Listening comprehension by Martin Ehrensberger · recent years, British cyclists have dominated it. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win, and since then,

Listening comprehension by Martin Ehrensberger

The Tour de France – 23 days of extreme sport

Read On • September 2018 Issue • page 4 page 1 of 17

© 2018 Carl Ed. Schünemann KG Bremen. All rights reserved.

Copies of this material may only be produced by subscribers for use in their own lessons.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

PRE-LISTENING

TASK 1:

a) Matching 2

b) Discussion 3

c) Mind map 3

d) Presentations 4

TASK 2:

a) Describing pictures 5

b) Discussion 5

c) Online work 6

d) Writing 6

e) Pro-/con discussion 7

VOCABULARY

TASK 1: Noun salad 8

LISTENING COMPREHENSION

TASK 1: Completing sentences 10

TASK 2: Tick true or false 10

READING-COMPREHENSION

TASK 1: Reordering sentences 11

TASK 2: Reordering the text 12

TASK 3: Guided writing 13

POST-LISTENING

Full text 14

Answer key 15

Sources 18

The Tour de France – 23 days of extreme sport September 2018 Issue • page 4 page 2 of 17



PRE-LISTENING TASK 1: a) Are you cycling pro? – Part 1 Matching: Combine the pictures of these famous professional cyclists (PIC 1 – PIC 6) with their corresponding names below. Be careful! There are more names than you need.

a) Vincenzo Nibali b) Bradley Wiggins c) Cadel Evans

d) Alberto Contador e) Chris Froome f) Carlos Sastre

g) Geraint Thomas h) Andy Schleck i) Lance Armstrong

Picture 1 2 3 4 5 6

Name

PIC 1 PIC 2

PIC 5

PIC 3

PIC 4 PIC 6




b) Discussion Discuss the following questions with your partner and then in class. Give reasons and explanations for your answers.

Are you interested in cycling?

How often do you cycle? Where do you go?

Do you cycle in a team?

What kind of bike have you got?

What is the longest distance you have ever ridden?

Did you watch the Tour de France on TV?

What do you think of professional cyclists?

Did you recognise any of the professional cyclists in the previous task? They have got one thing in common. What might it be?

c) Mind map. Create a mind map with your spontaneous ideas. Share your ideas with your partner and then in class. Why do you think so many people like cycling?

PIC7




Why do you think people want to become professional cyclists? d) Presentations Divide your class into groups. Each group picks one of the following cyclists and creates a presentation.

a) Vincenzo Nibali b) Bradley Wiggins c) Cadel Evans

d) Alberto Contador e) Chris Froome f) Carlos Sastre

g) Geraint Thomas h) Andy Schleck i) Lance Armstrong

j) Jan Ulrich j) Marco Pantani j) Miguel Indurain

k) Eddy Merckx l) Bernard Hinault m) Greg LeMond

Include the following aspects:

- general facts - early and amateur career - personal life

- career achievements - teams and equipment - any other interesting info

Create a PowerPoint presentation with pictures and videos. Duration: 4-5 minutes. Try to speak as freely as possible.

PIC 7

At last – nice clothes for people with disabilities August 2018 Issue • page 4 page 5 of 17



TASK 2: a) Describe the pictures to a partner without showing them to each other.

b) Discussion Discuss the following questions with your partner and then in class. Always give reasons and explanations for your responses.

What similarities and differences can you see in the two pictures?

What do you know about the Tour de France?

Would you like to watch a stage of the Tour de France live?

How important is equipment for a professional cyclist?

Why are so many people fascinated with the Tour de France?

PIC 8

PIC 9




c) Online work Go online with your partner and research the following aspects of the Tour de France. Create a PowerPoint-presentation and present it to the class. d) Writing Imagine you are a professional cyclist in the Tour de France. After a long, hard stage in the Alps you write about your feelings and experiences in your online blog. Write down your emotions and feelings about the previous stages and the ones you still have to complete. Write about 150 words.

