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Tours (37000)

L’actualité près de chez moi.

Le maire de Tours a fait ouvrir le gymnase Racault pour loger les 40 personnes qui étaient jusqu'ici hébergées illégalement au dojo du Palais des sports. Une opération décidée en dehors de tout cadre légal et budgétaire. Emmanuel Denis compte ensuite demander des comptes à l'Etat.

L'agression a été particulièrement violente ce mercredi 3 avril dans le quartier du Beffroi à Tours Nord. Elle a aussi été filmée puis diffusée sur les réseaux sociaux. Une adolescente de 14 ans a été frappée par cinq jeunes filles. Toutes étaient scolarisées dans le même établissement scolaire.

Emmanuel Denis, maire écologiste de Tours était l'invité de France Bleu Touraine, vendredi 5 avril, venu défendre le nouveau plan de circulation métropolitain. Il va proposer que la gratuité dans les transports Fil Bleu soit étendue jusqu'à 11 ans. La proposition doit encore être votée le 17 avril.

Le 05/04/2024 à 09:09

Des tags antifascistes sont apparus sur certains murs de Tours, en Indre-et-Loire, ce jeudi matin. Parallèlement, la vitrine d'un commerçant a été caillassée, il a décidé de porter plainte.

Le 04/04/2024 à 19:26

La conférence de presse de ce jeudi matin se voulait ambitieuse. La mairie de Tours a présenté son nouveau réseau cyclable et son plan d'apaisement pour les années qui viennent. La circulation devrait beaucoup changer d'ici fin 2026. 600 places de stationnement doivent être supprimées.

Le 04/04/2024 à 18:52

Le 10 avril le palais des congrès de Tours accueillera le spectacle "Une vie de fêtes" dont les acteurs sont des personnes âgées dans une mise en scène de José Manuel Cano Lopez

Le 04/04/2024 à 16:05

Indre-et-Loire, l’actu de votre département

Thibaud Gruel a remporté hier la deuxième étape du circuit des Ardennes. A 19 ans, le tourangeau décroche sa deuxième victoire chez les professionnels.

Il y a 32min

L'association Nostal'10 rénove la station-service OZO Bellevue, à Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine, depuis trois ans. L'objectif : éviter que ce patrimoine routier soit démoli. Une équipe d'une quinzaine de bénévoles lui redonnent vie petit à petit.

L'annonce de la fermeture de la cimenterie Calcia à Villiers-au-Bouin crée une véritable déflagration dans la commune. Salariés, commerçants et élus s'inquiètent de leur avenir et de celui du territoire.

La porte-parole du gouvernement s'est rendue ce vendredi à Nouâtre, l'Ile-Bouchard et Chinon, pour rencontrer les habitants sinistrés par la crue de la Vienne. Prisca Thevenot a annoncé qu'une cellule de crise "catastrophe naturelle" serait mise en place en début de semaine prochaine.

Notre sélection de vidéos

Les derniers podcasts à écouter

Le 05/04/2024 à 08:47

Nouvelle radio musicale

Toute la chanson française avec France Bleu !

En direct • C'est comme ça - Les Rita Mitsouko

Outremer.gourmand

France Bleu

Les sorties près de chez moi

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Il n’y a pas d’évènements prévus près de chez vous actuellement. Revenez dans quelques jours pour en découvrir de nouveaux !

L'actualité sportive dans mon département

Dans une étape marquée par une grosse chute dans le peloton à 47 kilomètres de l'arrivée, qui a interrompu la course pendant de longues minutes, l'Angevin Jason Tesson a remporté au sprint la 22e édition de la Roue Tourangelle, ce dimanche 24 mars à Tours

Le 24/03/2024 à 18:35

A quoi ressemble la 22e édition de la Roue Tourangelle, ce dimanche 24 mars ? Un parcours de 200 kilomètres plus relevé, avec 35 bosses répertoriées et une nouvelle arrivée rue Giraudeau à Tours.

Le 22/03/2024 à 15:59

Elle n'en finit pas de nous impressionner. Lors de la finale de la coupe du monde à Bakou , en Azerbaïdjan, la gymnaste Kaylia Nemour, du club d'Avoine-Beaumont, s'est emparée de la médaille d'or, ce samedi 9 mars.

