CyclistTour in focus: The trials and tribulations of a photographer at the Tour de FranceAs the most photographed, most photogenic sporting event on Earth, the Tour de France presents a unique challenge to photographers looking to capture a new take on mountains, roads and riders that have, for the most part, been seen many times before.Australian photographer Zac Williams has been documenting the worlds most famous cycling race since 2019 but despite his growing experience, getting where he needs to be isnt getting any easier. Related Posts Which bike brands, groupsets and wheels won the most at Grand Tours in 2024? Nine of the best moments from the Tour de France 2024 The 21 best photos from the Tour de France 2024 Who are Britains future Tour de France stars? Access and bureaucracy are a huge problem, Williams tells Cyclist. As a photographer Im not there to take down a rider or block a TV camera if I do it ruins my career so its a case of, Please Monsieur Gendarme, can I just shoot this one angle? Every year there are more rules and more people trying to enforce them, so that keeps you on your toes.Theres something of a power struggle between the race organisers, teams, riders and sponsors over how many media commitments will be fulfilled, despite it clearly being in the interest of the sport of cycling. And in this post-Covid world, some issues linger on with photographers proximity to the riders.The powers that be started to enforce masks on photographers when it was 40C in the south of France. I do get it, but Im not getting any closer than the drunk people on the side of the road setting off flares and screaming in the riders faces. Im just trying to show their personalities and who they are as people, which will hopefully allow potential fans to relate more easily to them and to the sport.With the advent of social media and diversified cycling content such as the Netflix series Tour de France: Unchained, it would seem we have more access to riders than ever, and Williams thinks we shouldnt take it for granted.The more I know about them as people, the more Im going to cheer for them. Tadej Pogaar has nailed it. Hes back-flipping into the pool on the rest day. Magnus Cort is showing us the awful hotel rooms he has to stay in, and Matteo Jorgensen was incredibly vulnerable and open after losing that devastating stage to Pogaar. You cant script that kind of raw human stuff and providing access is essential for the sports future.In order to make his own contribution to this coverage, Williams is happy to do a bit of roughing it over the course of the three weeks.I travel with a few of my colleagues and we camp. Its nice how simple it is compared to staying in hotels. At times it is diabolically hot or pouring with rain, but then you might get a sunset over the campsite. One time we were staying in a site outside of Nmes and there was a foam party with a DJ playing to loads of kids in rural France. Totally bizarre. Other times theres barely a tap.Proper planning preventsThe scale of the Tour de France is legendary so its very much a case of fail to prepare, prepare to fail. As Williams stresses, photographers must toe the line to stay on the right side of the authorities.You can drive in front of the race and behind the broom wagon, but if you get caught inside the convoy your accreditation goes in the bin and its game over. Its not worth the risk. Plus, our car was registered in the UK so the police disliked us before wed even opened our mouths. Overall, the Tour is just chaos. Its bigger than anything else. You forget how big it is. The number of vehicles and generators and trucks is wild.Planning is essential, especially for photographers who arent on official motos. They need to navigate their way around the course and are extremely limited in terms of where they can stop. As with anything, though, luck will occasionally trump hours of planning.On the last stage of the Tour I managed to get a shot of Pogaar hugging his photographer him just beaming, covered in sweat and a bottle of water pouring down his face. Hes looking straight down the barrel of my camera. That was dead lucky.You get lucky and unlucky every day with bits and pieces; you just have to keep putting yourself in the right situations and hope it comes off.Main image (top): Back in 2019, covering my first ever Tour de France, I shot Julian Alaphilippe at this exact same angle on the same descent of the Col du Galibier, and it was the first image I thought was up to scratch. This is the defining image of this years race because this was the day Tadej Pogaar