Unknown • Grand Tour
The Tour de France is the pinnacle of cycling endurance, a grueling three-week odyssey across France's most formidable terrain, where legends are forged on impossibly steep mountain passes and in breakneck sprints. It's a spectacle of human will, strategy, and suffering that captivates millions and defines the careers of those brave enough to challenge its iconic yellow jersey.
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Latest Winner
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First Edition
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Race Type
One-day
The Tour de France is a multi-stage race spanning approximately three weeks, covering diverse terrain across France and occasionally neighboring countries. Key challenges include grueling mountain stages through ranges like the Pyrenees and Alps, with iconic climbs such as Alpe d'Huez, Mont Ventoux, and Col du Tourmalet, demanding extreme climbing prowess. Flat stages often conclude in high-speed mass sprints, while individual time trials test riders' pure power against the clock. The race demands immense endurance, with riders facing long hours, varying weather conditions, and high levels of fatigue over 21 stages. It is a team sport where domestiques work to support their leader, often for the ultimate prize of the yellow jersey, traditionally culminating in a ceremonial finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
The first Tour de France was organized by L'Auto newspaper to boost its sales.
The first mountain stages were introduced in the Pyrenees.
The iconic yellow jersey (maillot jaune) was introduced as the leader's jersey. 1940-
The race was interrupted due to the two World Wars, as it was previously from 1915 to 1918.
The polka-dot jersey for the mountains classification was introduced.