The Tour de France or the Le Tour de France is a multi-stage bicycle race held annually in France and other neighboring countries. Since the first time in 1903, this renowned sports event is organized every year by the Amaury Sports Organization. Primarily a French sports event, it has gained prominence through the years and has gained participants across the world.
History
The Tour de France was held in 1903 for the first time ever in an attempt to increase the sales of the magazine L’Auto, now owned by the Amaury Sports Organization. The race takes place every year without fail, except that it was canceled during the two world wars. The event is mainly held in the month of July.
Stages of the Race
The format of the race has stayed the same for more than 100 years of its inception, though the route of the race has changed over the years. Traditionally, the race went through the Pyrenees and the Alps mountains and finished on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France. Today, the Tour de France is a 23-day long event, which has 21 stages, covering a distance of around 3,500 km. The race is known to take place alternately on clockwise and anti-clockwise circuits of France.
With nine riders on each team, the number of teams is usually from 20 to 22.
The race is timed from the starting line up to the finishing line, where a rider’s time is calculated on the basis of the time taken in all the stages. The winning yellow jersey is awarded to the rider with the lowest average time.
Alongside the main event, other contests also take place in the Tour, such as the mountains classification for climbers, the young rider classification for riders under 26 years, or the team classification for the best teams.
Tour de France 2022
The 2022 Tour de France was the 109th edition of the Tour de France. It started in Copenhagen, Denmark on 1 July 2022 and ended with the final stage on the Champs-Élysées, Paris on 24 July 2022. Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard won the general classification for the first time.
Tour de France 2014
The 101th Tour de France which began on 5 July 2014 will continue till 27 July 2014. It consists of 21 stages and shall cover a total distance of 3,664 kilometers. The race consists of nine flat stages, five hill stages, six mountain stages with five altitude finishes, one individual time trial stage, and two rest days.
Major Cities
Leeds, West Yorkshire in the UK is the city, which marks the starting point of the race, while Champs-Élysées in Paris is the finishing point. The initial three stages of the race took place in the United Kingdom. The third stage of the race was from Cambridge to London in the UK, after which the contest returned to France at Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, after taking a flight.
Though most of the race takes place in mainland France, this year the race will also go through Belgium and Spain. The fifth stage of the race took place from Ypres in Belgium to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, Northern France.
