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The Contest Before The Race

By We Love Cycling

It’s not easy to become a podium girl.

About 500 girls, mostly models, apply each year and of those 500, only 50 are brought in for an interview, where finally four are selected to present the yellow jersey. There are other categories in the event for which hostesses are chosen to present jerseys like the red polka-dot jersey for the best climber, the green jersey for the best sprinter and the white jersey for the youngest leader. If you‘ve ever watched the Tour, you may have already noticed some of these sexy podium girls

The girls have to pass a rigorous selection process before they get the chance to smile and kiss.

Cycling : 100th Tour de France 2013 / Stage 13
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

The Tour itself is an enormous accomplishment for all podium girls.

Cycling : 100th Tour de France 2013 / Stage 4
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

The hardest thing about being a podium girl is maintaining a spotless image.

Cycling : 100th Tour de France 2013 / Stage 6
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

Slovakian Sprinter Peter Sagan gets kissed on the cheek and receives the green jersey.

Cycling : 100th Tour de France 2013 / Stage 4
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

The podium girls also hostess the starting and finishing villages.

Cycling : 99th Tour de France 2012 / Stage 9
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

For many, the podium girls are reason enough to tune in to watch the highlights.

Cycling : 99th Tour de France 2012 / Stage 8
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

Pretty women are as much a part of the Tour as the yellow jersey.

Cycling : 99th Tour de France 2012 / Stage 9
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

The Tour is once a year, so it can’t be a regular job, thus most of them are students.

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(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

The girls present stage awards and serve as ambassadors for various race sponsors.

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(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

Netherland’s Robert Gesink kisses a hostess on the lips even though they are forbidden to do so.

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(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

Text: Pavel Eichler