Helmets Off: Rafal Majka

Poland’s rising star Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) won two stages at this year’s Tour de France: one in the Alps and one in the Pyrenees. The 24-year=old mountain goat is making his Tour debut– he was a last minute decision to join Alberto Contador’s team after Roman Kreuziger was temporarily suspended. And as luck would have it, he’s been the most successful member of the team so far and could end up in the top ten. On Stage 14, he earned his first professional victory after going solo on the final climb to Risoul. Four days later, he soloed to victory on the mountaintop of Pla d’Adet.

The face of pain at winning stage 14 at the Tour de France. Rafal Majka won stage 17 four days later. Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images Europe.

Wearing the best young rider jersey during several stages of the 2013 Giro d’Italia. Photo by Sirotti.

Finishing fourth overall in the 2013 Tour de Pologne. Photo by Reuters.

Photo by Andrzej Lange.

In October, he will marry his 23-year-old girlfriend Magda Smith. Photo by Super Express.

 

Helmets Off: Thibaut Pinot

Thibaut Pinot stole the best young rider’s white jersey away from his French countryman Romain Bardet in stage 16 at the Tour de France. Pinot (FDJ) finished more than two minutes ahead of Bardet (AG2R) in the 147-mile race that started in Carcassonne and ended in Bagneres-de-Luchon. The 24-year-old attacked on the brutal final climb of the Port de Balès. He set a blistering pace up and down the mountain that deservedly earned him the best young rider award.

Thibaut Pinot celebrates on the podium in the white jersey. Photo by AP.

Pinot at the 2013 Tour de France presentations. Here he is in a white shirt sitting next to suited Mark Cavendish, Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans. Photo by Andy Schleck.

Goofing off at the 2012 Tour de France. Photo by AP.

Pinot and his girlfriend Andrea Vannier before the first mountain stage of the 2013 Tour de France. Photo by Matthew de Martignac.

Helmets Off: Tony Gallopin

Tony Gallopin is France’s newest cycling star. After winning a stage at the Tour de France and wearing the yellow jersey for a day, Gallopin is dazzling us with his powerful kicks, breakaway courage and sparkling green eyes! He was born on May 24, 1988 in Dourdan, Île-de-France and now lives in Angerville. He raced for two years with the U.S. RadioShack team and this year signed on with the Belgian team Lotto-Belisol. You can bet the French teams will be making him offers for 2015! A Tour stage win at 26 years old! Chapeau!

Tony Gallopin held off a charging peloton to win Wednesday’s stage 11 at the Tour de France. Photo by Giant-Shimano.

Inside his team car after the race, Gallopin watches the replay of his stage 11 victory. Photo by team Lotto-Belisol.

While riding for the U.S. team RadioShack, Gallopin won the 2013 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian in Basque country. Photo by Sirotti.

Gallopin with his 22-year-old fiancee, pro cyclist Marion Rousse in 2012. The two are still an item and she is a commentator at this year’s Tour de France. Photo by Rousse.

Getting a well-deserved kiss from his girlfriend Marion Rousse after capturing the yellow jersey on July 13. Photo by Gautier Demouveaux/ASO.

Even in a black and white photo, his eyes sparkle. Photo by Gallopin.

 

Helmets Off: Alberto Contador

Alberto Contador crashed out of the Tour de France on Monday. It was a sad ending for the 36-year-old Spaniard, who was one of the favorites to win this year’s Tour. With all his bad luck in this race, he’s had a successful cycling career, which is far from over, but first he’ll have to heal his fractured leg. Bon chance, Alberto! We wish you a speedy recovery.

Alberto Contador is one of only seven cyclists to win the Triple Crown awarded to those who win all the three grand tours: the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España. Photo by Team Saxo-Tinkoff.

Like other pro cyclists before him, Alberto Contador was accused of doping allegations. The three-time Tour de France champion was stripped of his 2010 Tour victory and suspended for two years. But he quickly got back in the game. Photo by AP/Andres Kudacki.

Contador married his teenage sweetheart Macarena Pescador in his hometown of Pinto (Madrid) in Nov. 2011. Photo by Ana Sanchez.

At a press conference in 2009 to announce the comeback of Lance Armstrong on the Astana team with Contador. Both men put a good face on even though they were bitter rivals. Photo by Examiner.

Receiving congratulations from actor Tom Cruise during his 2010 Tour victory. Photo by Bauer Griffin.

Forget the European kiss on the cheeks, Contador goes right for the lips of actress Cameron Diaz. Photo by Bauer Griffin.

Nicknamed “the pistol,” Contador shows his signature victory salute. Photo by Tim de Waele.

Now a celebrity doing commercials and advertisements. Contador is said to be worth 15 million Euros, or 20 million U.S. dollars.

 

 

Helmets Off: Blel Kadri

Frenchman Blel Kadri won the first day in the mountains at the 2014 Tour de France. It was the 27-year-old’s most notable cycling career win. He was born in Bordeaux, loves rugby and appears to be a humbling, nice guy who is always smiling. Chapeau Kadri!

Rain drips off Kadri’s nose during rainy stage 8. Photo by PhotoSport.

Victory salute. Photo by ESPNUK.

Photo by Alexandre Marchi.

At Roma Maxima on March 3, 2013. Photo by Riccardo Scanferla.

After crashing in stage 2 at the Tour Down Under in Jan. 2013. And he’s still smiling. Photo by Ryan James.

Helmets Off: Marcel Kittel

In this new installation of my Le Tour Babe blog, I’d like to introduce you to “Helmets Off,” a look at riders behind the scenes of the Tour de France. This is an effort to get to know their true personalities. And let’s face it, we all look better without the brain buckets!

In honor of the Tour’s first stage winner, here’s a look at 25-year-old MARCEL KITTEL, born on 11/5/1988 in Arnstadt, Germany.

 

Marcel Kittel, on the far right, taking a selfie during the Tour team presentations on July 4.

Truely behind the scenes, Kittel gets a massage after a race as seen in this television news program. Ooo la la!