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
hey there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up something new from right here.
I did however expertise a few technical points using this site,
since I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I
could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your
hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will often affect your placement in google
and can damage your high quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords.
Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective
interesting content. Make sure you update this
again soon.
Hey there, You have done a great job. I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to my
friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this site.
This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well,
almost…HaHa!) Excellent job. I really enjoyed what you had to say,
and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!
continuously i used to read smaller articles that also clear
their motive, and that is also happening
with this article which I am reading at this place.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in reality was a amusement account it.
Glance advanced to more added agreeable from you!
However, how could we keep in touch?
Every weekend i used to go to see this website, for the reason that i want enjoyment, as this this website conations in fact pleasant funny data too.
Asking questions are really pleasant thing if you are not understanding anything fully,
but this article provides pleasant understanding
even.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so
much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home
a bit, but instead of that, this is great blog.
An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this
onto a friend who was conducting a little homework on this.
And he actually bought me breakfast simply because I found it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this issue
here on your website.
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this site.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to
get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appeal.
I must say you’ve done a very good job with this. In addition, the
blog loads extremely fast for me on Chrome.
Outstanding Blog!
Good day! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a group of volunteers and starting
a new project in a community in the same niche. Your
blog provided us useful information to work on. You have
done a marvellous job!
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular post!
It is the little changes that will make the most significant changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
Interesting review. If you wish to enjoy the web bingo, much more my webpage as you will find
various game. In Indonesia, the gaming is known as bandar judi online.
I just like the valuable info you provide to your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
I am quite certain I’ll be informed many new
stuff right right here! Best of luck for the next!
Awesome article.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this,
like you wrote the book in it or something. I think
that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit,
but instead of that, this is great blog. A great read.
I’ll certainly be back.
Highly energetic post, I loved that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite
reason appeared to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of.
I say to you, I certainly get irked whilst other people consider issues that they just don’t realize
about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole
thing with no need side effect , people can take a signal.
Will likely be back to get more. Thank you
I absolutely love your website.. Great colors &
theme. Did you develop this website yourself? Please reply
back as I’m trying to create my own blog and would like to find out where you got this from
or what the theme is named. Thanks!
I really like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting!
Keep up the great works guys I’ve you guys to my personal blogroll.
The analysis is extremely interesting. If you would like
to realize slot pulsa, I like to advise playing in trustworthy slot pulsa online niche websites.
As you can obtain big income and get assured pay-out odds.
If you would like to achieve, you are able to immediately follow the link
right here. The web link might be a slot machine game game website that is frequently used
between Indonesia the members.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high
quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of area .
Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website.
Studying this info So i am glad to show that I have an incredibly excellent
uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I so much for sure will make sure to don?t forget this web site and give it a glance regularly.
I know this web page offers quality depending articles
or reviews and other stuff, is there any other website which gives such data in quality?
Hurrah, that’s what I was searching for, what a information! existing here at this web site, thanks admin of
this web page.
Valuable info. Fortunate me I found your web site by accident, and I am stunned why this coincidence didn’t happened in advance!
I bookmarked it.
Hello, I would like to subscribe for this webpage to
get hottest updates, therefore where can i do it please help.
I every time used to read paragraph in news papers but now as I am
a user of internet thus from now I am using net for posts,
thanks to web.
What’s up, I log on to your blog daily. Your humoristic
style is witty, keep up the good work!
These are actually impressive ideas in concerning blogging.
You have touched some good things here. Any way keep up wrinting.
This article will help the internet people for setting up new webpage or even a blog from start to end.
Wow! After all I got a web site from where I be
capable of truly get valuable data concerning my
study and knowledge.
Fine way of explaining, and pleasant article to get facts on the topic of my presentation focus, which i am going
to present in college.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your blog.
You have some really great posts and I feel I would be a good
asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love
to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please send me an e-mail if interested. Thank you!
You could definitely see your enthusiasm within the work you write.
The sector hopes for even more passionate writers like you
who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.
Hi it’s me, I am also visiting this website daily, this web site is in fact good and the visitors are really sharing pleasant thoughts.
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the layout of
your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so
people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful
lot of text for only having one or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?
I like the helpful information you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and test again here frequently.
I am moderately certain I’ll learn many new
stuff proper right here! Good luck for the following!
No matter if some one searches for his vital thing, thus he/she needs to be available that in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.
Hey would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot
faster then most. Can you recommend a good hosting provider at a reasonable price?
Thank you, I appreciate it!
hello!,I like your writing very a lot! percentage we communicate extra
approximately your post on AOL? I need an expert in this space to solve my problem.
Maybe that’s you! Taking a look ahead to look you.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like
you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home
a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog.
An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
Everyone loves it whenever people come together and share opinions.
Great blog, stick with it!
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find
this topic to be really something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post,
I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this website.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s challenging to get that “perfect balance” between usability
and visual appeal. I must say you’ve done a amazing job with this.
Also, the blog loads very quick for me on Internet explorer.
Exceptional Blog!
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve visited this blog before but after going
through some of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Anyhow, I’m certainly pleased I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and
checking back often!
Wow, wonderful blog structure! How long have you ever been running a blog for?
you made blogging glance easy. The overall look of
your website is magnificent, as well as the content material!
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot.
I hope to give something back and help others like you
helped me.
My brother recommended I may like this blog. He used
to be entirely right. This submit actually made my day.
You can not consider just how much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
I am now not certain the place you are getting your info, but good topic.
I must spend some time finding out much more or figuring out
more. Thank you for wonderful info I was looking for this information for my mission.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?