Le tour de France

 

The world’s most famous cycling race began this weekend but did you know there is more to the Tour de France than bikes and Lycra!

Surrounding the race itself is a carnival atmosphere of floats, live music and free products from sponsors. The towns, villages and hamlets on the route will spend months preparing for their 30 seconds of fame as the riders race through and then spend years talking about the day the Tour came to town. I still remember, at Junior school – only a few years ago…, being allowed to line the pavement outside the school to watch the tour go by!

The stages often pass through some of the most spectacular and often rarely seen parts of France. So even if you aren’t into cycling, it is worth watching the race to enjoy the stunning scenery.

Want to find out more about the race itself? Then read on!

The Tour de France was created in 1903 by Henri Desgrange, a cyclist and journalist. The famous race attracts thousands of enthusiastic cycle followers and usually starts late June or early July. This year’s race departed from Brest in Brittany on Saturday 26^th June.

The modern format of the Tour de France consist of 21 day-long segments (étapes) over a 23-days period and cover around 3,500 kilometres (2,200 miles). The stages includes some time trials, or course contre la montre, when riders race alone to cover a set distance in the lowest time. The race alternates between clockwise and counter clockwise circuits of France. There are usually between 20 and 22 teams, with 8 riders in each. Each team includes climbers, sprinters and the top rider competing to finish at the top of the overall classification. 

The mountain stages are certainly not for faint hearted riders!

The race always finished on the Champs Elysées.

After each stage, officials calculate who has the fastest time of the entire race. The yellow jersey, or le maillot jaune, goes to the overall leader who is then entitled to wear it for the next stage. As the leader is decided by the overall time for the Tour to that point, the yellow jersey is not always awarded to stage winners.

Why yellow? The origin is not certain but it is quite likely that the colour was selected in 1919 to reflect the colour of the newspaper (L’Auto) which organised the tour.

There are three additional jerseys awarded during the course of the Tour de France:

The green jersey, or le maillot vert, goes to the leader of the Points Classification. Riders can earn these points during intermediate sprints that come mid-stage, though the majority are awarded at the finish to the first 10-25 riders. The amount of points given depends on the day’s stage profile for example whether it is flat or mountainous. While known as the “sprinter’s jersey”, the maillot vert will ultimately go to a well-rounded and consistent rider.

The polka dot jersey, or le maillot à pois rouges, is given to the leader of the mountains stages, otherwise known as King of the Mountains. The first rider to reach the summit of designated climbs on each stage receives the points.

The white jersey, or maillot blanc, goes to the General Classification leader who is 25 years old or younger i.e. the best young rider with the lowest overall time. For young, ambitious all-rounders in the race, winning the white jersey is on a par with winning the famous maillot jaune.