In the 20th stage of the Individual time trial (ITT), where the individual races lone ‘against the clock’ on a rolling or flat terrain, the race will take place from Bergerac to Périgueux. The 21st and the final stage of the contest will be from Évry to Champs-Élysées in Paris.
List of Tour de France winners |
|---|
| Tour | Year | Winner | Country | Sponsor/Team | Distance | Time/Points | Stage wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 2014 | ||||||
| 100 | 2013 | Chris Froome | United Kingdom | Team Sky | 2,115 mi) | 83h 56′ 20″ | 3 |
| 99 | 2012 | Bradley Wiggins | United Kingdom | Team Sky | 2,172 mi) | 87h 34′ 47″ | 2 |
| 98 | 2011 | Cadel Evans | Australia | BMC Racing Team | 2,130 mi) | 86h 12′ 22″ | 1 |
| 97 | 2010 | Andy Schleck | Luxembourg | Team Saxo Bank | 2,263 mi) | 91h 59′ 27″ | 2 |
| 96 | 2009 | Alberto Contador | Spain | Astana | 2,149 mi) | 85h 48′ 35″ | 2 |
| 95 | 2008 | Carlos Sastre | Spain | Team CSC | 2,211 mi) | 87h 52′ 52″ | 1 |
| 94 | 2007 | Alberto Contador | Spain | Discovery Channel | 2,220 mi) | 91h 00′ 26″ | 1 |
| 93 | 2006 | Óscar Pereiro | Spain | Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears | 2,272 mi) | 89h 40′ 27″ | 0 |
| 92 | 2005 | Lance Armstrong | United States | Discovery Channel | 2,233 mi) | 86h 15′ 02″ | 1 |
| 91 | 2004 | Lance Armstrong | United States | US Postal | 2,107 mi) | 83h 36′ 02″ | 5 |
| 90 | 2003 | Lance Armstrong | United States | US Postal | 2,129 mi) | 83h 41′ 12″ | 1 |
| 89 | 2002 | Lance Armstrong | United States | US Postal | 2,033 mi) | 82h 05′ 12″ | 4 |
| 88 | 2001 | Lance Armstrong | United States | US Postal | 2,149 mi) | 86h 17′ 28″ | 4 |
| 87 | 2000 | Lance Armstrong | United States | US Postal | 2,275 mi) | 92h 33′ 08″ | 1 |
| 86 | 1999 | Lance Armstrong | United States | US Postal | 2,291 mi) | 91h 32′ 16″ | 4 |
| 85 | 1998 | Marco Pantani | Italy | Mercatone Uno-Bianchi | 2,408 mi) | 92h 49′ 46″ | 2 |
| 84 | 1997 | Jan Ullrich | Germany | Team Telekom | 2,450 mi) | 100h 30′ 35″ | 2 |
| 83 | 1996 | Bjarne Riis | Denmark | Team Telekom | 2,339 mi) | 95h 57′ 16″ | 2 |
| 82 | 1995 | Miguel Indurain | Spain | Banesto | 2,259 mi) | 92h 44′ 59″ | 2 |
| 81 | 1994 | Miguel Indurain | Spain | Banesto | 2,472 mi) | 103h 38′ 38″ | 1 |
| 80 | 1993 | Miguel Indurain | Spain | Banesto | 2,308 mi) | 95h 57′ 09″ | 2 |
| 79 | 1992 | Miguel Indurain | Spain | Banesto | 2,475 mi) | 100h 49′ 30″ | 3 |
| 78 | 1991 | Miguel Indurain | Spain | Banesto | 2,432 mi) | 101h 01′ 20″ | 2 |
| 77 | 1990 | Greg LeMond | United States | Z Vêtements | 2,177 mi) | 90h 43′ 20″ | 0 |
| 76 | 1989 | Greg LeMond | United States | ADR Agrigel | 2,041 mi) | 87h 38′ 35″ | 3 |
| 75 | 1988 | Pedro Delgado | Spain | Reynolds | 2,042 mi) | 84h 27′ 53″ | 1 |
| 74 | 1987 | Stephen Roche | Ireland | Carrera Jeans-Vagabond | 2,629 mi) | 115h 27′ 42″ | 1 |
| 73 | 1986 | Greg LeMond | United States | La Vie Claire | 2,544 mi) | 110h 35′ 19″ | 1 |
| 72 | 1985 | Bernard Hinault | France | La Vie Claire | 2,553 mi) | 113h 24′ 23″ | 2 |
