<< Back to Paris Events
Tour de France © Paris Tourist Office - Stefan Kraus
Tour de France
What started off as a far-fetched, unimaginable idea dreamed up
by two gentlemen in a Parisian brasserie in 1902, has a century
later grown into the world's greatest bicycle race, indeed
considered by many to be the greatest annual sporting event on
earth. The unique spectacle is ingrained in France's heritage,
traditionally ending in Paris, and draws hundreds of local and
international cyclists in a battle for dominance over 2,175
gruelling miles (3,500km) every year. The race is split into 21
daily stages and completes a clockwise loop around the country,
including treacherous mountain roads in the Pyrenees and the Alps.
The famous yellow jersey is worn by the overall General
Classification leader who maintains the lowest overall time. Every
year the first stage of the race starts somewhere different, either
in France or in another country.
Venue: Start - Rotterdam; Finish - Paris (Champs-Elysées)
Date: 3 - 25 July 2010
Website: www.letour.fr