{"id":371535,"date":"2025-12-25T19:27:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-25T19:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/371535\/"},"modified":"2025-12-25T19:27:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T19:27:10","slug":"what-it-is-and-how-long-it-lasts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/371535\/","title":{"rendered":"What it is and how long it lasts"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nThe race began in 1903 as a marketing gamble by L\u2019Auto,<\/a> a
\nFrench sports paper hoping to outdo its rival Le V\u00e9lo. Editor Henri Desgrange,
\na former cyclist, pushed ahead with what many thought was folly: send lightly
\nequipped riders around France on rough, often unpaved roads, and see who
\nsurvived.<\/p>\n

That first Tour, which began on 1 July 1903, had just six
\nstages but those stages were vast, many running overnight. The 2,428-kilometre
\nroute was shorter in total than modern editions, yet each day averaged around
\n400 kilometres, which helps explain why only 21 of 60 starters reached the
\nfinish and why the last rider came in nearly 65 hours behind the winner.
\nMaurice Garin triumphed in 94 hours, 33 minutes, and 14 seconds, nearly 3 hours
\nahead of Lucien Pothier in second.<\/p>\n

Desgrange wanted the Tour to create legends. He imagined it
\nproducing \u201csupermen\u201d and believed that the perfect Tour would have only one
\nrider finish, with the others having been defeated by the magnitude of the
\nchallenge. Early editions reflected this vision. Riders repaired punctures and
\nbroken parts themselves, found their own food, and rode through long stretches
\nof countryside in the dark. In 1904,<\/a> some riders took trains or received
\nillicit help during night stages, causing such uproar that Desgrange briefly
\npublished \u201cTHE END\u201d as if cancelling his own race.<\/p>\n

Instead of abandoning it, organisers restructured the event.
\nFrom 1905 onwards, they added more but shorter stages, confined racing to
\ndaylight, and expanded the route to 11 stages. It quickly proved the right
\nbalance: the spectacle grew, cheating became easier to police, and
\nparticipation rose.<\/p>\n

A turning point arrived in 1910 when the race entered the
\nPyrenees for the first time. Riders had minimal gearing and faced steep, rutted
\nclimbs. On one ascent, an exhausted Octave Lapize famously yelled at
\norganisers: <\/a>\u201cYou\u2019re assassins! All of you!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Alps followed in 1911, securing mountain stages as
\ndefining features of the Tour\u2019s character. Apart from wartime interruptions
\nbetween 1915\u20131918 and 1940\u20131946, the Tour became a mainstay of French sporting
\nculture. Through the 1920s and 1930s the race ventured into neighbouring
\ncountries and began drawing elite riders from across Europe. What began as a
\nnewspaper stunt evolved into cycling\u2019s premier event and the first of the
\ncalendar\u2019s Grand Tours.<\/p>\n

\"TadejPogacar\"\/<\/p>\n

Tadej Pogacar leads Wout van Aert up the final stage of the 3338km long 2025 Tour de France<\/p>\n

Modern format<\/p>\n

While the route changes each year, the modern Tour\u2019s
\nstructure is stable. It is typically 21 stages over 23 days with two rest days,
\nusually in July. 23 teams of eight riders compete, and each stage is timed,
\nwith cumulative time deciding the overall winner in the yellow jersey. Most
\ndays are mass-start road stages. Flat and rolling stages often lead to
\nhigh-speed bunch sprints, while mountain stages in the Alps and Pyrenees shape
\nthe general classification. Time trials, \u201cTT\u201d stages, add further complexity,
\nasking riders to race alone against the clock over 20\u201340 kilometres.<\/p>\n

Stage length varies dramatically. A typical flat stage runs
\n180\u2013220 kilometres, while a time trial might be just 30 kilometres. Historically,
\nthe range has been much wider. Early Tours routinely included stages over 300
\nkilometres, and the longest in history<\/a>, used in 1919, stretched 482 kilometres
\nfrom Les Sables-d\u2019Olonne to Bayonne. At the other extreme, the shortest stage in
\nmodern history came in 2018 on stage 17, at just 65km between Bagneres de
\nLuchon to Col du Portet.<\/p>\n

