[FINALIST Runner-up] The Evolution of Tour de France: From well-groomed mustaches to well-shaved legs

What is this infographic/project about?

The main objective of this project was to tell an informative, engaging and entertaining narrative that would bring to life the rich history of the Tour de France. To achieve this, I introduced the charismatic character, Jean Pauleraux, a proud Frenchman with a love for baguettes and a well-groomed mustache, who took on the role of a storyteller. Jean's mission is to enrapture the hearts of both devoted cycling enthusiasts and newcomers, using a delightful blend of humor and easily comprehensible facts.

How is the infographic structured?

The infographic is thoughtfully designed with a clear division of content. On the left-hand side, Jean shares complementary facts that correspond to the graphs or tables presented on the right-hand side. This strategic approach avoids overwhelming the audience with information on a single side and provides valuable context to enhance understanding. Jean's (at times) humorous commentary further ehances engagement and sparks the imagination of the readers.

The infographic starts with a general overview, spotlighting key facts such as the number of starters, percentage of finishers, the total race distance, etc., all displayed in either big numbers or big texts. To make the distance relatable to a US audience, I sought to put it into perspective by using miles and drawing comparisons, like stating that it's approximately the same distance as from LA to Chicago.

Moving forward, I showed the aspect of dropout rates, showcasing a significant decrease compared to the early days of the Tour. One of the reasons is of course decreased race distance. The data is presented in a line chart, while Jean provides valuable context and reasons behind this trend. He highlights important factors, including improved road conditions, technological advancements, while also offering a comparison of average winning speeds.

The next section centers on notable riders and countries, with a spotlight on those riders who won the Tour 5 times each. I also attempted to determine the greatest rider in history by factoring in the number of podium finishes and calculating the podium-to-number-of-starts ratio.

With the dataset providing information on riders' weight and height, it gave me the idea to calculate the BMI (Body Mass Index) and analyze its evolution over time. As in most endurance sports where athletes have to carry their own weight, there is a competitive advantage of a lower BMI. To provide further context to the audience, the infographic illustrates how riders' BMIs differ from the average American adult's BMI. A fun insight adds an amusing twist when revealing that the winner of the 1909 Tour had a BMI higher than that of a typical American adult. In the scatter plot, the BMI of the two contenders (also the last two winners) competing for victory in 2023 is displayed as well. This choice was intentional as BMI is later used in the 2023 build-up analysis, hinting at its potential significance in determining the outcome/winner.

While contemporary riders exhibit similar BMIs, Jean humorously muses about the never-ending search for new areas that could potentially provide a competitive edge, highlighting the "shaved legs revolution" and connecting back to the project's title "from well-groomed mustaches to well-shaved legs."

Concluding the infographic, I talk about expectations about the upcoming 2023 Tour. With a focus on the top two riders competing for victory, the inclusion of a potential dark horse who might challenge the favorites adds an element of excitement. I also paid tribute to a retiring legend tied with the most stage wins in history, acknowledging his potential to become the greatest. Then finally, Jean wraps up the narrative, tying it back to the project's title and leaving the audience both informed and entertained.

Excel as main tool for analysis and PowerPoint for design

Excel was the primary tool for conducting data analysis with the help of pivot tables, charts and some formulas for the ETL process. The background design was made in PowerPoint with the specific objective of giving the infographic a charming retro aesthetic.