The Tour de France

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.letour.com/us/

http://www.topendsports.com/events/tour-de-france/winners-list.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France

2,614 thoughts on “The Tour de France”

  1. I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
    I am quite sure I will learn a lot of new stuff right here!

    Good luck for the next!

  2. Hello there I am so glad I found your site, I really found you by
    mistake, while I was searching on Aol for something else, Nonetheless I
    am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a marvelous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I
    also love the theme/design), I don’t have time
    to read it all at the moment but I have saved it and
    also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more,
    Please do keep up the superb job.

  3. Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide
    credit and sources back to your webpage? My blog site is in the exact
    same niche as yours and my users would certainly benefit from
    a lot of the information you provide here.
    Please let me know if this okay with you. Cheers!

  4. always i used to read smaller articles or reviews that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this piece of
    writing which I am reading here.

  5. The appraisal is extremely interesting. When you need to master bandar
    slot, I would recommend playing in dependable slot terpercaya sites.

    Because you can obtain big advantages and acquire certain affiliate marketing affiliate payouts.
    If you wish to learn, you may directly click here00 in this post.
    The hyperlink is known as a location site that may be frequently used among Indonesia member.

  6. The analysis is very interesting. If you wish to perceive slot pulsa tanpa potongan, I
    recommend starting in trustworthy slot sites.

    Because you can attain big victories and get several pay-out
    chances. If you want to try out, you are able to instantly take a peek through below.

    The net website link is often an online video slot machine game web
    site that is certainly frequently employed amidst Indonesia the members.

  7. A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to write more on this topic,
    it might not be a taboo matter but generally people don’t talk
    about such topics. To the next! Many thanks!!

  8. 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
    put 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 totally off topic but
    I had to tell someone!

  9. The appraisal is incredibly interesting.

    If you wish to see slot pulsa tanpa potongan, I recommend playing upon respected situs slot gacor websites
    online. As possible gain big wins and attain guaranteed affiliate marketing payouts.
    If you require that can be performed, it is possible to immediately click the link00 below.
    The web link is known as a slot machine internet site that may be frequently used among Indonesian the members.

  10. The assessment is incredibly interesting. If you wish to experiment
    with slot gacor, I love to advise taking part in in trusted slot pulsa online sites.
    Since you can attain big positive aspects and get certain winnings.
    If you need to test out, you could directly click the link in this post.
    The web link can be described as video slot machine web page that is certainly often used amidst Indonesian the members.

  11. I’m not positive the place you are getting your info, however
    good topic. I must spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for wonderful information I was searching for this
    info for my mission.

  12. You could certainly see your expertise within the article you write.
    The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe.
    All the time follow your heart.

  13. Wonderful goods from you, man. I’ve bear in mind your stuff prior to and
    you are just extremely great. I really like what
    you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re
    saying and the best way through which you are saying it. You are making
    it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible.
    I can not wait to learn far more from you. That is really a
    wonderful website.

  14. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it
    seems as though you relied on the video to make your point.
    You obviously know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?

  15. constantly i used to read smaller articles that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this paragraph which I am reading at
    this time.

  16. I’m gone to convey my little brother, that he should also pay a visit this webpage on regular basis to obtain updated from
    latest information.

  17. Hello there, I think your blog could be having browser compatibility problems.
    When I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in IE, it’s got some overlapping issues.
    I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Other than that, excellent blog!

  18. Hello it’s me, I am also visiting this website regularly, this
    site is actually pleasant and the people are actually sharing good thoughts.

  19. I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.

    Thanks for wonderful information I was looking for this info for my mission.

  20. Hi! This post could not be written any better!
    Reading through this post reminds me of my old room mate!
    He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him.

    Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

  21. Hi, I do think this is an excellent website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m
    going to return yet again since I book marked
    it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *