PARIS (AP) — Thibault Camus is based in Paris, France, and has been working with The Associated Press since 2007.
Here’s what he had to say about this extraordinary photo.
Why this photo?
This photo was taken during the final stage of the 21-stage Tour de France cycling race. These cyclists have traveled more than 3,000 kilometers. Due to the wildfires in southwestern France, the stage was shortened and the race took place only on the streets of Paris.
The 2026 edition was the fastest Tour de France ever; this year, the rider at the bottom of the rankings was just as fast as the 2020 winner — which is why I wanted to show just how fast the riders were.
In this photo, I’m standing on the Place de la Concorde, at the bottom of the Champs-Élysées. Cyclists ride very fast here, so I used a slow shutter speed to capture that.
How I made this photo
To create a greater sense of speed, I positioned myself on the inside of the curve; the bikes would be leaning, and cyclists always take bends on the inside. I positioned myself at ground level and used a wide-angle lens and a shutter speed of 1/30th of a second to capture this motion blur.
Why this photo works
Having covered several Tour de France races, I am still amazed by the speed and stamina these athletes displayed.
The shutter speed creates the blur in this photo, but it also freezes certain parts of the image and shows how, on the cobbles, the athletes and their bikes shake in unison.
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