : Orbea Orca / Orca Aero / Ordu TT bike
• Wheels : Zipp / Oquo 
• Clothing : Vermarc / Ekoi / Defeet 
• Saddles : Selle Italia 
• Finishing Kit : Orbea

Lotto-Dstny is a non-WorldTour team who have secured a place at this year's race. The team races on Spanish Orbea bikes and can choose between the Orca and Orca Aero models. They also use the Ordu time trial bike against the clock. 

The team use Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets along with Zipp wheels and Vittoria tyres. Controversy reigned earlier in the year after a spate of wheel/tyre compatibility issues for the team. 

The team will be gunning for victory and supporting star rider Arnaud De Lie in his quest for a stage win. 

Israel-Premier Tech

• Bikes : Factor Ostro / O2 VAM / Hanzo TT Bike
• Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• Wheels : Black Inc. 
• Clothing: Ekoi 
• Finishing Kit : Black Inc.
• Computers : Garmin 

Israel-Premier Tech uses Factor bikes and can choose between two road models, the aero Ostro and the lightweight O2 Vam . They race on the Hanzo model for time trials. 

The team's wheels and integrated handlebars and stems are from Black Inc, a subsidiary brand of Factor. You can also read our exclusive in-depth interview with Factor founder Rob Gitelis for insight into the bike industry and carbon frame construction.

Team TotalEnergies

• Bikes : Enve Melee / Specialized S-Works Shiv TT 
• Groupset : Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
• Wheels : Enve
• Tyres: Continental GP5000 S TR 
• Clothing : Sportful 
• Saddles : Selle Italia
• Finishing Kit : Enve
• Computers : Garmin

Total Energies switched from Specialized to Enve bikes after the departure of Specialized-sponsored star rider Peter Sagan last year. 

The squad now uses Enve Melee frames, wheels and handlebars with Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets and Continental tubeless tyres. 

Notably, Enve doesn't currently have a time trial bike in its range so the team uses blacked-out Specialized Shiv time trial bikes against the clock. 

Uno-X Mobility

• Bikes : Dare VSRu / TSRf time trial bike / Velocity Ace Prototype
• Wheels : Garmin
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One
• Clothing : Bioracer
• Saddles : Prologo
• Finishing Kit : Dare

Uno-X Mobility races on Dare bikes that are some of the most eye-catching in the peloton. The all-black bikes look aggressive standing still, especially the Velocity Ace Prototype we spotted earlier in the year, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for this model again at the Tour, including its very aggressive-looking aero handlebar. 

The team uses Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets and DT Swiss carbon fibre wheels - the same wheels that won our wind tunnel wheels test a couple of years ago - with Schwalbe Pro One tubeless tyres, the only team in the race using the German tyre brand. 

The team bikes are usually also fitted with the new CeramicSpeed OSPW for an added drivetrain gain. 

The Tour is the sport of cycling's biggest shop window, it's a great opportunity for marketing, showing products off and gaining attention. 

Brand new bikes tend to get tested in advance of the Tour to ensure riders are happy and we assume to just make sure everything is ready. That being said, you still see new bikes roll out at the Tour, and we'll be sure to keep an eye out for anything new. 

We may see new parts, components and kit appear during the Tour. Everything from optimised new clothing to new sunglasses and cycling shoes as well as bike components. We will be covering everything we spot in detail. 

Sometimes things are so secret or closely guarded we don't even know they are being used. For example, the new SRAM Red AXS crank arms that Jonas Vingegaard was using this time last year.   

There are trends in equipment that inform what we think we might see, and we have written about them here in our tech predictions for the Tour de France

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Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as tech writer. Tom has over 10 years experience as a qualified mechanic with 5 or so of those being spent running an independent workshop. Tom has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track and has ridden and competed in most disciplines, even the odd bit of bike polo. Tom is as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike exploring the Worcestershire lanes.

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From masters to disasters: visma-lease a bike races for redemption at tour de france in wake of sepp kuss crisis, commentary: nine months after team's own success pushed away roglič, the injury-cursed killer bees need its founding leader more than ever..

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Visma-Lease a Bike will be wondering what it did to incur the wrath of the cycling gods when Sepp Kuss was ruled out of the Tour de France just days ahead of the grand départ .

Was it punishment for the Killer Bees’ audacity at winning three grand tours in a season, capped by a sensational victory at the Vuelta a España from #GCKuss himself?

Was it for the team’s folly at letting its grand tour “OG” Primož Roglič grow weary of the squad he helped drag from the rubble of Rabobank?

Maybe letting grand tour mastermind Merijn Zeeman decide he’d “completed” cycling and choose a future in soccer was the decider.

What is certain is that Visma-Lease a Bike desperately needs to purge its cursed 2024 season at this Tour de France.

A stitched-together version of double defender Jonas Vingegaard and the still-green grand tour newbie Matteo Jorgenson will be called on to put the wheels back onto the cart in a wildly derailed 2024.

What version of Jonas Vingegaard will arrive at the Tour de France? It’s the gamble Visma-Lease a Bike has no choice but to take: ‘We’ve abandoned the ideal trajectory … it’s uncertain where he stands’ #tourdefrance https://t.co/fe3wn8a3Gc — Velo (@velovelovelo__) June 21, 2024

Nobody will be betting on the Vingo-Jorgo duo in the face of Visma’s nemesis Tadej Pogačar and, ironically, its recently departed centerpiece Roglič.