VOCABULARY TASK 1: Word salad Read the definitions below and find the nouns in the grid.

HISTORY & ORIGIN

CLASSIFICATIONS STAGES (INCLUDING START

& FINISH) OF THE TOUR

GENERAL FACTS

MEDIA & BROADCAST TEAMS & THEIR

ORGANISATION

DOPING & POLITICS RECORDS & STATISTICS

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________




e) Pro-/con discussion Read the statements below. Find five pros and five cons. Discuss them with your partner and then in class. It’s impossible to be successful in the Tour de France without doping. Doping should be legalised.

The Tour de France should be made easier for cyclists. g) Writing.

+++ PROS +++

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

--- CONS ---

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

+++ PROS +++

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

--- CONS ---

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________




VOCABULARY TASK 1: Noun salad Read the definitions below and find the corresponding nouns in the grid.




a) how well or poorly you do something; how well or poorly something works

b) a person or an organisation that competes against others, especially in business

c) the process by which living things receive the food necessary for them to grow and be healthy

d) a place where something happens or exists; the position of something

e) the height above sea level

f) a downward slope

g) a person who competes in sports

h) a person who rides a bicycle

i) harm done to a person’s or an animal’s body, for example in an accident

j) how heavy somebody/something is, which can be measured in, for example, kilogrammes or pounds

k) the size or measurement of something from one end to the other

l) a gas that is present in air and water and is necessary for people, animals and plants to live

m) the wide curved set of bones at the bottom of the body that the legs and spine are connected to

n) an act of climbing up a mountain, rock or large number of steps; a period of time spent climbing

o) a person who rides a horse, bicycle or motorcycle

p) a person who rides a bicycle, especially a mountain bike

q) a period or state that something/somebody passes through while developing or making progress

r) any material that produces heat or power, usually when burnt

click: key




LISTENING COMPREHENSION

TASK 1:

Listen to the text and complete the sentences below. Use two to six words for your answer. a) The Tour de France is one of the world’s greatest sporting events, and the

_________________________________.

b) Their average speed on flat terrain is _________________________________.

c) The location is ideal, because the ___________________________________.

d) A winner needs to be strong yet _______________________________.

e) “It’s the Tour. It’s not your average race. I’m definitely _______________________.”

TASK 2:

Listen to the text and decided whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

T F

a) The Tour de France is the world’s greatest sporting event.

b) Each stage is held in France.

c) British cyclists have won most of the last Tour de France titles.

d) The distance of the race is exactly 3,500 km.

e) The right food is very important for a professional rider.

f) A professional biker trains about 35 to 37 hours a week.

g) Christ Froome trains in South Africa, near Johannesburg.

h) The average length of a Tour de France stage is under 180 km.

i) Riders start eating as soon as the day’s race has finished

j) A winner needs to be strong and very thin as well.

k) Good equipment and mental strength is very important.

click: key




READING COMPREHENSION

TASK 1:

Read the text below. Some sentences have been removed from the text. Bring them (1 -

6) into their correct positions. Be careful! There are more positions than you need.


By Moya Irvine

The Tour de France is one of the world’s greatest sporting events, and the ultimate test for an

athlete. The race is held in France of course – with occasional stages in other countries – but in

recent years, British cyclists have dominated it. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first

British cyclist to win, and since then, Chris Froome has won four times. [ A ] For 23 days in July,

competitors ride up hills and mountains, make brutal descents and speed along roads, covering

around 3,500km with only two rest days. Their average speed on flat terrain is 40 to 45 km/h. In

order to have any chance of success, riders need months and years – yes, years! – of intensive

and carefully planned training and the right food. When they are preparing for the race season,

riders spend a lot of their time on their bikes. Geraint Thomas told the Guardian newspaper:

“During the off season we generally train in four-day blocks – three long training days followed

by an easy day on the fourth day. [ B ] .” Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya and went to

school in South Africa, trains near Johannesburg. The location is ideal, because the city is high

above sea level. The air is thinner here – it has less oxygen. The body adapts to lower oxygen

by producing more red blood cells. [ C ] Other riders do their altitude training in places like

Tenerife. A rider racing over 180 km, the average length of a Tour de France stage, burns more

than 6,000 calories. So the right nutrition is very important. [ D ] Riders start off with a 9.00

breakfast with lots of carbohydrates and protein followed by a snack with more carbs at 10.30.

