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The Route Of Champions, The 2008 Tour De France Race Route

Editor — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 06:33:20 +0000

Every year, hundreds of French towns dream of being one of the towns along the route of the Tour de France. Over two hundred towns are considered on a permanent basis to hold one of the stages of the Tour de France, and each has to go through an extensive selection process to be chosen. If your town is chosen to be along the route of the Tour de France, that means that for one day, all eyes across the world will be on your town. With the Tour de France being such a prestigious event, steeped in history and tradition, it's easy to see why being selected is such an honor.

The 2008 Tour de France race route will consist of 21 stages, covering a total of 3,500 kilometers. The stages will vary, as always, and this year's stages include ten flat stages, nine mountain climb stages (four of which are medium length), and two individual time trial stages. Included along the way will be two rest days, much to the relief of the riders who will be competing.

The race itself will start off with three flat stages, beginning on Saturday, July 5 and running through Monday, July 7. A total of approximately 569 kilometers will be traversed as competitors begin in Brest and make their way to Nantes to end stage three. This is the first year since 1967 in which the race will not begin with a prologue. Instead, riders will jump right into the race and fight it out through a hilly first stage, arriving in Plumelec. The second stage will be short, but intense as riders endure a hilly route, and the third stage will pass through the current hometown of Tour de France legend Bernard Hinault.

After an individual time trial on Tuesday, July 8, riders will face a variety of challenges over the next six days, leading up to the first rest day on Tuesday, July 15. Finally, we'll have our first medium mountain stages during stages six and seven, as riders will test themselves early in the race to arrive at the finish line at the summit of Super-Besse and at the descent to Aurillac.

The riders will then rest in Pau before beginning a medium mountain stage beginning in Lannemezan and finishing in Foix. This stage, the eleventh of the 2008 Tour de France, will take place in the foothills of the Pyrenees for the first time. Cycling enthusiasts are keeping an eye on this stage as one that may bring surprises to riders and fans alike.

Three plain stages follow, with riders going through Narbonne, Nimes, and finishing at Digne-les-Bains in stages twelve through fourteen. These stages represent a vital area for sprinters to make a push before heading into the difficult three high mountain stages that bring us toward the end of the race. A poor performance along these three stages will spell defeat for any sprinter, as things definitely will get no easier.

As mentioned, the next three stages are very difficult mountain stages, with a rest day mercifully coming between the first and second of the three. Highlights include the highest passing in France, as climbers will attempt to take a final lead leading into the last few stages of the 2008 Tour de France.

We will likely see a close finish, as a medium mountain stage on Thursday, July 24 leads into the final three stages of the race at the end of July. The sprinters will be back in the spotlight for the nineteenth through twenty-first stages, as the flat course will benefit them. One last time trial beckons on the twentieth stage, before the traditional finish at Paris Champs-Élysées crowns another Tour de France champion.

The proverbial stage has been set for another hero to emerge at this year's Tour de France. From looking at the challenging route of this year's race, it's clear that this year's champion will have to race with heart and passion to persevere to the finish.

Planning The Route Of The Tour De France

Editor — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:37:20 +0000

For a race with the tradition and amazing legacy of the Tour de France, as much effort must go into the preparation of each year's edition as the riders put into finishing the race in first place. The Tour de France is famous for its length, its variety, and the grueling demands it places on those who attempt to conquer it, as well as the other competitors. Therefore, the race organizers must put a lot of effort and time planning each year's race, to ensure that each installment is worthy of the reputation that the Tour de France has earned over the last 105 years.

There are many things that have to be taken into account when planning the yearly route of the Tour de France. For one, stages must combine to make a certain overall length that will be similar to races past. At the same time, there must be a variety within the stage types, with small, medium and large climbs to go with sprints and individual time trials. It's important that the course be balanced, so that neither the climbers, sprinters or the time trial specialists have an unfair advantage over the other racers.

One of the most charming aspects of the Tour de France is the fact that the race highlights French towns that otherwise would never get the kind of global attention that they do during the race. The Tour de France is the one time of year that a relatively small community can become, for one day at least, the center of the cycling universe. The experience can be overwhelming, amazing, and a dream come true all at the same time for the towns involved.

To even be considered as a town that will be part of the Tour de France's route, towns must submit their request and be part of a long and sometimes tiring selection process. Meetings are had, town leaders give their best arguments for their inclusion and votes are performed, among other things that have to be done to decide which towns will be home to Tour de France stops. The decision can be a difficult one, as towns have to be able to accommodate all of the hoopla and saturation that can occur from being part of such a huge and historical event.

Meanwhile, the individual stages must be combined to make a meaningful whole and to give the race a cohesive feel. The Tour de France has to be planned carefully, so that riders don't have several stages in a row of huge mountain climbs or sprints. Also, rest days have to be scheduled in, and in a town that can accommodate the swell of humanity that will come and go over a 24 to 48 hour period as a result of the Tour de France stopping by.

It's also important that the race itself not be a stale retread of the ones from years past. Each Tour de France has to respect the tradition of the race while creating its own identity simultaneously. For this reason, some towns are a part of the race seemingly year after year, while each year, the race organizers attempt to add some new flavors to the proverbial stew to keep things fresh.

As you can see, planning the Tour de France is quite a daunting task. Although the people behind the scenes will never get the fanfare and attention that the riders who traverse the race receive, they are in many ways just as important when considering the outcome of the race and how entertaining it is.

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Bernard Hinault

Editor — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:04:20 +0000

One of the legendary personalities and riders in the history of the Tour de France is unquestionably Bernard Hinault. Hinault was known as much for his outspoken and occasionally stubborn demeanor as he was for his considerable talent. His talent was incredible, as he won 28 stages of the Tour de France in his illustrious career. He was a gifted time trial rider as well, as 13 of his stage victories came from individual time trials. He won five Tour de France victories in his career, which only four other cyclists have ever done.

Hinault was born in 1954 in France, and became a professional cyclist 20 years later, in 1974. Two years later, his mentor, Cyrille Guimard helped teammate Lucien van Impe, to a victory at the 1976 Tour de France. Hinault respected Guimard and listened to his advice by skipping the 1977 Tour de France in order to gain more experience. In the 1978 Tour de France, it appeared that the move paid off, as Hinault overcame the Netherlands' Joop Zoetemelk in the final time trial stage to take the yellow jersey. Hinault went on to win by 3 minutes and 56 seconds.

