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23 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About the Tour de France

• By Marc Lindsay

Have you ever wondered how many calories riders burn during the Tour de France, or how many tires they go through? Check out these 23 fun facts to learn more about the largest sporting event in the world—one for each day of the race.

1. The Longest Tour

Photo Credit: Anders

The length of the 2017 Tour route is 2,200 miles. The 1926 edition was the longest route in history, totaling 3,570 miles.

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2. water bottles.

There will be more than 42,000 water bottles used by teams in this year’s race.

3. Most Stages Won

Photo Credit: AP Photo

The most stages won by a single rider at the Tour de France is 34 by Eddy Merckx.

4. TDF Nickname

The nickname for the Tour de France is La Grande Boucle , which means the "big loop," and refers to the route taken around France.

5. Calories Burned

The average cyclist will burn around 4,000 and 5,000 calories during each stage of the Tour. That’s 123,900 calories for the entire race, the equivalent of eating 252 McDonald’s double cheeseburgers.

6. Revolutions Per Minute

The average number of pedal strokes during the three-week race is 486,000 (at 90 revolutions per minute).

Until the 1960s , it was common for participants to drink alcohol during the race to numb the pain. Alcohol consumption was soon banned because it was considered a stimulant.

Over the course of a Tour de France route, cyclists will sweat enough to flush a toilet 39 times.

9. Spectators

Photo Credit: Tristam Sparks

Over 12 million spectators line the route each year, making it the largest sporting event in the world.

10. Least Number of Finishers

In 1919 , there were only 10 finishers, the least of all time.

11. Rest Days

On the Tour’s rest days , most cyclists don’t rest. They ride for at least 2 hours to flush out lactic acid and keep their minds focused on racing.

12. Winning Margin

The smallest winning margin in the history of the race is 8 seconds by American Greg LeMond in 1989 over Frenchman Laurent Fignon.

13. Amateurs

Five-time winner Bernard Hinault of France once said of the Tour de France, “An amateur should think long and hard before attempting one of these stages. Two would probably necessitate a visit to a doctor, and three would require a psychiatrist – any more and you should be checking if that person has written a will."

14. Total Prize Money

The total prize money awarded for the entire race (stages, sprints, overall classification) is $4.3 million .

15. TDF on TV

There are 3.5 billion people that watch the Tour de France on television around the world each year.

The peloton uses 790 tires over the three-week race.

17. Number of Rest Days

In the early years of the Tour de France, there were 14 rest days instead of two. Stages often ran into the night and cyclists needed the following day to recover.

18. Lead Water Bottles

Photo Credit: Georges Menager

The winner of the 1947 Tour de France Jean Robic was known for taking water bottles filled with lead at the top of climbs to descend faster.

19. Days in Yellow

Photo Credit: ta_do

The most days any cyclist has spent wearing the leader’s yellow jersey is 96, held by Eddy Merckx.

20. Women's TDF

Photo Credit: Epping Forest DC

On July 23rd, women will race the last stage of the Tour de France separate from the men. Though a landmark event, it isn’t the first time women’s race has taken place. Between 1984 and 1989, the Tour Cycliste Feminine was an 18-stage race. The first winner was American Marianne Martin.

21. The First Tour Winner

The first winner of the Tour de France was Maurice Garin. He won again in 1904, but was later disqualified for cheating. Garin was caught taking a train to victory in the Alps.

22. Fastest Average Speed

Photo Credit: Steve Selwood

The f astest average speed of a Tour de France was 25.7 miles per hour (mph), set in 2005. In 1919, the average speed was just 14.9 mph.

23. The Winner

Photo Credit: Peter Dutton

The winner of the Tour receives a cash prize of $609,525. The long-standing tradition of the race dictates that winners split this money evenly with each of his teammates.

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30 Interesting Facts About The Tour de France

For over 100 years, the Tour de France has been called the most famous and difficult bicycle race in the world! Every summer, this race crosses France for 3 weeks and attracts 12 million spectators along the roads, and 3 million in front of their television.

But, did you know that the riders pee while on their bikes during the race? Or that there are no women competing? 

Learn more thanks to these 30 interesting facts about the Tour de France !  🚴

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Best Tour de France Facts

Fun facts about the tour de france, more facts, the full list of 30 tour de france facts.

The Tour de France is famous worldwide. It is an intense cycling competition that lasts for weeks, and that has a huge fanbase.

I have 30 Tour de France facts for you, starting with the 20 general best ones. 

1. The Tour de France is one of the most coveted sports event in the world

In case you didn’t know it, the Tour de France is very, very popular. This very long race is followed by around 12 million spectators each year, making it one of the largest sporting events on the planet .

Only two other events are more popular. The FIFA World Cup is, opposite to what most people think, not the #1 event, but it still gathers 3 billion people from 32 countries. What could possibly be more popular than this? Well, the Summer Olympics obviously!

2. The Tour de France riders pee while on their bikes, you just can’t see it

Have you ever wondered how the Tour de France riders never wanted to pee for hours, during three weeks? Well, there’s your answer: they do!

Though this is obviously not shown on TV, riders pull to the side of the road and do their business. They tend to do this in the first 5 to 10 minutes of the race, when the pace is very leisurely. Because of how hot it is in July, they need to hydrate a lot, so they do not really have any other choice.

3. The most famous legend of the Tour de France is now considered the incarnation of evil

When you think about the Tour de France, one of the first names that sprints to mind is Lance Armstrong . The man is arguably the most famous cyclist of all times, and he won the Tour de France seven times in a row, from 1999 to 2005.

However, in 2012, it was confirmed that he was taking drugs during most of his career. It is said that he took part in one of the most efficient, professional and advanced programs to ever happen in sports history. Because of that, all of his titles were taken away from him, and he now has a very poor reputation.

4. The reason behind the leader’s jersey being yellow is actually very simple

You might have thought a lot about the symbolism behind the leader’s jersey being yellow during the Tour de France. Maybe it’s supposed to represent the sun, like the most famous King of France, Louis XIV? Or yellow was associated with highness, sacredness and might?

Not at all, stop thinking too much! As a matter of fact, the Tour de France originates from a newspaper (more about that in fact #24), which was printed on yellow paper… so it was all an advertising strategy!

5. The Tour de France riders never really rest… even during rest days

The Tour de France is very exhausting, and almost never stops for three weeks. On top of that, it happens in the middle of summer, which is one of the worst times of the year to go for a ride. Because of that, you might think that rest days are sacred, and riders literally don’t do anything, but the opposite happens!

Actually, riders… ride on rest days. They simply have to do it, otherwise their legs would cramp up very quickly. The rides are relatively short (still up to 3 hours), and help keep muscles ready for the next hard day.

6. The prize money for the Tour de France is very high

As you may expect, because of how many people watch the Tour de France every year, it is not a huge surprise that the prize money is very high.

At the moment, the winner in the final individual general classification gets 500,000€, or $560,000. The tradition is for the winner to share the prize with their teammates. Second and third place are awarded respectively 200,000€ and 100,000€. There is a total of 3.5 million euros / 4.3 million dollars, spread through all other categories.

7. Racers decide on a very precise tire pressure before starting the Tour de France

Teams are made of several racers and mechanics. Each of them has a specific tire pressure they consider the best, but this data usually stays top-secret.

There are still general guidelines though. For road stages, the average pressure ranges from 8 to 8.5 bar. For the time-trial stages, it raises up to 9.5 to 10 bar. Just keep in mind that everything is thought through, and while you might not see it, teams work during the whole year to get the best performances out of their bikes.

8. There are very few Americans competing in the Tour de France

This might sound weird to you, but in such a worldwide competition as the Tour de France, there are very few Americans. But if you go to the United States, you will quickly see why: there simply are not that many cyclists enjoying the grinding part of it!

Historically, cycling has been more of a hobby than a competition for most Americans. In Europe, youngsters are being prepared for competition from a very young age. The state of mind is what it’s all about.

9. The route of the Tour de France changes every year

In case you didn’t know it, the Tour de France is different every year. This means that if you live in France (or even in the neighboring countries!), you should have a look at the route of the year: maybe you can see the cyclists right next to you.

However, there are still lots of things staying the same from year to year. The race is held in July traditionally, and the format does not change, with time trials, and passage through the mountains of the Pyrénées and the Alps. The race always ends on the Champs-Élysées in Paris .

10. There are lots of different categories of winners in the Tour de France

During 3 weeks, 20 to 22 teams of 8 riders compete in France to get the best timers. At the end of each stage, everything is timed. The one rider who has the lowest cumulative timings wears the famous yellow jersey.

There are other unique jerseys as well: the green one is for the best sprinter, the dotted white is for the best climber (or best cyclist in the mountains) and the white one is for the best young cyclist (less than 25 years old). All of these change depending on the rankings.

11. There is a “Tour of Italy” as well: the Giro

A few years after the first Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia was created by La Gazzetta dello Sport, a local newspaper. The color of the paper is famous all over the country, as it is very pink compared to the dull black and white classic ones. Because of that, the leader of the race wears a pink jersey!

The first edition took place in 1909, and nowadays you can still watch it every year, usually in May.

12. Politics influenced the Tour de France a while ago

Today, the Tour de France often reaches neighboring countries, but for the first three Tours, they all stayed within France. The fourth edition went into Alsace-Lorraine, at that time a German territory (nowadays it is French).

In 1939, Italy, Germany and Spain were banned from the Tour de France because of their nationalist approach, and as part of the tensions right before World War II. The first German team who won the Tour after the war was in 1960.

13. More and more editions of the Tour de France are starting abroad

While it was not before 1954 that the Tour de France started abroad (in Amsterdam, Netherlands), there are more and more cities, sometimes very far from France, that host the beginning of the race.

The most recent of them was in Brussels, Belgium in 2019, and the 2022 and 2023 editions are planned to start in Copenhagen, Denmark and Bilbao, Spain. In 1998, it even started across the sea in Dublin, Ireland!

14. The Tour de France is sadly synonymous with doping

Ever since the Tour de France started in 1903, there have always been a ton of allegations of doping. In fact, the Tour is plagued with it and most people think every cyclist is at least a little doped.

In the early editions though, some of the drugs the cyclists used were very dangerous. These include cocaine, chloroform, ether, strychnine, aspirin and alcohol. The 1998 Tour was nicknamed the “Tour of Shame” because of the number of drugs used.

15. Eddy Merckx is a legend among Tour de France cyclists

Lance Armstrong is not the only successful cyclist in the Tour de France, and Eddy Merckx is definitely one of the best after him.

In 1969, for his first Tour, he won everything . He technically had to wear all the different jerseys, and was simply the best in every possible category! He is tied with Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain for the most wins of the Tour (5 each).

16. Broadcasting for the Tour de France started small, but is now very important

When it first began, the Tour de France was only broadcast by the journalists from “L’Auto”, which is the organizer.

In 1929, the Tour was broadcast on radio for the first time, by the newspaper “L’Intransigeant”. In 1948, the finish at the Parc des Princes in Paris was the first live broadcast. Today, you will see armies of journalists from all TV channels and newspapers wherever the Tour is. You can see it on TV in many countries, from start to finish.

17. Because France is so small, we don’t realize how long the Tour de France is

The riders of the Tour de France ride for three weeks in the relatively small country of… France. Because of this, you probably don’t fully grasp how hard this race is. Not only do cyclists ride for lots of hours every day, but the weather is usually very hot and the terrain can be very uneven.

