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2. But to say that the race is the metaphor for the life is to
miss the point. The race is everything. It obliterates whatever
isn't racing. Life is the metaphor for the race.-Donald
Antrim
3. The first Tour De France took place in 1903.
It was created by a Frenchman named Go Lefvre in an attempt to
create buzz for the newly launched L'Auto Magazine.
4. Today the race is held in July and lasts over three weeks.
Each race day is referred to as a stage.
There are 21 stages in the Tour De France along with 2 rest
days.
The race covers over 2000 miles
There are 20-22 teams invited with each team consisting of 9
members.
5. The New York Times said the "Tour de France is arguably the most
physiologically demanding of athletic events." The effort was
compared to "running a marathon several days a week for nearly
three weeks", while the total elevation of the climbs was compared
to "climbing three Everest's.
-Coyle, Daniel (16 July 2006)
6. The main race is a timed competition which is referred to a the
General Classification. At the end of each stages the time is added
up and the person with the lowest overall time wins the race and
the coveted yellow jersey.
Most stages are ridden in a group with each rider trying to get
over the finish line first, but sometimes a stage can be a time
trial where a rider races on his own or within his own team against
the clock.
Each stage of the race is made of different geography which can
help or hurt certain riders. The stages will consist of mountains
or flats and sometimes a mix of both.
The race is mainly ridden in France, but will visit bordering
countries for one day stages. The race usually takes a clockwise
and counter clockwise direction every other year around the
country. It has ended in Paris since 1975 at the
Champs-lyses.
7. Classification JerseysAlthough the goal is to win the race there
are many battles within the race for certain jerseys.
Polka Dot Jersey
Awarded to the person with most points by reaching key mountain
tops first. The higher the mtn peak the more points gained.
8. Basic Tour De France Terms
PELOTON: The large group of riders that sticks together with a
steady pacethat they can keep up for the whole stage. The bulk of
the competitors are in this.
BREAKAWAY - A rider or group of riders who have a lead over the
main bunch during a stage
MUSETTE - The little cloth shoulder bag handed up to riders at
feeding stations, containing food and water bottles.
SLIPSTREAM - The still air behind a rider. At racing speeds most of
a rider's effort goes into overcoming air resistance, and it's
therefore significantly easier to ride in the slipstream of another
rider than to break the air yourself.
SPRINTER - A rider who is capable of accelerating very quickly at
the end of a race. Sprinters are born, not made: you need a high
proportion of 'fast-twitch' muscle and steely nerve to go
shoulder-to-shoulder with a dozen similarly gifted riders at
70km/h.
9. Most Stage Wins by Country
10. For more information about the race visit the tours official
site at:
Tour De France