Another evolution concerns how stages are spread across the
\ncalendar. The all-night marathons of the early years have long gone. Since the
\n1920s the norm has been one stage per day, though mid-century editions
\nsometimes packed in split stages, two races in a single day, to add mileage and
\ndrama. That practice faded by the late 1980s, replaced by a simpler rhythm of
\none stage per day plus two rest days. This daily structure helps the race
\nunfold as a continuous narrative and gives riders a fighting chance at
\nrecovery.<\/p>\n

Total distance is where the Tour\u2019s evolution becomes most
\nvisible. Recent Tours generally measure 3,300\u20133,500 kilometres. The 2025 route,
\nfor instance, was 3,338, slightly shorter than the previous year\u2019s 3,492 km.
\nSpread across 21 stages, that means an average of around 150\u2013170 kilometres per
\nday. But earlier eras looked very different. The original Tours in 1903 and
\n1904 were roughly 2,400 kilometres, but that modest total hid their giant
\nstages.<\/p>\n

As the race grew, organisers inflated the distance to
\nincrease difficulty and spectacle. The 1926 edition remains the longest ever at
\nroughly 5,745 kilometres across just 17 stages, which was won by Lucien Buysse.
\nThroughout the 1920s and 1930s the Tour regularly exceeded 5,000 kilometres,
\nand even after World War II many editions were still in the 4,000\u20134,500
\nkilometre range.<\/p>\n

Reducing the length<\/p>\n

From the 1980s onwards, organisers steadily reduced the
\ncourse length to improve rider welfare and encourage more dynamic racing. By
\nthe 1980s and 1990s, most Tours fell within 3,500\u20134,000 kilometres. In the 21st
\ncentury the event has tightened further into the mid-3,000s, with the shortest
\nmodern edition coming in 2002 at roughly 3,278 kilometres.<\/p>\n

Speed provides another lens on the Tour\u2019s length. Modern
\nflat stages are raced at 40\u201345 km\/h, so a 200-kilometre day often finishes in
\nfour and a half to five hours. Mountain days are slower, sometimes averaging
\nclose to 30 km\/h, but still usually end within a similar window because the
\ndistance is shorter. Today, overall winners typically complete the Tour at an
\naverage near 40 km\/h.<\/p>\n

The 2022 edition reached about 42 km\/h, the fastest at the
\ntime. Contrast that with Maurice Garin\u2019s pace in 1903 or the 1919 winner\u2019s
\naverage of around 24 km\/h over 5,560 kilometres. A century of technological,
\nnutritional, and tactical improvements, along with darker periods influenced by
\ndoping, has dramatically lifted speeds. In fact, in 2025, the average speed was
\n42.8km\/h (26.6mph), which is eye-watering for mere mortals.<\/p>\n

On particularly rapid days with supportive winds, the
\npeloton has exceeded 50 km\/h for an entire road stage. The record sits at
\naround 50.4 km\/h in a 1999 sprint stage. On gruelling climbs such as Alpe
\nd\u2019Huez, however, speeds drop to roughly 23 km\/h, half of what riders achieve on
\nflat terrain.<\/p>\n

Despite reductions in overall distance, the Tour remains
\nexhausting. Most stages last four to six hours. Riders start late morning and
\nare often racing into late afternoon. Weather can shape the rhythm: tailwinds
\naccelerate stages dramatically, while heat or climbing can slow them down. The
\ncumulative effect of these hours, repeated for 21 stages, is what truly defines
\nthe Tour\u2019s severity.<\/p>\n

Evolution<\/p>\n

Over time, the Tour has transitioned from a near-impossible
\nordeal to a refined sporting spectacle. Early editions featured minimal
\nassistance and even restrictions on drafting and team tactics, with Desgrange
\ninsisting on a contest of individuals. Now the race is a choreographed blend of
\nteamwork, equipment, sports science, and strategy. Team cars follow with spare
\nbikes, mechanics, doctors, and soigneurs. Roads are paved and closed to
\ntraffic. In 1913, a rider famously had to solder his broken frame at a village
\nblacksmith before continuing; today, a mechanic simply hands over a new bike in
\nseconds.<\/p>\n