If you were to cycle in a straight line for the same distance as these riders, you would go from St Petersburg, Russia to Rome, Italy; from Manchester, UK to Istanbul, Turkey; from Orlando, Florida to Phoenix, Arizona. 3,218 km / 2,000 miles!

Andrei Loas / CC BY-SA

18. Cyclists now ride way faster than in the past

During the first edition, the winner, Maurice Garin, had an average speed of 25.67 km/h / 15.95 mph for the whole race. In 2019, Egan Bernal finished the 3,365.8 km / 2090.9 miles race in 82 hours and 57 minutes, so his average speed was… 40.58 km/h / 24.85 mph!

All of these things have only gotten more optimal through time: equipment, road quality, diets, training and… probably doping.

19. The Red Devil closely follows the Tour de France every year

Dieter Senft , known as “El Diablo” or “Didi the Devil”, is an icon of the Tour de France. He has been wearing a devil costume every year since 1993, and has gathered his own group of fans!

Not only is he a true cycling fan from Germany, but he also became an important symbol for the Tour.

Nicola / CC BY-SA

20. There were several casualties during the Tour de France

Sadly, because of how fast cyclists ride, and for how long the competition goes, it is not very surprising that several of them died.

Tom Simpson died of a heart attack in 1967 because of doping. Francisco Cepada crashed into a ravine in 1935. Finally, Fabio Casartelli hit a concrete pylon when he failed to make a turn in 1995. There was also an accident in 1964, involving a truck who crashed through a wall of spectators and killed 20 people.

So that’s it about the 20 best general facts on the tour de France!

Enough about the sad things though, let’s move on to the fun side of it now.  

Here are some Tour de France fun facts you’ll like to known about.

21. Most teams take a lot of time to prepare themselves before the Tour de France

When you are biking all around the country for several weeks, you should be prepared! Not only do you need to be ready physically, but you also need to store a lot of food and drinks.

That’s why each team brings around 3,900 nutrition bars, 20 jars of jam and 3,000 water bottles. Add a bit of nuts, raisins, apricots and figs, let’s say 80 kg / 176 lbs of each, and you’re good to go!

22. Alcohol was used during the Tour de France a long time ago

Some past beliefs can be very hard to… believe. During the early races, lots of cyclists used to take breaks in villages and drink alcohol! With how long and how hard the race was, they needed to ease pains. Because materials and training were way worse back in that time, I guess you can understand them.

However, this was banned in 1960, because alcohol was said to be a stimulant actually. Now, you drink water and that’s it!

23. Cigarettes were also in use while riding in the Tour de France

The beginning of the 20th century is quite famous for having introduced alcohol and cigarettes as a common practice. Wherever you would go, you would see mostly men either drinking or smoking. This can be seen in lots of movies and series, like the recently famous “Peaky Blinders” .

Well, this practice sadly spread to the Tour de France, where competitors actually shared cigarettes while on the bike! They thought it would help open up the lungs, and used them before the hardest climbs.

24. The Tour de France started as… a marketing scheme

That’s right, the Tour de France was not always “just” a bike race. Instead, when Henri Desgrange created it back in 1903, the aim was to advertise paper around France, and it was a marketing scheme! The Tour de France was first announced in the newspaper “L’Auto”, and Desgrange was its editor.

This is not what you would expect from such a coveted event, but it became so popular that people barely remember what it used to be. Paper advertised and competition created, so that’s a win-win situation!

25. There were lots of cheaters in the first editions of the Tour de France

The Tour de France was created in 1903. This means that technology was very poorly developed, and that there was not any way to make sure no one was cheating.

And because of that, well, people cheated. A lot of them actually. The 1904 edition is famous for having the youngest winner of the Tour de France in history: Henri Cornet was only 19. However, in that same year, the 4 first competitors were disqualified because they used trains during the race!

26. There are no females in the Tour de France

The Tour de France is totally sexist! Whether you like it or not, women cannot participate in the world famous race. Not very progressive, huh?

Well, that’s the reality. Just like for any other sports, the classic sexist arguments are being used: women are not as strong as men and they do not bring enough revenue. In fact, there was a female version that happened every year from 1984 to 1989… but no one noticed it!

27. 1904 was a year full of cheaters

I already told you about the story of the trains during the 1904 Tour de France edition. But there was more in that very same year.

Hippolyte Aucouturier tried a supposedly discrete method: he tied a piece of cork to a long string, and the other end was tied to the back of a car. He wanted to be towed by the car without getting his teeth ripped off, but someone saw the string. Also, when Antoine Fauré passed through his hometown, 100 fans ran in the streets to block his opponents, who had to get off the bike and walk through the crowd.

28. Another famous cheater was Jean Robic

Jean Robic was nicknamed “the Hobgoblin”, because of his very slight stature. He was one of the best climbers, but during descents, he was one of the slowest ones. He became famous for having drunk bottles filled with metals like lead to gain enough weight for the descent. Robic reached amazing speeds because of that!

Just in case: you should not do this at home, whatever the reason. Unsurprisingly, metals are very bad for your body.

29. Bikes have changed a lot since the beginning of the Tour de France

Nowadays, bikes look very cool, are very light and allow you to go very fast. They are optimized each year by thoughtful scientists, and every inch of them is upgraded to remove as much air resistance as possible.

However, that was not always the case. Before 1937, cyclists had to get off their bikes just to switch gears. On top of that, the first bikes were very heavy, sometimes weighing up to 18 kg / 39 lbs. Compare it to the 7 kg / 15 lbs of today, and you can easily understand why the current records are way better than the first ones.

30. The Tour de France was created in 1903, but didn’t take place every year

In 2000, the Tour de France #87 took place. That’s right, not 97! This is not a mistake, don’t worry. In fact, the race was abandoned because of both World Wars.

In case you didn’t know, World Wars were the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century, especially in France. The whole country was rallied to fight against the enemy, and for obvious reasons, it was completely impossible for cyclists to ride through France.

So there you have them, these were all my 30 interesting facts about Tour de France. I hope you enjoyed them and that you learned something new today.

In case you want to learn more about the rest of the country, feel free to keep reading, as I still have lots of things to tell you about. 👇

Loved these facts on Tour de France?  Well, I have other France facts posts I’m sure you’ll love reading!

Here is the main guide of the best France facts 👉 The 60 Best Facts about France

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Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there’s A LOT of them.

• The Tour de France is one of the most coveted sports event in the world
• The Tour de France riders pee while on their bikes, you just can’t see it
• The most famous legend of the Tour de France is now considered the incarnation of evil
• The reason behind the leader’s jersey being yellow is actually very simple
• The Tour de France riders never really rest… even during rest days
• The prize money for the Tour de France is very high
• Racers decide on a very precise tire pressure before starting the Tour de France
• There are very few Americans competing in the Tour de France
• The route of the Tour de France changes every year
• There are lots of different categories of winners in the Tour de France
• There is a “Tour of Italy” as well: the Giro
• Politics influenced the Tour de France a while ago
• More and more editions of the Tour de France are starting abroad
• The Tour de France is sadly synonymous with doping
• Eddy Merckx is a legend among Tour de France cyclists
• Broadcasting for the Tour de France started small, but is now very important
• Because France is so small, we don’t realize how long the Tour de France is
• Cyclists now ride way faster than in the past
• The Red Devil closely follows the Tour de France every year
• There were several casualties during the Tour de France
• Most teams take a lot of time to prepare themselves before the Tour de France
• Alcohol was used during the Tour de France a long time ago
• Cigarettes were also in use while riding in the Tour de France
• The Tour de France started as… a marketing scheme
• There were lots of cheaters in the first editions of the Tour de France
• There are no females in the Tour de France
• 1904 was a year full of cheaters
• Another famous cheater was Jean Robic
• Bikes have changed a lot since the beginning of the Tour de France
• The Tour de France was created in 1903, but didn’t take place every year

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15 Bizarre and fun facts about the Tour De France Facts you didn’t know

Discover unusual facts about the world-renowned Tour de France, including historical oddities and the practice of smoking and drinking while cycling across France.

The world-famous Tour de France is a gruelling race that requires top physical and mental conditioning. The athletes train hard year-round, eat balanced diets and take care of their bodies.

However, once upon a time, the Tour de France was just a bunch of cigarette-smoking, booze-guzzling men riding their bikes on unpaved roads through the French Alps. 

Then vs. Now: The Tour De France fun facts

For those of you who are a bit clueless about “le Tour de France,” let me first give you a little back story on the fun and quirky beginnings of the Tour de France.

1- The 1st Tour de France Was Originally A Sales Gimmick!

In November of 1902, Geo Lefevre, a journalist from the newspaper L’Auto, had an idea to boost newspaper circulation.

The idea was the Tour de France.

Two months later, in January of 1903, the first Tour de France was had, but the circumstances and details were very different from today.

• There were only six relatively flat stages over 18 days vs. the 21 rather mountainous stages over 23 days of today.
• There were 60 entrants in the 1903 race vs. the nearly 200 entrants of 2021
• Roughly 60% of the first Tour de France of 1903 did NOT complete the race, while 78% of riders completed the race in 2021.
• Garin won 3000 French Francs for winning the 1903 Tour de France, which, adjusted for inflation, is roughly 11k Euros. Tadej Pogačar, the 2021 Tour de France winner, took home €500,000 for finishing in first place in the 2021 Tour de France. 

Geo Lefevre succeeded at boosting the circulation of the newspaper with his Tour de France publicity stunt. But more importantly, he created the biggest cycling and racing event in the world of sports.

2- The Tour de France is more popular than the American Super Bowl And The Summer Olympics

Each year, millions of Americans tune in to watch the Super Bowl. Even non-football fans tune in just to watch the commercials and the half-time show, which now features some of the biggest acts in music.

Even if you’re not an American football fan, you probably already know that it’s one of the biggest sporting events in the US and one of the biggest American television events.

But did you know that the most passionately followed sports in the world are not all that popular in America at all?  The worldwide popularity of the Tour de France makes American Football look like a drop in the bucket, mainly because the world doesn’t share America’s love for American football.

 The Super Bowl looks at best like a runner-up when it comes to global television viewers.  Let me put it into a bit of perspective for you.

21-day Tour de France race (3.5 billion viewers):

According to the facts page of the Tour de France Yorkshire, the Tour de France attracts a total of 3.5 billion television viewers annually, which seems like a lot if you consider that’s roughly one-third of the world’s population.

Although it’s not clearly explained how they derived these numbers, my guess is that they count total views for the entire 3-week race, and viewers can get counted multiple times if they watch the race for multiple days.  (source)

Super Bowl ( 114.4 million viewers) :

In 2015, the Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks set a new viewership record. The Sunday night broadcast of the Super Bowl averaged 114.4 million viewers per minute, becoming the most-watched event in American TV history. (source)

Winter Olympics (500 million viewers):

Not nearly as big as the Summer Olympics, the Winter Olympics has almost 500 million viewers- mainly from Canada, Scandinavia and Russia.

Italy’s cycling Grand Tour (775 million viewers):

This 3-week annual race, which takes place between May and June, not only attracts millions of live spectators, it is also watched by a yearly average of 775 million people.

The Summer Olympic Games ( 2 billion viewers):

Loved around the world, the Summer Olympic Games attracts nearly 2 billion television viewers.

FIFA World Cup (3.2 billion viewers):

Football, or soccer as Americans like to call it, has its own version of the Super Bowl called the Fifa World Cup, which occurs every four years. The Cup’s final game is usually the single most viewed sporting event on earth. In 2014, the World Cup final between Germany and Argentina set a record and drew a total in- and out-of-home audience reach of 1.013 billion. However, if you factor in all viewership for all games leading up to the final game, viewership was actually 3.2 billion. (source)

Like any popular sporting event, the stakes are high when it comes to winning the Tour de France.

