Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about Tour de France.
What is the Tour de France?
The Tour de France is a three-week professional cycling race held annually, covering roughly 3,500 kilometers of flat, hilly, and mountainous terrain, primarily through France. It is the most prestigious and globally watched stage race in professional cycling.
When does the Tour de France take place?
The race runs for 21 consecutive days in late July and early August, with two rest days built into the schedule. It has been held every summer since 1903, with the only breaks coming during the World Wars.
How many teams and riders compete?
Twenty-two professional teams, each fielding eight riders, make up the 176-rider peloton. The field is composed of WorldTour squads plus a small number of wildcard invitations, meaning it features essentially the top tier of professional cycling.
What is the yellow jersey (maillot jaune)?
The yellow jersey is worn by the rider with the lowest cumulative time across all completed stages, marking the general classification leader. It is the most coveted honor in the race and the symbol most closely associated with the Tour.
Who has won the Tour de France the most times?
Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain each hold a record of five victories. Lance Armstrong's seven titles were stripped after a doping investigation, leaving the five-win mark as the standing record.
Where does the Tour de France start and finish?
The race has traditionally concluded on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, a tradition in place since 1975. The starting city rotates year to year and can even fall outside France, as it has in London, Düsseldorf, and Utrecht in recent decades.
What are the main classification jerseys?
Beyond the yellow jersey for the overall leader, there is a green jersey for the points and sprint classification, a red-and-white polka-dot jersey for the mountains classification, and a white jersey for the best rider under 26. Each is awarded daily to the current leader of that specific category.
What makes the Tour different from other stage races?
Its three-week length, the wide variety of terrain within a single race, and the cumulative time format make it the most physically demanding event in professional cycling. It also carries a cultural weight and global audience that the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España do not quite match.
Who are some of the most iconic figures in Tour history?
Riders like Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, Tadej Pogačar, and Jonas Vingegaard define distinct eras of the race. On the organizational side, founder Henri Desgrange and long-time race director Christian Prudhomme shaped its identity and rules.
Where should a newcomer start to follow the Tour?
Watching a single mountain stage in the Alps or Pyrenees gives the best sense of the race's drama and the time gaps that decide the general classification. Pairing that with a short history of the yellow jersey and a key rivalry, such as Merckx versus Poulidor or Pogačar versus Vingegaard, builds a solid foundation for following future editions.