Le 09/03/2024 à 16:35

Deux pongistes tourangeaux repartent des mondiaux de tennis de table de Busan avec une médaille autour du cou : l'argent pour Lilian Bardet, le bronze pour Audrey Zarif. "Quelque chose de très très grand" se réjouit l'ex-licencié de la 4S.

Le 27/02/2024 à 07:40

L’actu en France

Un homme a été interpellé ce vendredi à Grenoble. Il est suspecté d'être l'auteur d'une série d'agressions sexuelles et de viols commises à Grenoble et sa périphérie, appelé le "violeur à la trottinette". Les faits se sont produits entre le 8 février et le 16 mars, faisant sept victimes.

La ministre de la Santé Catherine Vautrin détaille ce samedi matin dans les colonnes du Monde le plan de développement des soins palliatifs. Elle annonce 1,1 milliard d'euros supplémentaires sur 10 ans et une augmentation du nombre de places en unité de soins palliatifs.

À l'occasion des commémorations marquant les 80 ans des combats des Glières, France Bleu Pays de Savoie a réalisé une série en cinq épisodes à réécouter sur francebleu.fr et l'appli ICI.

L’actu plus loin

Thématiques :, départements :.

• Eure-et-Loir
• Indre-et-Loire
• Loir-et-Cher
• Chambray-lès-Tours
• Notre-Dame-d'Oé
• Parçay-Meslay
• Rochecorbon
• Saint-Avertin
• Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire
• Saint-Pierre-des-Corps

Informations sur la mairie

Du lundi au jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h00 Le vendredi : de 08h30 à 16h30

Hôtel de Ville - 1-3 rue des Minimes 37926 Tours Cedex 9

La ville : Tours

Quel est le portrait des habitants de tours .

En 2018, la population de Tours atteignait 136 463 habitants. La localité avait une densité de population de 4 084,5 habitants/km² sur 33,41 kilomètres carrés de superficie. Cette municipalité était ainsi la plus densément peuplée du département de l'Indre-et-Loire.

Quelques chiffres à connaître sur le logement à Tours

À Tours, on comptabilise près de 140 000 habitants répartis sur 33,41 km². Pour les loger, la localité dispose d'environ 87 000 logements. La ville a une forte densité de population mais une densité de logement faible (respectivement 4 084,5 habitants par km² et 25,9 log/ha). Elles sont toutes deux supérieures à celles du pays (0,6 log/ha et 106 hab/km²).

Quelles sont les caractéristiques de la répartition du logement dans la localité

On observe actuellement plus de locataires que de propriétaires à Tours : 67 % des résidences principales sont occupées par des locataires (dont 1,6 % à titre gracieux) contre 33 % occupées par des propriétaires. Parmi les habitations de la ville, 10,1 % sont des logements vacants, 3,4 % des résidences secondaires et 86,5 % sont des résidences principales. Par ailleurs, les logements sociaux représentent 26,7 % de ces dernières. La plupart des ménages ont emménagé récemment (il y a entre 2 et 4 ans) au sein de la ville.

Quelques chiffres à la loupe sur les pièces des logements de la localité

Les logements de Tours sont en grande majorité des appartements (79,4 %). Les plus fréquents sont les 2 pièces, qui représentent 27,6 % de ceux-ci et dont la surface est majoritairement comprise entre 40 et 60 m². On trouve également de nombreux appartements de 3 pièces (25,7 %). Quant aux maisons, elles ne sont que 16 866 (soit 19,5 % des habitations) et sont principalement composées de 4 pièces. Le plus souvent, leur surface est comprise entre 80 et 100 m². Par ailleurs, on peut constater que les logements de la municipalité ont majoritairement été construits entre 1946 et 1970.

Quelques chiffres à la loupe concernant les impôts de Tours

La municipalité de Tours comptabilise un total de 86 415 foyers fiscaux. Parmi eux, 52,6 % sont non imposables, contre 48,1 % dans le département de l'Indre-et-Loire et 50,2 % au niveau national. Le revenu médian des habitants de Tours se chiffre à 20 210 € annuels, soit 1 790 € de moins que celui de l'Indre-et-Loire. Par foyer, les Tourangeaux s'acquittent en moyenne d'un impôt sur le revenu de 1 556 €. Ce dernier est donc plus élevé que celui du département qui s'élève à 1 547 €. Par ailleurs, 25 932 foyers déclarent percevoir une pension ou une retraite.

