Our trip began with a chance to meet the Tudor Pro Cycling riders. They rolled in straight from training, relaxed but sharp, already thinking about the course. Later, in the subterranean car park beneath Hotel 71, we were shown the workshop: rows of bikes worth thousands apiece, mechanics tuning, polishing, preparing. A hidden paddock carved out of concrete, the quiet backbone of the sport.
Dinner that evening was with Tudor and a handful of other journalists at Laurie Raphaël. It was polished dining, but the conversation stayed grounded—how a team operates at this level, what it means to link a watch brand with a sport that demands grit and repetition. FXD watches at the table looked at home: tough, precise, made for use.
Race day carried a nervous hum. The morning was cool, the sun cutting through by midday. From Tudor’s hospitality area we watched the peloton sweep past in waves of color before being ushered into support cars. Suddenly we were inside the race, tailing the four leaders as they pushed through the final laps. The speed was unreal, gaps opening and closing, gears clattering, the roar of the crowd swelling as they fought toward the finish.
Liam O’Donnell
2025-09-18 20:00:00