| 71 | 1984 | Laurent Fignon | France | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 2,499 mi) | 112h 03′ 40″ | 5 |
| 70 | 1983 | Laurent Fignon | France | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 2,367 mi) | 105h 07′ 52″ | 1 |
| 69 | 1982 | Bernard Hinault | France | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 2,179 mi) | 92h 08′ 46″ | 4 |
| 68 | 1981 | Bernard Hinault | France | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 2,332 mi) | 96h 19′ 38″ | 5 |
| 67 | 1980 | Joop Zoetemelk | Netherlands | TI–Raleigh | 2,387 mi) | 109h 19′ 14″ | 2 |
| 66 | 1979 | Bernard Hinaultdagger | France | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 2,339 mi) | 103h 06′ 50″ | 7 |
| 65 | 1978 | Bernard Hinault | France | Renault–Elf–Gitane | 2,428 mi) | 108h 18′ 00″ | 3 |
| 64 | 1977 | Bernard Thévenet | France | Peugeot | 2,545 mi) | 115h 38′ 30″ | 1 |
| 63 | 1976 | Lucien Van Impe | Belgium | Gitane–Campagnolo | 2,496 mi) | 116h 22′ 23″ | 1 |
| 62 | 1975 | Bernard Thévenet | France | Peugeot | 2,500 mi) | 114h 35′ 31″ | 2 |
| 61 | 1974 | Eddy Merckx | Belgium | Molteni | 2,546 mi) | 116h 16′ 58″ | 8 |
| 60 | 1973 | Luis Ocaña | Spain | Bic | 2,540 mi) | 122h 25′ 34″ | 6 |
| 59 | 1972 | Eddy Merckxdagger | Belgium | Molteni | 2,390 mi) | 108h 17′ 18″ | 6 |
| 58 | 1971 | Eddy Merckxdagger | Belgium | Molteni | 2,242 mi) | 96h 45′ 14″ | 4 |
| 57 | 1970 | Eddy Merckx* | Belgium | Faema | 2,643 mi) | 119h 31′ 49″ | 8 |
| 56 | 1969 | Eddy Merckxdouble-dagger | Belgium | Faema | 2,558 mi) | 116h 16′ 02″ | 6 |
| 55 | 1968 | Jan Janssen | Netherlands | Sauvage–Lejeune | 2,791 mi) | 133h 49′ 42″ | 2 |
| 54 | 1967 | Roger Pingeon | France | Peugeot–BP–Michelin | 2,970 mi) | 136h 53′ 50″ | 1 |
| 53 | 1966 | Lucien Aimar | France | Ford–Gitane | 2,690 mi) | 117h 34′ 21″ | 0 |
| 52 | 1965 | Felice Gimondi | Italy | Salvarani | 2,602 mi) | 116h 42′ 06″ | 3 |
| 51 | 1964 | Jacques Anquetil | France | Saint–Raphaël | 2,799 mi) | 127h 09′ 44″ | 4 |
| 50 | 1963 | Jacques Anquetil | France | Saint–Raphaël | 2,571 mi) | 113h 30′ 05″ | 4 |
| 49 | 1962 | Jacques Anquetil | France | Saint–Raphaël | 2,656 mi) | 114h 31′ 54″ | 2 |
| 48 | 1961 | Jacques Anquetil | France | France | 2,732 mi) | 122h 01′ 33″ | 2 |
| 47 | 1960 | Gastone Nencini | Italy | Italy | 2,593 mi) | 112h 08′ 42″ | 0 |
| 46 | 1959 | Federico Bahamontes* | Spain | Spain | 2,708 mi) | 123h 46′ 45″ | 1 |
| 45 | 1958 | Charly Gaul | Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 2,684 mi) | 116h 59′ 05″ | 4 |
| 44 | 1957 | Jacques Anquetil | France | France | 2,901 mi) | 135h 44′ 42″ | 4 |
| 43 | 1956 | Roger Walkowiak | France | France | 2,795 mi) | 124h 01′ 16″ | 0 |
| 42 | 1955 | Louison Bobet | France | France | 2,793 mi) | 130h 29′ 26″ | 2 |
| 41 | 1954 | Louison Bobet | France | France | 2,893 mi) | 140h 06′ 05″ | 3 |
| 40 | 1953 | Louison Bobet | France | France | 2,781 mi) | 129h 23′ 25″ | 2 |
| 39 | 1952 | Fausto Coppi* | Italy | Italy | 3,043 mi) | 151h 57′ 20″ | 5 |
| 38 | 1951 | Hugo Koblet | Switzerland | Switzerland | 2,910 mi) | 142h 20′ 14″ | 5 |
