By: Sammy Wang

Tour de France is an annual men’s bicycle race lasting around one month with 21 stages. It is held in July at multiple locations around France and other European countries. It is one of three Grand Tours; the other two are called Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.

The 21 stages are categorized into two types: Mass-start stages and Time trials.

Mass-start stages are races where all cyclists start at the same time. Depending on the location of the mass-start stages, directors differentiate them into an ‘flat’, ‘hilly’, or ‘mountain’ categories. The first three that pass the finish line are granted time bonuses.

Time trials are based on how fast a cyclist can cover a certain distance.

Tour de France was the first tour of its kind to be created. It came into existence in 1903, when two rival newspaper companies came together to propose a way to sell more newspapers.

With the first Tour de France being successful, it became annual. The tour is now 121 years old and still widely renowned in France and across the world.

Between 176-198 people compete each year, which only proves how famous this event is. But with so many contestants competing, there are multiple accidents that could and can occur, even with multiple precautions set up by the directors.

About 11 people have died in past competitions, the most recent one being on July 18, 2009, when a spectator was killed by a police motorcycle.

If planning to watch the Tour de France, be prepared for any accidents and enjoy the competition!

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Tour_(cycling)