If Vingegaard secures a hat trick of Tour de France titles on the promenade in Nice, it will be the cycling comeback of the century. It’s been little more than 10 weeks since the 27-year-old was left buckled in the Basque Country.

In reality, even a top-3 will be considered a success for the shadow version of Visma-Lease a Bike that rides toward this Tour de France.

“We’re going to the Tour de France with a different mindset,” team director Zeeman recently told the press. “Last year, we felt the pressure as defending champions, while now we feel especially motivated to show who we are and leave all the bad luck behind us.

“There’s no pressure on us like ‘anything less than a win is a disappointment.’ It’s already a victory that we got these guys on this level, that we are competitive, we have a great team and that we are very optimistic,” Zeeman said. “If it’s good enough? We’ll see.”

Swapping a Tour de France superdomestique for an Air Force officer

Season-shifting injuries to Vingegaard and Wout van Aert drove the narrative of Visma-Lease a Bike’s tumultuous 2024.

Major setbacks for Christophe Laporte, Dylan Van Baarle, Steven Kruijkswijk, and Cian Uijtedbroeks put even more potholes into the squad’s spectacular winter plans.

In the time since, Olav Kooij’s stage-win at the Giro d’Italia and Jorgenson’s exponential rise is all Zeeman and team CEO Richard Plugge have had to cheer for.

It must have felt like a cheap boot in the balls when Kuss was declared unfit for the Tour de France after his recent bout of COVID.

The Colorado mega-climber started every grand tour Jumbo-Visma won in 2023 and proved his personal cred when he won the Vuelta a España. He’s the smiley-happy face of the science-backed, process-oriented Dutch crew.

“This is very hard for Sepp,” Zeeman said Tuesday. “His contribution is always very important in the team, but then he has to be completely fit. Unfortunately, we had to conclude together today that this is insufficiently the case after COVID.

“He now needs to recover properly and will therefore not start,” Zeeman said. “Fortunately, we have a good replacement ready with Bart Lemmen.”

Sepp Kuss has been the biggest asset of Team Visma | Lease a Bike regarding success in GTs. 3rd in Tour de France 2019 by Kruijswijk is the only podium-result they achieved in a GrandTour, without Kuss in their team. 12/13 top-3 results between 2018 and 2023. — Cycling Statistics (@StatsOnCycling) June 25, 2024

That former Air Force pilot , 18-month-long bike racer, and grand tour rookie Lemmen was called in for Kuss says it all. Not even experienced climbers like Atilla Valter and Koen Bouwman were in a position to fly into Florence at such short notice.

Visma-Lease a Bike has been in all the wrong places at the wrong times this year.

A spectacular tumble from the top

The tumble from the top has been tough for Visma-Lease a Bike.

Not long after confirming it wanted to top a 2023 that saw victories across three grand tours with three different riders, Van Aert was hospitalized at the Dwars door Vlaanderen.

Team brass duly crossed pre-planned ambitions at the cobbled monuments and Giro d’Italia off the hit-list.

Vingegaard’s horror crash one week later in the Basque Country put a lasting kink in the team’s dreams at a yellow jersey defense.

“We don’t know how far Jonas can go yet,” Zeeman said last week.

“We are being cautious because he has not been able to race, and his preparation has been less than ideal, to say the least. But he will be there, healthy and motivated.”

Visma-Lease a Bike was already on defense before Kuss was declared unfit.

Vingegaard is barely back on his bike. Van Aert is only half-ready. And Jorgenson never once raced classification at a grand tour.

Kuss’ exit piles the pressure further.

The Colorado star was a central part of all six of Vingegaard and Roglič’s grand tour victories, and could be counted a wildcard contender for a Tour top-10.

Could Matteo Jorgenson someday challenge for a grand tour victory? A trio of summit finishes high in the French Alps to close out the Dauphiné will be a very important GC exam: https://t.co/3DuRZn2Sdw — Velo (@velovelovelo__) June 7, 2024

Season-long sensation Jorgenson will need to step up, big style.

Team brass isn’t backing the 24-year-old as a leader, but in reality, he might end up going deeper into the race than Vingegaard, who’s not raced in three months.

“The reality is that at this moment, Jonas is our only rider that can win the Tour de France,” Zeeman said last week.

“Matteo is very clear that he is going to the Tour to help Jonas,” Zeeman said. “The intention is that he wants to help the team, and he will help the team by supporting Jonas as well as possible.”

A stupid-hard grand départ and voyage into the high mountains as soon as stage 4 early next week will put Vingegaard’s fitness through the ultimate examination.

Pogačar could have wreaked revenge on the Dane who twice denied him the maillot jaune before Le Tour has truly touched down into France.

Roglič will be just as motivated as his fellow Slovenian in what will be his first days in the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe livery that will see him toward retirement.

Visma-Lease a Bike now rudderless without Roglič

It would be a brutal role reversal if Roglič’s yellow jersey quest contributes to Visma’s woes.

It’s only been nine months since intra-team drama at the Vuelta a España proved the final straw on the Slovenian’s time at the team that converted him from a ski jumper into a four-time grand tour winner.

Roglič helped drag the team to the top, but then found himself suffocated for space and without sight of his coveted maillot jaune .

“We made history, and I was part of it. But even if I had won the Vuelta, I would have left,” Roglič said of his exit from the team.

“I simply have greater opportunities elsewhere to achieve what I am still fighting for,” Roglič said this winter. “That wasn’t a tough decision but rather a natural one.”

