frtour1-3, Exercise 1: Why the mountains mattered

Model answer (check the details):

1. Drama: on the flat, the field stays together and differences are small. In the mountains a rider can lose many minutes in one climb, so the race can swing in a day. The result was a contest that was exciting to follow.
2. Different riders: climbers (grimpeurs), who are light and strong uphill, could now win against heavier riders. The race became a test of different abilities, not only stamina.
3. New audiences and places: the race went to remote regions and drew crowds to the passes. Local people could see the riders slowly climbing, and newspapers had stories of suffering and heroism to tell, which became legend (Lapize, Christophe).

Also: the mountains brought danger, with steep descents and bad roads, and forced changes in equipment (gears, brakes) and rules (repairs, assistance).

Care: the dates of the first climbs should be checked in a standard history.