The number of stages grew from six in 1903 to around 15 by
\n1910 and stabilised at 20\u201324 after World War II. Since the 1980s, 21 stages has
\nbeen the standard. Rest days are planned, and the variety of stage types has
\nincreased. The move away from ultra-long distances and split stages has allowed
\norganisers to shape more tactical, spectator-friendly racing, without stripping
\naway the Tour\u2019s defining difficulty.<\/p>\n

Even with these refinements, the Tour remains by a distance the
\nworld\u2019s biggest bike race. Covering roughly 3,500 kilometres across 21 days is
\nstill one of the harshest tests in world sport. Only complete riders, climbers
\nwho can time trial, sprinters who can survive mountains, and all-rounders who
\ncan stay sharp for three weeks, have any chance of winning in July.<\/p>\n

Desgrange\u2019s fantasy of a race<\/a> so hard that the perfect Tour
\nwould have only one rider finish remains an echo from the past rather than a
\nreal target. Today, the focus is on creating drama rather than complete destruction.
\nStill, the essence of his idea survives: the Tour is designed to push the
\nworld\u2019s best cyclists to their limits. Those who reach Paris have not only
\nmastered mountains, speed, distance, and tactics, they have endured one of
\nsport\u2019s most relentless journeys.<\/p>\n

Read below for a full recap of all the most important details.<\/p>\n

When did the Tour de France start?<\/p>\n

The first Tour ran in 1903, created by L\u2019Auto to boost newspaper sales.<\/p>\n

How long was the first edition?<\/p>\n

It covered 2,428 km across six massive stages.<\/p>\n

When were mountains added?<\/p>\n

The Pyrenees arrived in 1910, and the Alps followed in 1911.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the modern format?<\/p>\n

Usually 21 stages over 23 days, mixing flat, mountain, hilly, and \u201cTT\u201d
\ntime-trial stages.<\/p>\n

How long is the Tour today?<\/p>\n

Recent editions are 3,300\u20133,500 km: the 2025 route was 3,338 km, and next year’s route <\/a>will be 3,333km.<\/p>\n

How fast do riders go?<\/p>\n

Flat stages often hit 40-45 km\/h, with recent overall averages near 40 km\/h.<\/p>\n

What changed from early Tours?<\/p>\n

Distances shrank, support improved, and stages shortened, from 300+ km epics to
\n130-200 km days, shifting the race from pure survival to controlled intensity.<\/p>\n