During the ride they use special drinks, gels and energy bars to stay hydrated and get more

calories. Immediately after the race, they start eating again and back at their hotel, they fill up

with a nutrient-rich dinner at 20.00. Food is important during training too. [ E ]Chris Froome, for

example, is 1.86 m tall and weighs only 68kg. The four-time champion says you need to watch

“every little thing you put in your mouth” because every gramme of weight counts on climbs. But

even the best training and diet alone won’t make a Tour de France winner. He also needs an

excellent bike, a great team and lastly, mental strength. That’s what keeps a rider going when

every muscle is protesting. Even injuries can’t stop these elite athletes. In 2013, for example,

Geraint Thomas fractured his pelvis in a fall in the Tour de France. Most of us would see that as

a good reason to give up, but Thomas told journalists: “It’s the Tour. [ F ] I’m definitely going to

keep fighting.”

click: key




1 We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week.

2 A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin.

3 Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets.

4 It’s not your average race.

5 Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British.

6 This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes.

TASK 2:

Sections of the text have been mixed up. Put the portions of text in the correct order.

The Tour de France – 23 days of extreme sport By Moya Irvine



recent years, British cyclists have dominated it.

D We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week.” Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya and went to school in South Africa, trains near Johannesburg. The location is ideal, because the city is high above sea level. The air is thinner here – it has less oxygen. The body adapts to lower oxygen by producing more red blood cells.

G During the ride they use special drinks, gels and energy bars to stay hydrated and get more calories. Immediately after the race, they start eating again and back at their hotel, they fill up with a nutrient-rich dinner at 20.00. Food is important during training too. A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. Chris Froome, for example, is 1.86 m tall and weighs only 68kg.

B Their average speed on flat terrain is 40 to 45 km/h. In order to have any chance of

success, riders need months and years – yes, years! – of intensive and carefully planned

training and the right food.

H The four-time champion says you need to watch “every little thing you put in your mouth” because every gramme of weight counts on climbs. But even the best training and diet alone won’t make a Tour de France winner. He also needs an excellent bike, a great team and lastly, mental strength.

E This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes. Other riders do their altitude

training in places like Tenerife. A rider racing over 180 km, the average length of a Tour

de France stage, burns more than 6,000 calories. So the right nutrition is very important.

F Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets. Riders start

off with a 9.00 breakfast with lots of carbohydrates and protein followed by a snack with

more carbs at 10.30.

A In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win, and since then, Chris

Froome has won four times. Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British. For 23

days in July, competitors ride up hills and mountains, make brutal descents and speed

along roads, covering around 3,500km with only two rest days.

C When they are preparing for the race season, riders spend a lot of their time on their

bikes. Geraint Thomas told the Guardian newspaper: “During the off season we generally

click: key




train in four-day blocks – three long training days followed by an easy day on the fourth

day.

That’s what keeps a rider going when every muscle is protesting. Even injuries can’t stop these

elite athletes. In 2013, for example, Geraint Thomas fractured his pelvis in a fall in the Tour de

France. Most of us would see that as a good reason to give up, but Thomas told journalists: “It’s

the Tour. It’s not your average race. I’m definitely going to keep fighting.”

TASK 3: Guided writing

Write an article for your school newspaper about the Tour de France.

Include the following aspects:

General facts about the Tour de France

Positive aspects

Negative aspects

Your personal opinion about the Tour de France

Write about 200 words.

