Tour de France facts for kids
 2026 Tour de France |
|
| Tour de France logo (black background).svg | |
| Race details | |
|---|---|
| Date | July |
| Region | France and nearby countries |
| Local name(s) | Tour de France |
| Nickname(s) | La Grande Boucle (The Big Loop) |
| Discipline | Road |
| Competition | UCI World Tour |
| Type | Grand Tour |
| Organiser | Amaury Sport Organisation |
| Race director | Christian Prudhomme |
| History | |
| First edition | 1 July 1903 |
| Editions | 113 (as of 2026) |
| First winner |  Maurice Garin (FRA) |
| Most wins | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) Eddy Merckx (BEL) Bernard Hinault (FRA) Miguel Induráin (ESP) Tadej Pogacar (SLO)
|
| Most recent | Tadej Pogačar (SVN) |
The Tour de France (meaning "Tour of France") is a famous annual bicycle race for men. It takes place mostly in France every July. It is the oldest and most respected of the three "Grand Tours," which also include the Giro d'Italia in Italy and the Vuelta a España in Spain.
The race began in 1903. It was created to help sell more copies of a newspaper called L'Auto. Since then, it has happened every year, except during the two World Wars. As the Tour became more popular, it grew longer and included riders from many different countries. Today, it is part of the UCI World Tour, which means the best cycling teams in the world compete.
The Tour usually lasts for 23 or 24 days, with 21 stages (or daily races). Riders cover about 3,500 kilometers in total. The route changes each year, but it always includes challenging mountain climbs in the Pyrenees and the Alps. Since 1975, the race has almost always ended on the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris.
About 20 to 23 teams, each with eight riders, compete. Each stage is timed, and a rider's total time is added up from all the stages. The rider with the lowest total time is the overall leader and gets to wear the special yellow jersey. Besides the overall winner, there are other exciting competitions:
- The green jersey is for the best sprinters, who earn points by finishing stages quickly.
- The polka-dot jersey is for the best climbers, who earn points by being first over mountain tops.
- The white jersey is for the best young rider (under 26 years old).
- There is also a team classification for the fastest team.
Winning a single stage is also a big achievement, often won by a team's sprint specialist or a rider who breaks away from the main group. A similar race for women, the Tour de France Femmes, started in 2022.
Contents
History of the Tour de France
How the Tour Began
The Tour de France was created in 1903. It started because two sports newspapers in France were competing. One newspaper, L'Auto, wanted to sell more copies. Its chief cycling journalist, Géo Lefèvre, suggested a long bicycle race all around France.
This was a huge idea, as no race of that length had ever been tried before. The editor, Henri Desgrange, was unsure at first.
The First Tour de France (1903)
The first Tour de France was held in July 1903. The original plan for a very long race with few stages was too difficult. So, the organizers made it shorter, lasting 19 days. They also offered prizes and a daily allowance to attract more riders.
About 60 to 80 people signed up, including professionals and adventurers. The race started in Montgeron and ended in Paris. Maurice Garin won the first Tour, dominating many stages. The newspaper L'Auto doubled its sales, making the race a big success.
Growing Through the Years (1904–1939)
The second Tour in 1904 had problems with cheating. Because of this, the organizer, Desgrange, almost stopped the race. But he decided to continue with new rules, like making all stages happen during the day.
Over time, the race changed. The first mountain stages appeared in the Pyrenees in 1910. Stages became shorter, and by 1936, there were sometimes three stages in one day. At first, riders competed as individuals, but later, teams became more important. The Tour was paused during World War I and World War II.
Post-War Era and New Stars (1947–1969)
After World War II, the Tour returned in 1947. A new sports newspaper, L'Équipe, took over the organization. The race settled into a format of 20 to 25 stages.
In 1953, the green jersey was introduced for the points competition. Famous riders like Fausto Coppi and Louison Bobet became heroes. Jacques Anquetil was the first to win the Tour five times, showing amazing skill in time trials.
Sadly, in 1967, a British rider named Tom Simpson passed away during the race after using banned substances. This led to new rules and tests to try and keep the race fair.
Legends and Global Growth (1969–1987)
The early 1970s saw Eddy Merckx dominate, winning the overall title five times. He was known as "The Cannibal" for his strong riding. In 1975, the polka-dot jersey for the best climber was introduced, and the race began finishing on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
French rider Bernard Hinault also won five Tours in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1986, Greg LeMond became the first American to win the Tour. The race also started to see more riders from outside Europe. In 1984, a women's version of the Tour, the Tour de France Féminin, was organized for the first time.
Challenges and Changes (1988–2011)
The late 1980s and 1990s brought new challenges. A new substance called EPO became used, which was hard to detect. Miguel Induráin from Spain won five Tours in a row from 1991 to 1995, a record for consecutive wins. Other winners like Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich later admitted to using banned substances.
