My Velo-team is down to 5 riders, I heard that the real Lotto Soudal team is down to 4 riders.
I have opinions about the end-of-stage presentations. Instead of random pretty people as assistants, I propose...
Stage Win presentation: get 2nd & 3rd rider up there, too
White Jersey: get young athletes (age 16+) from *local high schools up there, chosen for commitment to their sport (sb)
Green Jersey: get young athletes (age 16+) from *local high schools up there, chosen for teamwork (sb)
Yellow Jersey: get top 3 in GC up there
Polkadots: get high achieving athletes from *local cycling clubs up there (all age, maybe not sb)
Red numbers/combativity: get young athletes (age 16+) from *local high schools up there, voted for by peers based on how much they inspire their peers, winner chosen as % of eligible voter pool at each eligible school (group or exclude tiny schools, sb)
*local = pupils/club members within 20 miles of stage finish
(sb) = sex balanced
Each assistant vacancy will result in one winner & one runner up (reserve) in each sex
Every assistant to conform to a smart black dress code except the a actual TdF riders & local club riders who get to wear their local jersey/cycling kit -
Heart of applications is 1 page Written statement from people who'd like to be considered as podium assistants, stating how they achieved or demonstrated great teamwork etc.
Local process to come up with shortlists for nominees for each stage ; applicants can apply for just one category in each stage finish assistant contest, and can apply for multiple stages.
Short listed Written statements to be anonymised (name & region) & read and ranked by small panels of assessors based outside the region; ie Province panel members would assess Paris or Brittany applicants - places not Province or adjacent province applicants.
I think I'm a genius... ha!
Better than random pretty "assistants" whose masked faces we can't see anyway.