In the 1979 Tour de France, Hinault repeated as champion, defeating Zoetemelk again, but by a much larger margin of 13 minutes and 7 seconds this time. Hinault had won three stages of the 1980 Tour de France, and looked like he could win his third overall yellow jersey in a row when a knee injury forced him to withdraw. Zoetemelk was able to take advantage, winning as his rival was forced to sit out the finish.

Hinault made his return to the Tour de France in 1981 a triumphant one, as he won four stages and wore the yellow jersey for 18 days as he won his third Tour de France. He recreated his original accomplishment of winning two in a row by doing so again in 1982, winning three of the later stages after getting off to a great start in the prologue, and wearing the yellow jersey for 12 days in the process.

Unfortunately, Hinault was again unable to pursue a third straight Tour de France victory, as his knee problems sidelined him again. Hinault was unable to change gears effectively, and took the 1983 Tour de France off to have the problem addressed. In the next year, Hinault returned to the Tour de France, finishing second but at 10 minutes behind leader Laurent Fignon.

Then, in the 1985 Tour de France, Hinault made his last appearance in the victor's spot at the podium, as he won while famously racing with a black eye sustained in a crash. He devoted his final Tour de France appearance in 1986 to assisting teammate Greg LeMond, although Hinault's sometimes aggressive racing led many to question whether he was trying to win the race himself. Hinault relinquished the yellow jersey to LeMond after 16 stages, though Hinault would still go on to win Stage 18 and Stage 20.

Shortly after his second place finish in the 1986 Tour de France, Hinault retired. The always respected and often feared competitor would remain involved in cycling for years to come as a part of the race organization team for the Tour de France, but he will always be chiefly remembered for his incredible five wins. Also, Hinault is exalted for never finishing below second place in any of the years that he completed the entire Tour de France.

It's also noted that had he not suffered from knee problems during the prime of his impressive career, Hinault could very well have won anywhere from five to eight installments of the Tour de France in a row. Luckily, even though Hinault was occasionally hampered by injuries, cycling fans all over the world still got many chances to be witness to his greatness.

The Yellow Jersey, A Standard Of Excellence

Editor — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:11:20 +0000

When you think of the most iconic trophies in all of sport, you may think of the Stanley Cup, or the World Cup trophy, or the Vince Lombardi trophy. However, it's hard to imagine an honor more distinctive than the Tour de France's yellow jersey.

While not exactly a trophy, the jersey is awarded to the winner of each year's Tour de France. What sets it apart from other awards involves two major differences from the rest: that it is worn by competitors, and that it is actually awarded (and re-awarded) during the competition itself, not just at the end of the competition.

One has to wonder exactly how a tradition like the awarding of the famed yellow jersey got started. If you talked to Philippe Thys, he would have told you that in 1913, Henri Desgrange (the original race organizer) asked him to wear a brightly colored jersey so observers would distinquish him from the field. Thys was not exactly into the idea of becoming a moving target for other riders, but later conceded.

However, the first official awarding of the yellow jersey wasn't until six years later, in 1919. Eug

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Lucien Van Impe

Editor — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 12:27:20 +0000

Lucien van Impe was one of the better cyclists of his generation, with five Tour de France podium appearances including one win at the 1976 Tour de France. Van Impe, known as a gifted climber who excelled in long, grueling mountain stages, won six Tour de France mountain classifications in addition to his overall race successes.

Van Impe was born in Mere, Belgium in October, 1946. He became a professional cyclist largely due to the help of Federico Bahamontes, himself an expert climber who had won the Tour de France in 1959. Van Impe would repay Bahamontes' faith in him by eventually tying his record for most polka dot jerseys, with six.

Bahamontes helped van Impe get his first professional contract, and van Impe raced his first Tour de France in 1969, finishing 12th overall. The next year, van Impe raced again in the Tour de France, this time finishing in the top handful of cyclists, in the sixth position.

The year 1971 was when van Impe started to break out on his own and earn a reputation as a rider to be reckoned with, especially in mountain stages. Van Impe earned his first podium finish at the Tour de France, also winning his first of six polka dot jerseys as best climber of the Tour de France in the process.

In the 1972 and 1973 editions of the Tour de France, van Impe would reach a personal milestone by winning a stage in each of the races, although he finished fourth and fifth, respectively, and wasn't on the podium following the races. He did add another of his six polka dot jerseys in 1972. The 1974 Tour de France held only frustration and disappointment for van Impe, however, as he finished at 18th.

Luckily, the next year, van Impe proved that his 18th place finish was a fluke, as he again earned a podium finish with a third place performance in the 1975 Tour de France. It was also the race where van Impe earned another polka dot jersey as well as his first time winning two stages in the same Tour de France. It appeared that van Impe was primed to claim the title of Tour de France champion.

The 1976 Tour de France saw van Impe do exactly that, as he won the yellow jersey for the first time in his career, while winning another stage victory along the way. Colorful stories have emerged to help explain van Impe's victory, including one that Cyrille Guimard shouted to van Impe to attack leader Joop Zoetemelk, unless he wanted to be run off the road by Guimard's car. Of course, van Impe denies that it happened that way.

Try as he might, van Impe was never able to reach that level again. He did finish 3rd in the 1977 Tour de France and 2nd in 1981, and he also added four more stage victories and three more polka dot jerseys, but he could never win a second Tour de France. His successes were peppered with some disappointing finishes, including a 27th place finish in 1985 that marked the end of his participation in the Tour de France.

Nevertheless, Lucien van Impe's Tour de France win in 1976, along with his other podium finishes and his reputation as one of the best climbers of all time, have reserved him a special place in cycling history. Van Impe is also notable for being second only to Joop Zoetemelk for the amount of times he finished the complete Tour de France race (fifteen times, in fifteen attempts).

In 1987, van Impe retired for good, leaving behind a legacy as a tenacious competitor whose strength and perseverance in the climbing stages is still envied by those who race in the Tour de France year after year. His drive and determination helped make him one of the more notable cyclists of all time.