3- How long is Le Tour De France

The route of the Le Tour De France course and the total distance changes every year.

In the original 1903 tour, the length was 2,428 kilometres.

Today, the 20 to 22 competing teams of 9 riders from around the world can expect to cycle over 2000 miles (3,500 kilometres).

4- How many calories do riders burn during the Tour de France?

A Tour de France rider burns an average of 7,000 calories per day. That’s roughly 123,900 calories throughout the 21-day race! That’s the calorie equivalent of eating 1,625 apples, or 872 slices of cheese pizza from Pizza Hut, 252 McDonald’s double cheeseburgers, or 619 original glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

5- How much sweat does each rider produce during the Tour de France?

Throughout the roughly 3,500 kilometres Tour de France, a cyclist can sweat about 1.5 litres per hour , totalling 130 litres (32 gallons)  for the entire race. That’s a lot of sweat, enough to flush a toilet over 20 times at 1.6 gallons (6 litres) per flush. 

6- Why Did The Tour de France Riders Drink Alcohol?

Two riders are pictured having a break on the steps of a tavern during the Tour de France: In the early 1900s, beer was commonly drunk during endurance performances.

There is no doubt that the Tour de France is a physically challenging event in which only the fittest of athletes can compete. With this in mind, that’s what makes the following fact even more incredible. For a long time, until the 1960s, it was common for Tour de France riders to slug a drink of alcohol during the race. Not only did they drink alcohol to dull the pain, but they considered it an honest-to-good performance booster.

As you know, stimulants are banned, and so is alcohol eventually because it was considered a stimulant.

7- Did Tour de France Riders Really Smoke During Races?

Yes, it’s true; in the 20’s it was not uncommon for riders to share cigarettes while riding. People thought that smoking would help “open the lungs” before big climbs. Hah!

8- How many tires do riders use?

It turns out that the Tour de France isn’t just a test of physical endurance for the riders; the Tour de France bikes suffer, too. During the three-week challenge, riders combined can wear out a total of 792 tires.

9- How Fast Are Cyclists Able To Cycle?

Since the very first Tour de France in 1903, the average speeds cyclists reach have almost doubled. The average speed for the Tour of 2003 was 40.94 kilometres per hour compared to 25.67 kilometres per hour in 1903. The increase in speed was made possible mainly due to the dramatic changes in equipment, diet, roads, training, Tour rules and sometimes even doping. (source)

10- Sexism and Why Are There No Female Cyclers In The Tour De France

If you’re a woman and want to join the Tour de France alongside other male cyclists, you can forget it. Only males can participate in the race; however, there was a version for women held each year between 1984 and 1989. Unfortunately, It went largely unnoticed.

In 2014, an all-female cycling race dubbed “ La Course by Le Tour de France ” was created, which coincided with the 18th and 20th stages of the 2017 Tour de France and lasted two days.

I know what a lot of you are thinking. Well, of course, women can’t compete in Le Tour De France.

The classic sexist arguments against women athletes are the same in cycling as they are for other sports: 1- they aren’t as strong as men, and 2-they don’t bring in the same revenue.”

Where’s the equality in that?

11- What Countries Typically Win The Tour De France?

As of 2015, the French have pretty much dominated the Tour de France with the most wins (36), followed by Belgium (18), then Spain (11), Italy (7), Luxembourg (4) and the US (1). And no, the one US winner is not Lance Armstrong. He lost, or should I say his seven titles were stripped due to doping. See the cheating section below to learn why.

12- How Much Money Do The Tour Winners Receive?

The overall winner of the race receives a purse of €450,000 (about 600,000 USD), which he will usually split with his teammates. The total prize money awarded for the entire race (stages, sprints, overall classification) is about 4.3 million US dollars.

13- Has Anyone Ever Died During the Tour de France?

A total of 3 tour riders have died while competing in the Tour. A fourth rider drowned during a rest day, and 20-plus spectators were killed in an unfortunate accident. Below are the details.

• The first fatality occurred in 1910, but the victim, Adolphe Helière, drowned on one of the rest days and not during a race. 
• The first rider to die while racing in Le Tour De France was Francisco Cepada in 1935, a Spaniard who lost control of his bike on the descent of the infamous Col du Galibier in the Alps when he crashed into a ravine.
• In 1964, a tanker truck lost control as it came around a bend too quickly and crashed through a wall of spectators over a bridge and into a canal. The accident killed 20 people  and is one of the biggest tragedies in French sports history.

14- Have Tour cyclists been caught cheating?

Another interesting fun fact about the Tour de France is that historically, Cheating and the Tour de France go hand in hand.

Not a year goes by in this sport without a rider getting accused of less than honourable behaviour.

The most famous and high-profile cheating scandal is the doping scandal surrounding Lance Armstrong. He won seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005 but was stripped of his titles in 2012 after a protracted doping scandal .

Lance wasn’t the only person who was caught cheating during the Tour de France.

Here are just a few of the more notable cheats in Tour de France history.

• Some riders in 1904 were accused of taking trains or using cars to pull their bikes up hills. Hippolyte Aucouturier tried to be a little more discreet. Aucouturier tied a piece of cork to a long piece of string and tied the other end to the back of a car. The idea was for Aucouturier to bite down on the cork and let the car to him, all the while hoping his teeth didn’t get ripped out of his mouth and hoping that no one would see the string.

• In 1904, after cyclist Antoine Fauré passed through his hometown, 100 of his fans ran out into the street to block his opponents. Riders had to get off their bikes and find their way through the crowd to get by.

15- What technology differences existed?

Prior to 1937, riders had to get off their bikes to switch gears because bikes did not have a derailleur before then.

The bikes of 1903 were made of heavy steel and wood, which could weigh as much as 18 kg (39 lbs), vs. today’s carbon/alloy bike frames, which weigh about 7 kg (15 lbs).

Wrapping up fun facts about Le Tour de France

I was never a big fan of the Tour de France, but after living in France for years, I’ve been exposed to all its glamour and fanfare, making me at the least a little interested in it. It’s an amazing sport that very few people can ever imagine competing in.

Disclosure : This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a 'petite commission' at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through my links. It helps me buy more wine and cheese. Please read my disclosure for more info.

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Annie André

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I'm Annie André, a bilingual North American with Thai and French Canadian roots. I've lived in France since 2011. When I'm not eating cheese, drinking wine or hanging out with my husband and children, I write articles on my personal blog annieandre.com for intellectually curious people interested in all things France: Life in France, travel to France, French culture, French language, travel and more.

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23 amazing facts you didn’t know about the Tour de France

How much do you really know about the Tour de France? Here are 23 amazing facts you probably didn’t know about the Tour de France

1. The race is nicknamed ‘La Grande Boucle’ which means ‘the big loop’ and refers to the route that takes cyclists around France

2. The average cyclist burns between 4,000 and 5,000 calories during each stage of the race. That’s a whopping 123,900 calories for the entire race

3. In the 1920s, riders used to share cigarettes while riding because they were believed to ‘open up’ the lungs before climbs…

4. …and until the 1960s, cyclists used to drink alcohol because it numbed the pain of their aching limbs. This practice was then banned because alcohol was considered a stimulant

_______________________________________________________________________

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5. The Tour de France gathers over 12 million spectators who line the route, making it the largest sporting event in the world…

6. …and 3,5 billion people watch the Tour de France on television each year

7. In 1919, only 10 cyclists finished the race, the least of all time

8. This one is a bit irksome but strangely fascinating: over the course of the race, riders will sweat enough water to flush the toilet 39 times!

9. The entire peloton uses around 790 tires over the three-week long race

10. The first winner of the Tour de France was Maurice Garin. He won again in 1904 but was then disqualified for cheating. He was caught taking a train to the Alps for the last stage!

Fun ideas for active weekend breaks in France

Quiz: How much do you know about the Tour de France?

11. The French have taken more winning titles than other nations, totalling 36 wins

12. 4 riders have died during the Tour de France

13. The oldest stage winner was Firmin Lambot in 1922, he was 36…

14. …and the youngest was Henri Cornet in 1904, he was only 19

15. In 2014, the average speed for riders was around 41km/h

16. The shortest winning margin was of 8 seconds between American Greg Lemond and Frenchman Laurent Fignon in 1989

17. In 2013, riders climbed the equivalent of Nevis, Scafell Pike, Snowdon, Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro and Everest

18. Each team comes to the Tour de France with supplies that include 3,900 nutrition bars, 3,000 water bottles, 80kg of nuts, raisins, apricots and figs and…20 jars of jam!

19. Around 13,000 gendarmes are mobilized for the duration of the race

20. 1,200 hotel rooms are booked for teams, staff, press and Tour personnel.

21. On rest days, most cyclists don’t actually rest but hop onto their bike for a couple of hours to stop lactic acid from building up in their muscles and to stay focused

22. Jean Robic, winner of the 1947 Tour, drank lead-filled water bottles at the top of climbs to descend faster

23. The longest edition of the Tour de France was the 1926 race which totalled 3,570 miles

Do your own Tour de France and find out more about cycling in France

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25 Fun And Interesting Facts About The Tour De France

Who would have thought watching cycling could be so thrilling? The Tour De France is the biggest cycle race on the planet. It’s a truly gruelling endeavour for even the fittest of pedal pushers, meaning that to win – or even to place – is a phenomenal feat. It’s grown and grown over the years and has been a part of the global sporting scene since 1903. In fact, many British viewers will know that the Tour De Yorkshire has spun off successfully from the main race in the years gone by! Take a look below for 25 fun and interesting facts about the Tour de France.

1. Cycling in the Tour De France is an incredible effort. It’s thought that each cyclist is likely to burn up to 5,000 calories in each race stage!

2. This means that a cyclist likely to be pushing themselves to the maximum could stand to burn more than 123,000 calories by the time the race finishes, total!

3. Up until the 1960s, it was common for cyclists in the race to drink alcohol. This is because it was often used to help with limb aches. As you can imagine, there’s always likely to be a lot of this!

4. It was also fairly common for cyclists in the race to smoke. This has less science behind it – as riders at the time generally thought that smoking opened up the lungs – and helped them breathe along the way!

5. Believe it or not, only ten riders finished the race in 1919, making it the smallest finishing grid in the event’s history.

6. France, unsurprisingly, is the most decorated nation in the race.

7. Eddy Merckx holds the record for most stage wins, with 34 in total.

8. The Tour De France is likely to be the most-watched sporting event on the planet. In total, it is said to be watched by around 12 million people each year! This is largely thanks to the fact that so many spectators watch the cyclists go by, through streets and avenues.

9. The Tour De France nutrition supplies cabinet is full of all kinds of energy-boosting food. What’s weird about this statistic is that, on average, there are around 20 different jars of jam brought to the race each year!

10. However, most cyclists in the race will get their energy from nutrition bars and boosters. It’s thought that between 3,900 and 4,000 nutrition bars are consumed on route at each race.

11. It’s thought that the total sweat from all cyclists taking part in a Tour De France race will have enough to flush the toilet at least 39 times. Who checks these things?

12. Many winners of the Tour De France dedicate their wins to various things. The 1947 winner, Jean Robic, stated he owed his win to drinking water from lead-based bottles. He felt this allowed him to get down descents quicker!

13. Cyclists at the Tour De France tend not to rest, at least for not too long. There are Rest Days, but riders will still cycle for two hours, approximately, to help free their bodies of lactic acid.