Jumbo-Visma became victim of its own crowded team bus when it launched all three of Kuss, Vingegaard, and Roglič into the top-3 of the Vuelta a España.

Fast forward to the present and a few weeks into the future, and even one spot on the podium in Nice might be considered sufficient for this patched-up version of Visma-Lease a Bike.

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2024 Tour de France bikes: what are the pros riding?

T he biggest bike race in the world isn’t just the ideal stage for riders to shine. It’s also the place where bikes, components and gear receive plenty of attention. A three-week long shop window, manufacturers are prone to release a slew of kit just ahead of the race. But the bikes are more than just items for sale. They too become players in the unfolding drama, supporting the contenders in their quest for glory. 

So what’s new for ‘24? Leaks point to at least two new models likely being ridden in France, while this year will also see ENVE and Van Rysel compete in the Tour for the first time, with the Melee and RCR Pro models respectively. 

But much remains the same. Shimano is once again the groupset of choice with 18 teams riding its range-topping Dura-Ace Di2 . The rest of the race’s gear changing will come courtesy of SRAM, with Campagnolo no longer present . Another prevalent brand is Prologo, with the Italian saddle not just the preferred perch of race favourite Tadej Pogačar but supplier to six other teams. 

Here's a list of the bikes we're expecting to be at the start line in Florence...

Alpecin - Deceuninck

Bikes: Canyon Aeroad CFR, Speedmax CFR Disc (TT)

Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace

Wheels: Shimano 

Given that the Belgian team will have both Mathieu van Der Poel and Jasper Philipsen in its TdF line up, it's safe to assume that the team bikes will get plenty of exposure. Van der Poel, hot off the back of a Classics campaign for the ages that saw him win De Ronde, Paris-Roubaix and the ES Saxo Classic, will surely light up the race at some point. Philipsen was the dominant sprinter in France a year ago and will be looking to both defend his green jersey and add to his six stage wins.

When it comes to the road stages, both men will be riding the Canyon Aeroad CFR (quite probably a new model that was leaked at the Dauphiné) , equipped with Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and its wheels. The latter will be shod in Vittoria tires, likely the Corsa Pro in the 28mm width. Other components include Sella Italia saddles. Canyon's CFR Disc time trial bike will also get an airing, most crucially during the last stage of the Tour, a 34km race against the clock from Monaco to Nice.

Arkéa - B&B Hotels

Bikes: Bianchi Specialissima RC / Oltre RC / Aquila (TT)

Wheels: Vision

The French squad will head to the Grand Depart in Italy on a largely unchanged set-up. For the road stages that means choosing between Bianchi's two offerings, the lightweight Specialissima RC and the aero-enhanced Oltre RC. For the race's two time trials, the Italian brand's Aquila TT bike will come into play. Shimano again provides the groupset in the shape of 12-speed Dura-Ace Di2, with Vision wheels now paired with Vittoria tires. Elsewhere Selle Italia are the team's saddle of choice.

We should get a good look at the bikes throughout the Tour, with the homegrown team surely obligated to get into plenty of breakaways to give their sponsors some air time. However, whether new recruit Arnaud Démare can recapture the form that saw him win three stages at the 2022 Giro on his way to the points jersey remains to be seen.

Astana Qazaqstan Team

Bikes: Wilier Triestina Filante SLR / 0 SLR / Turbine (TT)

Sir Mark Cavendish is scheduled to be back at the Tour, with a new title to his name and an opportunity to add to his record-tying 34 stage wins. Surpassing Eddie Merckx at the age of 39 would be the stuff of dreams for Sir Cav but regardless the team's Wilier bikes should get some exposure with both Alexey Lutsenko and Davide Ballerini also penciled in to start.

Like last year, the team from Kazakhstan will be riding Wilier's trio of race-ready bikes (what potentially looks like a new climbing bike has also been spotted at the Dauphiné) all decked out in one of the peloton's most eye-catching paint jobs. Shimano's Dura-Ace Di2 remains the chosen groupset while Vision wheels and Vittoria tires are both new additions for 2024.

Bahrain - Victorious

Bikes: Merida Scultura  / Reacto  / Time Warp (TT)

With Pello Bilbao, Phil Bauhaus, Matej Mohorič and Fred Wright all due to start the race, the Bahrain - Victorious team should make plenty of noise in France (and Italy of course!). Once again, they'll be doing so aboard Merida's race bike duo of the Scultura and the Reacto, with the Time Warp TT bike used against the clock. 

When it comes to components it's a case of 'if it ain't broke', with Shimano once again supplying the Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets alongside Vision wheels, Continental tires and Prologo saddles. 

Bora-Hansgrohe

Bikes: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 / Shiv (TT)

Groupset: SRAM Red AXS

Wheels: Roval

The Bora team enter this year's Tour with its suppliers unchanged. This means they'll be doing battle on CW's Race Bike of the Year, the remarkable S-Works SL8 , with the Shiv used for the time trial stages. SRAM provides the groupset in the shape of its 12-speed wireless Red AXS , which has seen an upgrade in recent times. Elsewhere it's Specialized's in-house brand Roval that completes the bike with its wheels and cockpit both in play.

Bora's lineup does have a significant addition though, in the shape of multiple Grand Tour winner Primož Roglič. If his performance at the recent Dauphiné, which he won while taking two stage victories along the way, is anything to go by he should be a prominent figure in the race for the yellow jersey. With Jai Hindley and Aleksandr Vlasov also set to ride, it should equate to plenty of exposure for both team and equipment.

