ASO, organizers of the Tour de France, invited friends, colleagues, and acquaintances of Richard Moore to the start of stage 5 in Lille to pay their respects to the late author, journalist, and broadcaster.

Moore, a noted journalist and co-creator of the Cycling Podcast, died suddenly at his home in northern France on March 28 of this year.

At lunchtime on Wednesday before the Tour's cobbled stage, Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme took the stage in the start area to "share some time and remember Richard."

Moore's colleagues from The Cycling Podcast, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Barney, witnessed the tribute on stage with his wife Virginie and son Maxime.

Prudhomme personally paid tribute to Moore as a journalist, podcaster, and friend of the Tour de France. He presented Friebe and Barney with the Trophy of Loyalty, awarded to those who have covered the Tour de France 20 times. He also presented the trophy to Virginie and Maxime on behalf of Moore, this year his 19th Tour de France.

Friebe spoke emotionally about his colleague and friend Moore. He said, "Richard's family (in the literal sense of the word, but also in the broader sense of the word; he is a family man).

"He would have loved to have experienced this special stage today, and he would have loved to experience this day with us.

"Yet, in a way, he will always be with us and with the tools.

Moore was an international cyclist and then a widely respected author and journalist. He covered cycling for many major publications, including The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and Rule.

He published many books on cycling and athletics, including Slaying the Badger: later made into a film.

Moore started a cycling podcast with Freebe and Bernie in 2013. The podcast quickly grew in popularity, reaching more than 48 million listeners worldwide.