Tour de France
The Tour De France is an annual bicycle race that predominantly takes place in France but also makes occasional passes through neighboring countries. What started as nothing more than the publicity for magazine L'Auto to increase sales in 1903, has become the most prestigious cycling event in the world today and is currently organized by the Amaury Sport Organization.
Origin
Also known as “Le Grande Boucle” or “Le Tour”, Tour de France is the world’s largest annual sporting event. It’s a cycling competition that is held in France every year (sometimes in neighboring countries) and takes place in 21 stages with a course that covers approximately 3,500 kilometers.
This is the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Stanley Cup of bicycle racing. Cyclists from around the world gather in France to compete for the chance to win the prestigious Tour de France trophy and a cash prize of €450,000 (just over $500,000).
This is a sport that garners 3.5 billion television viewers, and over 12 million spectators annually. It’s a thrilling sport and is completely free to attend.
How Does It Work?
Tour de France is a team sport that features a total of 198 cyclists in 22 teams of nine. Over the course of 21 days, usually in July, cyclists cover a race course extending 3,500 kilometers.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2021_Tour_de_France_map.svg
Tour de France is split into 21 stages: Nine flat stages, three hilly stages, seven mountain stages (including five summit finishes), two individual time trials, and two rest days.
One stage is performed every day, covers roughly 225 kilometers, and takes about five and a half hours to complete. Each stage has a winner, and the rider that completes the most stages in the shortest amount of time goes on to win the overall title.
What Do Jersey Colors Represent?
Cyclists from the same team wear the same colored jersey, but a select few wear special jerseys.
https://www.havebike.co.uk/your-code-to-deciphering-the-tour-de-france/
A yellow jersey is worn by the race’s leader. A green jersey is worn by the top sprinter. A white jersey is worn by the most impressive rider, 25 and under. A red and white polka-dot jersey is worn by the best climber.
The current national road champions get to wear their team’s jersey that also features their country’s colors, and the reigning World Champion gets to wear their team colors on a jersey with horizontal stripes throughout the race.
Comments
Post a Comment