In 1998, a big scandal, known as the Festina Affair, revealed widespread use of banned substances within some teams. Police investigations led to many riders and teams being removed from the race.
From 1999 to 2005, Lance Armstrong was declared the winner seven times. However, investigations later confirmed that he had used banned substances during these races. As a result, all his victories from 1998 onwards, including his seven Tour de France titles, were taken away. The organizers decided not to name new winners for those years. Other winners, like Floyd Landis (2006) and Alberto Contador (2010), also had their titles revoked due to rule violations. These events led to much stricter testing and rules to ensure fair competition.
Modern Era and New Champions (Since 2012)
Since 2012, new champions have emerged. Bradley Wiggins became the first British winner in 2012, followed by Chris Froome, who won four times. Egan Bernal became the first Colombian winner in 2019.
The 2020 Tour was held later in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tadej Pogačar from Slovenia won, becoming one of the youngest winners ever. He also won the mountains and youth classifications, a rare achievement. Pogačar repeated his wins in 2021, 2024, 2025, and 2026, bringing his total to five victories. In 2024, Mark Cavendish broke the record for most stage wins, with 35 victories.
Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard won in both 2022 and 2023, with Pogačar finishing second both times. The Tour de France Femmes, a new official women's race, also began in 2022.
Classifications and Prizes
The Tour de France has several competitions, each with its own special jersey. The most important is the "general classification" for the overall winner.
General Classification (Yellow Jersey)
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This is the main competition. All stages are timed, and the rider with the lowest total time wins. The leader wears the yellow jersey. This color was chosen because the newspaper that started the Tour, L'Auto, was printed on yellow paper.
The yellow jersey was first used in 1919. Riders try to keep it as long as possible for their team's publicity. Four riders have won the general classification five times: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Induráin, and Tadej Pogačar.
Mountains Classification (Polka-Dot Jersey)
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This competition is for the best climbers. Points are given to the first riders to reach the top of certain hills and mountains. Harder climbs give more points.
The polka-dot jersey (white with red dots) was introduced in 1975 for the leader of this classification. The Tour ranks mountains from Category 4 (easiest) to hors catégorie (hardest). Richard Virenque holds the record for winning this classification seven times.
| Type | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Hors catégorie | 20 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
|
First Category | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | ||
 |
Second Category | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||||
|
Third Category | 2 | 1 | ||||||
 |
Fourth Category | 1 | |||||||
- Points are doubled for hors catégorie climbs over 2000m altitude.
Points Classification (Green Jersey)
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This competition is for sprinters. It was added in 1953. Points are given to the first riders to finish a stage and to those who cross special "sprint" points during a stage.
The green jersey is worn by the rider with the most points. Flat stages give the most points, making it easier for sprinters to win. Peter Sagan has won this classification a record seven times.
As of 2026, the points awarded are:
| Type | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flat stage finish | 70 | 50 | 40 | 35 | 30 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Hilly stage finish | 50 | 30 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
|
Medium mountain stage finish | 30 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 9 | ||||||
|
High mountain stage finish | 20 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
 |
Individual time trial | |||||||||||||||
| Intermediate sprint | 25 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 12 | |||||||||||
Young Rider Classification (White Jersey)
This classification is for riders who are under 26 years old in the year of the race. The leader wears the white jersey. It works like the general classification, with the lowest total time winning.
This competition started in 1975. Six riders have won both the young rider and general classifications in the same year, including Tadej Pogačar in 2020 and 2021. Pogačar has won the young rider classification four times, a record.
Other Awards and Prizes
- Most Combative Rider: An award called the prix de la combativité goes to the rider who shows the most fighting spirit each day, often by trying to break away. An overall award is given at the end of the Tour.
- Team Classification: This is for the best overall team, based on the combined times of their top three riders each day. The leading team's riders wear yellow helmets.
- Lanterne Rouge: This fun name means "red lantern" and is given to the rider who finishes last in the overall standings.
- Prize Money: Riders and teams win money for daily stage placings and for their final positions in the classifications. The overall winner receives a large sum and a special trophy.
Stages of the Race
The modern Tour typically has 21 stages, with one stage raced each day.
Mass-Start Stages
Most stages involve all riders starting together. These are called "mass-start" stages and can be flat, hilly, or mountainous. Time bonuses are given to the first three finishers of most stages.
Time Trials
In time trials, riders race alone against the clock. The first stage is often a short time trial called a "prologue" to decide who wears the yellow jersey on day one. There are usually two or three time trials in total.
Famous Stages
- Champs-Élysées Finish: Since 1975, the race has usually ended with laps around the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris. This stage is often a celebration, and the overall leader usually rides into Paris with a comfortable lead.