Dans la localité, 32,7 % du montant total de l'impôt sur le revenu est payé par les 82 % de foyers fiscaux imposables ayant un revenu fiscal de référence au-dessous de 50 000 euros. À l'échelle de l'Indre-et-Loire, la part des foyers fiscaux déclarant moins de 50 000 euros de revenus s'élève à 79,4 %. La part des foyers imposables de Tours déclarant un revenu annuel supérieur à 100 000 euros est, elle, de 3,7 %. Leur contribution est équivalente à 37,6 % de l'impôt net de la ville.

Découvrez les chiffres clés de l'emploi à Tours

Tours affichait en 2018 un taux d'activité de 69,82 % : on comptait en effet 91 004 habitants de 15 à 64 ans, parmi lesquels 63 535 étaient actifs. C'est 2,08 points de moins que dans l'ensemble de l'Hexagone, où le taux d'activité était de 71,9 %.

Il y avait 11 357 chômeurs parmi les actifs de la municipalité, le taux de chômage s'élevait donc à 17,88 %. Il y avait alors un très fort écart avec les statistiques sur l'ensemble du territoire français, qui enregistrait un taux de chômage de 9,1 %.

Taux de chômage par CSP à Tours

À Tours, en 2018, la catégorie socio-professionnelle la plus touchée par le chômage était celle des agriculteurs, dont 36,36 % des actifs étaient sans travail. La part d'actifs inoccupés chez les autres CSP atteignait 25,12 % pour les ouvriers, 19,92 % pour les employés, 13,22 % pour les professions intermédiaires, 11,7 % pour les commerçants, artisans et chefs d'entreprises et 5,62 % pour les cadres.

Retrouvez les résultats des élections législatives 2022

News from Tours

Top Tours News

Recorded attack of a teenager in Tours: four young girls will be tried.

CARTE. Eternal pollutants: where are the most affected territories?

Workshops, games, giant karaoke: meet your radio and its hosts at the Tours Fair from 3 to 12 May - France Bleu

Latest news stories.

STORY. “We are treated like animals”: why has no solution been found to house homeless families with dignity?

Tours: Why this family outing scheduled for Sunday, April 7 is canceled.

Holder of the license for a month, he was flashed at 277 km/h on the A10 in Tours - France Bleu

End of winter truce: no solution, 50 homeless, including children, spend the night in a dojo of Tours

#MeToo in sport: media denial in the face of champions who commit gender-based and sexual violence

The earth shook in Savonnières in Indre-et-Loire

Violence in football: we explain to you how sports authorities and the State want to end it

The city of Mame, how did former printing houses become a place of creativity, culture and innovation?

Local news publishers, related locations.

Breaking News Topics Related to Tours

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3 days in Tours and in Touraine

Discover our stays

Cycling break

Guided tours of Tours

For a truly memorable stay in Touraine, see our irresistible offers in order to discover, explore and savour the region! Châteaux, gardens, art, vineyards and gastronomy, you'll find the essence of your stay here…

Visit the castles of the Loire Valley

Enjoy art, culture and urban exploration

Discover vineyards and food

Explore the “Garden of France”

Travel slow

Looking for ideas and good addresses for a day, a weekend or a stay in Tours? Find your inspiration here!

Artistic stroll among the graffiti

Pedalling through the Loire à Vélo®

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The Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office and the city of Tours offer a thematic tour of the Old Town of Tours, led by a guide. A guided tour of the emblematic Vieux Tours district around Place Plumereau, led by an expert guide.  Medieval half-timbered and stone houses stand side by side with exceptional townhouses. These mansions bear witness to the prosperity of this part of town, which grew up around a huge collegiate church dedicated to Saint Martin. Once home to the saint's body, it was the center of one of the oldest pilgrimages in Christendom. This tour has been awarded the Ville d'Art et d'Histoire label.

