Robert Millar: Now there are five contenders for the Tour de France, not four

In the days before colour televisions, rest-day tactics used to involve staying in the hotel room with the curtains pulled and a menu of apples to survive the day. Why apples? Well, the theory, and bear with me here, is that they suppress the appetite and therefore the poor rider who had been eating 6000 calories per day wouldn't be tempted to overdo it and eat too much before the mountain stages.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Robert Millar was one of the last pure climbers of the Tour de France, winning several stages in the mountain stages and finishing fourth overall in 1984. He is also the only English speaker to have ever won the prestigious polka-dot jersey climber's competition jersey.

Millar retired in 1995 but has continued to follow the sport closely. He was often critical of the media and quickly cuts through the excuses and spin to understand why and how riders win and lose.