History of the Tour de France

The Birth of a Legend (1903)

The Tour de France was born on July 1, 1903, and is today the most prestigious cycling race in the world. The idea came from Henri Desgrange, editor-in-chief of the sports newspaper "L'Auto", and his colleague Géo Lefèvre. Originally, the race was conceived as a promotional campaign to increase the newspaper's circulation.

The first Tour de France 1903:

• Start date: July 1, 1903
• Participants: 60 riders started, 21 reached the finish
• Stages: 6 stages covering a total of 2,428 kilometers
• Winner: Maurice Garin (France)
• Average speed: 25.7 km/h
• Longest stage: Paris-Lyon with 467 kilometers

The first Tour was extremely tough. Riders had to race on unpaved roads day and night, often without support. Maurice Garin won with a lead of almost three hours.

Development Between the World Wars (1919-1939)

After World War I, the Tour resumed in 1919. This era brought significant innovations and the first international stars.

Technical and Regulatory Innovations

Important milestones 1919-1939:

1. 1919: Yellow jersey officially introduced as symbol for the overall leader
2. 1930: Introduction of national teams instead of trade teams
3. 1933: Advertising caravan becomes part of the Tour
4. 1936: Riders begin to be paid by organizers

The First Legends

This period saw the emergence of the first great rivalries and legends of cycling. Riders like Ottavio Bottecchia (Italy), Nicolas Frantz (Luxembourg) and the legendary Antonin Magne (France) shaped the Tour.

The Golden Era After World War II (1947-1975)

After World War II, the Tour experienced a golden era with legendary riders and epic duels.

The Greatest Heroes

Eddy Merckx is still considered the greatest cyclist of all time. His dominance in the early 1970s was unprecedented. He not only won five Tour titles, but also numerous stages and all secondary classifications.

Media and Popularity

The introduction of television revolutionized the Tour de France. Millions of viewers worldwide could now watch live. The Tour became the summer highlight in Europe.

The Modern Era (1980s to 2000)

The 1980s and 1990s brought further technological innovations and new rivalries.

International Expansion

The Tour became increasingly international. American, Colombian and Australian riders won the prestigious Yellow Jersey for the first time.

International milestones:

• 1986: Greg LeMond (USA) becomes first non-European winner
• 1987: Stephen Roche (Ireland) wins the Triple Crown (Tour, Giro, World Championships)
• 1995: Miguel Indurain (Spain) fifth consecutive win
• 1997: Jan Ullrich (Germany) first German winner
• 1998: Festina affair shakes cycling

The Indurain Era

Miguel Indurain dominated the early 1990s, winning five times in a row from 1991 to 1995. His time trial abilities and extraordinary composure made him a legend.

The Armstrong Era and the Doping Scandal (1999-2012)

Lance Armstrong won seven times in a row from 1999 to 2005 – victories that were stripped from him in 2012 due to systematic doping.

The Rise

After his cancer diagnosis, Armstrong returned in 1999 and dominated the Tour like no one before him. His story inspired millions of people worldwide.

The Fall

In 2012, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) published a devastating report. Armstrong was banned for life, all victories stripped. The biggest doping scandal in sports history fundamentally shook cycling.

The New Generation (2013-today)

After the doping scandals, a renewal began. New stars, stricter controls and a younger, more credible generation of riders shaped the Tour.

Sky/INEOS Dominance

From 2012 to 2020, Team Sky (later INEOS) won the Tour de France seven times. Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal were the faces of this era.

The Pogačar-Vingegaard Rivalry

Since 2020, Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard have shaped the Tour with their spectacular rivalry:

Cultural Significance and Records

The Tour de France is more than a sporting event – it is a cultural phenomenon.

Impressive Numbers

Tour de France in numbers (as of 2024):

• Editions: 110 (with interruptions during war)
• Most wins: 5 (Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, vacant since 2012)
• Most stage wins: Eddy Merckx (34), Mark Cavendish (34)
• Most participations: Sylvain Chavanel (18)
• Youngest winner: Henri Cornet (19 years, 1904)
• Oldest winner: Firmin Lambot (36 years, 1922)

The Yellow Jersey

The legendary Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune) is the most coveted piece of clothing in cycling. It was introduced in 1919 and symbolizes the lead in the overall classification.

The Tour de France Femmes

In 2022, the Tour de France Femmes was reintroduced after a 33-year break. The eight-day women's race is an important step for equality in cycling.

Previous winners:

• 2022: Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands)
• 2023: Demi Vollering (Netherlands)
• 2024: Demi Vollering (Netherlands)

Future Perspectives

The Tour de France continues to evolve. Topics such as sustainability, equality and technological innovation shape the future of the race.

Planned Developments

1. Environmental protection: CO2-neutral Tour by 2030
2. Digitalization: Extended live data for viewers
3. Women's cycling: Expansion of the Tour de France Femmes
4. Globalization: More international participants and viewers
5. Technology: New safety standards and innovation