Discover the Loire Valley and visit its 2 most prestigious castles in one great day: impressive Château de Chambord and stunning Château de Chenonceau. Learn about the intimate little secrets of the French Kings who once lived there. Enjoy off-the-crowd panoramic views thanks to your local guide, benefit from wealth of thrilling genuine details and funny anecdotes and make the most of this exciting day. Program: 9.30am: Departure from Tours. Meet your friendly guide in front of the Tourist Office in the city of Tours (just in front of the train station). Everybody's here? Let’s start the day! 9:30am: Start in front of the Tourist Office in the city of Tours, and get into our minivan, off to Chenonceau! Next step is Château de Chenonceau! On the way, get a good look at lovely privately owned châteaux but also other must-see castles of Loire Valley such as: Cheverny, Chaumont, Amboise, Montrichard... Chenonceau: this is the most visited historical monument in France after Château de Versailles. Admire this stunning chateau and its unique gallery, built on a bridge across the Cher River. With your guide, stroll through the gorgeously-manicured gardens à la Française named after the famous ladies who lived there: "Catherine de Médicis" and "Diane de Poitiers". Once inside, take your time to appreciate the refined architecture and feminine influence that prevails in each room of this renowned chateau, all decorated with beautiful antiques and the most divine fresh flower arrangements. The kitchens, the Queen bedroom, the Gallery... your tour guide will show you all the beautiful rooms of this incredible place. Lunch will take place off the beaten path. You will enjoy a typical French lunch in a lovely private château of Loire Valley, built by Jean le Breton! Start with the visit of this unique familly Château, meet the family and discover all the authentic rooms and lovely surroundings of this haven of piece. After the visit, hosted by the French Countess who lives there permanently, indulge in the nice and cozy atmosphere with tasty food and local Loire Valley wine. This experience will make you feel like the owner of the place! More than a chateau, this work of art is a glorious historical place that will take you to the heart of the Loire Valley and the Renaissance era. Your guide will make this trip back in time a fun and captivating experience. He will tell you everything about the history of the castle, built by the famous King François 1er. Unforgettable! Once inside, your guide will select for you the most emblematic rooms to visit: the double helix staircase, the chapel, the terrace...He will also share with you memorable anecdotes and point at hidden details of interest and breathtaking views of the château. So get ready to travel back in time of French Renaissance! After this exceptional visit, your tour-guide will advise you some spots to get a impressive view of the chateau. A spectacular day you will never forget. 5.30pm: Back to the Tourist Office in Tours

Events calendar

Here, events come and go and none is alike other ! The metropolis know how to cultivate its art of living. Numbers of events from traditionnal and old music, to gastronomy or sport are organized throughtout all seasons. This eclectic program also allows to discover some nice historic, or out the ordinary, places.

Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office & Convention Bureau

How to come? What weather in Tours? Where to leave my luggage? Find all practical information here.

The Tourist Office is located: 78-82 Rue Bernard Palissy, 37000 Tours.

Monday to Saturday: 8.30am to 7pm Sundays and public holidays: 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 5pm

For any information, please reach our team +33(0)2 47 70 37 37

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Saturday, April 06, 2024 11:10 am (Paris)

Tour de France

Tour de France 2025 edition will start from Lille

The cycling race's 'Grand Départ' will be given from the northern French city, after three consecutive starts outside the country.

Published on November 14, 2023, at 2:27 pm (Paris), updated on November 14, 2023, at 3:22 pm Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France: 2024 Florence-Nice route announced

The new route is set to include 3,492 km of road, two Alpine crossings, a time trial finish from Monaco, and the highest starting altitude of any Tour de France.

Published on October 25, 2023, at 1:49 pm (Paris), updated on October 25, 2023, at 2:19 pm Le Monde with AFP

Federico Bahamontes, winner of the 1959 Tour de France, has died

The 'Eagle of Toledo,' one of cycling's greatest climbers and the first Spaniard to win the Tour, died on Tuesday, aged 95.

Published on August 8, 2023, at 10:09 am (Paris), updated on March 18, 2024, at 11:48 am Alexandre Pedro

Vollering caps stunning season with women's Tour de France triumph

The Dutch rider won the race, clinching a 15th victory this year.

Published on July 30, 2023, at 6:24 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: Vollering lead with fog-bound victory

On Saturday, July 29, Demi Vollering emerged through the fog of the Col du Tourmalet, a stunning winner to take the queen stage and move into the yellow jersey.

Published on July 29, 2023, at 10:53 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: Norsgaard the winner ahead of week-end mountains

Danish rider Emma Norsgaard won stage six. Belgium's Lotte Kopecky is still in yellow ahead of the final stages over the week-end.

Published on July 28, 2023, at 7:08 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: Bauernfeind holds off pack to win stage 5

Lotte Kopecky still has the yellow jersey for the overall leader.