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Philippe Thys

Editor — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 14:23:20 +0000

Philippe Thys, one of the better Belgian cyclists of all time, is one of the most prolific champions in Tour de France history, with three yellow jerseys to his credit. In fact, Thys is credited by some as being the first rider to wear a yellow jersey, though he wasn't presented it in an official capacity. Thys was one of the most talented young riders in the history of cycling.

On October 8, 1890, Philippe Thys was born. A talented cyclist already at twenty years old, he was winning competitions in Belgium before winning his first Tour de France three years later, in 1913. Thys won only one stage, Stage 6, but was the leader from Stage 9 through the end of the race as he bested perennial runner-up Gustave Garrigou.

Thys' win in 1913 would also contain a story that really summed up the era in which he raced. He was the unfortunate recipient of a broken fork on his bicycle, so he got the owner of a bicycle shop to repair it for him. However, the fix also got him a penalty of thirty minutes. Of course, Thys was still able to win, with a finishing lead of around two minutes.

Also, many cycling enthusiasts trace the history of the yellow jersey back to Philippe Thys and the 1913 Tour de France. Thys claimed that he was asked by race officials to don a yellow jersey during the race by organizer Henri Desgrange. Originally, Thys said he declined, as the jersey would be akin to having a target on his back. After Desgrange explained that it was part of a promotion for his newspaper, Thys reportedly relented.

In the 1914 Tour de France, Philippe Thys picked up right where he left off. He won the first stage from Paris to Le Havre, on the same day that Franz Ferdinand was assassinated to mark the beginning of World War I.

Later on, just a week after Thys put the finishing touches on his second straight Tour de France victory, Germany declared war on France. As a result, Thys would not get a chance to win a third straight title. For the next five years, there was no Tour de France, and Thys unfortunately lost a great portion of the prime of his career during that time.

Finally, seven years after his second Tour de France win, Philippe Thys returned to the race with a dominating win in 1920. Thys finished an astonishing 57 minutes and 21 seconds ahead of the second place Hector Heusghem, winning an impressive four stages (out of a possible 15) in the process.

In Thys' final Tour de France appearance, in 1924, Thys won two stages but did not contend for the overall title. His cycling career would essentially end at that point. Thys lived on to be 80 years old before passing away.

Thys was always known as being an intelligent rider with a great work ethic. As one of the more dominant riders in the early days of the Tour de France, Thys will always occupy a special place in the history of competitive cycling. Fans still marvel at what he accomplished, and wonder even more about what he could have accomplished, had he not missed out on competing during much of the prime of his career.

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Lance Armstrong

Editor — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:18:20 +0000

Even those who are relatively unfamiliar with the ins and outs of the sport of cycling can tell you who Lance Armstrong is. There are many people worldwide who don't know the difference between the yellow jersey and the polka dot jersey, but are familiar with Armstrong's legendary triumphs at the Tour de France, and his courageous battles with cancer. Let's take a look at the many great performances of Lance Armstrong on cycling's biggest stage, the Tour de France.

Armstrong was born in Plano, Texas in 1971. He began competing in his teens as a triathlete rather than as a pure cyclist. As he got toward adulthood, he began competing in cycling events, before turning pro in 1992 at age twenty one. He quickly found success, winning individual stages in several races, as well as being the overall winner of the Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic.

In 1993, Lance Armstrong had his first slice of success in the Tour de France, winning Stage 8. Unfortunately, he was unable to build on that success right away, as his only other stage victory at the Tour de France in the next few years was in 1995, when he won Stage 18 of that year's race. Of course, Armstrong had an uphill battle, as he was diagnosed with cancer in 1996. Only in 1998, after extensive chemotherapy, was Armstrong able to return to competitive cycling.

Then, in 1999, he began a run the likes of which has never been seen in the cycling world, and which will likely never be seen again.

During the 1999 Tour de France, Lance Armstrong was excellent. He won four stages as well as the overall race for his first-ever Tour de France victory. The race itself was notable not only for Armstrong's win, but also for a twenty five rider pile-up at Passage du Gois. The next year, Armstrong only won one stage, but was consistent overall as he took the yellow jersey in Stage 10 and never surrendered it.

Armstrong won his third-straight Tour de France in 2001, again besting the perennial runner-up Jan Ullrich by several minutes. Armstrong's characteristic endurance allowed him to again take the yellow jersey in the middle portion of the race and never relinquish it. Among the highlights of his 2001 win was his famous "look back" at Ullrich as they rode on Alpe d'Huez.

In 2002, Armstrong again finished strongly, winning three of the last ten stages to hold onto the yellow jersey, after surrendering it early in the race. His arch rival, Jan Ullrich was unable to compete due to injury. Armstrong made it an unbelievable five straight with his win in 2003, which was almost made impossible by a near crash that Armstrong barely avoided, that took Joseba Beloki out of the running.

By 2004, many fans and experts were wondering when Armstrong would run out of steam. However, Armstrong was as amazing as ever, winning an amazing five stages en route to his sixth straight Tour de France win. He did not take the yellow jacket until Stage 15, but still finished six minutes ahead of the competition. In his final Tour de France in 2005, Armstrong made history once again with his seventh straight win. The accomplishment was enhanced by the fact that Armstrong wore the yellow jersey for all but four stages during the race. It was also Armstrong's first Tour de France while racing with the Discovery Channel team.

Armstrong finished his career as one of the only cyclists to transcend the sport and become a major celebrity outside of the cycling world, especially in the United States. His exploits in cycling and particularly in the Tour de France not only captivated the world, but brought new light to the great sport of cycling. Whether or not anyone is ever able to equal or best his amazing accomplishments, Armstrong will remain a legend in Tour de France history.

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Jan Ullrich

Editor — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:51:20 +0000

Jan Ullrich was one of the great riders and personalities of the Tour de France. A German cyclist born in 1973, he would go on to become the first German rider to ever win the Tour de France. He also built a career on his legendary consistency that unfortunately coincided with that of Lance Armstrong. He finished in the top three of the Tour de France an incredible six times, with one win, four second place finishes and a third place finish. He also finished fourth in 2004.

