Tour de France: The Greatest Race Around

Even if you’ve never visited France before or never watched a cycling competition in your life, you’ve probably still heard about the famous Tour de France.  Tour de France is perhaps the most popular cycling competition in the world, which takes place on an annual basis throughout France in various topographic settings (mountainous ranges to flatlands).  Every year the thrill and excitement of the race penetrates throughout France and Europe, and even to the coasts of North America and beyond.

History of the race
The first Tour de France started over 100 years ago and covered over 2,500 kilometers, which was divided among six stages in 19 grueling days.  It was an immediate success and captured the hearts and souls of Frenchmen and other Europeans alike.  Throughout the years, the distance traveled increased to today’s figure of more than 3,500 kilometers, which is divided among 21 different stages over a 23-day period.  From the start, the Tour de France offered one of the most grueling routes in cycling history and still continues to provide some of the most challenging cycling terrain in the world that tests the strength and endurance of some of the top cycling professionals around.  

The route
Each year, the Tour de France’s route changes, thereby adding immense variety to each and every race.  In some years the race transverses terrain in neighboring countries such as Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Spain, but since 1975, the race always ends in France, on the two kilometer long, cobblestone avenue of Champs-Elysees in Paris.  The roughly 3,500-kilometer route includes a combination of terrain: 10 flat stages, 5 mountainous areas, and four medium mountainous regions.  

Choosing the route
Cities throughout France and neighboring countries send in applications to host a stage in the Tour de France.  Out of a list of some 200 permanent candidates, only about 40 or so towns are chosen to host a site for any given year.  Part of the approval process is that the city or town must be able to accommodate close to 5,000 people stopping through their area over a 24-hour period (i.e. parking, ample roads, etc.) and show the feasibility and safety of the route itself.  Only then will the candidate town be considered for possible inclusion in the famous Tour de France.  

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