Bikes: Look 795 Blade RS / 796 Monoblade RS (TT)

Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2

Wheels: Corima

Cofidis will be hoping they can emulate last year's Tour, where the French outfit won its first stage in 15 years thanks to Victor Lafay's victory in stage 2 , before proving it was no fluke with a second stage courtesy of the Basque rider Ion Izagirre. 

Their pursuit of further stage wins will take place aboard Look's 795 Blade RS, which was recently named as CW's best aero bike in the Race Bike of the Year awards . Elsewhere it's a similar-looking set-up as last year with Shimano groupsets, Corima wheels, Michelin tires and Prologo saddles.

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team

Bikes: Van Rysel RCR Pro / XCR (TT)

Wheels: Swiss Side Hadron2 Ultimate

The newly-minted Decathlon team are flying in 2024. They have already racked up 24 victories, with sprinter Sam Bennett dominating the Four Days of Dunkirk race and the French duo of Benoît Cosnefroy and Aurélien Paret-Peintre accounting for nine other wins, including Paret-Peintre's stage at the Giro.

They'll head to the start line in Florence aboard one the year's most talked about bikes, Van Rysel's RCR Pro , alongside its TT offering, the XCR. Once again the groupset is Shimano's Dura Ace Di2, while the wheels are Swiss Side's Hadron2 Ultimate model, shod with Continnetal tires. Elsewhere the team will be riding the Italian combo of Deda bars and Fizik saddles. 

EF Education - EasyPost

Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix EVO LAB71 / SuperSlice (TT)

EF-Education are typically hard to miss at the tour, thanks to a combination of its distinctive kit and attacking riding. Producing the latter will likely fall to the trio of Richard Carapaz, Ben Healy and Neilson Powless, while the former is down the tried-and-tested combination of Cannondale's SuperSix Evo race bike decked out in colours that match the team's Rapha jersey.

Like last year, the SuperSix Evo is the LAB71 model, which uses the US brand's lightest grade of carbon, while the SuperSlice will be used for the TTs. Both bikes are decked out in Shimano Dura-Ace with FSA chainsets, Vision wheels, Vittoria rubber and Prologo saddles.

Groupama - FDJ

Bikes: Wilier Filante SLR / 0 SLR / Supersonica (TT)

Wheels: Shimano

For the 2024 season, Groupama - FDJ has replaced Lapierre bikes with those made by Wilier. This means the French team will have the choice of the Filante SLR, the 0 SLR and the new TT bike, the Supersonica, developed in conjunction with team rider Stefan Küng, in France. 

Küng will be hoping to make an impression in the stage 7 time trial from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin, as will David Gaudu in the race for the GC top-10. They'll be doing so supported by tech from Shimano, in the shape of groupsets and wheels, alongside Continental tires and Prologo saddles.

INEOS Grenadiers

Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F / Bolide (TT)

Ineos have been spotted riding what looks like a new Dogma F and it's likely this will the bike that they ride across the three weeks in France. As usual the Pinarello frameset will be accompanied by MOST bars and Shimano wheels and groupsets, with the Princeton CarbonWorks hoops dropped for the '24 season.

While team lineups have yet to be confirmed, the 'penciled in' combination of Tom Pidcock, Carlos Rodriguez, Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas should translate to bags of airtime for the Dogma F, whether its an updated model or not.

Intermarché - Wanty

Bikes: Cube Litening C:68X Pro / C:68X Air / Aerium (TT)

Wheels: Newmen Advanced SL

It's business as usual for the Belgian outfit when it comes to team equipment. Like last year they'll be riding Cube bikes and will again chose between the Litening C:68X Pro and Air depending on the stage profile, while the Aerium will be used for both time trials. The groupset is again Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, with wheels supplied by Newmen, tires by Conti and saddles by Prologo. 

Israel - Premier Tech

Bikes: Factor Ostro VAM / 02 VAM / Hanzo (TT)

Wheels: Black Inc

The IPT outfit will head to France with a similar looking quiver as last year. With Factor remaining as it bike supplier riders such Dylan Teuns and Pascal Ackermann will have the choice of the Ostro VAM and O2 VAM for road stages - the former is the aero bike, the later the climbing model - alongside the Hanzo for those two stages against the clock. Once again it's Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 taking care of the shifting, with Factor's in-house component brand Black Inc supplying the wheels and cockpit.

Lidl - Trek

Bikes: Trek Émonda SLR / Madone SLR / Speed Concept (TT)

Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus

Leaks of a new Trek race bike mean that the Lidl-Trek team could be aboard something other than the Gen 7 Madone SLR that Mads Pedersen rode to victory in Stage 8 of last year's race. As for the time trials things appear to be unchanged with Trek's Speed Concept TT bike in play.

Pedersen and teammates will be supported by the new SRAM Red AXS groupset, Bontrager wheels and finishing kit and Pirelli tires. Could it be a combination that add to the US-based teams already impressive total of 27 victories this season?

Lotto Dstny

Bikes: Orbea Orca Aero, Orca / Ordu (TT)

Wheels: Oquo

It will be rather odd not to see the Lotto Dstny team on Ridley bikes at this year's race. The Belgium outfit broke from its 12-year partnership at the beginning of the '24 season, moving to a deal with Basque-based Orbea. The switch means the team will have the Orca Aero, the Orca and Ordu at their disposal, equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace groupsets, Orbea-inhouse Oquo wheels, Vittoria tires and Selle Italia saddles. 