Ullrich was known as a powerful rider with great natural ability and athleticism. He was often criticized for getting too far out of shape in the offseason, but maintained that it was not an issue, since he was always ready to race when the time came. His start in competitive cycling came when he was 11 years old, as he had his first win at that age. He turned professional in 1994, signing with team Telekom.

Although his first couple of years as a professional weren't very memorable, Ullrich experienced great success in his first ever Tour de France. Ullrich had the chance to compete in the Olympics in 1996 for his native Germany, but he passed up on the opportunity to compete in the Tour de France. It was a decision he wouldn't regret. He made quite a splash, finishing second overall and winning the coveted white jersey as the best rider at age 25 and under. He also won Stage 20 that year, finishing behind his own teammate, Bjarne Riis, by one minute and forty-one seconds.

Ullrich quickly earned a reputation as a team player, as he dismissed any speculation that he would have won the race had he not been focusing on assisting his teammate, Riis. His performance nonetheless impressed many Tour de France veterans, including the great Miguel Indurain. He would go on to be one of the favorites for the 1997 race.

In 1997, Ullrich would build upon his previous success by winning his first and only Tour de France. He won stages 10 and 12, while holding off a courageous comeback attempt by Marco Pantani, and was able to win the yellow jersey as well as a second consecutive white jersey in the overall competition. His win captured the hearts of his home country and sparked a resurgence of interest in the sport of cycling there.

The next year began a rough period for Jan Ullrich. He fought hard but lost the 1998 Tour de France, finishing second as Marco Pantani won. It was a moral victory of sorts for Ullrich, as he had been fourth and several minutes back earlier in the race, but a disappointment nonetheless. Then, in 1999, a knee injury caused by a crash would keep him out of the Tour de France. It was the same year when Lance Armstrong won his first of seven straight Tours.

From then on, Ullrich unfortunately became known as the "eternal second" to Armstrong. He was never able to beat Armstrong, although he finished just 61 seconds behind in 2003. He also struggled with depression at times at this point in his career, disappointed that he couldn't seem to defeat his rival. In 2007, Ullrich retired, finishing one of the most storied careers in the history of cycling.

Variety Is Everything, Stage Types Of The Tour De France

Editor — Tue, 25 May 2010 05:24:20 +0000

One of the things that makes the Tour de France a great spectacle is the wide variety of stages that riders must endure to win the yellow jersey for once and for all. The Tour de France requires versatility from its cyclists, as each year the stages are made of a good mix of climbs, sprints, and other stage types. If you're lost as to what the different type of stage types are, and what strategies they require, read on! You'll enjoy the race much more if you understand what challenges are presented by the different types of stages.

The prologue is a relatively new type of stage that has been introduced to get the race off to a fast start and determine a first stage leader for the Tour de France. This stage is much shorter than other stage types, usually clocking in at under 8 kilometers! This means that the fastest riders can usually complete the prologue in around 7 minutes. However, even with the short stage time, the prologue is a nice appetizer for the stages to come, and provides race fans with a quick look at the year's competitors. Winning the prologue is not exactly essential for winning the entire race, and it's more a formality than anything. Not every year's edition of the Tour de France even contains a prologue.

Sprint stages are often very flat, and allow each team's sprint specialists to zoom down the road at top speed towards the finish line. Sprint stages often have a large peloten (or pack) of riders, as there is no real climb or descent to divide them or separate them. As such, sprint stages often seem like the less demanding stage type, but are often quite the opposite. After all, when racing in a thick pack at high speeds, the slightest slip up can lead to a huge crash that can end one's bid at the Tour de France's yellow jersey.

The climbing, or mountain, stages of the Tour de France give the race much of its unique flavor. Climbing stages are often extremely demanding, as riders struggle to push the pace, or simply keep up with it, while enduring long inclines that are categorized by their steepness and length. Of course, the ascent of such mountain roads also lead to spectacular descents at high speeds which can lead to some of the most dangerous and exciting moments of the entire race. Many champions of the Tour de France have been excellent climbers, such as the great Lance Armstrong, or former champion Lucien van Impe. It's important to be a good all-around cyclist, but being a tenacious climber can allow you to put valuable distance between yourself and the pack in the Tour de France.

Individual time trials can be the difference between rousing success and disappointing failure at the Tour de France. During an individual time trial, riders compete by themselves against the clock to achieve the fastest time possible, usually in a distance of around fifty kilometers. With the shorter stage distance, the competition to shave every millisecond possible is pretty heated, and the emphasis is on proper race strategy, pacing, and technique. Unlike other stages, where a rider's team can assist them, there is no one to help cut down wind resistance, push the pace, or provide other help in an individual time trial. The distance of a time trial is too far for a cyclist to start out at their highest possible pace, but not far enough that they can't push themselves throughout. Therefore, the strategy of a rider is one of the major factors that determines where they finish in an individual time trial.

These are the main stage types of the Tour de France. As you can see, riders must be ready for everything, and work hard to overcome any weaknesses when they race in the Tour de France. The variety of stage types works to demand that each year's winner be a versatile cyclist who can persevere against all kinds of challenges. After all, that's what makes the Tour de France so great.

The Tour De France, A Beginner's Guide

Editor — Mon, 24 May 2010 10:18:20 +0000

The Tour de France is an incredibly exciting event that is followed by fans all across the world. However, the Tour de France can also be intimidating to those who aren't familiar with the sport of cycling, or the race itself. Let's go over some of the basics, so that you'll be able to follow this year's Tour de France with a better understanding of the events taking place!

First of all, the object of the Tour de France is, of course, to finish the overall race with the fastest time. What complicates things is that the Tour de France is a race that is divided up over a period of about three weeks. It's important to know that the race itself is divided into different parts called stages. Each stage lasts one day, although the stages can be quite long. There are a total of 21 stages, and the complete race is usually well over 1,800 miles (or over 3,500 km) long!

Although the object of the Tour de France is to win the overall race as a whole, each stage is treated much like its own individual race. Winners of stages receive prize money, and winning a stage of the Tour de France is often regarded as a bigger accomplishment than winning other single-day races. The stages themselves can be flat, mountainous, or anywhere in between, and often there are individual time trials that serve as stages. Competitors generally get a couple of days to rest during the race, as well.