14. The Tour De France is also often called La Grand Boucle. This translates as ‘The Big Loop’ – pretty accurate, given how it loops around France!

15. Pedal, pedal, pedal! It’s thought that cyclists will push an average of 486,000 pedal rotations across the whole of a Tour De France race.

16. There have been some pretty close races over the years. None closer, it seems, than 1989’s tour. It was here where Laurent Fignon and Greg Lemond were within eight seconds of each other on the finishing line!

17. Winners tend to be in their 20s and 30s. However, the youngest-ever Tour De France winner was Henri Cornet, who won the race at the age of 19, back in 1904.

18. In 1922, Firmin Lambot set the record for oldest winner, at the age of 36.

19. The longest Tour De France of all time took place in 1926. This race traversed more than 3,500 miles!

20. Bernard Hinault won the race five times and had some philosophical thoughts about it. He once said, “An amateur should think long and hard before attempting one of these stages. Two would probably necessitate a visit to a doctor, and three would require a psychiatrist – any more, and you should be checking if that person has written a will!”

21. Maurice Garin won the first-ever Tour De France in 1903. However, he was disqualified in 1904, on the grounds that he was accused of using a train along the way!

22. It wasn’t just Garin who was disqualified, either – as the whole front four had their accolades removed.

23. Tour De France is watched hugely at home, too. It’s thought that more than 3.5 billion people tune into the cycling action each year!

24. During the course of a given race, more than 1,200 different hotel rooms are booked along the way. This not only covers riders, but also tour staff, press representatives and team members.

25. The 2013 race was particularly gruelling. It’s thought the riders traversed the equivalent of several of the world’s biggest mountains and peaks. In fact, the equivalent of Scafell Pike, Mount Everest, Mont Blanc, Mount Snowdon, Ben Nevis, and Kilimanjaro were covered on bike that year!

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13 Enduring Facts about Le Tour de France

The Tour de France is a world-famous endurance and speed race held annually. It involves a 23-day tour through different countries but always involving and ending in France. Covering approximately 2,200 miles, It is the longest cycle race in the world ! Here are some fun facts about the Tour de France to help clue you up on this world-famous spectacle.

1. The Tour always ends in the same place.

The finish line of the Tour de France is always on the Champs Elysee in Paris, France. However, the route otherwise changes from year to year!

2. It’s been going for well over a century.

The first Tour de France was held in 1903. It’s captivated plenty of attention ever since, though there have been delays over the years. It was canceled during WWI and WWII, and there were delays during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

3. What is Le Grand Depart?

‘Le Grand Depart’, translates to mean ‘The big start’! It certainly is spectacular, with a build-up of anticipation and much media coverage.

4. Don’t worry… they take breaks!

Cyclists taking part in the Tour don’t actually ride for the full 23 days! They take two rest days off in between – there has to be a limit!

5. What is a stage, anyway?

A ‘stage’ in the Tour de France refers to a leg of the race. Stages can last for up to 6 hours each. Each day of cycling produces a stage winner, who takes a place on the podium. There are 21 stages in total, one for each of the 21 days of racing. Got all of that?

6. Go for yellow!

The Maillot Jaune is the famous yellow jersey worn by the rider who is acknowledged to have achieved the best time/s for the race. The aim is to finish in yellow, essentially!

7. The women will have their turn on the Tour!

A new women’s Tour de France race is to be launched in 2022. It will be known as the ’Tour de France Femmes’, translating to ’Tour de France Women’. Right now, women don’t take part in the main Tour de France races.

8. Cycling burns a TON of calories.

Cyclists burn between 5,000 and 7,000 calories during a daily stage! Musettes, or food bags, are passed to them as they cycle. The nutrients in the food is designed to sustain them through the race!

9. Not bad starting out!

In 1904, Henri Comet was the youngest driver to win the Tour de France. He was the champion 13 days before his 20th birthday that year! In 2020, Tadej Pogacar came close – he was was one day away from his 22nd birthday when he won.

10. That’s a LOT of pedaling.

Eddy Merckx remains the all-time record holder with the most stages won – he claimed a total of 34 over the years!

11. Millions of people tune in – and who could blame them?

Believe it or not, the Tour de France is probably the most-watched sport on the planet. Millions of people watch it both in person and on TV!

12. Better prepare the cistern, then…?

Tour de France cyclists are said to produce enough sweat in one race to flush a toilet more than 39 times. Now there’s a fact you’ll want to remember…

13. You’re never too old to tour!

The oldest ever winner of the Tour de France was Firmin Lambot – he was the ripe old age of 36 when he claimed the title!

FAQs about The Tour de France

Do tour de france riders pee during the race.

Yes - if they need to take a ‘comfort break’, riders can take to the side of a road to relieve themselves. This normally takes place organized ahead of time.

Has anyone died while taking part in the Tour de France?

Yes - there have been a total of four casualties that have taken place during the race over the years.

Has anyone cheated during the Tour de France?

There have been various scandals that have plagued the races - and Lance Armstrong’s exposure during a doping scandal was perhaps the biggest. He lost all seven of his TDF titles.

Do you know any fun facts about the Tour de France? Share them in the comments below!

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23 Fun Facts About the Tour de France

It’s the most prestigious and controversial cycling race in the world. let’s explore it all with these fun facts about the tour de france.

Hairpin turns, brutal climbs, superhuman athletes and loads of scandals, the Tour de France has it all! 

Every July, the best cyclists in the world converge upon France to test their endurance, courage, and strength in an effort to win the illustrious title. But how much do you really know about the Tour de France? 

With these fun facts about the Tour de France we’ll explore the most famous race stages, the wildest controversies and some of the most impressive records in sporting history. This one is for all of you cycling fans out there!

The Tour de France has been held since 1903 but has had a few bumps in the road along the way, including cheaters, doping allegations and the deaths of some riders. Even with all this drama, the excitement of the annual race persists with over three billion viewers annually.

And what about weighted water bottles, cigarettes, and polka dots? All three have a place in the storied history of the Tour de France and we’ll get to the bottom of it all.

As a primer for this year’s race, let’s learn some more Tour de France facts, so when you see the clips online you’ll know what’s actually going on!

1. Historic route

Even though the route changes quite often, there are some features of the Tour de France that will always remain.

Most certainly the stages that wind up and down the French Alps and Pyrenees will always be a part of the race. And since 1975, every final sprint has sped along the Champs-Elysees in Paris .

2. A July tradition

On1st July 1903, the first Tour de France began in Paris. The 6 stage route saw riders pass through six major French cities in a large loop that hit each corner of the country. 

Paris → Lyon → Marseilles →  Toulouse → Bordeaux → Nantes → Paris. The first winner was Maurice Garin.

3. The steepest climb

One of the most popular sections that has made repeat appearances in the Tour de France is Alpe d’Huez . This 13.2 km brutal climb sees a gradient of 8.1%. 

With over 20 switchbacks and an elevation of over 10,000 ft, you can be sure the rider’s lungs are burning on this one!

4. The longest route ever

The 1926 Tour de France has never been matched in terms of distance covered. The 17-stage race saw an accumulation of 5,745 km (3,570 mi)! 

This is even more impressive considering the equipment of the 1920s. In comparison, the 2019 Tour de France covered only 3,460 km (2,150 mi) in 21 stages.

5. The most wins

The cycling legend Eddy Merckx of Belgium holds the record for the most stage wins with 34. With all these stage wins it probably comes as no surprise that Merckx is a five-time winner of the Tour de France (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974).

However, also sharing the most stage wins with 34 is British legend Mark Cavendish.

6. The disgraced winner

When you think about the Tour de France, it’s impossible to separate the race from the American cyclist Lance Armstrong. Armstrong won a record seven consecutive Tour de France titles between 1999 and 2005. 

However, he was stripped of his titles in 2012 when the US Anti-Doping Agency found that Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career. It’s a scandal that the sport has really struggled to come to terms with as Armstrong was the poster boy for the Tour de France for years.

7. More scandals

While Lance Armstrong may be the most well-known drug cheat to win the Tour De France, many other cyclists have been embroiled in drug scandals as well.

Other Tour de France winners who have failed drug tests include American Floyd Landis, Spain’s Alberto Contador, and Britain’s Chris Froome.

8. Come on, peloton!

No, it’s not just the home exercise company with the perky trainers and mildly annoying commercials, peloton actually means gang in French.

In the Tour de France, the peloton refers to the large group of riders who bunch up during the race and ride together. This allows for consistency, drafting, and communication between riders.

9. Prize money

21 stages, 3,404 km (2,127 mi), 22 teams, 176 riders, 1 winner. The rider who outlasts the rest at the 2023 Tour de France, and can manage the climbs, and has the lowest overall time will take home an incredible €500,000 ($535,000)!

10. The jerseys

During the Tour de France you can spot a few unique jerseys within the peleton. But what do these colorful jerseys, called maillots, signify?

Here’s a rundown: The leader of the overall race will be in yellow. The best sprinter wears green. The best rider under-25 wears white. Most fashionably, the best climber wears red and white polka dots!

11. Spectacular crash

When you have 150+ riders reaching speeds of up to 110 km (65 mi) per hour there are bound to be some devastating crashes.

Look no further than the 2021 Tour de France where two crashes marred the opening stage with two major crashes and 26 cyclists injured.

12. Get outta the way!

A tradition of the Tour de France are the spectators lining the streets and cheering on the cyclists. But sometimes they cause huge trouble.

In 1999, Giuseppe Guerini was leading the stage when a photographer got in his way causing a scary crash. Amazingly, Guerini was able to get back on his bike and win the race!

13. Tour tragedies

In the history of the Tour de France, three riders have died during the race. Fabio Casartelli crashed while going downhill at 88 kph (55 mph) in 1995. In 1935, Francisco Cepeda crashed into a ravine. 

A more auspicious death was Tom Simpson who died of a heart attack in 1967 after taking amphetamines to help climb Alpe d’Huez.

14. Calorie burner

Try riding your bicycle for six hours straight and you’ll get a sense of just how hard these athletes are working! In fact, the average rider will burn around 7,000 calories per stage. 

This is why you’ll see riders being handed food pouches filled with high-density nutrition to keep them fueled as they have to eat throughout the ride.

15. We can’t look away

Of course the Tour de France is a grand spectacle of sporting tradition, but did you know that the viewing figures for the race outpace the Super Bowl and the Olympics? Over the 21-day race more than 3.5 billion people will tune in to watch!

16. Smoking and cycling

During the 1920’s riders would share cigarettes before a steep climb, believing that the smoke would open their lungs and allow for a better performance. This was one of the fun facts about the Tour de France that we couldn’t believe!

17. Mercury descending

As we’ve discovered with these Tour de France facts, people will stop at nothing to win the race. The perfect example is Jean Robic in 1947.

Robic, who was known as an excellent climber, would be handed lead mercury disguised in water bottles to go faster on the downhills. Now that’s some cheating ingenuity!

18. Bike technology

To say the bicycle has come a long way from 1903 when the first Tour was run would be a huge understatement. The first Tour de France bikes were built of wood and steel and weighed 40 lbs.

Compare that to the carbon bikes of today that are feather-light at 15 lbs.

19. It’s getting hot

The Tour de France is getting hotter and hotter each year causing concern for the future of the July tradition. In 2019, during the stages in the south of France, the air temperature was 40°C (104°F) and the temperature on the road surface was a scorching 60°C (140°F).

