Tour de France

The start of the Tour de France bicycle race, in Lourdes, France. Founded in 1903, every July this event attracts the best riders in the world for a gruelling race through France and neighbouring countries. The winner of each stage gets to wear the famed yellow jersey.

French road race for professional cyclists held annually over approximately 4,800 km/3,000 mi of primarily French roads. The race takes about three weeks to complete and the route varies each year, often taking in adjoining countries, but always ending in Paris. A separate stage is held every day, and the overall leader at the end of each stage wears the coveted ‘yellow jersey’ (French maillot jaune).

First held in 1903, the Tour de France is now the most watched sporting event in the world, with more than 10 million spectators. Although it is a race for individuals, sponsored teams of nine riders take part, each with its own ‘star’ rider whom team members support. The yellow jersey was first awarded in 1919. US cyclist Lance Armstrong won the Tour a record seven times while four riders, the French cyclists Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx, and the Spanish cyclist Miguel Indurain, have each won the Tour five times.

The 1998 Tour de France was marred by the greatest scandal in its 96-year history when the Festina team was expelled for admitted drug use.

Further doping scandals dogged the event in the following years and in 2006, just four days after the finish, race winner Floyd Landis was found to have tested positive for testosterone during Stage 17. In 2007, Bjarne Riis admitted that he had used the banned substance EPO during his 1996 Tour win, while the 2007 race itself saw the expulsion of favourite Alexander Vinokourov, and leader Michael Rasmussen was pulled out of the race for drug-related offences.