If you've seen footage of the Tour de France before, or heard others talk about it, you probably want to know what the yellow jersey is all about. The famed yellow jersey is one of four different jerseys that designate that the rider wearing it has achieved a specific feat. The rider wearing the yellow jersey is the overall leader of the race. To determine who has earned the yellow jersey at any point in the race, officials merely take the lowest overall combined time from all the stages.

The green jersey is awarded to the points leader in the race. Points are earned according to passing order at the finish line or in intermediate sprints. For this reason, riders who specialize in sprints are generally those found wearing the green jersey.

The distinctive polka dot jersey goes to the leader of the "mountain classification", with points being earned according to passing order on mountain stages. Therefore, it is often said that the rider wearing the polka dot jersey is the best climber of the race.

Finally, the white jersey is only worn by riders aged 25 years or younger. This jersey is intended to spotlight the rising stars of the cycling world and the Tour de France. Many riders who wore the white jersey have also gone on to win the coveted yellow jersey in their careers.

There are other awards given during the Tour de France as well. The combativity prize is also known as the fighting spirit award and is awarded by a panel of eight cycling specialists. There is also a team award called the team classification, which is given after adding the times of the top three riders for each team for each stage to get a total time. Riders in teams often assist each other by "slipstreaming" behind one another for better speed, or using other team tactics. Teams are grouped by common sponsors.

It also bears mentioning that finishing straight stages in the top three can earn you bonus seconds, which help you shave precious seconds off of your total time. Also, the final mountain climb of the Tour de France is for double points, which is a great incentive for climbers. The double points were added to the official race rules starting in 2004.

Now that we've addressed the basics of the Tour de France, you'll be better prepared to enjoy one of the world's most prestigious and historic sporting events. Make sure to pay attention to what's going on during the races, and you'll find that it's not nearly as complicated as it may have seemed. Before you know it, you'll be cheering your favorite rider on towards the yellow jacket!

The Tour De France, The First Extreme Sports Event

Editor — Wed, 05 May 2010 07:19:20 +0000

These days, with skateboarders and BMX bikers doing backflips and covering 50 foot gaps from giant ramps, it's probably hard for youngsters to think of the Tour de France as a dangerous sport. However, in the golden tradition of the Tour de France, there have been three tragic deaths due to injuries sustained while racing. While it's not very pleasant to talk about the tragedies that have occurred during the most prestigious cycling race in the world, it does highlight the dangers that cyclists face, the amount of skill that is required by the sport of cycling, and the importance of safety measures in the sport itself.

The first cyclist to die during the Tour de France didn't actually perish as a result of the race itself. Instead, French rider Adolphe Heli

The First Tour De France, A Humble Beginning

Editor — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:55:20 +0000

The Tour de France is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and famous sporting events in history. For over one hundred years, great athletes have traversed vast roads and steep mountain climbs in France for the title of world's greatest cyclist. It's hard to believe, then, that the historic race began as a publicity stunt for a newspaper!

In 1903, the publishers of the French newspaper L'Auto wanted to outdo the cycling race promoted by a rival newspaper. The paper's cycling journalist, Géo Lefèvre, came up with idea to have a race throughout France, separated by stages. He discussed it with editor Henri Desgrange after lunch, and the idea took off. In January, the first ever Tour de France was announced.

However, many details had to be ironed out before the race could even begin. Originally, the race was planned to be an incredible five weeks long. Unfortunately, that proved to be intimidating to most cyclists, as only just over a dozen were willing to take on a race of that magnitude. By cutting the length severely to a total of nineteen days, more entrants were enticed to give it a try. It also didn't hurt that participants were given a daily allowance for their efforts. The changes increased the participation in the inaugural Tour de France by four times the original number of riders, to sixty.

The participants themselves were almost exclusively French, with a handful of riders from other countries, mostly Germany, Sweden, or Italy. The riders included some personalities that captured the imaginations of French cycling fans, such as the 20-year old Lucien Pothier and experienced cyclist Maurice Garin. Many of the riders, attracted by the promise of the daily allowance, were amateur cyclists, or unemployed and simply looking for something to do with themselves. Fans also were intrigued by the sheer scope of the race, and the fact that some of the stages were so long that riders had to keep cycling on into the night.

Maurice Garin took an early lead once the race started, taking the first stage during the ride from Paris to Lyon. He held on to the overall lead, even as Hyppolite Aucouturier won the next two stages. Despite this spirited challenge, Garin won the last six stages, and the first ever Tour de France. Garin was actually quite dominant, finishing over two hours ahead of the afore-mentioned youngster, Lucien Pothier. Fernand Augereau rounded out the top three cyclists in the first race.

There was definitely a disparity in talent in the first race, as the adventurous nature of the race attracted even the most unorthodox of challengers. In fact, Garin finished over 64 hours ahead of the last place finisher, Arsene Millocheau of France. Again, this only endeared the Tour de France to those who were already intrigued by the massive race.

The 1903 installment of the Tour de France served its purpose not only by launching the overwhelmingly successful cycling championship that has lasted over one hundred years, but also by giving L'Auto the publicity and sales bump that its editors so badly wanted. During the race itself, readership of the newspaper almost tripled, as a matter of fact.

The riders themselves would continue on into the next year. Garin, Pothier, and Aucouturier would compete in the 1904 Tour de France, which was a ragtag affair marred by cheating and occasional riots by fans. All three would end up being disqualified, which kept Garin from winning his second straight Tour de France.

From such humble beginnings, an annual spectacle known the world over has resulted. Throughout the last one hundred and five years, heroes as well as villains have emerged to succeed the likes of Garin and Pothier. Almost as amazing as the athletes that compete in the Tour de France is the fact that the race itself came from such a humble and unassuming beginning, as a race organized to promote a simple French newspaper.

Tragedy At The Tour De France

Editor — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:20:20 +0000

Fabio Casartelli, like many young cyclists, dreamed of achieving infamy in the Tour de France. Unfortunately, in an unprecedented bike crash, Casartelli lost his life and remains only the third rider to ever die during the Tour de France race.

Fabio Casartelli was born in Como, Italy in August of 1970. Throughout his amateur cycling career, he showed a lot of potential, most notably with his win of a gold medal in the road race event of the 1992 Olympic Games. He finished one second ahead of the Netherlands' Erik Dekker, who went on to win four stages of the Tour de France in his own career.

