With the biggest race in the road cycling calendar fast approaching, we thought it fitting to give our view of this prestigious event from the perspective of its neighbouring discipline – mountain biking. While we can’t be certain Tour De France fans will agree with everything this blog has to say, we can be sure it will be a fun but interesting read.
Where did it all start?
From what we can see, Le Tour De France has a deep-rooted history dating all the way back to 1903. Henri Desgrange and Géo Lefèvre from L’Auto started it all with their need to sell more newspapers. The event then soon grew from a national spectacle to a global phenomenon as not only riders improved, but the bikes they rode on too. The Tour still pays tribute to its roots through the infamous yellow jersey, which has been awarded to the overall leader since 1919.
How does it all work?
Consisting of 21 stages raced over 23 days, the race spans over a total of 2,075 miles. Contrary to the inaugural race where cyclists would be riding individually, teams nowadays form a huge part of the race tactically. Riders that make up the teams will have different roles depending on the stage. These can include pace setting and drafting which are key in supporting the team’s designated leader. After a grueling few weeks on the bike, the rider with the lowest overall time is crowned.
Why so many fans?
Whether you’re a keen cycling enthusiast yourself or you’ve never touched a bike, it’s hard not to appreciate the excitement and beauty that comes with watching 176 cyclists taking on the French mountains. Since its humble beginning back in 1903, the Tour has welcomed fans to line the streets and spur on the riders. It’s only more recently however, that there have been calls for greater crowd control due to fans interfering with riders.
How does it compare?
From our perspective, it is easy to see why this event holds so much success. From long, enduring climbs to end of stage sprints, it seems as though it has it all. That’s unless you have the craving for the big air and steep descents that feature in the likes of Red Bull Hardline and Red Bull Rampage. For this reason, we can’t agree just yet that the Tour De France tops it as the best cycling event.
To find out more about what is going on in the cycling world, click here.