Movistar Team

Bikes: Canyon Aeroad CFR / Speedmax CF SLX (TT)

Wheels: Zipp

Movistar's equipment remains fairly similar for this year's tour, although they could be another team riding what appears to be a new Aeroad if recent leaks are anything to go by. Outside of Canyon framesets and cockpits, it's once again SRAM Red AXS groupsets, sister-brand Zipp's range of wheels, Continental tires and Fizik saddles. However the eagle-eyed among you might notice a change in pedals, with the Spanish outfit moving from Look to Time.

Soudal Quick-Step

Bikes: Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 / Roubaix / Shiv (TT)

While Remco Evenepoel's early season crash has disrupted the team's TdF plans they'll at least head to the race on familiar equipment. Once again it's dominated by Specialized and its in-house Roval brand. The Tarmac SL8 will do the lion's share of the work, with the Shiv used against the clock. Spesh and Roval supply the wheels, tires and finishing kit, with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 the groupset of choice.

If Evenepoel fails to ignite the GC race, expect to see the Belgian star turn his attention to stage hunting, with the last day's TT also right up his alley. Either way, expect to see plenty of the SL8 decked out in Soudal Quick-Step colours.

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL

Bikes: Scott Foil RC / Plasma 5 (TT)

While Team dsm-firmenich PostNL will once again be riding Scott bikes in France, they'll be decked out in an attractive new colourway for the 11th edition of the race. Road stages will see the Foil RC in action, while the Plasma 5 will report for duty for the time trials. Shimano are suppliers of both groupset - Dura-Ace Di2 naturally - and wheels, while Syncros take care of the finishing kit and Vittoria the tires.

In Roman Bardet and Warren Barguil the team has two French favourites as well as riders who'll be looking to get in to plenty of breakaways when the roads start to point up. For sprint stages, expect Fabio Jakobsen to be involved. Combined it should mean a fair amount of coverage for one of the best-looking bikes in the peloton.

Team Jayco AlUla

Bikes: Giant Propel Advanced SL / TCR Advanced SL  / Trinity Advanced Pro (TT)

Wheels: Cadex 36, 42, 65

The three-pronged attack of Simon Yates, Michael Matthews and Dylan Groenewegen should see the Aussie team competitive across a range of stages at the year's race. If so it means plenty of opportunity to enjoy both the Giant Propel and TCR Advanced race bikes - the latter has just won CW's Climbing Bike of the Year award - as well as the brand's Trinity Advanced Pro TT machine. What's more the new team colours have translated to some beautiful looking framesets.

All three will be equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, Cadex wheels and finishing kit and Continental tires. 

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

Bikes: Cervélo R5 Disc / S5 / P5 (TT)

Wheels: Reserve 52/63

Defending the yellow jersey won't come easy, especially with Jonas Vingegarrd's preparation derailed with a horrific early season crash. However the Dane will be attempting a hat-trick of TdF wins using tried-and-tested equipment. Again he'll be aboard Cervélo's trio of bikes, the R5, the S5  and the P5 (TT). SRAM again provides the groupset in the shape of its newly-updated Red AXS, with Reserve and Continental supplying the wheels and tires respectively. 

TotalEnergies

Bikes: ENVE Melee / Specialized Shiv (TT)

Wheels: ENVE

Despite no longer having the services of Peter Sagan at is disposal TotalEnergies remains an interesting proposition in France. This time around however it's due largely to the bike the French team will be racing - the Enve Melee . It's CW's Most Desirable Bike of the Year, and it's a real head turner. Naturally the frame is decked out with wheels and finishing kit from the Utah-based carbon specialists, while the groupset is supplied by Shimano. 

UAE Team Emirates

Bikes: Colnago V4Rs / TT1 (TT)

While the Tour de France throws up many compelling storylines each year, this race will likely be dominated by Tadej Pogačar's pursuit of the Giro-Tour double. If he achieves it, he'll be the first man since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both Grand Tours in the same season, and only the eighth rider in history to do so. 

He'll be attempting the remarkable feat aboard Colnago's elegant V4Rs race bike, equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, ENVE bars and wheels, Pirelli tires and a Prologo saddle. But UAE are far from a one-man team, with Adam Yates and João Almeida's impressive showing in the recent Tour de Suisse proof that Pog will have ample support in the mountains.

Uno-X Mobility

Bikes: Dare VSRu / TSRf (TT)

Wheels: DT Swiss

Uno-X Mobility's Dare VSRu is likely the most unfamiliar bike in the peloton. The direct-to-consumer brand will again be supplying the team with both its VSRu and TSRf models, for road and TT stages respectively. The bikes will equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupsets, fitted with CeramicSpeed jockey wheels, DT Swiss wheels and Schwalbe tires.

However, any team that features Magnus Cort in the line-up should receive plenty of exposure. The Dane, who recently won a stage at the '24 Dauphiné, will be looking to add to his two Tdf stages, with the last coming in 2022.

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The tour de france is mystifying; so is the business of cycling.

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Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images

The Tour de France, the most elite bike race in the world, kicks off this Saturday. 176 of the best cyclists in the world will race nearly 2,200 miles across 21 stages and climb over 170,000 feet of elevation into the clouds of the highest mountains in the Pyrenees and Alps. The effort involved can be mind-boggling. So can the business side of cycling.

