You are right (as always).
The recce rode a route we had previously decided to follow by sitting in England and looking at Google Streetview, IGN maps, Google Maps and OSMAnd. We also fretted about keeping 23 people fed and watered. But we couldn't bring stuff such as gas burners, etc, from home. Then
@ianmac62 had the brilliant idea of buying those water containers and filling them in the hotels at night. This was a palaver for Mark and me, what with carting them up three flights of stairs, messing about in the shower, and down again to the van, but it made a huge difference in the heat: we had no one with bad dehydration but all were thirsty. The recce also looked for bars for coffee - often none were available, and we asked lots of locals. Alberto's was a gift from heaven: we were on our knees after a morning in remote countryside.
Also, with a big group you need to make firm decisions on the fly otherwise we all regroup in an unsafe place.
All this I learnt very quickly, but without
@dellzeqq and the culture of the club he created, it would have been too much.
Finally, I think it is safe for me to say that for riders, next year's Tour will be easier. Or harder. Or both. Or neither.