The Tour de France is the pinnacle of professional cycling. Millions of people watch the race each year.
The course is approximately 3,500 kilometers.
There are 21 stages through coastelscenery to gruelling mountain climbs.
It starts in a different town every year.
The final stage of the Tour de France finishes on the Champs-Élysées in Paris and has done since 1975.
10 facts and stats you may not know about.
1. Inception and Evolution
First tour was in 1903. Henri Desgrange and the newspaper L’Auto organized the Tour de France to boost sales of the newspaper.
Race evolution: At first it covered 2,428 km but now covers approximately 3,500 km with varying route designs yearly.
2. Longest Edition
Distance: The longest Tour de France took place in 1926, 17 stages covering a distance of 5,745 km.
3. Youngest and Oldest Winners
The youngest winner was Henri Cornet in 1904 when he was 19 years old.
Oldest winner was Firmin Lambot in 1922 at the ripe old age of 36.
4. Most Victories
Four competitors share the record for the most wins with five victories each, these being Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain.
5. First Female Competitor
In 1924 Alfonsina Strada was the first lady to unofficially complete the tour although she was not officially recognized.
6. Mountain Stages
The Alpe d’Huez is one of the most difficult climbs and was introduced in 1952. It is 13.8 kilometers long, with an average gradient of 8.1% and a maximum gradient of 13% with 21 hairpin bends.
7. Yellow Jersey
The yellow jersey (“maillot jaune”) was introduced in 1919 to identify the race leader. The colour was chosen to match the yellow pages of L’Auto.
8. Spectator Numbers
The Tour de France attracts over 12 million route roadside spectators annually making it one of the top most-watched sporting events on the planet.
9. Accidents and Withdrawals
Accidents are very common with around 20-30 riders withdrawing from the race each year due to mainly injuries or illness.
10. Broadcast Reach
The Tour de France is broadcast in 190 countries with an estimated global TV audience of 3.5 billion people in the three weeks.
