Tour de France
July 2-July 24, 2016
One of the world's most famous race is about to begin! Over the course of three weeks, competitors will endure the following trials:
- 9 flat stages
- 1 hilly stage
- 9 mountain stages including 4 summit finishes (Andorre Arcalis, Mont Ventoux, Finhaut-Emosson et Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc)
- 2 individual time trial stages
- 2 rest days
Each trial is timed separately and the rider who has the lowest time at the end of each stage is declared the winner of the tour and receives the coveted maillot jaune, or yellow jersey. This jersey is worn throughout the race by the person who currently has the best time per stage and at the end of the race, it is given to the rider with the best overall time.
The tour began in 1903 and covered a distance of 2428 km and consisted mostly of French cyclists, although there were some from Germany and Switzerland. The first ever champion of the Tour de France was Maurice Garin.
This particular shows three-time Tour de France winner, Philippe Thys of Belgium. He was the first man in the history of the Tour to win the race three times, a record that was not broken for nearly 40 years after his final win. The advertisement shows him riding a bicycle with tires manufactured the Pneus Dunlop company. If a three-time winner of the Tour uses those tires, why wouldn't you?
Works Cited
http://www.letour.fr/HISTO/us/TDF/1903/index.html
Gunter, Joel, "The Tour de France: A Guide to the Basics," 7/15/2015, accessed via: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/9400588/The-Tour-de-France-a-guide-to-the-basics.html
McGann, Bill and McGann, Carol, The Story of the Tour de France: 1965-2007, Volume 2, (Indianapolis, 2008), p. 350