The Regulator and the Promoter

There are numerous actors and entities involved in professional cycling and their complex interrelationships underlie races like the Tour.

The sport of cycling is regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), a non-governmental, non-profit association, based in Switzerland, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the governing body for cycling. The UCI, like all international governing bodies in sports, is governed by a complex hierarchy of committees and executives from around the world.

The UCI is responsible for organizing, regulating, and sanctioning cycling events of various kinds for both men and women of different ages all over the world. The WorldTour is the UCI’s elite professional men’s road cycling tour. Teams and riders participate in races on the WorldTour calendar and earn points and are ranked based on their performance. The Tour de France, as one would expect, is a major contributor to those rankings.

The Tour itself is put on by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), a French sports marketing and event management organization. The ASO’s crown jewel is the Tour de France but it organizes 29 other cycling events, including several important preparatory races for the Tour (such as the Critérium du Dauphiné), the Vuelta a España (another Grand Tour), as well as the Paris Marathon. It also operates the week-long Tour de France Femmes for women in August.

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To be clear, the ASO and UCI are separate entities with sometimes divergent interests. The ASO organizes nine of the 35 races on the WorldTour calendar and understandably seeks to maximize interest and revenue associated with its events, most of which take place in France. Of particular note, the ASO controls and sells the broadcast rights to the Tour to networks around the world. While the specifics of those deals are not clear, they certainly bring in tens of millions of dollars a year to the ASO. Perhaps not surprisingly, the ASO and UCI have long-standing disputes over who controls the sport and reaps any related financial benefits.

Aside from the Tour, the remaining WorldTour events are organized by a variety of parties, including the UCI and organizers in the many countries where races take place.

The WorldTour calendar does not include any events in the United States. The Tour of Utah (2004-19), Tour of California (2006-19), and USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado (2011-15) were former races that attracted some of the best riders in the world. Nevertheless, the organizers ultimately found them financially unsustainable.

The next group worth mentioning are the teams. To the uninitiated, it might be confusing that cycling has teams, since only a single rider can win a race. However, teams are just as essential to victory in cycling as they are in soccer, football, or any other team sport.

Professional cycling teams consist of approximately 30 riders, eight of whom are chosen to be a part of the Tour de France roster. The composition of that roster will depend on the team’s goals. A handful of teams will have a rider they believe capable of winning the Tour de France’s General Classification (GC), signified by the yellow jersey. So the roster will be constructed toward that goal, including by stocking the roster with elite climbers and other riders (collectively known as domestiques) who can support the leader in a variety of ways.

The best teams protect their elite riders by encircling them and keeping them near the front of the race to minimize the chances of crashes. Elite domestiques will lead their stars up the mountains, breaking the wind and chasing down any attacks from competitors.

Other teams are formed around sprinters who try to win flat stages and win the green (points) jersey. Here too the team is tremendously important. In the closing miles of flat stages, the teams with the best sprinters push to the front, often hitting speeds of 40-50 miles per hour. The team’s riders will “lead-out” the sprinter by giving their maximum effort before dropping off and unleashing the sprinter toward the finish line. The Manx sprinter Mark Cavendish has 34 all time Tour de France stage wins, tied for the most all time, in large part due to the incredible lead-out teams he has had in his career.

If your team has neither a GC rider or a sprinter, it might try to win the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey or to win individual stages via creative and aggressive racing strategies.

There are 18 WorldTour teams and 17 ProTour teams. ProTour teams have smaller budgets, staffs, and schedules than their WorldTour counterparts. Beginning with the 2022 season, every three years the two lowest performing WorldTour teams are relegated to the ProTour and the top two ProTour teams are promoted to the WorldTour.

The idea of a “team” though is often remarkably in flux. Teams are identified by their corporate sponsors, which fund the vast majority of a team’s budget, ranging from about $ 10 to $40 million . Sponsorship contracts with teams are often only one or two years and renewals are closely tied to team performance. Consequently, on an annual basis, some teams are desperately looking to retain or find new sponsors in order to keep the team going another year or to avoid being relegated. Inevitably, some teams fold or merge with other teams. Team finances have historically been so shaky that the UCI Regulations require each WorldTour team to obtain a guarantee from a bank to fund its operations.

Additionally, the teams conduct some joint efforts through an organization known as the Association Internationale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels (AIGCP), discussed further below. Nevertheless, the AIGCP has no role in organizing races and has minimal influence. Moreover, teams operate out of numerous countries and thus often have cultural differences of opinion on various issues (doping being a notable historical example).

Finally, we get to the riders. Cyclists are represented by the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA), a non-profit association, but not a labor union under the law of any country.

The CPA negotiates “ Joint Agreements ” with the AIGCP setting forth some minimum terms and conditions of employment, including various insurance coverages. Cycling is a physically grueling sport, where the term “ suffering ” is a point of pride. Unfortunately, most cyclists are not terribly well-paid for their efforts.

The current agreement sets the 2024 minimum salary for a WorldTeam rider at € 68,957 (about $74,300) for veterans and € 55,793 ($60,100) for rookies. ProTeam veterans and rookies are entitled to a minimum of € 55,279 ($59,600) and € 46,234 ($49,800), respectively.

Of course, the stars of the sport make considerably more. Two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar earns a reported € 6 million ($6.47 million) from his team, UAE Team Emirates.