Published on July 27, 2023, at 8:23 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: Kastelijn escapes to win longest stage

Lotte Kopecky kept the yellow jersey, but lost 16 seconds from her lead on Demi Vollering.

Published on July 26, 2023, at 6:50 pm (Paris) Le Monde

Tour de France 2023: The duel between Vingegaard and Pogacar, from the battles for seconds to the knockout

As he did in 2022, the Danish cyclist finished the race in yellow. His duel with the Slovenian, who came second overall by more than seven minutes, kept followers on the edge of their seats for the first two weeks until the end of the Alps.

Published on July 24, 2023, at 6:12 pm (Paris), updated on March 18, 2024, at 11:48 am Vincent Daheron Aude Lasjaunias

Tour de France: Vingegaard emphatically wins his second successive Tour

The Danish cyclist cruised down the Champs-Elysées on Sunday to claim his second Tour triumph.

Published on July 23, 2023, at 7:37 pm (Paris), updated on March 18, 2024, at 11:47 am Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France 2023: Vingegaard almost guarantees back-to-back Tour de France victories

The Danish cyclist finished second on the 20th stage but he's leading his nearest rival, Tadej Pogacar, by seven and a half minutes.

Published on July 22, 2023, at 5:48 pm (Paris), updated on July 22, 2023, at 6:45 pm Le Monde with AP

Tour de France 2023: 'I feel like I don't deserve it,' Pinot thrills the crowds for his last dance

For the final Tour de France of his career, the Frenchman was cheered all the way along the route. On Saturday's stage, his supporters are planning a celebration.

Published on July 22, 2023, at 12:28 pm (Paris), updated on July 22, 2023, at 12:51 pm Vincent Daheron

Tour de France: Mohoric wins photo finish for stage 19

The Slovenian rider Matej Mohoric beat the previous day's winner Kasper Asgreen by just a few centimeters.

Published on July 21, 2023, at 5:48 pm (Paris), updated on July 21, 2023, at 6:01 pm Le Monde with AFP

The Tour de France offers a global showcase for the 'Capital of Comté'

Poligny, in the region famous for Comté cheese, will host the finish line of the competition's 19th stage on Friday, July 21. The small town of 4,000 in eastern France is hoping for major economic benefits.

Published on July 21, 2023, at 2:30 pm (Paris), updated on March 18, 2024, at 11:47 am Olivier Pinaud

Tour de France: Asgreen beats disorganized peloton to stage win

Danish rider Kasper Asgreen clinched a win after the peloton failed to catch up with a four-man breakaway, as the Tour returned to flat roads.

Published on July 20, 2023, at 6:09 pm (Paris), updated on July 20, 2023, at 6:19 pm Le Monde with AFP

Vingegaard takes huge lead at Tour de France after dropping Pogacar in final big test

Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard dropped Tadej Pogacar in the last big stage in the French Alps to increase his overall lead to seven minutes and 35 seconds.

Published on July 19, 2023, at 6:27 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AP

Vingegaard gets closer to Tour de France victory

A sensational time trial from Vingegaard on Tuesday saw the overall leader extend his advantage over two-time winner Tadej Pogacar to nearly two minutes.

Published on July 18, 2023, at 7:15 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AP

Tour de France: Vingegaard and Pogacar still inseparable as Poel wins stage 15

The gap between the two favorites in the overall ranking is still 10 seconds. Monday is a rest day, before the time trial on Tuesday.

Published on July 16, 2023, at 6:44 pm (Paris), updated on July 16, 2023, at 6:45 pm Le Monde with AP

Tour de France: Rodriguez victorious after epic Vingegaard-Pogacar duel

The top two from the overall ranking were overtaken by Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez, who sped to a stage win while they faced off, in the Alps.

Published on July 15, 2023, at 6:04 pm (Paris), updated on July 15, 2023, at 6:34 pm Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France: Kwiatkowski wins on Grand Colombier, Tadej edges closer to yellow

Jonas Vingegaard's lead over Tadej Pogacar in the overall ranking is down to just 9 seconds.

Published on July 14, 2023, at 6:08 pm (Paris), updated on July 14, 2023, at 6:08 pm Le Monde with AFP

Is it possible to ride in the Tour de France and enjoy it?

The three-week race is the most eagerly-awaited event on the cycling calendar. But because of the fierce competition and the event's significance to teams and sponsors, the athletes sometimes find it hard to see the fun side.