The first Tour de France Casartelli competed in was in 1993, although Casartelli didn't accomplish much in his debut. For the 1995 Tour de France, Team Motorola selected Casartelli to competed in the race, and Casartelli was hoping to improve upon his first appearance in the legendary race.

Casartelli was in the 15th stage of the 1995 Tour de France when he was suddenly involved in a crash with several other riders. The crash occurred during the descent on the Col de Portet d'Aspet in the Pyrenees. During the crash, Casartelli struck his head on the concrete blocks that lined the roadway, immediately causing him to lose consciousness. Sadly, Casartelli didn't make it to the hospital, as he stopped breathing during the helicopter flight and couldn't be resuscitated.

After Casartelli's tragic death, there was some speculation that his life could have been saved, had he been wearing a bicycle helmet at the time of the accident. However, the senior doctor of the Tour de France, Gerard Porte, refuted such claims, as he said that the helmet would not have covered the area of Casartelli's head where he received the damage that led to his death.

If anything positive could be taken from Casartelli's untimely death, it was the way the riders participating in the 1995 Tour de France came together after the tragic crash. In tribute to Fabio Casartelli, his comrades in Team Motorola finished the next stage as a unit, crossing the finish line together. The rest of the pack finished right after, riding slowly in a show of respect to their fallen peer.

Fabio Casartelli left behind a wife and an infant son, and cyclists and the Tour de France officials themselves made sure they weren't forgotten. A fund was established for Casartelli's family, and all of the riders who received money for their participation and performances in the "tribute" stage donated their prize money to the fund. The Tour de France organizers matched the amount donated to the fund, and many individuals also pitched in to help do their part and help Casartelli's family.

Fabio Casartelli's death also helped to accomplish stricter helmet regulations for Tour de France riders. Over time, helmet rules have consistently been strengthened, and now riders can be fined for not wearing their helmets during any portion of the Tour de France. Even if Casartelli's death couldn't have been prevented by the use of a helmet, the fact that helmet use has become more widespread and required by race organizations means that his death was not in vain.

The thought of a sportsman like Fabio Casartelli losing his life in the midst of a competition is a dreadful one indeed. While there's no guarantee that a tragedy like what happened to Casartelli won't ever happen again, it's important to know that precautions are being taken to keep such things from happening, and that Casartelli has not and will not be forgotten.

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Gustave Garrigou

Editor — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:52:20 +0000

Gustave Garrigou was one of the first great riders in the Tour de France. In his short but accomplished career, he was able to win the Tour de France once, and finish on the podium a total of six times. Although Garrigou's career ended over 90 years ago, he remains one of the beloved French cyclists in the legendary history of the Tour de France.

Gustave Garrigou was born on September 24, 1884, and lived until 1963, when he passed away at the age of 78. He made his debut in the Tour de France at age 22, the same year he won at Giro di Lombardia and Paris-Brussels. His first Tour de France went similarly well, although he wasn't able to win. Garrigou was able to win stages 10 and 12, but wasn't able to gain much on the leader, Lucien Petit-Breton, as he finished right behind Garrigou. The race itself was a wild one, memorable because Émile Georget was close to winning before being penalized because he borrowed a bicycle.

The next year, Garrigou entered the 1908 Tour de France with high hopes, only to perform worse than in the previous years. Garrigou won no stages of the Tour de France that year, and ended up finishing a disappointing fourth, while Lucien Petit-Breton won again.

The 1909 Tour de France brought more disappointment for Garrigou as well as French cycling fans, as it was the first year that a French cyclist didn't win the race. Garrigou finished second again (although he won a stage), and was the top French finisher of the race, with Lucien Petit-Breton not competing. Garrigou also won a stage the next year at the 1910 Tour de France, but still failed to win, finishing third to earn another podium finish.

In 1911, it was finally Garrigou's turn to shine, though not solely because of his own performance. Garrigou's greatest asset in this Tour de France was his determination and grit, as this was the most grueling edition yet. Some of the stages required even the fastest of the field to race nearly 18 hours to complete, and only a third of the field ended up completing the race. Among those to quit were previous winners Lucien Petit-Breton, François Faber and Octave Lapize. Another cyclist, Paul Duboc, was in a good position to win and had been victorious in four stages, but fell ill. All of these circumstances conspired to help Garrigou win his first and only Tour de France. He won two stages in the process.

The next year, Garrigou's team, Alcyon hired a new rider to assist Garrigou in repeating his win from the previous year. Unfortunately for Garrigou, the teammate (Odiel Defraye) clearly established himself as the more capable rider early on, and he ended up winning himself. At this point, it just seemed to be Garrigou's luck, as he was almost always the bridesmaid, but nearly never the bride.

Garrigou gave one more good effort to win his second Tour de France in 1913, but finished 8 minutes, 37 seconds behind Philippe Thys, despite winning a stage. Garrigou's last appearance, in 1914, resulted in a fifth place finish three hours behind the winner (Philippe Thys, again), although he again one a stage.

Garrigou would then retire, although he would be remembered by followers of the sport for years to come. He was the Charlie Brown of cycling for a time, always blending into the background, with only periodic success. Still, his win in 1911, along with his other solid finishes and podium appearances, allow him to be mentioned in an elite category among professional cyclists past and present.

Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Greg Lemond

Editor — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:57:20 +0000

Greg LeMond was the first American to ever win the Tour de France, and went on to win it a total of three times. An outspoken critic of performance enhancing drugs and doping both during his career and afterwards, he was slowed during much of his prime by poor luck and injuries. He competed in six installments of the Tour de France in his impressive career.

LeMond was born in Lakewood, California, and had success in his teens before being selected as part of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Cycling team. He did not attend, however, nor did any of the American athletes that year, and the following year he turned professional. He would compete in his first Tour de France in 1984.

His Tour de France debut was a successful one, finishing third and winning the white jersey as the best rider aged 25 years and younger. LeMond was the first American to ever stand on the podium, but he was not done writing American cycling history.

