Story perspectives

Tour de France Slashes Photo Bikes, Pogacar Breaks Alpe Record

7/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

The 2026 Tour de France cut photography motorcycles from 18 to nine.
A photographer with a collective covered the team time trial, sprint stages and Orcières-Merlette finish.
He asked journalist Ryan to trigger a remote camera, which succeeded.
During stage 19, Richard Carapaz’s attack forced the photographer to hold the camera with hand, hanging onto bike and placing him among media for finish where Tadej Pogacar broke Marco Pantani’s Alpe d’Huez record.

History

Historical Context

Since the first live TV finish in 1948, the Tour de France expanded its broadcast arsenal—full road coverage began in 1963 and helicopters joined in 1959, prompting organizers to field dozens of motorbikes. Today Amaury Sport Organisation is cutting its photography-motorbike fleet from 18 to nine, echoing the long-standing tension between rider safety and growing media demands.

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Story summary

The 2026 Tour de France cut photography motorcycles from 18 to nine.
A photographer with a collective covered the team time trial, sprint stages and Orcières-Merlette finish.
He asked journalist Ryan to trigger a remote camera, which succeeded.
During stage 19, Richard Carapaz’s attack forced the photographer to hold the camera with hand, hanging onto bike and placing him among media for finish where Tadej Pogacar broke Marco Pantani’s Alpe d’Huez record.

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