What is Tour de France
Definition: The Tour De France is an annual bicycle race that predominantly takes places in France but also makes occasional passes through adjoining countries. What started as nothing 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 Organisation.
Description: The three-week-long event makes it one of the greatest athletic tests in all of sports. It was Henri Desgrange, a journalist for the L'Auto who came up with the idea for the first race and traditionally, it is held in the month of July. The 1903 competition was run only in six fairly flat stages, unlike the mountainous 21 stage event it would grow to become. Maurice Garin, an Italian, went on to win the event. Garin was triumphant the following year as well, only to then be disqualified for cheating, including the use of cars and trains to reach the finishing point. The current event consists of 21 stages and takes place over a 23-day period in which the cyclists cover around 3,500 kilometers. The number of teams participating in the Tour usually varies between 20 and 22, with nine riders in each team. The rider with the lowest aggregate time after all the segments becomes the winner and is awarded with the esteemed yellow jersey. Chris Froome is the reigning champion. Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain have managed to win Tour De France five times each. The Tour de France prize pool is worth over two million Euros.
Description: The three-week-long event makes it one of the greatest athletic tests in all of sports. It was Henri Desgrange, a journalist for the L'Auto who came up with the idea for the first race and traditionally, it is held in the month of July. The 1903 competition was run only in six fairly flat stages, unlike the mountainous 21 stage event it would grow to become. Maurice Garin, an Italian, went on to win the event. Garin was triumphant the following year as well, only to then be disqualified for cheating, including the use of cars and trains to reach the finishing point. The current event consists of 21 stages and takes place over a 23-day period in which the cyclists cover around 3,500 kilometers. The number of teams participating in the Tour usually varies between 20 and 22, with nine riders in each team. The rider with the lowest aggregate time after all the segments becomes the winner and is awarded with the esteemed yellow jersey. Chris Froome is the reigning champion. Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain have managed to win Tour De France five times each. The Tour de France prize pool is worth over two million Euros.