- The Tour de France was first held in 1903 (2003 marked the Centennial Tour). The inaugural race consisted of six stages for a total of 1,509 miles (2,428 km).
- The course changes every year, with several stages taking place in neighboring countries. Since 1968, it always finishes on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
- The race lasts for three weeks, and usually consists of a prologue, 20 daily stages and two rest days.
Each stage averages 100 miles (160 km) and lasts five to six hours.
- Each year, 20 to 22 teams start the Tour, with nine riders per team.
- On average, 50 riders do not finish the race every year.
- Each team has one or two designated leaders, usually riders with the ability to win one of four special jerseys:
- The Yellow Jersey is worn by the overall race leader (rider with the lowest cumulative time).
- The Green Jersey is worn by the best sprinter (rider who collects the most points by winning the short sprints throughout the Tour).
- The Polka-dot/King of the Mountains Jersey is worn by the best climber (rider who collects the most mountain points by being the first to reach the summit).
- The White Jersey (otherwise known as the yellow jersey for youngsters) is worn by rider under the age of 26 with the lowest cumulative time.
- Other riders on the team will often "work" for the leaders by protecting them from the wind and carrying food or drink for them.
- By sheltering from the wind behind another, a cyclist gains an aerodynamic advantage that allows for up to 40% less effort in pedaling to maintain the same speed as the person in front. This technique is also called drafting.
- It is estimated that more than 21 million people line the route of the race over three weeks.
- The Tour is broadcast in 170 countries and viewed by nearly 2 billion people, making it the most popular annual sporting event in the world.
- Tour de France riders shave their legs because it makes "road rash" (scrapes and cuts) easier to clean, and makes massage more comfortable.
- Lance Armstrong (USA) has the record both for the most Tours won (7), and for the fastest average time. In 2003, he finished the race with an average speed of 25.44 miles per hour (40.94 km per hour). He covered 2,100 miles (3,400 km) in 83 hours, 41 minutes, and 12 seconds.
- The Tour has its own doctor who follows the race and administers treatment to anyone still well enough to continue riding. Ambulances also follow the riders for more serious injuries.
- Four riders have died on the Tour. The most recent was in 1995 when Fabio Casartelli (ITA) crashed while descending the Portet d'Aspet in the Pyrenees.
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