```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.

    Args:
        route (str): A string representing the route, with stop names separated by '>'.
    
    Returns:
        List[str]: A list of individual 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.

    Args:
        route (str): A string representing the route, with stop names separated by '>'.
    
    Returns:
        int: The number of journeys.
    """
    if not route:
        return 0
    stops = route.split('>')
    return len(stops) - 1
```