Yet, like the AIGCP, the CPA has little control over the sport, with minimal leverage to negotiate with the ASO or UCI. Indeed, the height of rider authority has been the occasional instance in which the riders “ neutralize ” a race stage due to unsafe conditions, meaning that they collectively agree to ride to the finish line at a moderate pace without contest.

Pogačar is favored to win this year’s Tour, with steep competition expected from fellow Slovenian Primoz Roglic of Bora-Hansgrohe and Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (also a two-time Tour winner) of Visma-Lease a Bike if he is able to overcome recent injuries. Otherwise, some of those involved in the Tour will win more than others.

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Something to Stand for with Mike Rowe

Join America's favorite storyteller on an epic journey to the heart of Washington DC. This cinematic tour de force will take viewers to the frontlines of the American Revolution, World War I... Read all Join America's favorite storyteller on an epic journey to the heart of Washington DC. This cinematic tour de force will take viewers to the frontlines of the American Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and more. Join America's favorite storyteller on an epic journey to the heart of Washington DC. This cinematic tour de force will take viewers to the frontlines of the American Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and more.

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• June 27, 2024 (United States)
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How Did We Learn to Talk? We Can’t Say for Sure.

In “The Language Puzzle,” the archaeologist Steven Mithen asks exactly how our species started speaking.

By Dennis Duncan

Dennis Duncan is the author of “Index, A History of the.”

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THE LANGUAGE PUZZLE: Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved , by Steven Mithen

If you stand on the rock of Edinburgh Castle on a clear day and look due north toward the Firth of Forth, you can make out the small island of Inchkeith, about three miles out to sea. It was to this island, in 1493, that James IV banished two infant children, with only a mute nurse for company, to be raised in silent isolation. The king hoped that, when the children came of age, this experiment would reveal the original, Edenic language of Adam and Eve, uncontaminated by modern chatter.

The results, let’s say, were inconclusive. An early historian, writing in Scots, offers contemporary gossip — “some sayis they spak goode hebrew” — before quickly disavowing any firm opinion on the matter.

This is just one of several near-identical language deprivation experiments reportedly carried out by various despotic rulers over the centuries. Many of these stories are probably apocryphal, but they point to an ongoing curiosity that is very real. Where did language first come from, and what was the first language like? These questions are addressed by archaeologist Steven Mithen in “The Language Puzzle.”

Speculation on the matter was so rife, and often so wild, that on March 8, 1866, the Société de Linguistique de Paris issued a set of statutes which notably declared that they would no longer enter into any communication concerning the origins of language. This ban has been credited with putting an ancient field of inquiry into hibernation for over a century — an exaggeration, perhaps, but one that carries a germ of truth.

Many scholars had come to realize that the question of how language had evolved was itself so inherently complex, and crossed so many of the specialist disciplines into which academia divides itself, that anyone claiming to have the answer was likely to be a quack.

Since the end of the last century, however, we have begun to see serious, multiple-component approaches to the topic that draw together evidence from different branches of learning. Mithen has a useful metaphor for the way in which the question must be tackled: The puzzle in his title is a jigsaw. The picture we are after, of language evolution, will only reveal itself if we place all the different pieces in the right configuration, bringing together evidence from linguistics, archaeology, anthropology, genetics, neuroscience, psychology and ethology (the science of animal behavior).

What King James didn’t realize — but what should seem obvious to us in a post-Darwin world — is that language did not appear fully formed as one item from a small menu of available options. “Fully modern language,” as Mithen calls it, is the endpoint of an evolutionary process that stretches back to the lip-smacks, pant-hoots and kiss-squeaks of chimpanzees and other primates. Along the way, it acquires the possibility of combining multiple noises into phrases, the capacities to represent things that are not immediately present and to use metaphor.

At the same time, developments in the vocal tract allowed for a vastly increased palette of potential sounds. English uses 44 distinct phonemes; the Taa language of Botswana has 144.

A key piece of Mithen’s jigsaw is the divergence of hominids and chimpanzees. Fossil evidence of variations in brain size and vocal tract shape between Homo sapiens, Neanderthal man, Homo erectus and so on down the family tree allows for the speculative dating of some of those linguistic leaps. Mithen is especially good at describing humankind’s differentiation and migration over the last three million years, and this early chapter is a tour de force of terse, fascinating clarity.

The same cannot be said of all of them, unfortunately. In Mithen’s jigsaw there are a lot of specialist disciplines that necessarily need to be unpacked for the general reader. Sometimes, however, he provides more detail than we subsequently need. “The Language Puzzle” contains many memorable passages, but I will struggle to recall exactly how nucleotides model proteins, or the precise distinctions between the hand tools of the Lower Paleolithic period.

Occasionally, one senses that the puzzle pieces have been clipped slightly or jammed in to fit the picture; many of these disciplines have not settled into consensus to quite the extent that the author suggests.

Take the idea of sound symbolism, the proposition that certain sounds in words have a non-arbitrary relationship to their meaning: the onomatopoeia. Certainly this idea, discredited for most of the 20th century, now has a significant body of well-evidenced support. Nevertheless, if one were to ask a straw poll of academic linguists how seriously they take sound symbolism, one would find that the matter is by no means as unanimously resolved as Mithen needs it to be. But by and large, he is an honest commentator.

Mithen is not averse to taking sides in debates that are still open. Phrases like “I am aligned with” or “in my opinion” pepper the text. As a consequence, the picture revealed in the final chapter is only a hypothetical one — “my best shot,” as Mithen puts it. Nevertheless, it is a remarkable, vivid set piece: a montage that runs from the barks and coos of forest-dwelling primates to the grammatical written language you are reading now.

