T T France started 1903 world's largest cycle . I 23-y, 21-stage bicycle usually 3,500 kilometres (2,200 ). T route traces circuit around areas France, often passes neighbouring countries. T broken stages another, which individual . T taken complete stage added cumulative total rider, decide outright winner T.

Together G d'Italia (T Italy) Vuelta España (T Spain), T France three major stage races longest Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) calendar. While other European Grand Tours known Europe, y relatively unknown outside continent, UCI World Cycling Championship familiar y cycling enthusiasts. T T France, contrast, g household sporting around globe, those interested cycling.

A cycling races, competitors enter p . T consists 20 22 teams riders . Traditionally, entry y invitation, invitations granted y professional teams. T organizers recently utilized UCI points (based p riders/results) determine which teams would g automatic entry typically reserve 2-4 slots large teams French continental teams based p their individual results. E team, known y sponsor, wears distinctive jersey riders assist another access shared ( mobile version p crews racing).

T 2008 T France began Jy 5 until Jy 27.

History

T dominant sports newspaper France 19 century L Vé. L other sports papers, mixed sports reports political comment. France split socially guilt innocence soldier, Alfred Dreyfus, found guilty selling secrets Germans. L Vé stood Dreyfus's innocence while biggest advertisers, notably owner D works, believed guilty. Angry scenes followed between advertisers editor, Pierre Giffard, advertisers withdrew their support started rival paper.

I promote sales rival L'Auto, ancestor present l'Équipe, T France began. I publicity measure outdo Paris-Brest retour organised y Giffard. T round-France stage L'Auto's chief cycling journalist, 26-y- Gé Lefèvre. H editor, Henri Desgrange discussed after lunch TGI Friday Montmartre Paris November 20, 1902. L'Auto announced January 19, 1903. T p - My 31 Jy 5; however, proved daunting, y 15 entrants, Desgrange length 19 days, changed Jy 1 19, offered daily allowance which attracted 60 entrants, including amateur characters, unemployed, simply adventurous. I these helped catch public imagination.

T demanding nature ( average length x stages being 400km riders sometimes expected night), caught public imagination. T success newspaper circulation, 25,000 before 1903 Tour, increased 65,000 after ; y 1908 boosted circulation p quarter million, during 1923 T selling 500,000 copies y. T record circulation claimed y Desgrange 854,000, achieved during 1933 T.

After 1939 T France, where Italy, Germany Spain participating growing political tensions preceding World W II, there T France between 1940 1946. Several other races period, T France during Second World W. I 1947, T France started again.

Today, T organised y Société T France, subsidiary Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), which p media group L'Équipe.

Description

T T stage race, stage being p y. T rider takes complete stage accumulated. Riders often awarded bonuses their prize finishing, although 2008 organizers eliminated bonuses. Riders finish group awarded . T riders finish group there length between . A rider crashes three kilometres given group which would finished.

T ranking riders y accumulated known general classification. T winner rider least accumulated after final y.

I possible overall without winning stage, which Gg LeMond 1990. Winning stage prestigious winning single-y races. Although number stages varied, modern T about 20 total length 3,000 4,000 kilometres (1,800 2,500 ). T shortest T 1904 2,420km, longest 1926 5,745km. T 2007 T 3,569.9 g. There subsidiary competitions within ( below), distinctive jerseys rider.

Today, T contested y teams backed y commercial sponsors employing complicated tactics, Desgrange originally insisted competitors individuals, y sponsorship. H penalised slipstreaming other tactics accepted their inevitability y 1920s. E commercial teams become commonplace other events, T contested y national teams 1930 1961 again 1967 1968, cases because organisers sponsors detracting sporting purity.

M stages place France though common stages nearby countries, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, Great Britain (visited 1974 1994 start 2007 ). T three weeks usually include days, sometimes transport riders g distances between stages.

I recent years, T sometimes preceded y short individual trial (1 15) called prologue. Since 1975 finish T Champs-Élysées Paris. T y avenue closed other processions Bastille Dy Paris Marathon. Before 1975, finished P Princes stadium western Paris Piste Municipale.

Stages T flat, undulating mountainous. Ty normally contested y riders starting together first winning, y against clock individuals teams. T -trials often significant effect because y separate riders y substantial margins, whereas conventional stages participants finish together large groups. T overall winner almost always master mountains trials rather straightforward stages.

T alternates between clockwise counter-clockwise circuits France. 2005 clockwise — visiting Ap first Pyrenees — while 2006 opposite direction. F first history, T -continuous loop, often close France's borders. Rules restrict g-taking have, since 1960s, limited overall distance, daily distance number y raced consecutively, modern T skips between y region another.

A feature almost start mountains. T roads g first y tracks -packed earth which riders frequently p their bicycles. E 1950s 1960s, summit could potholed strewn small rocks, falls serious injuries common.

Mountain passes Tourmalet Pyrenees famous y T France attract large numbers amateur cyclists every y summer, their speed fitness roads y champions. T physical difficulty climb established y steepness, length position course. T easiest graded 4, hardest 1 exceptional ( Tourmalet) beyond classification, "hors catégorie".

S recur almost annually. T famous catégorie peaks include C Tourmalet, M Ventoux, C Galibier, climb resort Hautacam, Ap d'Huez.

T combination endurance strength needed complete T N Y Times y 2006 "Tour France arguably physiologically demanding athletic events." T effort compared "running marathon several y nearly three weeks", while total elevation climbs compared "climbing three Everests."