Published on July 14, 2023, at 12:00 pm (Paris), updated on March 18, 2024, at 11:46 am Aude Lasjaunias

Izagirre dominates as Vingegaard keeps Tour de France lead

After a fast-paced ride through the Beaujolais vineyards, Vingegaard is only 17 seconds clear of Tadej Pogacar in the overall standings ahead of three days in the mountains.

Published on July 13, 2023, at 7:01 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France: Philipsen wins fourth stage, Vingegaard keeps yellow jersey

Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen won yet another stage on this year's Tour de France, taking his career tally to six.

Published on July 12, 2023, at 6:46 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France 2023: Bilbao overcomes scorching heat to triumph on the hilly 10th stage

Dedicating his victory to his team-mate Gino Maeder who died last month after a crash, Pello Bilbao is the first Spaniard to win a stage in the world's biggest cycling race in five years.

Published on July 11, 2023, at 7:30 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France 2023: Pogacar's team still struggling against the might of Vingegaard

After a week of racing, and despite being strengthened by the arrival of Adam Yates, the UAE Emirates team seems less dominant than the yellow jersey's Jumbo-Visma.

Published on July 11, 2023, at 4:08 pm (Paris) Vincent Daheron

Women's Tour de France 2024 to start in Rotterdam

The race will begin the day after the end of the Paris Olympic Games and spend three out of eight stages in the Netherlands, a powerhouse of women's cycling.

Published on July 10, 2023, at 2:09 pm (Paris) Le Monde

British star cyclist Mark Cavendish crashes out of Tour de France

Cavendish hit the ground while riding at the back of the peloton at moderate speed on Saturday. He entered an ambulance holding his right shoulder in pain before his retirement was announced.

Published on July 8, 2023, at 4:13 pm (Paris), updated on July 8, 2023, at 6:22 pm Le Monde with AP and AFP

Philipsen denies Cavendish Tour stage record in dramatic sprint

The 38-year-old Cavendish appeared to be about to bag a record-breaking 35th career stage win on the Tour de France when he took the lead, but Philipsen then burst back past him to win by a bike length at the line.

Published on July 7, 2023, at 7:09 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France: Pogacar wins stage as Vingegaard takes yellow

Tadej Pogacar dominated his rival Jonas Vingegaard in the Pyrénées' Col du Tourmalet, but the Dane kept a lead in the overall standings.

Published on July 6, 2023, at 5:42 pm (Paris), updated on July 6, 2023, at 7:45 pm Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France: Hindley takes stage win and yellow as Pogacar suffers

Tadej Pogacar is now 53 seconds behind defending champion Jonas Vingegaard in the overall standings.

Published on July 5, 2023, at 5:46 pm (Paris), updated on July 5, 2023, at 8:44 pm Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France: After its Spanish overture, the big show arrives in a tense France

After two days crisscrossing Spain's Basque Country, the Tour returns to France on Monday in an unusual security context, following the riots that have rocked many cities throughout the country.

Published on July 3, 2023, at 12:30 pm (Paris) Vincent Daheron Aude Lasjaunias

Tour de France: Victor Lafay beats favorites to give France first stage win

The Frenchman broke ahead of the pack with just hundreds of meters to go to win stage 2 in San Sebastian, in the Spanish Basque Country.

Published on July 2, 2023, at 5:34 pm (Paris), updated on July 2, 2023, at 7:33 pm Le Monde with AP and AFP

Tour de France: Covid-19 remains a pernicious and dreaded enemy

Masks, social distancing and the 'race bubble' are still on the agenda for the 2023 Tour. In May, the Giro d'Italia was marked by several withdrawals, including the favorite, Remco Evenepoel.

Published on July 2, 2023, at 1:30 pm (Paris), updated on July 2, 2023, at 1:30 pm Aude Lasjaunias Vincent Daheron

Tour de France: Adam Yates beats twin in opening stage

British rider Adam Yates won the first stage in Bilbao, Spain, and will be the first to wear the yellow jersey this year.

Published on July 1, 2023, at 5:23 pm (Paris), updated on July 1, 2023, at 6:20 pm Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France 2023: A new duel between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard

The Slovenian who won in 2020 and 2021 and Dane who is defending last year's title are the overwhelming favorites for this year's edition, which set off on Saturday from Bilbao, Spain.