The next year, LeMond was no longer an unknown commodity, and he finished second in the 1985 Tour de France to teammate Bernard Hinault. Only 1 minute and 42 seconds behind Hinault at the finish, LeMond would go on to say that he could have won the race and essentially gave it away to Hinault. Hinault said that he would return the favor and support LeMond the next year, and repeated the promise many times before the 1986 Tour de France.

The 1986 Tour de France had its share of drama, though. Hinault rode rather aggressively throughout the race, claiming that he was wearing down the opposition for LeMond, even if it sometimes appeared that he was trying to secure the win for himself. By the end, Hinault did relinquish the yellow jersey, though he won two late stages while finishing second to LeMond. LeMond made history as the first American cyclist to ever win the Tour de France, and appeared to be primed to win again the next year.

However, fate intervened in a most unfortunate and unpredictable way. While turkey hunting with his brother-in-law, LeMond was shot in the back and seriously injured. As a result, LeMond was unable to compete in the Tour de France in 1987 and 1988. During that time, LeMond also underwent surgery for tendinitis and appendicitis in his leg. This incredibly disastrous series of events led to LeMond's return to the Tour de France in 1989, and one of the great races of all time.

LeMond only expected to finish respectably in the 1989 Tour de France, but late in the race he found himself in second place by less than a minute to two-time champion Laurent Fignon. This set the stage for a showdown in the final time trial, which LeMond would win by 58 seconds, giving him an overall win by just 8 seconds over Fignon. It was the closest finish in Tour de France history, and the competitiveness of the race along with the tremendous story of LeMond's return brought great attention to the sport.

In 1990, LeMond would win his last Tour de France, amazingly doing so without winning a single individual stage. Only a few riders, including LeMond, have ever accomplished such a feat. He got off to a poor start, at one point being over ten minutes behind, before slowly gaining on the leaders by consistently riding hard through each subsequent stage.

After his final Tour de France win, LeMond continued to race competitively for a few years before retiring in 1994. He competed in his last Tour de France in 1991, wearing the yellow jersey for 6 days en route to finishing 7th overall.

Since LeMond's retirement, American cyclists such as Lance Armstrong have continued to represent the United States at the Tour de France, but LeMond will always be the one who first carried American cyclists to the top of the cycling world.

The Tour De France, Explained

Editor — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:32:20 +0000

Millions of people worldwide are transfixed each and every year as the annual Tour de France is run. In case you aren't one of these people, and you don't really get what the fuss is about, or maybe you just don't understand the rules and terminology, here is a quick primer so that you can join in on the fun this year!

The Tour de France started in 1903 when a French newspaper wanted to drum up some publicity and attract a larger readership to their publication. The idea to have a multi-day, multi-stage cycling race came from young Géo Lefèvre, who was the cycling reporter for the newspaper. The idea was altered and molded into a reasonable facsimile of what we see today: a race that traversed through small towns in France, taking cyclists a few weeks of grueling rides to complete. The first race was a success, as it has obviously led to over one hundred years of tradition, and it also increased the readership of the newspaper, so it fulfilled its original objective.

Since then, the Tour de France has evolved, but much of it has also stayed the same. Towns compete each year to be added as waypoints along the Tour de France route, and are selected by a committee to join the prestigious ranks of those who have hosted the race for a day. The race still attracts riders from all around the world, although the prestige (and money) of the Tour de France brings a much wider variety of cyclists than in the first years of the race. The race itself is also still a marvelous example of variety, as the race is split up into mountain stages large and small, hilly sections of road, and flat sections for quick sprints.

Many fans who are new to the Tour de France don't understand why one rider is wearing a yellow jersey, and why sometimes a new rider is wearing it the next day (don't worry, they wash it first). Well, the yellow jersey is famous as being worn by the current overall race leader. Therefore, wearing the yellow jersey is not only a great honor, but a great responsibility. It essentially paints a target on your back, and reminds all the other cyclists what they are racing for. If you are wearing the yellow jersey, you'd best be ready to defend it! Other jerseys include the green jersey, the white jersey, and even the polka dot jersey. They are awarded to the race's point leader, best young (under twenty five years old) rider, and best climber, respectively.

It was mentioned earlier that the race is split into stages. The stages are sections of the race that are traversed in a single day, which combine to make the race as a whole. Riders do get a break at the end of each stage- they're only human, after all- only to continue the next morning at the next stage. The 2008 Tour de France features twenty one stages. The riders also are recipients of two rest days, which are spaced out throughout the twenty three day event.

Cyclists often compete as part of a team. This may seem strange, as cycling would appear to be an individual sport, but teams have been part of the Tour de France for a long time. Teams can actually help each other quite a bit in a race, by pacing each other, blocking off the competition, or "slip streaming" for maximum speed by riding directly behind one another. During some years, the teams were based on the national origin of riders, but now the teams are organized by sponsors.

At the end of the Tour de France, the riders' finishing positions are determined by simply adding each rider's time on each stage together to get a total race time. The cyclist with the lowest overall time is the winner of the Tour de France, and joins a great tradition of legendary athletes dating back over one hundred years. Make sure to follow the Tour de France this year, as history is made yet again on the roads of France!

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Eddy Merckx

Editor — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:06:20 +0000

Eddy Merckx is regarded by many to be the best cyclist of all time. His tenacity and refusal to relinquish his own chance to win earned him the nickname, "The Cannibal". Merckx is one of only five riders to win the Tour de France five times. He only competed in seven installments of the Tour de France to win such an incredible number of them, and also finished second once for a total of six podium appearances.

Merckx, a Belgian rider, was born 1945. He started competing 16 years later, and participated in the Olympic Games in 1964 before turning professional a year later. Merckx was a talented mountain rider, winning the Tour de France mountains classification twice as well. Merckx holds many cycling records, including the most stage wins at the Tour de France, of which he had 34.

Merckx made his first Tour de France appearance in 1969, and he wasted no time in turning the cycling world on its ear. Merckx became the first cyclist to ever win all three jerseys available by winning the yellow (overall leader), green (best sprinter) and polka dot (best climber) jerseys. He would have won the white jersey (best cyclist 25 years old and younger) if it had existed at the time.

Unfortunately, Merckx was in a terrible accident in a derny race which resulted in a cracked vertebra and twisted pelvis. Although Merckx would go on to have even more success, he also acknowledged that the injury would go on to affect him permanently, as he was in near constant pain whenever he raced, especially while climbing.

