The World’s Greatest Bicycle Race

​

The Tour de France is the world’s greatest bicycle race, currently extends some3500 to 4000 kilometers and is divided into twenty stages. It began as a wild adventure for only the heartiest of riders in 1903. The race initially began as a publicity stunt for the magazine l’Auto to increase its circulation against a rival newspaper Le Velo.  It was a 2,500 km race-taking place across 19 days, in six stages. Riders were expected to ride day and night, and push themselves to extreme limits. Sixty riders began the race, and the winner was Maurice Garin. When he entered Paris, a crowd of 20,000 paying spectators greeted him. A special edition of L’Auto sold 130,000 copies. This was an auspicious start for the most famous bike race in the world. Although the race has been beset by wars, cheats, irresponsible harassment by bicycle partisans, it continues to grow in worldwide popularity. In the second race, riders were caught riding trains, taking cars, and even dropping spikes in front of opponents’ wheels.

The basic idea of a race through the country, broken into stages and based on cumulative time, has remained intact through the history of the Tour de France. The race now includes all of France, including the Pyrenees Mountains and the Alps. In 1919, the promoters decided that the leader should wear something distinctive. Thus, the idea of the yellow jersey for the leader was born. The green jersey is for the rider with the most consistent points over the race. The polka dot jersey is for the rider who does the best job on mountains. Finally a white jersey is given to the best rider under age 25.

The twenty races that compose the current race include 10 flat stages, three medium mountain heights, four mountain stages, two individual time trials and one team time trial.

There have been several riders who have won four races including the current champion, Lance Armstrong. He hopes to win 5 in a row with the 100th anniversary.