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Tour de France

Of all the bike races in the world, le Tour de France (Tour of France) is by far the most famous and is one of just 3 races held each year with a duration of 3 weeks, the others being the Giro d' Italia (Tour of Italy) and la Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain).

First held in 1903, the Tour de France celebrates its 100th running in 2013, having been cancelled a few times due to the two World Wars.

The line between insanity and genius is said to be a fine one, and in early 20th century France, anyone envisaging a near-2,500-km-long cycle race across the country would have been widely viewed as unhinged. But that didn’t stop Géo Lefèvre, a journalist with L’Auto magazine at the time, from proceeding with his inspired plan. His editor, Henri Desgrange, was bold enough to believe in the idea and to throw his backing behind the Tour de France. And so it was that, on 1 July 1903, sixty pioneers set out on their bicycles from Montgeron. After six mammoth stages (Nantes - Paris, 471 km!), only 21 “routiers”, led by Maurice Garin, arrived at the end of this first epic.

Having provoked a mixture of astonishment and admiration, le Tour soon won over the sporting public and the roadside crowds swelled. The French people took to their hearts this unusual event which placed their towns, their countryside and, since 1910, even their mountains, in the spotlight.

This admiration soon turned to adoration as the greatest cyclists challenged the terrain and each other in some of the most competitive and hard fought contests ever played out in the world of sport. Day after day, week after week, year after year and generation after generation, the greatest champions, like Bartali, Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Lemond, Indurain, Armstrong and our own Australian riders such as Anderson, Peiper, O'Grady, McEwan and 2011 winner Cadel Evans have endeared themselves to the French sporting public with superhuman performances, occasional hardship and disappointment, but ultimately success through their talent and determination. This adoration and fame may have been borne out of exploits on the roads of France, but is a worldwide phenomenon, with these champions and the spectacular French landscape combining to bring the Tour de France into the hearts and minds of people throughout the world. Even non cyclists take an interest each July, perhaps just to watch the scenery on display as the race proceeds, but even they get caught up in the drama, the heroics, the spectacle, and become officianados of sorts quoting names and places and recognising the various jersey wearers. It was a race for the French public. It is now a race that excites and entertains the world.