Tour de France
Every June, an elite group of cyclists gears up for the most grueling event of the year and arguably the most challenging sporting event in the world: 21 days of the Tour de France.
At the turn of the 20th century, bicycle fever hit France. Track racing had been an established sport, but the new concept of road racing was only starting to become popular. Initially, road races were organized by newspaper journalists as a way to sell papers. In a flurry of competition between two French newspapers, journalists Géo Lefèvre and Henri Desgrange of the sports daily L'Auto dreamed up the race to end all races – an event that would be broken up into stages along the roads of France. Each day would comprise a single stage, ranging from a few dozen to more than 160 kilometers. In 1903, the first Tour attracted 60 riders; today as many as 200 compete for the yellow jersey.
Every year, town councils and businesses view for the chance to be included along the route of the world-famous race. The distance has varied from as few as 2,425 kilometers to as many as 5,742 kilometers. Daily stages often cover more than 160 kilometers and are seldom continuous. It's common for riders to transfer by train or airplane between stages. What stays the same? Killer climbs, screaming descents, critical time trials, and a test of endurance that lasts three weeks along roads lined with millions of of cheering spectators.
Top riders spend half a year or more preparing themselves physically and mentally for the Tour de France. No amount of solo training can prepare you for the psychology of riding in the peloton, or the pack. An animal unto itself, the peloton moves like a singular force. Riders line up in single file, or draft each other, mere centimeters apart. They pace each other and support each other. Team riders, known as domestiques, ride for the sole purpose of supporting their leader. They strategize to create key positions to maintain the lead, cut down on wind resistance, and avoid crashes. Every rider brings unique skills to the race – some excel in sprints, others in climbs, others in strategy. Knowing when to hold back and when to pounce can make the difference edging a rider into the lead by a single, yet crucial, second. And even the best riders can be reduced to mush when beaten down by dehydration, fatigue, or the slightest miscalculation in shifting gears.
Tour de France – The Jerseys Explained
Yellow Jersey
This coveted Jersey, as seen in the picture below, is worn by the rider with the best time after each stage. Ultimately, the Tour de France winner earns the privilege of parading the yellow jersey along the Champs Elyées, one of the grandest boulevards in Paris, France.
Polka Dot
The challenge of charging up the Alps and the Pyrenees during the Tour de France's mountain stages can make or break the best riders. Faced with as much as 3,000 meters of pure uphill in one day, the pros can do it at average speeds of more than 32 kilometers per hour. If you see spots, you're looking at the best climber of the Tour de France.
Green Jersey
Each stage includes an individual and team time trial, during which the riders give it all they've got in an all-out sprint. The rider who earns the most points per stage in sprints sports the green jersey
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