ALPE D'HUEZ, FRANCE – There have been a more limited number of pro cyclist pets at this year’s Tour de France, putting one of our annual features in doubt. After three consecutive years in which Escape Collective has crowned a worthy Best Dog – Alex Baudin’s family spaniel (2025), Ben Healy’s sausage dog (2024), Adam Yates’ Samoyed (2023), as well as Hugo Hofstetter's Rottweiler-cross in a foregone era – this struck fear into our soul. Is it even the Tour de France if there is not a Best Dog?
Jonny thought he saw a good dog this afternoon in Michael Matthews’ wife’s handbag. I did not see this dog, thus rendering it ineligible for this honour.
But imagine our collective delight (by which I mean, my delight) when I was wandering through the buses this morning and saw not just one good dog, but two. And they weren't just any dogs, either, but Instagram-famous ones – the Nut Sisters – belonging to one of the peloton’s more characterful riders. Which is a meandering way of getting to the point that – hey, you guys, I just met Tom Pidcock’s dachshunds, Acorn and Chestnut, as well as his partner, Bethany Zajac.
Some things you should know about this interaction: Bethany is lovely. Acorn and Chestnut are lovely. They had a little pram parked at the front of the team bus in Chambery, where this encounter took place a few days ago. The dogs (one chestnut-coloured, the other black and tan) did not strictly correspond to what their naming might suggest, leading to confusion all around. Finally, Bethany was unaware of Escape Collective’s #1 Most Important and Prestigious accolade, which led to some confusion about what was expected of her role as interpreter (namely, doing all the work).
So, I took some pictures of Acorn and Chestnut – A+ dogs, I’m sure you’ll agree – and then launched into the interview.
Iain Treloar: And now, interview time: the serious journalism begins.
Bethany Zajac: Oh, god.
IT: Yeah, I know. High pressure.
BZ: Wait – you want them to woof? They can’t woof on command.
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