| 37 | 1950 | Ferdinand Kübler | Switzerland | Switzerland | 2,966 mi) | 145h 36′ 56″ | 3 |
| 36 | 1949 | Fausto Coppi* | Italy | Italy | 2,988 mi) | 149h 40′ 49″ | 3 |
| 35 | 1948 | Gino Bartali* | Italy | Italy | 3,058 mi) | 147h 10′ 36″ | 7 |
| 34 | 1947 | Jean Robic | France | France | 2,884 mi) | 148h 11′ 25″ | 3 |
| # | 1946 – 140 | not held due to World War II | |||||
| 33 | 1939 | Sylvère Maes* | Belgium | Belgium | 2,625 mi) | 132h 03′ 17″ | 2 |
| 32 | 1938 | Gino Bartali* | Italy | Italy | 2,917 mi) | 148h 29′ 12″ | 2 |
| 31 | 1937 | Roger Lapébie | France | France | 2,743 mi) | 138h 58′ 31″ | 3 |
| 30 | 1936 | Sylvère Maes | Belgium | Belgium | 2,760 mi) | 142h 47′ 32″ | 4 |
| 29 | 1935 | Romain Maes | Belgium | Belgium | 2,696 mi) | 141h 23′ 00″ | 3 |
| 28 | 1934 | Antonin Magne | France | France | 2,780 mi) | 147h 13′ 58″ | 3 |
| 27 | 1933 | Georges Speicher | France | France | 2,731 mi) | 147h 51′ 37″ | 3 |
| 26 | 1932 | André Leducq | France | France | 2,783 mi) | 154h 11′ 49″ | 6 |
| 25 | 1931 | Antonin Magne | France | France | 3,163 mi) | 177h 10′ 03″ | 1 |
| 24 | 1930 | André Leducq | France | Alcyon | 2,996 mi) | 172h 12′ 16″ | 2 |
| 23 | 1929 | Maurice De Waele | Belgium | Alcyon | 3,285 mi) | 186h 39′ 15″ | 1 |
| 22 | 1928 | Nicolas Frantz | Luxembourg | Alcyon | 3,403 mi) | 192h 48′ 58″ | 5 |
| 21 | 1927 | Nicolas Frantz | Luxembourg | Alcyon | 3,354 mi) | 198h 16′ 42″ | 3 |
| 20 | 1926 | Lucien Buysse | Belgium | Automoto | 3,570 mi) | 238h 44′ 25″ | 2 |
| 19 | 1925 | Ottavio Bottecchia | Italy | Automoto | 3,380 mi) | 219h 10′ 18″ | 4 |
| 18 | 1924 | Ottavio Bottecchia | Italy | Automoto | 3,371 mi) | 226h 18′ 21″ | 4 |
| 17 | 1923 | Henri Pélissier | France | Automoto | 3,347 mi) | 222h 15′ 30″ | 3 |
| 16 | 1922 | Firmin Lambot | Belgium | Peugeot | 3,340 mi) | 222h 08′ 06″ | 0 |
| 15 | 1921 | Léon Scieur | Belgium | La Sportive | 3,408 mi) | 221h 50′ 26″ | 2 |
| 14 | 1920 | Philippe Thys | Belgium | La Sportive | 3,419 mi) | 228h 36′ 13″ | 4 |
| 13 | 1919 | Firmin Lambot | Belgium | La Sportive | 3,450 mi) | 231h 07′ 15″ | 1 |
| # | 1918 – 1915 | not held due to World War I | |||||
| 12 | 1914 | Philippe Thys | Belgium | Peugeot | 3,340 mi) | 200h 28′ 48″ | 1 |
| 11 | 1913 | Philippe Thys | Belgium | Peugeot | 3,285 mi) | 197h 54′ 00″ | 1 |
| 10 | 1912 | Odile Defraye | Belgium | Alcyon | 3,286 mi) | 49 | 3 |
| 9 | 1911 | Gustave Garrigou | France | Alcyon | 3,320 mi) | 43 | 2 |
| 8 | 1910 | Octave Lapize | France | Alcyon | 2,942 mi) | 63 | 4 |
| 7 | 1909 | François Faber | Luxembourg | Alcyon | 2,795 mi) | 37 | 6 |
| 6 | 1908 | Lucien Petit-Breton | France | Peugeot | 2,794 mi) | 36 | 5 |
| 5 | 1907 | Lucien Petit-Breton | France | Peugeot | 2,789 mi) | 47 | 2 |
| 4 | 1906 | René Pottier | France | Peugeot | 2,881 mi) | 31 | 5 |
| 3 | 1905 | Louis Trousselier | France | Peugeot–Wolber | 1,860 mi) | 35 | 5 |
| 2 | 1904 | Henri Cornet | France | Conte | 1,509 mi) | 96h 05′ 55″ | 1 |
| 1 | 1903 | Maurice Garin | France | La Française | 1,509 mi) | 94h 33′ 14″ | 3 |