- Alpe d'Huez: This mountain climb is one of the most famous and challenging stages. It has 21 hairpin bends and attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators.
- Mont Ventoux: Known for its harsh conditions, this mountain is often called one of the hardest climbs in the Tour.
- Col du Tourmalet and Col du Galibier: These are two of the most frequently visited and iconic mountain passes in the Tour's history.
The 2024 Tour finished in Nice instead of Paris due to the 2024 Summer Olympics preparations.
Choosing the Route
Towns and cities pay to host a stage start or finish because it brings prestige and business. The "Grand Départ" (the start of the race) is especially sought after. The organizers, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), plan the route years in advance.
Advertising Caravan
Since 1930, a colorful parade of decorated vehicles, called the "publicity caravan," drives ahead of the riders. These vehicles represent sponsors and throw out free samples and gifts to the crowds lining the route. It's a fun tradition that helps advertisers reach millions of fans.
The caravan can be very long, stretching for 20 to 25 kilometers. It takes about 40 minutes to pass by. In 2019, some French lawmakers raised concerns about the amount of plastic waste generated by the caravan. The Tour de France organizers stated they are working with partners to reduce plastic use. However, environmental groups continue to discuss the caravan's impact and its role in promoting certain companies.
Politics and the Tour
The Tour de France mostly takes place in France, but it often visits nearby countries. It has started in 13 different countries, including Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Sometimes, people have raised concerns about the types of companies or countries that sponsor the Tour or its teams. They worry that these sponsors might be trying to improve their image through sports, even if they have other issues. Some groups have also pointed out that certain sponsors are involved in industries that affect the environment, leading to discussions about the Tour's environmental impact. There have also been discussions about teams sponsored by countries where human rights are a concern. In recent years, there have been peaceful protests related to some teams participating in the Tour, with groups raising concerns about global events and how they connect to sports.
Start and Finish Locations
Most stages are in mainland France. The race has finished on the Champs-Élysées in Paris since 1975. Before that, it finished in stadiums in western and southern Paris. The 111th edition ended in Nice, outside Paris, because of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Cities around the world compete to host the "Grand Départ" (the big start) of the Tour. This brings a lot of excitement and economic activity to the host city.
Foreign Starts of the Tour
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The Tour has started outside France many times:
| Year | City | Type | Stage 1 winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 |  Amsterdam |
Flat stage |
Wout Wagtmans |
| 1958 |  Brussels |
Flat stage |
André Darrigade |
| 1965 |  Cologne |
Flat stage (1a) |
Rik Van Looy |
 Team time trial (1b) |
Ford France - Gitane | ||
| 1973 | The Hague |
Individual time trial |
Joop Zoetemelk |
| 1975 | Charleroi |
Individual time trial |
Francesco Moser |
| 1978 | Leiden |
Individual time trial |
Jan Raas |
| 1980 | Frankfurt |
Individual time trial |
Bernard Hinault |
| 1982 |  Basel |
Individual time trial |
Bernard Hinault |
| 1987 | West Berlin |
Individual time trial |
Jelle Nijdam |
| 1989 |  Luxembourg City |
Individual time trial |
Erik Breukink |
| 1992 |  San Sebastián |
Individual time trial |
Miguel Induráin |
| 1996 | 's-Hertogenbosch |
Individual time trial |
Alex Zülle |
| 1998 |  Dublin |
Individual time trial |
Chris Boardman |
| 2002 | Luxembourg City |
Individual time trial |
|
| 2004 | Liège |
Individual time trial |
Fabian Cancellara |
| 2007 |  London |
Individual time trial |
Fabian Cancellara |
| 2009 |  Monte Carlo |
Individual time trial |
Fabian Cancellara |
| 2010 | Rotterdam |
Individual time trial |
Fabian Cancellara |
| 2012 | Liège |
Individual time trial |
Fabian Cancellara |
| 2014 | Leeds |
Flat stage |
Marcel Kittel |
| 2015 | Utrecht |
Individual time trial |
Rohan Dennis |
| 2017 | Düsseldorf |
Individual time trial |
Geraint Thomas |
| 2019 | Brussels |
Individual time trial |
Mike Teunissen |
| 2022 |  Copenhagen |
Individual time trial |
Yves Lampaert |
| 2023 | Bilbao |
Hilly stage |
Adam Yates |
| 2024 |  Florence |
Hilly stage |
Romain Bardet |
| 2026 | Barcelona |
Team time trial |
{{{team name-2026}}} |
| 2027 | Edinburgh |
Hilly stage |
Broadcasting the Race
The Tour de France was first followed only by journalists from the organizing newspaper, L'Auto. Later, other newspapers were allowed to cover the race.
