No Peeing, Please, and Other Tour Rules

The Tour de France isn't all yellow shirts and glory. The Wall Street Journal takes a look at some of the rules—informal and otherwise—that guide the bicyclists.

• Don't grab first place if the current leader is having mechanical trouble. (Alberto Contador broke this informal no-no in the current race and quickly apologized.)
• Don't pee in front of fans. (Riders sometimes stop in groups at a secluded spot or discreetly let loose while riding.)

• Don't ride behind team cars to gain a drafting advantage.
• Only the yellow-clad leader can organize a "mass action" by fellow riders in the V-shaped peloton. (Contador recently ordered riders to finish at a slow pace to protest track conditions.)
• On the grueling mountain days, share your water, even with riders on other teams.
• The last day is prank day: Tall riders, swap bikes with short guys!

(More Tour de France stories.)