The Tour de France
Do you dream of riding in, and winning, an important bike race? For more than 100 years, the Tour de France has captured the imaginations of bike riders around the world.
The 2017 Tour begins this week and continues through July 23. The Mini Page learned more about the history of the race and how it works.
A publicity stunt
In the late 1800s in Paris, bicycles were a popular means of transportation. Cyclists raced each other on tracks, but then road races began to take over. When a French journalist sponsored a race from Paris to the town of Brest and back, his sports newspaper sold many copies.
In 1903, another paper, L’Auto-Velo, organized an even larger race, the Tour de France Cycliste. It would be a six-day race on roads around France.
The first race consisted of six stages averaging about 400 kilometers, or about 250 miles, each. Sometimes riders would race long into the night.
Organizers had trouble getting people to sign up, but when the race started, about 60 riders lined up to compete. Most of them were Frenchmen.
Maurice Garin, a former chimney sweep who had recently won other big races, was the victor in the 1903 Tour de France.
An evolving race
In 1910, race organizers added mountainous stages to the tour. The difficult climbs required a different kind of strength and stamina that changed the race forever.
While early competitors were mostly individuals, some riders would team up to take care of each other during the difficult race. Bicycle makers sometimes sponsored a “trade” team, but starting in the 1930s and until the 1960s, only national teams were allowed. Today, trade teams again sponsor riders.
The race was suspended during both World War I and World War II.
Winning the race
The winner of each stage is designated as the leader and gets to wear the yellow jersey in the next stage. Special jerseys are also awarded for climbing and for points gained in various stages and sprints.
What to expect
Running from Saturday, July 1, to Sunday, July 23, the 104th Tour de France will have 21 stages (one per day) and will cover a total distance of 3,521 kilometers, or 2,187 miles. It will start in Düsseldorf, Germany. Look for: • nine flat stages • five hilly stages • five mountain stages, including highaltitude finishes • two individual time-trials stages • two rest days The tour will visit three neighboring countries — Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg — before finishing on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.