20. Equality in sport

Are you wondering if there ever was a Tour de France for women? In fact, a women’s race was attempted between 1984-1989 but largely went unnoticed.

The good news: 2022 saw a new race for women, the Tour de France Femmes . And it was a huge success too!

21. Quick Tour de France facts

Over 800 tires blow out every year at the Tour de France. The average cost of each Tour de France bike is between $13,000-$17,000. The country to win the most Tour de France titles, unsurprisingly, is France with 36.

22. Young and old

The oldest stage winner in the Tour’s history was Pino Cerami who won Stage 9 during the 1963 race at 41 years and 65 days.

The youngest stage winner was Fabio Battesini way back in 1931, when he won a stage at just 19 years and 134 days.

23. Postponed race

In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, the Tour de France was postponed until late September . In these untraditional circumstances, Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia was the winner. 

At 21-years old, Pogacar is the second youngest winner in Tour de France history. Oh, by the way, he won again in 2021. 

Who wants more fun facts?

If you’re looking for some recommendations, these are a few of our favorite fact books to buy. We use these when planning fun trivia nights with family and friends!

• Interesting Facts for Curious Minds
• 1,144 Random, Interesting & Fun Facts You Need To Know
• The Intriguingly Interesting Book of 555 Fascinating Facts

We really hope you enjoyed all our fun facts about the Tour de France! Did you learn something new? If there’s any we missed, you can let us know in the comments below and we’ll add them to this article! 

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7 Fun Facts About the Tour de France

Posted on Published: July 8, 2019  - Last updated: February 11, 2024

What would be France without its famous bicycle race that takes place every summer in the country? Maybe nothing! This race became one of the most important events in France. Even French people that are not into biking or sports, in general, tend to follow the Tour de France.

I gather some original facts or numbers about the famous French bike race, the one, the unique: The Tour de France !

• Le Tour de France, created by a Newspaper

It all started with a simple 1200 meters race in Paris in 1868. Later on, two newspapers “l’Auto” and “le Vélo” were organizing a 400-kilometer race between Paris – Bordeaux.

In order to gain some market share and to publish more, Géo Lefèvre journalist at the newspaper l’Auto imagine a bike race on the road by stages making the round of France, it was “the biggest bike race of all time”. It went from a 2400-kilometer race reaching in 1911 5300 kilometers. Nowadays, the race is around 3500 kilometers with 21 stages.

• Few finishers for the first edition

When in 1903, the Tour de France was created, the race took place from the 1st to the 19th of July. This year, only sixty cyclists started the Tour de France of 2428 kilometers, with six stages (Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Nantes). In the end, there were only 21 finishers , and, the winner was French: Maurice Garin.

• By train, you travel faster

For the first edition, some of the sportsmen were caught getting off the train with their bicycles at the arrival of the first stage Paris – Lyon (467 km). They had a bad idea to take the same train as the race stewards!

• Creation of the Yellow Jersey of the Tour de France

The yellow jersey was created in 1919. The Brothers Pélissier left the Tour de France after only the fifth stage. Eugène Christophe took the lead, and the public did not know him. In order to help the fans to notice him during the race, they made him wear a yellow jersey. The yellow was a reference to the color of the magazine that found the Tour de France: l’Auto.

The other jerseys were created later on, for the 50th anniversary of the Tour the green jersey was invented to honor the best sprinter. In 1970 was created the white jersey to promote the best under 25 (in the general ranking). The last one, the red polka dot jersey was created in 1975 for the best climber.

• Get some rest at the beach

In 1962, the cyclists of the Tour de France took a break in the bay of Saint-Maxime (côte d’Azur). This event explained why the organizers try from now on to avoid the Côte d’Azur for the race.

• One of the most viewed sports events in the world

Broadcast by more than 80 channels in nearly 190 countries, the Tour de France attracts around one billion viewers each year (3.5 billion according to the organizer). It is now the third most-watched sports competition in the world. For your information, number one is the summer Olympics games (discover my article about the 2024 Paris summer Olympics ) and the second one is the FIFA World Cup.

As a French person I have to be honest, I did not imagine for a second that this event could be watched by a billion people. It is seen as a big national event in France, but the majority of French people do not know those numbers about the Tour de France. For sure, not only the French people love to discover and rediscover the hexagon every year!

• THE party number!

The Tour de France goes often to the ski resort of the Alpes d’Huez. The participants have to climb it to the top, and we count 21 turns. The 7th turn belongs to the Dutch people. When the Tour de France goes through Huez, for 40 years, they came there one week before to camp and party all day long, drinking liters of beer.

The atmosphere is incredible, and the Dutch people dance with their chairs in the air to the song “Schatje Mag ik je foto ? “ translated into English “Honey, can I take a picture of you?”. This is kind of a camping festival next to the road, this is unique. Here’s a video (Low quality).

I hope you enjoyed reading this article! Do you know other fun facts about the Tour de France ? Let me know in the comment section! Now, I invite you to read my articles about:

• A Guide to Pétanque: A French Lawn Game
• The Decathlon Store: The French IKEA Sporting Goods Outlet

Work cited:

Photo Credits

@ Cocs1995 (cover picture)

A.S.O./Pauline Ballet

https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/julien-holtz/8-histoires-insolites-du-tour-de-france-que-vous-ignoriez-peut-etre_a_23473750/

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Tour de France Facts

July 1, 2016 by Josh Friedman

With the Tour de France on, you should catch up on your history of La Gran Boucle (the nickname of the Tour, French for The Great Circuit). The race is rich with tradition, stemming from its long history starting in 1903 as a publicity stunt for a sports newspaper, L’Auto, and running every year except during the two World Wars. The leader’s jersey of the race is yellow because that is color of newsprint in L’Auto. The newspaper is long gone, but the Tour continues on. This list of Tour de France facts will help you understand the race.

The Winners

Winning the overall classification in the Tour de France immortalizes a rider. Winning it five times makes a rider a legend. Four riders have done it – Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. Lance Armstrong won seven times but was stripped of his victories because he admitted to using performance enhancing drugs to fuel his victories.

Winning the overall classification entails a rider covering the twenty or so stages of the Tour in the least time. Each stage is timed – the officials add the time together from each of the twenty or so stages. The number of stages depends on the route of the race.

There are also many other opportunities to win. Riders can win the stage each day, along with:

• The most aggressive rider, awarded to the rider that animated the race the most each day.
• The sprinter’s jersey, based on points on intermediate sprints and stage finished.
• The king of the mountains jersey, based on points awarded at the top of climbs.
• The young rider’s jersey, like the general classification, but for riders under twenty five.

Winning any of these competitions can be a tremendous boost to a riders career and is often a life-long dream of many cyclists.

Cycling is full of failure. Only one person wins (on the backs of his teammates) and when a race is as big as the Tour, about one hundred eighty people lose. But there is an informal competition in the general classification for last place, called the Lantern Rouge, or red lamp. It refers to the red light at the end of a train.

A Tour team comprises of nine riders, based on the team’s goal’s in the race. Some teams go for the general classification, some shoot for stage wins, others the green jersey. Each team wants to get good results so they can be invited back to the biggest stage in the cycling world. It is very good for the team’s sponsors, who foot the bill for the teams. Racing at the Tour means excellent exposure for the sponsors. Getting good results is even better for the sponsors.

Team directors are like the in-game coaches at the Tour. They drive the team car and support the riders throughout the race with tactics, equipment and nutrition. There are also mechanics in the car, along with mechanics that go ahead to the hotel at the end of the stage. Soigneurs prepare food, give massages and are generally available for the riders needs so they can focus on riding and recovering after the stage. Teams also have cooks preparing nutritious meals and doctors to take care of any medical concerns.

Vehicles at the Tour

During the Tour, each team has two cars in the caravan which escorts the riders. One car stays with the main group of riders, the peloton and the other is available to go with the breakaway up the road.In the team car there are spare wheels, spare bikes, extra clothing, water and food for the riders. The team directors drive the cars with a mechanic in the back seat.

In addition to the team cars in the caravan, there are many other vehicles:

• Race officials and judges are in cars and on motorcycles monitoring the race.
• Neutral service motorcycles and cars can help riders with mechanical failures if their team cars are not there.
• There is a car for the race doctor, along with ambulances for the inevitable crashes.
• Media cars, motorcycles and helicopters, with print, photographic and video reporters mix in with the peloton to give fans at home a close look at the race.
• Preceding the race, there is a promotional caravan with cars advertising the race sponsors, often throwing free merchandise to the fans lining the course.

All of these vehicles hold the people that make the Tour happen. The total is around four thousand, making for an economic boon at each stop of the Tour. It also requires that each stage has the capacity to house this rolling carnival.

Fun Tour de France Facts

The rider with the most Tour starts is George Hincapie with seventeen. The rider with the most Tour finishes is Joop Joetemelk with sixteen.

Greg LeMond won the Tour on the last day by eight seconds in 1990. He came into the final stage with a fifty second deficit to Laurent Fignon. He used aerobars, an unprecedented (at the time) piece of equipment that allowed to be more aerodynamic. It helped carry LeMond to his slim victory. He was also the first non-European winner of the Tour.

The first Tour in 1903 was only five stages and only had fifteen riders. Early Tours required that riders support themselves – they had to get their own food and water and do their own repairs, no matter how mangled their bikes may have been.

The editor of L’Auto and founder of the Tour was Henri Desgrange.

There are a few different kinds of Tour stages:

• Time trials: Each rider races against the clock individually. These can be decisive in the overall classification.
• Team time trials: Each team races together against the clock.
• Flat stages: These stages usually end in a group sprint.
• Medium mountain stages: Usually rolling stages that lead to breakaways but do not have much impact on the overall classification.
• High mountain stages: This is where the biggest battles of the Tour happen. The stages go over the biggest mountains in the tour, making big time gaps in the race and having a big impact on the overall classification.

The individual time trial was stage one of the 2015 Tour when Rohan Dennis won the stage at 55.446 kilometers per hour. The fastest stage ever was Team Orica/Greenedge in a team time trial on stage five in 2013 at 57.8 kilometers per hour. The fastest mass start stage was Mario Cippollini’s victory in 1999 on stage four at 50.4 kilometers per hour.

Watch This Year’s Tour

With a new understanding of the Tour de France, you can follow the action more closely. Each year, historic moments happen. See what you can spot in the 2016 edition.

About Josh Friedman

Josh Friedman has been racing since 1997 and coaching other cyclists since 2008. Josh, head coach at ATP Race Consulting, is a USA Cycling Level 2 certified coach, with athletes near his home in Pittsburgh and across the US. His extensive cycling background, which has brought him to four continents, coupled with a master’s degree in experiential education allows Josh to go beyond coaching. He is a teacher of all things cycling. He is also a father who knows how critical it is to balance all of your life’s commitments in order to succeed. You can find him online at www.atpraceconsulting.info and on Twitter @ATPRacing.

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Tour de France – top facts and figures

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The Tour de France is one of the most important and prestigious bike races in the world. Taking place in France and these days often in neighbouring countries. The first race took place in 1903 and its been held every year ever since, with the exception of the war years when it was put on hold.

In 1903 the race took place over six rather flat stages, although not mountainous they were much longer stages than today’s races, more than double the distance riders go today.In that first race 60 cyclists, all professionals or semi-professionals, started and Maurice Garin, who was the favourite to win, proved the pundits right and took the prize. He also won in 1904 but was disqualified along with eight other riders for cheating including the illegal use of cars and trains.

Read more Tour de France Trivia !

Tour de France winners – the facts

France has had more winners than any other country (36) but has not had an overall win since 1985.