Despite the setback, Merckx followed up his 1969 win with a dominant performance in the 1970 Tour de France. Merckx won a record-tying 8 stages while winning the race and the mountains classification. He also finished second in the sprinter's classification, solidifying his reputation as a brilliant all-around cyclist. Many wondered who, if anyone, could challenge the dominance of Merckx.

In 1971, Luis Oca

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Laurent Fignon

Editor — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:36:20 +0000

Laurent Fignon was a two time winner of the Tour de France, and one of the most beloved French cyclists of all time. He won a variety of races other than the Tour de France in his career, and missed winning a third Tour de France by the smallest margin in race history.

Fignon, born in 1960, won 18 races as an amateur before turning pro with the help of Cyrille Guimard. Fignon started his career with the famed Renault-Elf-Gitane team, and quickly burst on the scene with skilled and tenacious riding.

In the 1983 Tour de France, Fignon figured to play a supporting role to five time winner Bernard Hinault before Hinault ultimately was forced to withdraw from the race due to injury. Fignon took full advantage of the opportunity he was given to shine, turning in one of the great time trial stage performances in history just before claiming his first yellow jersey midway through the race. Fignon won the final time trial as well en route to winning his first Tour de France.

Fignon completed a repeat bid in the 1984 Tour de France, beating his former teammate, Hinault. Hinault changed teams before the race, but Fignon was dominant, winning five stages on the way to his second Tour de France victory. Fignon finished the race especially well garnering three of his five stage wins in the final several stages.

Unfortunately, Fignon couldn't attempt a third straight win in the Tour de France, as a knee injury kept him from participating in 1985. He did not finish the Tour de France in 1986 and 1988, and finished the 1987 installment, but only in seventh place. In 1989, Fignon entered the Tour de France as the number one cyclist in the world, setting the stage for a legendary showdown between Fignon and the returning Greg LeMond, who was sidelined after being shot in a hunting accident.

During the 1989 Tour de France, Fignon watched as LeMond surprisingly earned the yellow jersey at Stage 5. Throughout the race, Fignon played mind games with LeMond, challenging him through the press to ride more aggressively. In time, it became a two-man race, as Fignon and LeMond battled with all they had.

From Stage 5 on to the finish, the yellow jersey belonged to either LeMond or Fignon, with the lead swapping from LeMond to Fignon, then back to LeMond briefly at Stage 15, then back to Fignon before the final time trial that would decide the victor. Fignon had a 50 second lead, but LeMond out-strategized the former Tour de France champion, using a more aerodynamically sound bike and helmet and beating the Frenchman by 58 seconds for an 8 second overall victory. Fignon was crushed, and the finish remains the closest in Tour de France history.

After the disappointment of the 1989 Tour, Fignon would finish no better than 9th in subsequent years, dropping out in 1990 and finishing 23rd in 1992. He finally retired afterward, remaining one of the more popular French cyclists due to his persona and signature ponytail. Because of his talent as well as his memorable personality, along with his participation in the legendary showdown of 1989 with Greg LeMond, Fignon remains one of the more beloved cyclists to have participated in the Tour de France.

Controversy At The 2006 Tour De France

Editor — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 10:17:20 +0000

The 2006 Tour de France was set to be another of a long line of great races. The field, though without multiple time champion and cycling legend Lance Armstrong, was a competitive one, and the route was superb as usual. No one rider was primed to dominate, and the cycling world, while obviously sad to see Lance Armstrong go, was reinvigorated by the prospect of a tight race that nearly anyone could win.

One of the contenders to win was American cyclist Floyd Landis, who had experienced success in the cycling world and was known as a versatile rider who could sprint as well as climb at a high level. He had been personally recruited by Lance Armstrong to race along with him on the U.S. Postal Service team, and had started off 2006 with a couple of wins, including at Paris-Nice. Even though he obviously had all the tools to win the race, he was considered one of many contenders who could do so.

Floyd Landis' chances were bettered when two of the race favorites, Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, were suspended and barred from participating just days before the 2006 Tour de France began. However, Landis himself didn't get off to the greatest start when the race opened. A cut tire in one stage and a handlebar malfunction in another conspired to keep him back from the lead through the first several stages of the race.

However, in the middle portions of the race, Landis surged as he was able to lean on his climbing skills during difficult mountain stages. Unfortunately, on Stage 16, Landis fell far back, going from first place to eleventh in the overall standings. In doing so, he provided himself a stage (no pun intended) to put on a great show of courage and fortitude, although it would later become infamous for more controversial reasons.

During Stage 17, Landis battled to win by over six minutes, coming to close within the lead that was held by Oscar Pereiro. He would continue the comeback in the final stages, and was crowned as the 2006 Tour de France champion in one of the greatest races in recent memory.

Unfortunately, the story didn't end there. During the mandatory testing at Stage 17, Landis had failed a urine test, as he had an 11:1 ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone. Landis quickly denied doping, but his backup test came up with the same result, and he was suspended and released from his team, Phonak.

Landis maintained his innocence, and proposed a variety of ways that his sample may have been tainted, misinterpreted, or resulted from normal human activity, not doping. However, an arbitration did not go Landis' way, and in September of 2007 Pereiro was crowned as the new 2006 Tour de France champion.

Unfortunately, the win by Pereiro, and the exciting finish to the race itself, was marred by the new reality of performance-enhancing drugs and the problems they cause to all sports. Although Pereiro is as legitimate a champion as they come, it's hard to say that no luster has been taken off his considerable accomplishment after the circus that resulted in the media and in the courts. Landis himself is still fighting for his innocence, but he will likely not be able to change the minds of those who are convinced by the test results. It's truly unfortunate that such a historic year of a legendary event was decided in the courtroom, and not on the roads of France.

Great Cyclists Of The Tour De France, Miguel Indurain

Editor — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:34:20 +0000

Miguel Indurain will always be known as one of the greatest cyclists to ever compete in the Tour de France. Indurain was the first cyclist to ever win five straight Tour de France championships, and was one of only five riders to ever win five championships at all. He was known as a gifted rider who excelled at time trials, and was nicknamed "Miguel