The first live radio broadcast was in 1929. Television coverage began with newsreels shown a day after the stages. The first live TV broadcast of a finish was in Paris in 1948. Helicopters were first used for TV coverage in 1959, giving amazing views of the race.
Today, the Tour is broadcast worldwide. In France, public channels provide extensive coverage. Globally, many channels show the race live, with a large team using helicopters, aircraft, and many cameras to capture all the action. The Tour de France is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.
Culture and the Tour
The Tour is a huge cultural event in Europe. Millions of fans line the roads, some camping for days to get the best spots. It brings people together and celebrates the beauty of France.
A famous 19th-century school book, Le Tour de la France par deux enfants, helped spark national interest in France. The Tour de France cycling race continued this tradition, helping people learn more about their country.
Arts Inspired by the Tour
The Tour has inspired many songs, like the German electronic group Kraftwerk's "Tour de France". The famous comic book character Asterix even had an adventure called "Asterix and the Banquet" (Asterix et le tour de Gaule) that was inspired by the race.
The Tour has also been featured in many films, from comedies to documentaries. Recent productions include the Netflix documentary series Tour de France: Unchained, which followed teams during the 2022 Tour de France.
Fair Play and Challenges
For a long time, there have been concerns about riders using special substances to gain an unfair advantage in the Tour. In the early days, some riders used substances like alcohol or ether to help with pain, which was not allowed. In 1924, some riders admitted to using various substances to boost their performance.
Sadly, in 1967, a British cyclist named Tom Simpson passed away during the race after using banned substances. This led to new rules and tests to try and keep the race fair.
In 1998, a major scandal, known as the Festina Affair, revealed widespread use of banned substances within some teams. Police investigations led to many riders and teams being removed from the race.
From 1999 to 2005, Lance Armstrong was declared the winner seven times. However, investigations later confirmed that he had used banned substances during these races. As a result, all his victories from 1998 onwards, including his seven Tour de France titles, were taken away. The organizers decided not to name new winners for those years.
In 2006, Floyd Landis won the Tour, but he later tested positive for a banned substance. His title was revoked, and Óscar Pereiro was named the winner instead. Several other past winners and top riders, including Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich, later admitted to using banned substances during their careers. Alberto Contador's 2010 victory was also revoked after he tested positive for a banned substance.
Today, strict testing and rules, like the Biological Passport, are in place to ensure fair competition and protect the integrity of the sport. Officials work hard to prevent rule violations and keep the race fair for everyone.
Tragic Moments
Sadly, some cyclists have died during the Tour de France:
- 1910: French racer Adolphe Hélière drowned during a rest day.
- 1935: Spanish racer Francisco Cepeda fell down a ravine on the Col du Galibier.
- 1967: Tom Simpson died during a climb on Mont Ventoux.
- 1995: Fabio Casartelli crashed while descending the Col de Portet d'Aspet.
There have also been other fatal accidents involving support staff or spectators over the years.
Records and Amazing Facts
- Only one rider has won the overall race, the mountains competition, the points competition, and the combativity award in the same year: Eddy Merckx in 1969.
- Two riders have won the Tour without ever wearing the yellow jersey until the very end: Jean Robic in 1947 and Jan Janssen in 1968.
- Maurice Garin (1903) and Ottavio Bottecchia (1924) are among the few riders who wore the yellow jersey from the first stage all the way to Paris.
- The record for most Tour appearances is held by Sylvain Chavanel, who rode 18 Tours. Joop Zoetemelk and Chavanel share the record for most finishes, with 16 each.
- The smallest winning margin in Tour history was 8 seconds, between Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon in 1989.
- The largest winning margin was in the first Tour in 1903: 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 45 seconds!
- Raymond Poulidor holds the record for the most podium finishes (eight) without ever winning the Tour.
- Mark Cavendish holds the record for the most mass-start stage wins, with 35 victories as of 2024.
- The fastest mass-start stage was in 1999, won by Mario Cipollini at an average speed of 50.4 km/h.
- Eddy Merckx holds the record for wearing the yellow jersey for the most days, with 96 days.
Record Winners
Five riders have won the Tour de France five times:
| Wins | Rider | Editions |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Jacques Anquetil (FRA) |
1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 |
| Eddy Merckx (BEL) |
1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 | |
| Bernard Hinault (FRA) |
1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985 | |
| Miguel Induráin (ESP) |
1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 | |
| Tadej Pogačar (SVN) |
2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026 | |
| 4 |  Chris Froome (GBR) |
2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 3 | Philippe Thys (BEL) |
1913, 1914, 1920 |
| Louison Bobet (FRA) |
1953, 1954, 1955 | |
 Greg LeMond (USA) |
1986, 1989, 1990 |
See also
In Spanish: Tour de Francia para niños
