Hey guys! I know I said I was only going to post articles on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so already I’m straying from my word. I’m sorry, and this is not going to replace Monday’s post. However, the 104th Tour de France begins today! The Tour de France is a multi-stage bicycle race held in France (though they occasionally pass through neighboring countries). Over 12 million spectators come to see the Tour de France each year, making it the largest sporting event in the world. 3.5 billion people watch it on TV each year. Typically, the race is held every year in July. The race has been held every year since 1903, except for the years 1915-1918 and 1940-1946 because of World Wars I and II.
In 1903, the year of the first ever Tour de France, long distance bicycle races were a popular way to sell newspapers. Some of the employees at the newspaper L’Auto decided the best way to promote their newspaper was by hosting a bicycle race. And so, it was announced on January 19th, 1903. The original plan for the race was to start and end in Paris, and stop in Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux and Nantes on the way. They had planned the race would last from May 31st to July 5th (making it the longest cycle race ever attempted). However, this didn’t generate a lot of excitement. They only had 15 people enter to compete, while everyone else found the race too daunting. They shortened the race to only 19 days, switched those days to July 1st – July 19th, offered to pay for those who averaged at least 20 km/h (12.43 m/h) on all the stages (equivalent to what a rider would have expected to earn each day had he worked in a factory), lowered the entry fee from 20 francs to 10, and offered 12,000 francs to whoever wins first place. The number of competitors entering the race jumped from 15 to somewhere between 60-80. After the race, L’Auto doubled in circulation, and the Tour de France was started!
The format of the race has changed significantly over time. Night-time riding was dropped after the 1904 race due to excessive cheating since the judges had a hard time seeing. When it first started, there were no teams like in today’s race. They’ve since added more classifications to the race: mountains, points, and young rider. Doping eventually became an issue. Lance Armstrong is the most famous athlete that used drugs in the Tour de France, and as a result has had his seven consecutive victories stripped from him.
Fun facts about the Tour de France:
http://www.active.com/cycling/articles/23-fun-facts-you-didn-t-know-about-the-tour-de-france
The route of this year’s race:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/29/tour-de-france-2017-stage-by-stage-guide
Additional Reading:
http://www.topendsports.com/events/tour-de-france/winners-list.htm
You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the
highest quality sites online. I most certainly will highly recommend this blog!
hello there and thank you for your information – I’ve definitely picked up something
new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using this web site, since I experienced to reload the site a lot of times previous to I could get it to
load properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and
can damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
Well I am adding this RSS to my email and
could look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content.
Ensure that you update this again very soon.
Appreciating the time and energy you put into your website and
detailed information you provide. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Fantastic read!
I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
I used to be able to find good info from your content.
Hi there to every single one, it’s actually a good for me to pay a quick visit this web page,
it consists of useful Information.
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
It’s always helpful to read through content from other writers and practice a little
something from their web sites.
Hi there would you mind letting me know which web host you’re utilizing?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.
Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a reasonable price?
Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you
happen to be a great author.I will remember to bookmark
your blog and will come back sometime soon. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great writing, have
a nice morning!
Asking questions are in fact good thing if
you are not understanding something fully, however
this paragraph offers good understanding yet.
You have made some really good points there. I looked on the net for more info about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.
Somebody essentially assist to make critically posts I would state.
That is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now?
I amazed with the research you made to make
this particular submit incredible. Wonderful task!
Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast!
What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link
to your host? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community.
Your web site offered us with helpful info to work on. You have done a formidable task and our whole neighborhood might
be thankful to you.
You actually make it seem really easy with your presentation however
I to find this matter to be actually one thing which I
feel I might by no means understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely extensive for me.
I am having a look forward for your next submit, I’ll try to get the grasp of it!
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better!
Reading through this post reminds me of
my good old room mate! He always kept chatting about this.
I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will
have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for your marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it,
you may be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark
your blog and will often come back someday. I want to
encourage you continue your great job, have a nice day!
Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I’ve truly loved surfing around your blog posts.
After all I will be subscribing in your rss feed and I’m hoping you
write once more soon!
Currently it sounds like WordPress is the best blogging platform out there right now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
I don’t even know the way I finished up right here,
but I believed this post used to be great.
I don’t recognize who you might be but definitely you’re going to a well-known blogger in the event you are not already.
Cheers!
That is a great tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
Simple but very accurate info… Appreciate your
sharing this one. A must read article!
I’m really loving the theme/design of your blog.
Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems?
A couple of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera.
Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?
Keep on working, great job!
You should be a part of a contest for one of the most useful sites online.
I am going to highly recommend this web site!
Hey very nice blog!
I have read so many posts concerning the blogger lovers however this piece of writing is truly a fastidious post,
keep it up.
Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this
website? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had
issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good
platform.
Quality content is the key to attract the viewers to pay a quick visit the site, that’s what this
website is providing.
Paragraph writing is also a excitement, if you know then you can write otherwise it is complicated to write.
Hey would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and
I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good web
hosting provider at a reasonable price? Thank you, I
appreciate it!
In fact when someone doesn’t be aware of after that its up to other people
that they will help, so here it takes place.
I like the helpful information you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here regularly.
I am quite sure I’ll learn many new stuff right here!
Good luck for the next!
If you wish for to take a good deal from this post then you have to apply such strategies to your won webpage.
I’d like to find out more? I’d love to find out more
details.
Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a sea shell and
gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.”
She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it
pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I
had to tell someone!
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and
now each time a comment is added I get several emails with
the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that
service? Thank you!
Link exchange is nothing else but it is only placing
the other person’s webpage link on your page at proper place and other person will also do same
for you.
Hi! I’ve been reading your site for a long time
now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from
Lubbock Texas! Just wanted to tell you keep
up the excellent job!
you’re in point of fact a just right webmaster.
The website loading speed is amazing. It seems that you are doing any unique trick.
Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a fantastic
task in this topic!
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thanks, However I am encountering troubles with your RSS.
I don’t understand the reason why I am unable to join it.
Is there anyone else getting identical RSS problems?
Anybody who knows the answer will you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
This piece of writing is truly a pleasant one it assists new web
users, who are wishing for blogging.
I’d like to find out more? I’d like to find out some additional
information.
Hey there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to give it a look.
I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will
be tweeting this to my followers! Outstanding blog and amazing design and style.
Can you tell us more about this? I’d care to find out more details.
I am actually happy to read this web site posts which includes
tons of valuable data, thanks for providing these data.
I must thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website.
I really hope to view the same high-grade content by you later on as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to
get my very own website now 😉
I love it whenever people come together and share views.
Great blog, keep it up!
hello!,I really like your writing so much! proportion we keep in touch extra about your article on AOL?
I need an expert in this area to unravel my problem. Maybe that is you!
Looking ahead to peer you.
Hey would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re using?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different internet
browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at
a reasonable price? Kudos, I appreciate it!
Fastidious replies in return of this query
with solid arguments and describing the whole thing on the topic of that.
I am truly pleased to glance at this blog posts which includes plenty of
helpful information, thanks for providing these data.