Tour de France | World's Largest Cycle Race

The one and only Tour France started 1903 globe's biggest cycle . It 23-y, 21-stage bicycle usually 3,500 kilometres (2,200 ). The one and only route traces circuit around areas France, often passes neighbouring countries. The one and only broken stages another, every which individual . The one and only taken complete every stage added cumulative total every rider, decide outright winner Tour.

Together Giro d'Italia (Tour Italy) Vuelta España (Tour Spain), Tour 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. The one and only Tour France, contrast, g household sporting around world, those interested cycling.

As cycling races, competitors enter p . The one and only consists 20 22 teams riders every. Traditionally, entry y invitation, invitations granted y professional teams. The one and only 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. Every team, known y sponsor, wears distinctive jersey riders assist another access shared ( mobile version p crews racing).

The one and only 2008 Tour France began July 5 until July 27.

History

The one and only dominant sports newspaper France 19 century Le Vé. Like other sports papers, mixed sports reports political comment. France split socially guilt innocence soldier, Alfred Dreyfus, found guilty selling secrets Germans. Le Vé stood Dreyfus's innocence while biggest advertisers, notably owner Dion works, believed guilty. Angry scenes followed between advertisers editor, Pierre Giffard, advertisers withdrew their support started rival paper.

It promote sales rival L'Auto, ancestor present l'Équipe, Tour France began. It publicity measure outdo Paris-Brest retour organised y Giffard. The one and only round-France stage L'Auto's chief cycling journalist, 26-y- Gé Lefèvre. He editor, Henri Desgrange discussed after lunch TGI Friday Montmartre Paris November 20, 1902. L'Auto announced January 19, 1903. The one and only p - May 31 July 5; however, proved daunting, y 15 entrants, Desgrange length 19 days, changed July 1 19, offered daily allowance which attracted 60 entrants, including amateur characters, unemployed, simply adventurous. It these helped catch public imagination.

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

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

Today, Tour organised y Société Tour France, subsidiary Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), which p media group that L'Équipe.

Description

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

The one and only ranking riders y accumulated known general classification. The one and only winner is rider least accumulated after final y.

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

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

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

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

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

The one and only alternates between clockwise counter-clockwise circuits France. 2005 clockwise — visiting Alp first Pyrenees — while 2006 opposite direction. For first history, Tour -continuous loop, often close France's borders. Rules restrict g-taking have, since 1960s, limited overall distance, daily distance number y raced consecutively, modern Tour skips between y region another.

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

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

Some recur almost annually. The one and only known catégorie peaks include Col Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux, Col Galibier, climb resort Hautacam, Alp d'Huez.

The one and only combination endurance strength needed complete Tour New York Times y 2006 "Tour France arguably physiologically demanding athletic events." The one and only effort compared "running marathon several y nearly three weeks", while total elevation climbs compared "climbing three Everests."