Hinweis: Sie können Ihre Vorlage aus dem Read On Übungsmaterial für Ihren eigenen Unterricht gerne vervielfältigen. Ihre Zugangsdaten dürfen Sie jedoch nicht an Dritte weitergeben. Jede Art der Mehrfachnutzung Ihres persönlichen Abos verstößt gegen das Urheberrecht.




Full text:


SPORT Riders need lots of training and the right food for the 3,500 km road race.

By Moya Irvine



recent years, British cyclists have dominated it. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first

British cyclist to win, and since then, Chris Froome has won four times. Geraint Thomas, this

year’s winner, is also British. For 23 days in July, competitors ride up hills and mountains, make

brutal descents and speed along roads, covering around 3,500km with only two rest days. Their

average speed on flat terrain is 40 to 45 km/h. In order to have any chance of success, riders

need months and years – yes, years! – of intensive and carefully planned training and the right

food. When they are preparing for the race season, riders spend a lot of their time on their

bikes. Geraint Thomas told the Guardian newspaper: “During the off season we generally train

in four-day blocks – three long training days followed by an easy day on the fourth day. We can

do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week.” Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya

and went to school in South Africa, trains near Johannesburg. The location is ideal, because the

city is high above sea level. The air is thinner here – it has less oxygen. The body adapts to

lower oxygen by producing more red blood cells. This improves the riders’ performance at lower

altitudes. Other riders do their altitude training in places like Tenerife. A rider racing over 180

km, the average length of a Tour de France stage, burns more than 6,000 calories. So the right

nutrition is very important. Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very

specialised diets. Riders start off with a 9.00 breakfast with lots of carbohydrates and protein

followed by a snack with more carbs at 10.30. During the ride they use special drinks, gels and

energy bars to stay hydrated and get more calories. Immediately after the race, they start eating

again and back at their hotel, they fill up with a nutrient-rich dinner at 20.00. Food is important

during training too. A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. Chris Froome, for

example, is 1.86 m tall and weighs only 68kg. The four-time champion says you need to watch

“every little thing you put in your mouth” because every gramme of weight counts on climbs. But

even the best training and diet alone won’t make a Tour de France winner. He also needs an

excellent bike, a great team and lastly, mental strength. That’s what keeps a rider going when

every muscle is protesting. Even injuries can’t stop these elite athletes. In 2013, for example,

Geraint Thomas fractured his pelvis in a fall in the Tour de France. Most of us would see that as

a good reason to give up, but Thomas told journalists: “It’s the Tour. It’s not your average race.

I’m definitely going to keep fighting.”




ANSWER KEY

PRE-LISTENING TASK 1 a) Are you a cycling pro? – Part 1

b) They have all won the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong lost all of his titles because of doping. VOCABULARY TASK 1:

LISTENING COMPREHENSION TASK 1:

a) ultimate test for an athlete.

b) 40 to 45 km/h.

c) city is high above sea level.

d) also incredibly thin.

Picture 1 2 3 4 5 6

Name

i e a d e h




e) going to keep fighting.

TASK 2:

a) F b) F c) T d) F e) T g) T h) F i) T j) T k) T

READING COMPREHENSION

TASK 1:

1 We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week. B

2 A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. E

3 Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets. D

4 It’s not your average race. F

5 Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British. A

6 This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes. C

TASK 2:

D We can do anything up to about 35 to 37 hours training a week.” Chris Froome, who was born in Kenya and went to school in South Africa, trains near Johannesburg. The location is ideal, because the city is high above sea level. The air is thinner here – it has less oxygen. The body adapts to lower oxygen by producing more red blood cells.

G During the ride they use special drinks, gels and energy bars to stay hydrated and get more calories. Immediately after the race, they start eating again and back at their hotel, they fill up with a nutrient-rich dinner at 20.00. Food is important during training too. A winner needs to be strong yet also incredibly thin. Chris Froome, for example, is 1.86 m tall and weighs only 68kg.

B Their average speed on flat terrain is 40 to 45 km/h, about twice that of an ordinary fit

biker. In order to have any chance of success, riders need months and years – yes,

years! – of intensive and carefully planned training and the right food.