Published on July 1, 2023, at 1:30 pm (Paris) Aude Lasjaunias

Tour de France 2023: Five things to watch out for

From a starting point outside France to a mountainous route and more, here's what to know. The celebrated three-week race begins its 110th edition on Saturday.

Published on July 1, 2023, at 12:52 am (Paris), updated on July 1, 2023, at 9:12 am Le Monde with AFP

Cycling: Valentin Madouas crowned French road champion

The Groupama-FDJ rider won his first national road race title in Cassel on Sunday, taking over from Florian Sénéchal. Rudy Molard and Julien Bernard joined him on the podium.

Published on June 25, 2023, at 6:20 pm (Paris) Service Sports

Mark Cavendish, Tour de France record-holder for stage wins, to retire this year

The British cyclist is tied with Belgian legend Eddy Merckx at 34 stage wins in the Tour de France. He will attempt to become the outright record-holder on his last Tour, this summer.

Published on May 22, 2023, at 2:32 pm (Paris), updated on May 22, 2023, at 2:33 pm Le Monde with AFP

Olympics mean no Paris finish for 2024 Tour de France

It's the first time in over 100 years that the race will not finish in the French capital.

Published on December 1, 2022, at 1:44 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Tour de France 2023: Bilbao departure, Grand Colombier for July 14 and a return to the Puy de Dôme volcano

The route of next year's men's race has been unveiled, and includes passages through the five main mountain ranges of France.

Published on October 27, 2022, at 5:46 pm (Paris), updated on October 27, 2022, at 5:46 pm Aude Lasjaunias

Tour de France Femmes 2023: Second edition heads to the South

As in 2022, when it returned after a 30-year absence, the women's cycling race will begin the day the men's Tour ends, with the grand départ at Clermont-Ferrand.

Published on October 27, 2022, at 5:06 pm (Paris), updated on October 27, 2022, at 7:25 pm Aude Lasjaunias

Tour de France: Nairo Quintana disqualified over positive tramadol test

The sixth-place finisher of this year's Tour de France was disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.

Published on August 17, 2022, at 4:16 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Women's sports must be made even more visible

The double whammy of the Women's Euro 2022 final and the finish of the Tour de France Femmes on Sunday showed that women's sports are breaking free of the constraints put on it, but there is more to do to overcome stereotypes.

Published on August 1, 2022, at 11:52 am (Paris), updated on August 1, 2022, at 11:11 pm Le Monde

Tour de France: A successful first year kicks women's cycling into gear

Between live spectators, good TV ratings and enthusiastic cyclists, this first edition was a success. But the 'product' still has room for improvement.

Published on August 1, 2022, at 9:34 am (Paris), updated on August 1, 2022, at 9:45 am Alexandre Pedro

Annemiek van Vleuten wins Women's Tour de France

The dutch rider turbocharged her way through the last 5 kilometers of the tournament's eighth and final stage, before hitting the finish line in La Planche des Belles Filles.

Published on July 31, 2022, at 6:09 pm (Paris), updated on July 31, 2022, at 6:42 pm Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: Jeannie Longo, a champion with no legacy

Despite having one of the most successful cycling careers, the former racer did not contribute to the development of the sport in France. Her exacerbated individualism could be to blame, but not exclusively.

Published on July 31, 2022, at 1:00 pm (Paris), updated on July 31, 2022, at 1:00 pm Alexandre Pedro

Women's Tour de France: Van Vleuten takes the yellow jersey

The Dutch rider's solo effort in the last 62 kilometers between Selestat to Le Markstein Fellering secured her victory in the tournament's penultimate stage on Saturday.

Published on July 30, 2022, at 6:24 pm (Paris), updated on July 30, 2022, at 8:01 pm Le Monde

Women's Tour de France: Vos retains yellow jersey with victory on stage six

The 35-year-old Dutch rider kept a firm grip on the leader's yellow jersey on the women's Tour de France by winning Friday's sixth stage between Saint-Die-des-Vosges and Rosheim.

Published on July 29, 2022, at 5:23 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: US road cycling seeks new momentum

While Marianne Martin won the first ever women's Tour de France in 1984, American cycling is now at an all-time low. Strategic choices and Covid-19 have taken their toll on a development program for young women.