The record for the most number of Tour de France wins was held by Lance Armstrong (7 wins) but he was stripped of his titles in 2012 due to allegations of performance enhancing drugs being involved. The title has not been awarded to any other rider – the ICU (International Cycling Union) have confirmed that there will be no winner for the “Armstrong years” (1999-2005).

Four cyclists who have won the Tour de France five or more times:

Jacques Anquetil – France (1957 and 1961-1964)

Eddy Merckx – Belgium (1969-1972 and 1974) – won King of the Mountains, the combination classification, combative award, the points competition AND the Tour in 1969 – his first year of participation.

Bernard Hinault –  France (1978-1979, 1981-1982, and 1985)

Miguel Indurain – Spain (1991-1995), the first competitor to win five consecutive races

What makes a Tour de France winner?

The person who ends up with the shortest overall accumulated race times throughout the 3 week long, more than 3000 kilometre race is declared the individual winner.

Accumulated timings take into consideration deductions for winning sprints held at several sites along the route each day, as well as deductions for the first three finishers of each stage.

Read about the Tour De France jerseys

Tour de France – a potted history

1903 – The Tour de France is created by Henri Desgrange – a reporter and cyclist

1903 – The first winner of the Tour de France – Maurice Garin of France

1904 – Twelve riders, including the previous year’s winner Maurice Garin and all the stage winners, were disqualified for various reasons including illegal use of cars and trains

1937 – The Belgian team pulled out when they considered the French rider Roger Lapébie had been punished too lightly for being towed uphill by car.

1978 –  Riders went slowly at one stage and walked across the line at the end of the day to protest at having to get up early to ride more than one stage in a day

1999-2005 – Lance Armstrong wins seven times in a row

2012 – Bradley Wiggins wins the Tour de France, a first for a British rider; Lance Armstrong stripped of his titles

2003 – 2013  Tour de France 100th Anniversary, but not the 100th race – Le Tour was cancelled 11 times during both World Wars.

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8 fun Tour de France facts you didn’t know

  We’ve all watched the Tour de France, but how much do we really know about this iconic race? The rich history behind the Tour de France, its past stories and the fun facts associated with it make it all the more exciting.

We’ve put together 8 fun Tour de France facts that you may not have known. Read on to find out more…

Tour de France fun facts…

The first Tour de France race was in 1903, created by Henri Desgrange who was the editor at the newspaper L’Auto.

It originally started out as a marketing scheme, advertising the paper around France.

123,900 is the average amount of calories each rider needs to consume over the course of the three weeks.

That is equivalent to 495 croissants, 152 full English breakfasts or 200 bottles of champagne!

The youngest cyclist to win the Tour de France was named Henri Cornet, who raced in the second edition of the race in 1904.

Henri Cornet took the winning title at the impressive age of just 19 years old!

The same 1904 race, however, was a cause for scandal as original winner Maurice Garin (1903 winner) and the three runners up were all disqualified after allegations of competitors using trains during the race!

In the 1920s competitors shared cigarettes while riding.

The riders believed at the time that smoking may help to ‘open up ‘ the lungs in preparation for the climbs !

Alcohol was consumed to ease any pains during the race. This was later banned in 1960, as it was believed to be a stimulant.

This thrilling and awe-inspiring race attracts over 12 million spectators each year, making it the largest sporting event in the world.

Each team comes prepared for the tour with supplies that include 3,900 nutrition bars, 80kg of nuts, raisins, apricots and figs, 3,000 water bottles and – most importantly – 20 jars of jam!

Where will you be watching?

The route of the Tour de France changes year on year, but you can check the official route to find the closest viewing point to you! If you’re a real enthusiast, why not book a chalet near one of the stops in the French Alps, or even try one of our bike-friendly accommodations to have a go at road cycling yourself?

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Le Tour de France: History, Fun facts and vocabulary

June 26, 2023   Culture

Every summer, millions of spectators gather along a 3,000-kilometer route to witness the “world’s greatest sporting event”. The Tour de France is a multi-stage bicycle race featuring the most impressive cyclists from around the globe. Whether you’ll be tuning in for the first time or have been counting down the days since last year’s race, we’ve gathered all of the info you need to prepare yourself for this summer’s edition. 

By ALAINA SCHWARTZ

THE FIRST EDITION (1903)

What is now considered the most prestigious competition in cycling actually began as a marketing initiative. The Tour de France was conceived by Géo Lefèvre, a sports journalist for the daily sports paper l’Auto , in order to increase sales and keep up with competitors. The first edition was an instant success, and increased circulation six times over. 

The Tour’s first edition ran from July 1 through July 19, 1903, and was more intensive than the one we know today. It was made up of six stages that more than doubled the distance of any of those in modern editions, which have twenty-one. The 2,428-kilometer route began and ended in Paris, with stops in Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes along the way. It was won by Maurice Garin with a lead of 2:59:31, the largest in the history of the race to this day. He was awarded 20,000 French Francs (€3,000 today). The prize for the 110th edition in 2023 is €500,000.

Practice your French: Watch this video and get first hand accounts of the first Tour de France or visit the National archive website (INA) for their report of the event!

THE TOUR DE FRANCE TODAY

The race has changed significantly over the years, though the format of modern editions have remained the same. Each race is divided into twenty-one day-long stages and two rest days, and takes place over twenty-three days. The route changes every year, with the majority of the route in France, and often crosses borders. In 2023, the route is 3,404 kilometers. The race will take place from July 1 to July 23, and the Grand départ (mass start) will be hosted in Bilbao! You’ll find a map of the complete route here .

There are usually twenty to twenty-two teams, with eight riders each. Every stage is timed, and the rider with the lowest cumulative time is declared the leader and wears the coveted maillot jaune (yellow jersey). This aspect of the competition is the most important, and is called the “general classification”. Other jerseys are awarded to the winners of the mountains, points, and young rider classifications.

The last stage, the Arrivée finale , is largely celebratory, and always ends with the winning rider from the general classification riding a circuit throughout the Champs-Élysées in Paris (sometimes with a glass of champagne in hand!). 

VISIT THE TOUR DE FRANCE

From the Grand départ to the Arrivée finale , every city that hosts a stage on the route of the Tour de France will receive waves of visitors and tons of media coverage. It’s considered an honor that’s celebrated with plenty of fanfare. 

Since the race is so popular, you’ll want to make your travel arrangements as early as possible. The route is always announced in October of the year prior, and accommodations are booked almost immediately. You’ll have to be quick if you want to get a hotel at the start or finish line, which is a race in and of itself. 

You can expect huge crowds, with the most dedicated spectators arriving hours or even days in advance to get the best view. It’s an exciting opportunity to watch the race up close, and even engage with the riders. Before the stage starts, some riders will take photos and sign autographs for the crowd. 

If you want to truly embrace the spirit of the Tour, consider going by bike! Last year, the Tour de France announced a partnership with STRAVA , an app and social platform where athletes can track their routes, time, upload photos, and write notes. You’ll be able to find the best cycling routes along the stages of the race, and follow your favorite cyclists for daily updates.

Planning on visiting in 2023? Get more pro tips and tricks from two cycling enthusiasts here .

NOTABLE MOMENTS AND FUN FACTS:

• The second edition of the Tour de France is infamous for the chaos that ensued. Cheating, sabotage and violence among rival fans and competitors prompted the race’s organizer to publish a reaction in l’Auto declaring that the 1904 edition would be the last, titling it, “THE END”. Maurice Garin would have again been the winner, but was later disqualified for cheating. Practice your French: Watch this video to learn more about the 1904 Tour de France.
• The only times the race did not take place were during the World Wars (1915-18 and 1940-1946). In 2020 it was postponed due to the pandemic, and took place from August 29 through September 20.
• Lance Armstrong’s seven Tour wins were revoked, and no alternate winner was named, meaning from 1999-2005, there are no declared winners. Practice your French: Learn all about the scandal in this French TV program .
• Multiple women’s versions of the Tour have been created, but are challenging to promote and maintain because of a lack of media coverage and funding. The most recent one is called the Tour de France Femmes . The second edition happening in summer 2023 will begin on July 23, the same day the Tour de France ends. 
• Egan Barnal’s win in 2019 was one of the most celebrated of recent years, as he is the first Latin American cyclist to win the Tour, and the youngest winner since 1909 and the third-youngest of all time (age 22 years, 196 days).
• The 2023 Tour de France route will visit all five of France’s mountain ranges.
• On average, the Tour de France has 12 million live spectators, and 40 million viewers. You can watch it at home from the US on NBC and Peacock!

French Tip: The French word tour , meaning “tour” or “circuit,” is masculine. When talking about the Tour de France, always use the masculine article, le . When paired with a feminine article ( une , la ), the word tour means “tower” (think: la Tour Eiffel !). Le Tour de France is also referred to as le Tour and La Grande Boucle (“The Big Loop”).

Here’s some vocabulary you can start using today:

• un vélo – a bike
• un·e cycliste – a cyclist 
• une équipe – a team
• un casque – a helmet
• un maillot – a jersey
• un parcours – a route
• une étape – a stage
• une course – a race
• la ligne d’arrivée – the finish line

Posted by: Melissa Melendez | --> Category: Culture , Sports Tags: history , paris —

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14 Fun Facts About the Tour de France That You Can Use to Impress Your Friends

Once the pace picks up, riders still use this tactic to pee while racing . “It’s a lot easier to wait for a lull in the race when a big fraction of the peloton pulls to the side of the road rather than doing it solo, because that solo chase is tough!” King says.

But nature calling doesn’t mean riders even have to slow down. You can also pee off the bike while riding. (Too much information? Maybe, but now you’ll know why riders sometimes look awkward when they’re coasting.) “If peeing to the right, your right leg is in a 6 o’clock position, left at 12. Left hand on the handlebars, right hand holds the shorts down, and coast while relieving yourself,” King advises.

“WWI was a war of attrition and the French were fighting the whole time. There were several Tour winners who were killed in the trenches,” he says. “But in WWII, France was defeated and occupied quite early, and that was different. There was a government that went along with the Nazis, so there was some racing to prove that things were normal under the occupation, but the Tour wasn’t held. After, France was so devastated by WWII that it took a while to get restarted.” And of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we nearly lost the Tour this year .

There was a women’s Tour in the 80s, but it was short-lived. Today, there is a women’s race during the Tour called La Course , but it’s a one-day only event. Will this event ever expand in the future? Never say never.

[ 5 Misconceptions About Women Cyclists Preventing Them from Having a Full Tour ]

[ Cool Things We Learned from Tour de France Strava Files ]

“In general, with all of those variables [like weather and riders’ personal preference], that tire pressure is 8 to 8.5 bar for the road stages, and then 9.5 to 10 bar for the time-trial stages. Around 115 psi in the front and 125 psi in the back for the road stages and 130-135 psi for time-trial stages. And we drop that by 10 or 15 for rainy days,” veteran mechanic for teams like Garmin-Sharp and EF Education First Geoff Brown told us.

They run about 10 psi lower in the front for more control as well, and with tubular tires , they tend to run slightly lower pressures. Clinchers need to be kept around 110 to 120 psi in order to avoid pinch-flatting.

[ The Fastest Bikes at the Tour de France ]

Let’s be honest: Pro cycling is difficult to watch and enjoy without some basic knowledge. But once you’ve figured out the essential logistics (What’s up with the jersey colors? What’s a breakaway? Which channel is this race even on?), a few more nuanced questions still linger. As you get ready to watch the delayed 2020 Tour de France, here are fun facts and answers to 14 questions you’ve likely wondered about the race, which will make you enjoy watching it even more.

