The Inaugural Race (1903)
On July 1st, 1903, 60 riders gathered outside the Café Le Réveil-Matin in Montgeron, a suburb of Paris, to embark on what would become a historic journey as the inaugural race of the Tour de France. The very first race was organised over 2,428 kilometres across just six stages, where riders were forced to pedal through the night along unpaved, rough roads. Maurice Garin, a chimney sweep, won the race, finishing the gruelling route in roughly 94 hours to win 3,000 francs.
Conquering the Mountains (1910):
The race changed from a flat endurance test into the ultimate cycling challenge when race organiser Henri Desgrange launched the idea to send the peloton over the formidable peaks of the high Pyrenees. On Stage 10 (from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Bayonne), riders were forced to climb four monstrous mountains: the Col du Peyresourde, Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet, and Col d'Aubisque.
The roads were little more than dirt cart tracks, and riders had to navigate them on heavy, single-gear bicycles without assistance. When the overall Tour winner, Octave Lapize, eventually reached the finishing line totally exhausted after climbing the Aubisque, he screamed "Assassins!" at the race officials.
The Yellow Jersey (1919):
As Degrange wanted to make the race leader easily identifiable in the peloton, the yellow jersey ("the maillot jaune") was introduced. The yellow colour was chosen to honour the race's founding sponsor and sports newspaper, L'Auto. Eugene Christophe was the first rider to wear the yellow jersey, which in the beginning was made of heavy wool, causing riders to overheat in summer conditions. Read more about the different jerseys in the race here.
Belgian legend Eddy Merckx holds the record, wearing the yellow jersey for 96 days across his career. The yellow jersey was officially introduced into the women's race in 2022.
Spectator Culture:
The Tour famously remains one of the few major sporting events that is completely free to watch from the roadside. In the early days of the Tour, it was mainly local French workers who would gather on the roadside to cheer national heroes. Today, millions of fans travel from across the world to camp out for days just to get a glimpse of the peloton.
Iconic mountain climbs (such as Alpe d'Huez or Mont Ventoux) have been transformed into traditional viewing spots, while the public caravan has become a massive, hour-long marketing parade. With interest in the race constantly on the rise, authorities have struggled to ensure riders' safety against overeager cycling fans.
Expansion and Teams:
From a race of unsupported individuals relying on their own mechanical skills and physical endurance in 1903, the race has evolved into a highly structured series of teams that must qualify. Today, the peloton typically consists of 22 teams, each fielding eight riders with fleets of support vehicles, coaches, nutritionists, and mechanics.
Today, teams are backed by multi-million-dollar corporate budgets, and thanks to the race's enormous PR value, brands like Banesto, Carrera, Rabobank, Decathlon, Festina, Ineos, and Red Bull have further established their profiles through the Tour.
The Record Holders:
Four legendary cyclists are tied for the most Tour de France victories, each winning the race five times: Jacques Anquetil (France), Eddy Merckx (Belgium), Bernard Hinault (France), and Miguel Indurain (Spain). Note: Lance Armstrong won seven consecutive titles (1999–2005) but was stripped of all titles due to use of performance-enhancing substances.
Mark Cavendish (GBR) holds the record for stage wins (35). Eddy Merckx is the only rider to win the General Classification, Points Classification, and Mountains Classification in the same Tour (1969).
Women's Racing:
Women's racing in the Tour de France has struggled against 20th-century restrictions and discrimination to form what is today the modern Tour de France Femmes. In 1984, the Tour de France Feminin ran alongside the men's event with shortened versions of the men's stages and shared the finish lines, but was later dropped due to the high financial costs and limited commercial coverage.
Various attempts have been made later to establish the women's stage race, with funding and legal trademark disputes with the Tour de France organisers a frequent obstacle, but today the race has grown to become a premier event on the UCI Women's WorldTour.