No doubt, aspects of Mithen’s picture will need to be redrawn. It is, by his own admission, only the snapshot of a moment in a debate that will continue as the underlying sciences come into greater definition. Thankfully, this time the learned societies of Paris will not forbid the discussion from continuing.

THE LANGUAGE PUZZLE : Piecing Together the Six-Million-Year Story of How Words Evolved | By Steven Mithen | Basic Books | 534 pp. | $36

'That guy's pretty legit': Skenes' tour de force continues

John Perrotto

PITTSBURGH -- Paul Skenes was sensational yet again on Sunday. However, the Pirates' rookie right-hander wound up with a no-decision.

Skenes pitched one-run ball over a career-high seven innings, but the Rays scored twice in the eighth inning to rally for a 3-1 victory at PNC Park.

The Pirates (37-40) dropped two of three to the Rays (38-40) in the series.

The Rays’ lone run off Skenes came quickly, as Yandy Díaz hit the first pitch of the game, a fastball, off the right-field foul pole for his sixth home run of the season. Josh Lowe followed with a double, but Skenes left him stranded and the Rays were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position against the 22-year-old.

Skenes allowed six hits in his 98-pitch outing while striking out eight and walking one. He retired his final 11 batters, and his final pitch was a 101.5 mph fastball to strike out Alex Jackson.

“He was really good,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Skenes. “Obviously they came out with a game plan to attack the fastball, to attack the four-seamer. Right from jump street he gave up one run and it was on a ball that if it was two inches to the right it’s a foul ball. I mean, he threw the ball really well.”

Skenes certainly didn’t get rattled by the home run.

“I saw it up in the air and thought, ‘There is no way,’” Skenes said. “I didn’t think he hit it very hard. I didn’t notice which way the wind was blowing or anything like that. I’m not going to say that was the only reason, because he got that ball enough to hit it out, but I kind of just laughed when I saw it hit the foul pole. I was like, ‘Good for you.’”

A day earlier, Pirates rookie Jared Jones beat the Rays by holding them to two runs in seven innings.

"That guy's pretty legit,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Skenes. “Yandy’s home run, I’m happy for him. But [Skenes] is really talented. ... The last two guys that they’ve had, they're as good a 1-2 combination as we’ve maybe seen this year."

Skenes has 61 strikeouts, the seventh-most by an MLB pitcher through his first eight career appearances since at least 1901, according to research by MLB.com researcher and reporter Sarah Langs. Skenes follows Herb Score (77), Jose DeLeon (73), Kerry Wood (72), Stephen Strasburg (68), Masahiro Tanaka (66) and Nolan Ryan (64).

Skenes lowered his ERA to 2.14 and has allowed just eight walks. The only other pitcher in MLB history with at least 60 strikeouts and fewer than 10 walks through eight starts was Tanaka with the 2014 Yankees.

Skenes did get into a couple more jams but deftly escaped them.

The Rays loaded the bases in the third inning with one out, but Skenes got Isaac Paredes to ground into a double play. An inning later, the Rays had runners on first and second with one out, yet Skenes again thwarted the rally by striking out Taylor Walls and getting Jackson to fly out.

Have the latest news, ticket information, and more from the Tigers and MLB delivered right to your inbox.

However, Colin Holderman (3-1) gave up two runs in the eighth inning as the Rays rallied. Holderman had a 0.68 ERA through 28 appearances entering the game and had not allowed multiple runs in an outing since his season debut.

Randy Arozarena snapped the tie with a sacrifice fly and Richie Palacios added insurance with an RBI single. Diaz and Lowe opened the inning with singles, the third hit of the day for both.

“It’s tough,” Holderman said. “That’s all I want to do: get in there and keep it going and give us a chance to win the ballgame. [Skenes] pitched his heart out, especially in the first inning -- he had some traffic and just dialed it in. That speaks to his maturity, especially for his age. He did his job. At the end of the day, he covered a lot of innings and helped the bullpen out. We just didn’t get it done in the back end.”

Bryan Reynolds led off the fourth inning with a home run, his 12th of the season, off Aaron Civale to tie the score at 1.

Reynolds had two of the Pirates’ three hits to run his hitting streak to 20 games. It is tied with Nate McLouth (2007-08) for the Pirates’ longest hitting streak in the last 20 years.

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The Kind of Blue Tourbillon Is the Newest Timepiece To Join De Bethune's DB28XP Collection

Releasing in a limited run of 20 pieces..

De Bethune has unveiled its newest take on the DB28XP model. Dubbed the DB28XP Kind of Blue Tourbillon, the timepiece is an alluring amalgamation of the watchmaker’s DB28XP reference as well as the DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon.

Presented in De Bethune’s distinctive silhouette, the 43mm-wide timepiece comes in a polished case crafted blued Grade 5 titanium. Measuring 9.1mm in thickness, the reference lives up to the watchmaker’s pursuit for ultra-thinness as materialized through the debut of the DB28XP model back in 2020.

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Tour De Force Paperback – 1 May 1982

• Book 6 of 7 The Inspector Cockrill Mysteries
• Language English
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• Publication date 1 May 1982
• ISBN-10 0060805722
• ISBN-13 978-0060805722
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harpercollins (1 May 1982)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060805722
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