The Tour
de France is an anual multiple stage bicycle race primarily held in France,
while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. The race was
first organized in 1903 to increase paper sales for the magazine L’Auto. The
race has been held annually since its first edition in 1903 except for when it
was stopped for the two World Wars. As the Tour gained prominence and
popularity the race was lengthened and its reach began to extend around the
globe. Participation expanded from a primarily French field, as riders from all
over the world began to participate in the race each year. The Tour is a UCI
World Tour event, which means that the teams that compete in the race are
mostly UCI ProTeams, with the exception of the teams that the organizers invite.
Along with
the Giro de Italia and Vuelta a España, the Tour makes up cycling's
prestigious, three-week-long Grand Tours. Traditionally, the race is usually
held primarily in the month of July. While the route changes each year, the
format of the race stays the same with the appearance of at least two time
trials, the passage through the mountain chains of the Pyrenées and the Alps,
and the finish on the Champs Élysées.
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