Tour de France

With a motive to increase the sales of the newspaper, the Tour de France was organised in the year 1903. Tour de France is considered to be the world's “most prestigious and most difficult” bicycle race.

The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1903, except when it was stopped for the two World Wars. The multi-stage bicycle race is primarily held in France while occasionally passing through nearby countries. 

It consists of 21 stages, each a day long, over the course of 23 days (3 weeks).

It is a cycle race that has deep cultural roots, and is avidly enjoyed by huge crowds on the streets and on television.

This year, it set off from Copenhagen on July 1st, highlighting the eastern half of the country, avoiding the regions of the west. Passing through six of the main upland or mountain areas of France, it is also more international again, with stages in or partly in Denmark, Belgium and Switzerland.

The Tour is divided among time-trial racing and racing stages covering both flat land and great stretches of mountainous inclines. The riders will head west on valley roads, grinding their way uphill and through the Intermediate Sprint in La Barthe-de-Neste. 

There are four types of jerseys that are awarded during the Tour to symbolise their success along the way.

Points classification winners can earn the green jersey, or maillot vert, in sprints during stages, with the most points awarded to the riders who cross the finishing line in the top 25 positions. These are held at several sites along the route each day during the race.

A polka-dotted jersey is given to the “king of the mountains,” the rider who has the most points in the climbing stages, racing over small hills as well as steep mountains.

The white jersey is awarded to the rider under the age of 26 who has the lowest cumulative time. It first appeared in 1968, and is also called maillot blanc.

The yellow jersey is awarded to the rider with the fastest time across the Tour de France. It is also called the maillot jaune, and is the signature Tour de France colour designated to the race leader.

A similar race for women was held under different names between 1984 and 2009. Following criticism by campaigners and the professional women's peloton, a one/two day race (La Course by Le Tour de France) was held between 2014 and 2021, and Tour de France Femmes will stage its first edition in 2022.

The 2022 Tour de France will be covered by 176 riders (22 teams) going 3,328 kilometres (21 stages). Starting in Copenhagen, the race will end at Paris' Champs-Elysees on July 24 as it has done since 1975.