How do riders pee on the bike? Why is there no women’s Tour? Why is the leader’s jersey yellow? We’ve got the answers.

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2024 Tour de France Facts Every Fan Should Know

Updated:  Mar 15, 2024

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Tour de France is the pinnacle of the cycling world. As the name suggests, it is a tour around France, and it’s one of the oldest and most famous sporting events in the world. We’ve gathered essential Tour de France facts that every fan or newcomer to the sport should know. 

Keep reading below to find out the most interesting facts about “Le Tour,” as the French call it, and gain some sporting knowledge you can brag about. 

Highlights of the Article

• Facts about the Tour de France show that the first-ever race was in 1903 .
• The Tour de France record for the longest race distance is 5,745 km .
• Mountain stages were introduced in 191 0, according to fun facts about the race.
• The yellow jersey was introduced in 1919 .
• Tour de France numbers show that the smallest winning margin is eight seconds .
• The fewest number of cyclists to complete the Tour de France is 10.
• Al cohol was used as a stimulant until the 1960s.
• Tour de France statistics show that there are 21 stages throughout the race .
• One of the darkest race facts is that it’s filled with doping scandals .
• Riders consume about 126,000 calories during the race.

General Tour de France Stats

If you’re a casual fan or one of the 50% of U.S. adults that bet on sporting events , then you need to know the following statistics to have a better knowledge of the event.   

1. Tour de France facts show that the first-ever race was in 1903.

The race was created by Henri Desgrange, the editor of L’Auto newspaper, and Geo Lefevre, the paper’s journalist. It was a stunt to boost sales. Sixty cyclists covered the 1,500-mile race, united by the challenge and the 20,000 Francs prize money.

2.  According to Tour de France statistics, there are 21 stages throughout the race.

(BBC)(Britannica)

Each year, the stages’ location and length change, but every year, there are different types — flat, time trial, and mountain. The total distance ridden is about 3,600 kilometers, or about 2,200 miles.

If you want to learn more, we’ve created a detailed breakdown and gathered other Tour de France facts about the 2021 race.

3. Facts about the Tour de France show that there are 22 teams in the race.

Each year, there are 22 teams with up to nine riders each, making the Tour de France number of riders up to 198. 

Each team has a leader, and the rest of the team works hard to help him win. They ride in front of him to protect him from the wind, block other teams, pass him food and water, and even lend him their bike if his breaks down.

4. An unbelievable Tour de France fact is that riders consume about 126,000 calories during the race.

(Cycling Weekly)

To be able to complete the race, riders need to have plenty of energy. On average, riders consume about 5,000 calories per day during the flat stages, and in the mountains — around 7,000 calories. They also consume about 10L (2.5 gallons) of water per day.

5. The Grand Depart starts at different locations, but the finish is always in Paris, Tour de France facts show.

(France 24)(Le Tour)

The start of the race is called the Grand Depart and starts in different locations, often outside France. 

It has begun outside France 23 times so far, with the Netherlands being the most common starting point — six times. In 2022, the race will start in Denmark, and in 2023, in Spain.

The final, however, has always been in Paris. In 2021, it will be the 47th time it ends at the Champs-Elysees.

6. Pre-COVID, there were an estimated 12 million spectators of the Tour de France standing along the road.

(DW)(Cyclist) 

While the exact number is unknown, it has been estimated that there are usually around 12 million people watching the race. 

They stand along the road or wherever they can find a place to watch. There are no tickets, and the event is free to watch if you can find a spot.

The Tour claims that a total of 3.5 billion viewers across 190 countries follow the event. That’s a combination of all the stages. In perspective, the Super Bowl was the most-watched event in the U.S. in 2020 , with 100 million viewers .

7. One of the darkest Tour de France facts is that it’s filled with doping scandals.

(Britannica)

Unfortunately, you can’t look up Tour de France and not see anything about doping. Doping implies using performance-enhancing substances, aka steroids, to gain an advantage. There have been multiple high-profile instances of doping.

The most famous one involves Lance Armstrong, the seven-time winner. As it happens, he was stripped of his titles and results in 2012. Two other Tour de France winners , 2006 winner Floyd Landis and 2010 winner Alberto Contador were also stripped of their titles. 

In 1998, the Festina team was banned due to drug-use allegations.

Historical Tour de France Stats

You cannot be an expert on a subject if you don’t know its history. This is why we’ve gathered some facts about the history of the Tour that you need to know about.

8. The Tour de France record for the longest race distance is 5,745 km.

(Britannica) 

5,000+ km races were standard in the 1910s and ’20s. But the record was set in 1926, for the 20th anniversary of the race, with 5,745 km (3,570 miles). Lucien Buysse from Belgium won it.

9. Mountain stages were introduced in 1910, according to the Tour de France fun facts.

(Cycling Today)

In 1910, L’Auto journalist Alphonse Steines wanted to make the race more monumental and include the mountains. Desgrange was reluctant but sent Steines to check if it seemed possible. 

Steines got stuck in the snow and got hypothermia, but he still sent a telegram saying everything looks great. The rest, as we say, is history.

10. Another interesting Tour de France fact is that the yellow jersey was introduced in 1919.

(The Smithsonian Mag)

After the WWI hiatus, le Tour returned. Two-thirds through the race, Desgrange decided that a clear indicator of the race leader is needed. The choice of yellow jersey came from the color that the L’Auto newspaper was printed in — yellow. 

11. A fun piece of Tour de France trivia is that alcohol was used as a stimulant until the 1960s.

(Bicycling.com) 

In the early years of the race, alcohol was considered a stimulant. Riders often stopped in bars and had a beer or even wine. 

In 1935, the whole peloton stopped for a drink, except Julien Moineau, who won. Also, in the 1920s, cigarettes were smoked to “open up the lungs.” 

12. Tour de France numbers show that the smallest winning margin is eight seconds.

In 1989, Greg LeMond won the Tour by 8 seconds. He entered the last stage trailing two-time winner Laurent Fignon by 50 seconds. 

Many point out Fignon’s ponytail as the reason for the loss. In comparison, the largest margin, set in 1903, was 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 45 seconds.

13. On Tour de France, the fastest time was set in 2005.

(Le Tour)(Bike Race Info)

As the race is different every year, in terms of distance, the fastest time is calculated based on the winner’s average speed. The fastest average speed was achieved in 2005 with 41.654 km/hr (25.9 mph) by Ivan Basso. 

We should point out that Basso finished second that year behind Lance Armstrong, who averaged 41.7 km/hr, but his results were annulled. 

Tour de France Statistics About Cyclists

Now that you’ve learned about the race and its history, keep reading to learn about the cyclists and some of the most crucial statistics. 

14. Four Tour de France winners share the record for most wins, with five each.

Four riders have their names in history with five wins: Jacques Anquetil (1957, 1961–64), Eddy Merckx (1969–72, 1974), Bernard Hinault (1978–79, 1981–82, 1985), and Miguel Indurain (1991–95). 

As mentioned, Lance Armstrong’s seven titles were stripped away.

15. Tour de France rider stats show that the youngest winner was 19 years and 355 days old.

(Guinness World Records)(Guinness World Records)

Henri Cornet was not even 20 years old when he won the Tour in 1904. Interestingly, his win is that he finished fifth, but the first four riders were disqualified. 

In comparison, the oldest winner is Firmin Lambot, who was 36 years and four months old in 1922.

16. One of the Tour de France fun facts is that there are multiple colored jerseys worn. 

There are four jerseys worn:

• Green jersey — goes to the points leader
• Polka dot jersey — goes to the winner of the mountain stages
• White jersey — given to the best driver under the age of 25
• Yellow jersey — the most important one, given to the leader of the race.

17. According to Tour de France standings, Eddy Merckx leads in most stages won and most days wearing the yellow jersey.

(Statista)(Statista)

In addition to sharing the No.1 spot for most overall wins, Eddy Merckx also holds the records for most stages won (34) and most days wearing the yellow jersey — 111. 

18. The fewest number of cyclists to complete the Tour de France is ten.

(Bike Race Info)(Le Tour) 

In 1919, the same race during which the yellow jersey was introduced, only ten participants completed the Tour. That was mainly due to bad road conditions resulting from WWI. 

The winner was Firmin Lambot, who would also win the 1922 race and become the oldest winner.

19. Le Tour de France facts show that Sylvain Chavanel has started 18 races, the most.

Sylvain Chavanel from France started all the races 2001–18. He finished all except the 2007 and 2012 ones. That ties him for the No.1 spot with Joop Zoetemelk from the Netherlands.

We should point out that George Hincapie technically finished even more races, but he was stripped of his results due to doping.

20. The resting heart rate of Tour de France riders is around 40 bpm.

(Whoop) 

While an average person’s resting heart rate (RHR) is between 60 and 100, the riders’ rate is around 42. RHR is a measurement of average heartbeats while your body is at rest. The lower that number is, the better.

Riders also record a heart rate variability of about 139 ms, compared to the average person’s 64 ms. 

Heart rate variability is the measurement of how well your body can take physical exercise and strenuous activity. The rate improves from exercise, diet, rest, and other factors.

“Le Tour” is the most prestigious cycling race and one of the most-watched and anticipated events in the world. There have been many changes and events that have shaped the race that is today.  

This is why we are sure our Tour de France facts will help you gain valuable knowledge about an event you follow or can use them to bet on the race.

Four riders have been stripped. Most notably, Lance Armstrong’s seven titles (1999–2005) were all stripped.

The 2006 winner Floyd Landis, 2010 winner Alberto Contador, and 1904 winner Also Garin. 1996 winner Bjarne Riis admitted to taking steroids but wasn’t stripped.

If he hadn’t been caught, most would point at Lance Armstrong, but as we know, he didn’t win his titles fairly.

Looking at stats — such as most wins, most stages won, and most days wearing the yellow shirt — we can arguably say it’s Eddy Merckx. Still, many more can arguably claim that title.

The goal throughout the race is to maintain the weight. Although some weight loss is possible, it’s not significant.

While riders go through a very grueling race and burn many calories, they consume an outrageous amount of food and liquids to achieve calorie excess.

While the answer to the question is subjective, we can argue that Le Tour is among the most challenging events ever. Riding over 2,000 miles in the middle of summer and going uphill will test even the most skilled athlete.

The prize pool of the Tour is €2.3 million ($2.8 million), and the winner gets €500,000 ($608,500). It is common for the winner to share the winnings with the rest of his team as they work hard to help.

The tour has been held every year since 1903 except for WWI and WWII. There were no events between 1915 and 1918 (WWI) or 1940 and 1946 (WWII). The race of 2020 was the 107th edition of the event.

• Bike Race Info
• Bicycling.com
• Cycling Today
• Cycling Weekly
• Guinness World Records
• The Smithsonian Mag

After earning his business administration degree in Miami, Florida, Chavdar spent years managing multi-million-dollar eateries. He enjoys writing user guides and training materials, as well as leading new projects. In his spare time, Chavdar loves researching and reading about sports (especially soccer), fitness, health, and travel. Discovering new cultures and people is a personal passion. One day, he hopes to visit all the countries in the world and write about it.

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15 Interesting Facts about the Tour de France

One of the most prestigious and challenging sporting events globally, the Tour de France attracts millions of viewers each year. Here are 15 interesting facts about the Tour de France.

1. A High-Calorie Diet Is A Must

Riders cover about 160 to 225 kilometers in a day with an average speed of 40 km/h, which would burn anywhere between 5,000 to 7,000 calories.