List of Tour de France winners\u00a0YearWinnerCountryTeam2025Tadej Poga\u010darSloveniaUAE Team Emirates XRG2024Tadej Poga\u010darSloveniaUAE Team Emirates2023Jonas VingegaardDenmarkTeam Jumbo\u2013Visma2022Jonas VingegaardDenmarkTeam Jumbo\u2013Visma2021Tadej Poga\u010darSloveniaUAE Team Emirates2020Tadej Poga\u010darSloveniaUAE Team Emirates2019Egan BernalColombiaTeam Ineos2018Geraint ThomasUnited Kingdom (Wales)Team Sky2017Chris FroomeUnited KingdomTeam Sky2016Chris FroomeUnited KingdomTeam Sky2015Chris FroomeUnited KingdomTeam Sky2014Vincenzo NibaliItalyAstana Pro Team2013Chris FroomeUnited KingdomTeam Sky2012Bradley WigginsUnited KingdomTeam Sky2011Cadel EvansAustraliaBMC Racing Team2010Andy Schleck *LuxembourgTeam Saxo Bank2009Alberto ContadorSpainAstana2008Carlos SastreSpainTeam CSC Saxo Bank2007Alberto ContadorSpainDiscovery Channel2006\u00d3scar Pereiro *SpainCaisse d’Epargne2005*Lance Armstrong*United States of America*Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team2004*Lance Armstrong\u00a0*United States of America*US Postal Service p\/b Berry Floor2003*Lance Armstrong\u00a0*United States of America*US Postal Service p\/b Berry Floor2002*Lance Armstrong\u00a0*United States of America*US Postal Service2001*Lance Armstrong\u00a0*United States of America*US Postal Service2000*Lance Armstrong\u00a0*United States of America*US Postal Service1999*Lance Armstrong\u00a0*United States of America*US Postal Service1998Marco PantaniItalyMercatone Uno1997Jan UllrichGermanyTelekom1996Bjarne Riis *DenmarkTelekom1995Miguel Indur\u00e1inSpainBanesto1994Miguel Indur\u00e1inSpainBanesto1993Miguel Indur\u00e1inSpainBanesto1992Miguel Indur\u00e1inSpainBanesto1991Miguel Indur\u00e1inSpainBanesto1990Greg LeMondUSAZ1989Greg LeMondUSAADR1988Pedro DelgadoSpainReynolds1987Stephen RocheIrelandCarrera1986Greg LeMondUSALa Vie Claire1985Bernard HinaultFranceLa Vie Claire1984Laurent FignonFranceRenault1983Laurent FignonFranceRenault1982Bernard HinaultFranceRenault1981Bernard HinaultFranceRenault1980Joop ZoetemelkNetherlandsTI Raleigh1979Bernard HinaultFranceRenault1978Bernard HinaultFranceRenault1977Bernard Th\u00e9venetFrancePeugeot1976Lucien Van ImpeBelgiumGitane1975Bernard Th\u00e9venetFrancePeugeot1974Eddy MerckxBelgiumMolteni1973Luis Oca\u00f1aSpainBic1972Eddy MerckxBelgiumMolteni1971Eddy MerckxBelgiumMolteni1970Eddy MerckxBelgiumFaemino1969Eddy MerckxBelgiumFaema1968Jan JanssenNetherlandsHolland1967Roger PingeonFranceFrance1966Lucien AimarFranceFord1965Felice GimondiItalySalvarini1964Jacques AnquetilFranceSt-Raphael1963Jacques AnquetilFranceSt-Raphael1962Jacques AnquetilFranceSt-Raphael1961Jacques AnquetilFranceFrance1960Gastone NenciniItalyItaly1959Federico BahamontesSpainSpain1958Charly GaulLuxembourgHolland-Luxembourg1957Jacques AnquetilFranceFrance1956Roger WalkowiakFranceNord-Est-Centre1955Louison BobetFranceFrance1954Louison BobetFranceFrance1953Louison BobetFranceFrance1952Fausto CoppiItalyItaly1951Hugo KobletSwitzerlandSwitzerland1950Ferdinand KublerSwitzerlandSwitzerland1949Fausto CoppiItalyItaly1948Gino BartaliItalyItaly1947Jean RobicFranceOuest1940-46 (not held due to WW2)1939Sylv\u00e8re MaesBelgiumBelgium1938Gino BartaliItalyItaly1937Roger Lap\u00e9bieFranceFrance1936Sylv\u00e8re MaesBelgiumBelgium1935Romain MaesBelgiumBelgium1934Antonin MagneFranceFrance1933Georges SpeicherFranceFrance1932Andr\u00e9 LeducqFranceFrance1931Antonin MagneFranceFrance1930Andr\u00e9 LeducqFranceFrance1929Maurice De WaeleBelgiumAlcyon1928Nicolas FrantzLuxembourgAlcyon1927Nicolas FrantzLuxembourgAlcyon1926Lucien BuysseBelgiumAutomoto1925Ottavio BottecchiaItalyAutomoto1924Ottavio BottecchiaItalyAutomoto1923Henri P\u00e9lissierFranceAutomoto1922Firmin LambotBelgiumCycles Peugeot1921L\u00e9on ScieurBelgiumLa Sportive1920Philippe ThysBelgiumLa Sportive1919Firmin LambotBelgiumLa Sportive1915-18 (not held due to WW1)1914Philippe ThysBelgiumCycles Peugeot1913Philippe ThysBelgiumCycles Peugeot1912Odile DefrayeBelgiumAlycon1911Gustave GarrigouFranceAlycon1910Octave LapizeFranceAlycon1909Fran\u00e7ois FaberLuxembourgAlycon1908Lucien Petit-BretonFranceCycles Peugeot1907Lucien Petit-BretonFranceCycles Peugeot1906Ren\u00e9 PottierFranceCycles Peugeot1905Louis TrousselierFranceCycles Peugeot1904Henri Cornet *FranceCycles JC1903Maurice GarinFranceLa Fran\u00e7aise<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The race began in 1903 as a marketing gamble by L\u2019Auto, a French sports paper hoping 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