Each stage has a winner, and the rider that completes the most stages in the shortest amount of time goes onto win the overall title. One stage is performed every day, covers roughly 225 kilometers, and takes about five and a half hours to complete. Tour de France is split into 21 stages: Nine flat stages, three hilly stages, seven mountain stages (including five summit finishes), two individual time trials and two rest days. Over the course of 21 days, usually in July, cyclists cover a race course extending 3,500 kilometers. Tour de France is a team sport that features a total of 198 cyclists in 22 teams of nine.
It’s a thrilling sport and is completely free to attend. This is a sport that garners 3.5 billion television viewers, and over 12 million spectators annually.
Cyclists from around the world gather in France to compete for the chance win the prestigious Tour de France trophy and a cash prize of €450,000 (just over $500,000). This is the World Cup, Super Bowl and Stanley Cup of bicycle racing. It’s a cycling competition that is held in France every year (sometimes neighboring countries) and takes place in 21 stages with a course that covers approximately 3,500 kilometers. You can also register here to receive our Daily Data Wrap.Photo: Courtesy of Shutterstock What is it?Īlso known as “Le Grande Boucle” or “Le Tour”, Tour de France is the world’s largest annual sporting event. Maillot à pois | ESP | Joaquin Rodriguez – KAT | 68 pointsįor additional information, feel free to visit our beta tracking site for live updates on the action and watch our Day in Data videos. Maillot blanc | COL | Nairo Quintana – MOV | 74h 16’ 41” Maillot vert | SVK | Peter Sagan – TCS | 420 points Maillot jaune | GBR | Chris Froome – SKY | 74h 13’ 31” Click here to see the average speeds of the first nine riders up Col du Glandon.ġ6.89 km/h – average speed up Col du Glandon.ġ6.11 km/h – the average speed of yesterday’s stage winner, Bardet (ALM), up Lacets de Montvernier.ģ5’ 51” – time between first and last rider. De Gent was not the fastest over the line, click here to see the recorded speeds of the other points winners on yesterday’s intermediate sprint.ġ9.97 km/h – the average speed of Bardet (ALM) as he won Col du Glandon, Gautier (EUC) however, had a higher average speed up the climb. Click here to see the top three speeds recorded on the descent.Ĥ8.44 km/h – the speed of De Gendt (LTS) as he won the intermediate sprint at Rioupéroux. Click here to see the average speeds of the first four riders to crest the climb.Ĩ4.56 km/h – the top speed recorded by Frank (IAM) on the descent to Séchilienne. Only two complete teams remain: Team Lotto NL – Jumbo and Team Europcar.ġ2 – the number of consecutive stages Chris Froome has won the yellow jersey.ġ6.02 km/h – the average speed of Rodriguez (KAT) up Col de Malissol.ġ6.29 km/h – the average speed of Rodriguez (KAT) as won the 5 KOM points on Col de la Morte. There are over 10 mountain passes within a 50 km radius of yesterday’s stage finish in Saint-Jean De-Maurienne, many of the Tour’s great battles have been won and lost on these passes.ġ008 km – the total elevation gained on the Col du Chaussy pass in just 16 km the first time this 18 bend climb will be conquered as part of the Tour de France route.ħ – the number of categorised climbs on yesterday’s stage.ģ002.3 km – with only three stages left, the riders have less than 360 km to travel to the finish line in Paris.ģ7 – the number of riders who retired from this year’s race. With just three days remaining, it is a real pity that Louis Meintjes (MTN) had to retire yesterday due to illness he is the first rider to retire from Team MTN-Qhubeka. Is he tired? Or is he saving his legs for the final stage on Sunday? Only time will tell.
He also lost a lot of time on yesterday’s stage. With only 35 kms to go, the young rider, showed real bravado and skill when he broke away on the 25 km descent from Col de Glandon and rode his way to a stage win.Īfter being so active and providing so much colour, viewers missed the great gusto of the current green jersey holder, Peter Sagan (TCS), yesterday. Romain Bardet (ALM) proved to be the strongest on yesterday’s stage and thoroughly deserved his win. The stage followed a similar pattern to previous days a strong breakaway group escaped early on in the stage while Team Sky controlled the pace of the main peloton in an effort to protect current yellow jersey holder Chris Froome (SKY). Dimension Data technology is being used in one of the most prestigious races on the cycling calendar, Tour de France. Discover some highlights and data from stage 18 of the Tour de France, a 186.5 km race from Gap to Saint-Jean De-Maurienne.