went into yellow and he stayed there for the rest of the race. It was personally important for me to get the opportunity to go back to the same spot.Zac WilliamsThis was at the end of Stage 3, which Biniam Girmay won. I love the extra mile this guys gone to to create a papier-mch hat depicting climbers spiralling around his head. He looked at me and didnt seem fazed you cant have that on your head and not expect to get attention.Zac WilliamsWhen Mark Cavendish got his record-breaking 35th Tour win on Stage 5, I just had a weird feeling he was going to do it. As soon as he came into view around the corner I knew he had it. Just incredible the highlight of the Tour for me and I felt very privileged to shoot it. And Jasper Philipsen is actually trying to congratulate him there, he just happens to be pulling a weird face.Zac WilliamsThe only nice section on the Stage 7 time-trial was in the Burgundy vineyards and it was just a few kilometres before the end so the riders were really in the red by this point. We were camping, so I got my camp chair out, sat there and just hoped for the best. In the end I was pleased with the variety I got, with the vines and Wout van Aert heading into them.Zac WilliamsThat gravel stage [Stage 9] was probably my favourite stage to shoot because you could really chase it like you do at Roubaix or Flanders. Geraint Thomas was in survival mode for most of the Tour and here hes clinging on in the bunch with a helicopter looming over him, which is always a nice little bonus for me. It feels like Christmas for a photographer.Zac WilliamsThis was Romain Bardets version of Pinot Corner: Bardet Bend. Its on the Pas de Peyrol [Stage 11] and its his backyard. Theres a big poster of him on top of the climb and his name is written all over the road all year round. The fans were pretty lubricated but the atmosphere was respectful: the perfect balance of a bit crazy and some good clean partying.Zac WilliamsThis is Biniam Girmay winning his third sprint [Stage 12]. The contrast between his raw delight and the universal disgruntlement behind him is perfect. He just seems like the most humble bloke supporting all the riders and encouraging his team so it was a pleasure to be on the line to get this one.Zac WilliamsThis is Ben Healy descending the Tourmalet on Stage 14. I included the ridge at the bottom to swap some dead space for a bit of texture and I think it draws the viewer in. It borders the image and gives a sense of the curve and gradient of the road, while the pink of EF Education-EasyPost is a great contrast to the stony and grassy hues.Zac WilliamsThis was a crosswinds stage that Philipsen won [Stage 13]. Id lined up this shot against a dilapidated wall and just as the riders arrived this little girl walks in front of my camera. I thought, Youve got to be kidding me. But when I was editing it ended up being a nice shot the yellow hat fully makes it. She did me a solid there.Zac WilliamsOn the Col de Noyer [Stage 17] this spot was like a natural amphitheatre. Remco Evenepoel is trying to close down Pogaar having just passed Jonas Vingegaard. As a non-motorbike photographer, its rare to see the riders attacking, but here Pogaar did and I saw the whole thing. Theres a bit of the Lance Armstrong-Jan Ullrich The Look atmosphere to this one.Zac WilliamsThis is pretty much the final showdown between Vingegaard and Pogaar [Col de la Couillole, Stage 20]. I hated that day. It was such hard work, this was not the best-looking climb and, as usual, the police were being so tough about where we could stand. But as a photographer you tend to remember the pain you had to go through to get the shot.Zac WilliamsI almost didnt make it to the podium because the gendarmes were at it again. Wed shot the TT finish line [Stage 21] but got stopped at a wall of bureaucracy trying to get into the podium area. Just as we were about to miss out, the big boss comes out and tells security to let us through. UAE throwing Pogaar in the air was cool and really bookended the energy and sense of achievement surrounding the final day.Zac WilliamsPersonally I think the finish in Nice couldve been handled better. A sprint stage on the Promenade des Anglais would have been wild a chance for Cav to say goodbye to a race hes defined in the 21st century. But they did sent out the French Red Arrows, which was cool. This article originally appeared in issue 156 of Cyclist magazine. Click here to subscribe Related Posts Which bike brands, groupsets and wheels won the most at Grand Tours in 2024? 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