H The four-time champion says you need to watch “every little thing you put in your mouth” because every gramme of weight counts on climbs. But even the best training and diet alone won’t make a Tour de France winner. He also needs an excellent bike, a great team and lastly, mental strength.

E This improves the riders’ performance at lower altitudes. Other riders do their altitude

training in places like Tenerife. A rider racing over 180 km, the average length of a Tour

de France stage, burns more than 6,000 calories. So the right nutrition is very important.

F Riders often refer to their food as “fuel”, and they have very specialised diets. Riders start

off with a 9.00 breakfast with lots of carbohydrates and protein followed by a snack with

more carbs at 10.30.

A In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win, and since then, Chris

Froome has won four times. Geraint Thomas, this year’s winner, is also British. For 23

days in July, competitors ride up hills and mountains, make brutal descents and speed

along roads, covering around 3,500km with only two rest days.

C When they are preparing for the race season, riders spend a lot of their time on their

bikes. Geraint Thomas told the Guardian newspaper: “During the off season we generally

train in four-day blocks – three long training days followed by an easy day on the fourth

day.




SOURCES: PIC 1: Lance Armstrong By Haggisnl [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Lance_Armstrong_Tour_2010_team_presentation.jpg PIC 2: Chris Froome By Jaguar MENA [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Chris_Froome_-_The_First_Man_to_Cycle_through_the_Eurotunnel_%2814593593775%29_%28cropped%29.jpg PIC 3: Vincenzo Nibali By filip bossuyt from Kortrijk, Belgium (156 nibali) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/2016_Giro_nibali.jpg PIC 4: Alberto Contador By filip bossuyt from Kortrijk, Belgium (14-7_2 contador) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Tour_de_France_2017%2C_contador_%2836124024546%29.jpg PIC 5: Cadel Evans Matthieu Riegler, CC-by [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Cadel_Evans_-_Criterium_du_Dauphin%C3%A9_2012_-_1ere_%C3%A9tape.jpg PIC 6: Andy Schleck Matthieu Riegler, CC-by [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Andy_Schleck_-_Crit%C3%A9rium_du_Dauphin%C3%A9_2012_-_Prologue_%285%29.jpg PIC 7: cyclists Martin Ehrensberger https://pixabay.com/de/rennrad-radfahrer-marathon-himmel-3469499/ PIC 8: Tour de France https://pixabay.com/de/tour-de-france-244348/ PIC 9: Tour de France https://pixabay.com/de/tourdefrance-grand-d%C3%A9part-radrennen-2485107/

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Lance_Armstrong_Tour_2010_team_presentation.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Lance_Armstrong_Tour_2010_team_presentation.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Chris_Froome_-_The_First_Man_to_Cycle_through_the_Eurotunnel_%2814593593775%29_%28cropped%29.jpg



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/2016_Giro_nibali.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Tour_de_France_2017%2C_contador_%2836124024546%29.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Tour_de_France_2017%2C_contador_%2836124024546%29.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Cadel_Evans_-_Criterium_du_Dauphin%C3%A9_2012_-_1ere_%C3%A9tape.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Cadel_Evans_-_Criterium_du_Dauphin%C3%A9_2012_-_1ere_%C3%A9tape.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Andy_Schleck_-_Crit%C3%A9rium_du_Dauphin%C3%A9_2012_-_Prologue_%285%29.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Andy_Schleck_-_Crit%C3%A9rium_du_Dauphin%C3%A9_2012_-_Prologue_%285%29.jpg

https://pixabay.com/de/rennrad-radfahrer-marathon-himmel-3469499/

https://pixabay.com/de/tour-de-france-244348/

https://pixabay.com/de/tourdefrance-grand-d%C3%A9part-radrennen-2485107/

Documents

Listening comprehension by Martin Ehrensberger · recent years, British cyclists have dominated it. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win, and since then,