Why we're getting excited about the Tour de France a whole year early

Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, cycles with the peloton past the Arc de Triomphe during the final stage of last year's Tour de France (Picture: Anne-Christine Poujoulat) | AFP via Getty Images

On Saturday, the Tour de France begins in Barcelona, Spain, which is exciting. Well, yes, you say, for cycling fans (which you may or may not be).

We would remind you that there really are an awful lot of cycling fans. The Tour is apparently one of the world’s most watched sporting events, with a staggering 3.5 billion viewers. (Can that be right? That seems like a lot.) Yes, you reply, but why should we be excited?

READ MORE: Free TV deal struck for Edinburgh Tour de France Grand Départ

Well, events in Barcelona mean it’s now just under a year until the ‘Grand Départ’ from Edinburgh! That’s right, this massive event is coming to Scotland. We feel you now may be thinking, “OK, we’ll start getting into it a bit closer to the time”, which would be fair enough.

However, there’s another reason to get excited. Because the arrival of these elite athletes, their ultralight bikes, and the world’s cameras means that certain roads, in Edinburgh and beyond, are set to become as smooth as silk, with nary a dimple, let alone a pothole. Be sure to enjoy it while you can.