Le Tour de France

Consisting of twenty-one intense stages, the Tour de France is the most prestigious bike race in the world and an immense source of pride for the French. Though the course is different each year, certain landmarks usually make an appearance, such as the mountainous climb up Alpe d’Huez and the finish through the streets of Paris and down the Champs Élysées. The latter is where I experienced the tour during its final stage en route to the finish line.

Image from the Tour de France website, letour.fr

The Tour began in 1903 and has been held as an annual event every year since then in the month of July. The origins of the Tour are interesting: in simplest terms, it was created because of rival sports newspaper companies Le Vélo and L’Auto. Looking to sell more newspapers and searching for content to cover, Géo Lefèvre from L’Auto schemed a bike race around the country. Thus, the Tour de France was born. In the inaugural tour, sixty riders set out on the 2500km cycling race around France. The ride evoked public popularity as more and more people lined the streets and appreciated the recognition when the Tour passed through their small countryside towns. The admiration for the Tour was larger than anyone had imagined, but, despite the initial surprise, it became a tradition that continued year after year.

The riders seek after the coveted maillot jaune, the yellow jersey. This is awarded to the best rider, which is determined by the overall lowest cumulative time. Other jerseys include the green jersey for the best sprinter, the polka-dot jersey for the best climbers, and the white jersey for the best young rider (age 25 or younger). Winning a stage or wearing one of the jerseys is a huge honor and accomplishment for the riders.

The Yellow Jersey

The Green Jersey

The Polka-Dot Jersey

The White Jersey

Images from the Tour de France website, letour.fr

The Tour this year actually started in Düsseldorf, Germany; it is not uncommon for the race to dip into neighboring countries of Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, or Germany. The riders followed this route:

Image from the Tour de France website, letour.fr

I was excited to witness the conclusion of the Tour in Paris, which has been the finish line since 1975. At the beginning, this stage is more of a tradition and ceremony, rather than a race. By this point, most of the places are set, so this stage is seen as celebration for finishing the grueling race. However, once the racers enter Paris, there is a shift in the peloton and the sprinters take advantage of the flat circuit around the Tuileries and the Louvre. The riders must complete a total of eight laps before reaching the finish line on the Champs Élysées.

"The Caravan" of sponsors drive ahead of the riders and toss free items to spectators

The jets signal the arrival of the riders in Paris

Team cars speed down the streets

I had a prime spot for watching on Rue de Rivoli, the road which parallels the Champs Élysées. Standing right at the railing, I had a front row seat at the “one kilometer to go” mark and a clear view each lap. I’m grateful they do eight laps and we got to see them several times, because they go fast. Passing by in a blur, the riders average a speed around 30-40km/h across all stages of the tour.

Tour de France 2017 wrapped up with British cyclist Chris Froome claiming his fourth Tour de France title and the yellow jersey. Watching the final stage, it was clear how important this event was for Paris. With several streets closed and crowds lining the route, it was clear the Tour has not lost popularity over the years. An avid cyclist myself, I was excited to see Tour in person. As Travel Study enters its final week, I couldn’t have been happier to see the Tour during my final weekend. My time in Paris may be ending soon, but the city continues to charm me and has the same sparkle as day number one.