2. Men Only

The Grand Tours comprising of Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana, and Giro d’Italia, is a three-week event exclusive to men.

3. Enough Sweat For 2 Showers

A rider sweats around 1 L/h in a 6 hour day ride. This results in 126 liters of sweat over the 21 day racing period, excluding the two rest days.

4. Riding On Rest Days

Most participants ride around 35 Km at a pace of 25 Km/h on rest days to flush out residual lactic acid and stay focused on racing.

5. L’Auto Started The Tour De France

The Tour de France was an idea proposed by a French journalist named Geo Lefevre to boost the newspaper’s sales called L’Auto in 1902, currently known as L’Équipe.

6. Victory By Just 8 Seconds

An American rider named Greg LeMond holds the record for the smallest winning margin of 8 seconds over a French rider named Laurent Fignon.

7. Hard Work Pays Off

The Tour winner receives a check of approximately $600,000, which is normally split amongst the teammates. The total prize money is about $4.3 million for the entire race.

8. The Magic Number

Riders need to use bikes weighing a minimum of 15 pounds or 6.8Kg to participate in the Tour set by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s governing body.

9. The Race Was Stopped Twice

The Tour de France was delayed during WWI from 1915 to 1918 and during WWII from 1940 to 1946.

10. Answering The Call Of Nature

A group of riders stop at the side of the road and collectively urinate. They normally take a break in the first few minutes of the race.

11. Fastest Tour De France Record

American road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong covered nearly 3,600 Km in 86.3 hours at an average speed of 41.7 Km/h or 25.9 mph.

12. Yellow Jersey Origins

The leader’s jersey color is yellow as L’Auto, the newspaper that started and sponsored the Tour, used to print on yellow paper.

13. Never Too Late To Win

Belgian bicycle racer Firmin Lambot is the oldest to win the Tour de Grand at 36 in 1922.

14. The Longest Tour In History

The Tour de France of 1926, consisting of seventeen stages, was the longest Tour with a total distance of 5745 Km.

15. Winner Caught Cheating

French bicycler Maurice Garin, the winner of the first Tour of 1903, was caught cheating in the second Tour of 1904.

That list seemed to race by as fast as one of those Tour de France cyclists. I hope you caught some interesting factoids!

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Last Update: June 7, 2021

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Top 10 Facts About Tour de France!

THEY CYCLE HOW FAR?!

This three week cycle race is the most watched sporting event in the world!

There is so much to know about the competition!

Here are 10 things you might not know about the Tour de France…

1. The Tour de France doesn’t start in France…

Sounds strange, doesn’t it?

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The start of the course is known as the Grand Départ. 

Since the 1950s it has typically taken place in a different town each year, and since the 1970s it has been common to award the Grand Départ to cities outside France in order to increase international viewers!

The 2023 race is starting in Spain!

2. The route length changes every year.

The race takes place over 23 days with only 2 days to rest!

The longest Tour de France in history was held in 1926, when the racers had to cycle 5,745 km!

Thats the equivalent of nearly 63 thousand football pitches!

3. You can win different prizes throughout the race.

Not only can you win the overrall race, but there are also prizes for those that come first each day, and for those who do really well in different terrain!

These are called jerseys. There are four up for grabs!

Yellow – This is for the person in first place by the end of the day!

Green – This jersey is known as the sprinters jersey. Racers can collect points during the race by winnign mini challenges. These all add up to see who wins the green jersey

Polka Dot – This jersey is for the person who can cycle up the mountains the quickest!

White – The white jersey is for the best rider under 25 years old who is near the front of the race every day!

4. The first race was actually a publicity stunt!

The first Tour de France was held in 1903!

It was set up and sponsored by French sports paper  L’Auto , which hoped a tough new endurance race around the country would capture the public’s attention and sell more newspapers.

It was a hit and is still going strong 120 years later!

5. There is a women’s race too!

There have been attempts to create a women’s equivalent to the Tour de France. Although there was a competition between 1984 and 1989 it suffered from a lack of funding and popularity.

However, in 2022 a new competition was created, Tour de France Femmes!

It lasts 8 days and starts on the last day of the men’s race!

6. The race is very difficult and dangerous.

Bike crashes are a common occurrence in the Tour de France, with riders often coming down hard during the race.

The riders are travelling at an average of 25mph, navigating tight turns which can lead to crashes!

Additionally, the terrain of the race course can be treacherous, with riders having to contend with rough roads and sometimes even cobblestones. 

Members of the public are also lining the sides of the street to cheer the riders on. Sometimes these spectators disrupt the race and cause crashes!

7. They use more than 1 bike to complete the course.

It turns out that the Tour de France isn’t just a test of physical endurance for the riders; the Tour de France bikes suffer too.

Each rider has multiple bikes to choose from. This includes light weight ones that are better at climbing mountains and more aerodynamic ones that are better for sprinting!

And don’t forget the tyres!

During the three-week challenge, riders combined can wear out a total of 792 tires.

8. The athletes need a lot of energy to compete.

123,900  is the average amount of calories each rider needs to consume over the course of the three weeks.

That is equivalent to 495 croissants, 152 full English breakfasts or 1,180 bananas!

9. It is a team sport… sort of.

There are 22 teams that race, each with 8 riders, and they all have to wear the same kit.

The team all help eachother to win each day.

Although a single rider will win the jersey, it is seen as a team success as they have had to ride together, using each other to protect them from the wind other cyclists.

10. The riders get very sweaty.

The competitors are exercising for every day for nearly 3 weeks!

They get very sweaty, particularly when its sunny!

Cycling the entire course generates enough sweat to flush a toilet 39 times – gross but true!

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8 facts about tour de france.

Written by Molly Lusk

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

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The Tour de France is one of the most prestigious and demanding events in the world of cycling. With a history dating back to 1903, this annual multi-stage race captivates both cycling enthusiasts and casual fans alike. It is a grueling test of endurance, strategy, and skill, traversing through the picturesque landscapes of France.

In this article, we will explore eight fascinating facts about the Tour de France that make it an iconic and must-watch event for sports enthusiasts. From its challenging course to the legendary yellow jersey, we will delve into the history, traditions, and records that have made the Tour de France the pinnacle of competitive cycling .

Key Takeaways:

• The Tour de France is a prestigious cycling race that covers over 3,500 kilometers and lasts for three weeks, showcasing the beauty of France through 21 stages.
• The race attracts millions of spectators and legendary champions, with a global audience of millions tuning in to watch the thrilling competition unfold.

The Tour de France is the world’s most famous and prestigious cycling race.

The Tour de France is an annual multi-stage race that covers over 3,500 kilometers, attracting the best cyclists from around the globe. It was first organized in 1903 and has since become an iconic event in the world of sports.

The Tour de France lasts for three weeks.

The race is divided into 21 stages, with each stage covering a different distance and terrain. The cyclists ride through various cities, towns, and breathtaking landscapes, showcasing the beauty of France.

The yellow jersey is awarded to the overall leader of the race.

The leader of the Tour de France wears a distinctive yellow jersey, which symbolizes their position as the frontrunner. The yellow jersey is highly coveted, and cyclists compete fiercely to earn it.

The average speed of the Tour de France is around 40 kilometers per hour.

Professional cyclists push their limits during the race, maintaining an astonishing pace of approximately 40 kilometers per hour. This demonstrates their incredible strength and endurance.

The Tour de France attracts millions of spectators along the route.

Every year, enthusiastic fans gather along the route to cheer on the cyclists and witness the excitement firsthand. The lively atmosphere and passionate support make the Tour de France a truly extraordinary event.

The Tour de France has visited neighboring countries.

While the race predominantly takes place in France, it has occasionally crossed the borders into neighboring countries such as Spain, Belgium , and Italy. This adds an international flair to the event.

The Tour de France has crowned many legendary champions.

Over the years, the Tour de France has seen remarkable cyclists rise to fame and achieve greatness. Legends such as Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain , and Lance Armstrong have left their mark on the race.

The Tour de France is watched by millions of viewers worldwide.

The race garners a massive global audience, with millions of people tuning in to watch the thrilling competition unfold. It has become a highly anticipated sporting event, captivating fans across the globe.

In conclusion, the Tour de France is a thrilling and iconic event that captures the attention of cycling enthusiasts from around the world. With its rich history, challenging routes, and remarkable achievements, it is no wonder why the Tour de France has become synonymous with excitement and national pride. From its origins in 1903 to its status as one of the most prestigious races in the world, the Tour de France has continuously evolved and adapted, showcasing the grit, determination, and athleticism of cyclists. Whether you are a passionate fan or new to the world of cycling, the Tour de France is an event that should not be missed. So, mark your calendars, grab your cycling gear, and get ready to witness the incredible feats of endurance and skill that unfold during this legendary race.

1. How long is the Tour de France?

The Tour de France covers a distance of approximately 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) over the course of three weeks.

2. How many teams participate in the Tour de France?

There are typically 22 teams with 8 riders each, making a total of 176 riders competing in the Tour de France.

3. What is the significance of the yellow jersey?

The yellow jersey is awarded to the rider with the lowest overall time in the general classification. It symbolizes the race leader and is a highly coveted prize.

4. How many stages are there in the Tour de France?

The Tour de France consists of 21 stages, including flat stages, mountain stages, time trials, and rest days.

5. Who has won the most Tour de France titles?

Lance Armstrong holds the record for the most Tour de France titles, with seven victories from 1999 to 2005.

6. What is the route of the Tour de France?

The route of the Tour de France changes each year, but it always includes different regions of France, including mountainous terrains, scenic landscapes, and famous landmarks.

7. Are there any female riders in the Tour de France?

As of now, there is no separate Tour de France for women. However, there are separate women’s races, such as La Course by Le Tour de France, which takes place during the Tour de France.

8. How is the winner of the Tour de France determined?

The winner of the Tour de France is determined by calculating the cumulative time of each rider over all the stages. The rider with the lowest overall time in the general classification is declared the winner.

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Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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Tour de France Facts

Here are some facts about the Tour de France.

• The Tour de France is the world’s most famous cycling race. It has taken place every year since 1903, except for the periods during the two world wars.
• The competition takes place over 3 weeks, covering 3,200 kilometres around France, including the Pyrenees and the Alps. In alternate years, the course is cycled clockwise and anti-clockwise.
• The race is divided into about 20 stages or legs, with riders timed over each stage. The longest stage can be up to 240 km and stages sometimes take place in nearby countries.
• The stage in the Pyrenees mountains is considered to be the most difficult. In the French Alps, the cyclists reach an altitude of almost 2,000 metres and often have to cope with snowstorms.
• An estimated 3.5 billion people watch the Tour de France on TV every year, and the race is broadcast in almost 200 countries. About 2,000 journalists cover the race each year.
• About 12 million people line the race route each year. The average spectator travels about 130 km to watch the race for about 6 hours.
• The first Tour de France was won by the Italian rider Maurice Garin. The first British rider to win the race was Bradley Wiggins in 2012.
• 60 riders took part in the first Tour de France, and many were disqualified for cheating. Today, over 200 cyclists compete, each one belonging to a team.
• Eddie Merckx has won 34 stages, more than anyone else. Merckx is also one of only 3 riders who have won the race 5 times and he was also named ‘King of the Mountains’ in 1969 and 1970.
• The winner of each stage wears the yellow jersey, and the overall winner of the race is given the jersey. A green jersey is worn by the leader (and eventual winner) of the sprint competition.

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