```python
def route_stops(route: str) -> list:
    """
    Breaks a route written as stop names joined by greater-than signs into the stops themselves,
    trimming any spaces around each one.

    :param route: A string representing a route with stop names separated by '>'.
    :return: A list of stop names.
    """
    return [stop.strip() for stop in route.split('>')] if route else []

def route_hops(route: str) -> int:
    """
    Counts the journeys between stops, one fewer than the stops, and none at all for a blank route.

    :param route: A string representing a route with stop names separated by '>'.
    :return: The number of journeys.
    """
    if not route:
        return 0
    stops = route_stops(route)
    return len(stops) - 1 if stops else 0
```