Published on July 29, 2022, at 12:57 pm (Paris), updated on July 29, 2022, at 1:04 pm Aude Lasjaunias

Women's Tour de France: Wiebes sprints to her second triumph, Vos retains yellow jersey

The Dutch rider sprinted to victory in the fifth stage of the women's Tour de France on Thursday in Saint-Die-des-Vosges.

Published on July 28, 2022, at 5:58 pm (Paris), updated on July 28, 2022, at 5:59 pm Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: Swiss rider Reusser wins stage four, Vos retains overall lead

The Swiss rider Marlen Reusser won the grueling 126.8km stage from Troyes to Bar-sur-Aube on Wednesday, as Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos retained her yellow jersey, arriving in fifth place.

Published on July 27, 2022, at 5:26 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: Denmark's Ludwig wins stage 3

Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig beat yellow jersey Marianne Vos to the finish line.

Published on July 26, 2022, at 5:10 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Women's Tour de France: The Dutch no longer lead the pack

While the Netherlands still dominates women's cycling, Italy is fast catching up.

Published on July 25, 2022, at 10:47 am (Paris), updated on July 26, 2022, at 5:09 pm Aude Lasjaunias

Tour de France: Philipsen wins Champs-Elysées sprint to wrap up race

Jonas Vingegaard made it safely over the finish line to win the Tour.

Published on July 24, 2022, at 8:13 pm (Paris), updated on July 24, 2022, at 8:14 pm Le Monde

Jonas Vingegaard, the Tour de France winner from a flat country

The Danish rider has won the Tour de France, coming to maturity after the relatively unsuccessful early years of his career.

Published on July 24, 2022, at 5:30 pm (Paris), updated on July 24, 2022, at 8:15 pm Alexandre Pedro

Women's Tour de France: Wiebes becomes first yellow jersey bearer in re-booted race

Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes won the first stage of the race, on the Champs-Elysées, in Paris.

Published on July 24, 2022, at 3:59 pm (Paris), updated on July 24, 2022, at 4:26 pm Le Monde

Women's Tour de France: New French generation hopes to make a name for itself

Although women's cycling is still dominated by the Netherlands and Italy, France has been on the rise since it started to turn professional.

Published on July 24, 2022, at 11:15 am (Paris) Alexandre Pedro

Who is Marion Rousse, the director of the women's Tour de France?

A former professional cyclist, the director of the Tour de France Femmes has carved out a niche for herself in a male-dominated world.

Published on July 24, 2022, at 9:30 am (Paris), updated on July 24, 2022, at 4:02 pm Robin Richardot

Vingegaard secures Tour de France title as teammate van Aert wins time trial

Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard's victory in Paris on Sunday is now a formality, even though he nearly fell during the time trial

Published on July 23, 2022, at 6:18 pm (Paris), updated on July 23, 2022, at 6:36 pm Le Monde

Laporte wins Tour de France stage 19 as Vingegaard stays in lead

With two days left, Christophe Laporte became the first Frenchman to win on this year's Tour de France, taking stage 19 at Cahors.

Published on July 22, 2022, at 7:03 pm (Paris), updated on July 23, 2022, at 8:18 am Le Monde with AFP

Supported by

Tour de France

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The 2024 Summer Games have pushed the iconic bike race out of its traditional finish in Paris. The Tour will instead end in Nice, in the south of France.

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How a Small French Newspaper Began the Tour de France

Adin dobkin on l'auto , the war torn year of 1919, and the beginning of the legendary bike ride.

Henri Desgrange watched the celebrations pass by on rue du Faubourg Montmartre. Crowds renewed themselves along the blister of a road through Paris’s ninth arrondissement, on the Seine’s right bank. The editor stood, stiff. His soldier’s posture had not yet left him. When he’d held his unit’s colors, his face set for the army photographer, it had taken effort to stay as rigid as his soldiers, three decades younger than Desgrange. Anyone who knew him would say he thought nothing of the gap in their ages.

Stasis didn’t suit him. Desgrange always appeared in constant motion: his white hair swept back over his still dark, wayward brows, his chin cocked out, his eagle nose just barely upturned, as if to focus on some prey. He had watched his neighborhood dim in the preceding years, though that day it was, for at least a moment, reborn. The powder-blue dressing rooms and gilt mansions of les Grands Boulevards, their extravagant rose gardens concealed behind modest steel fences, all remained a short walk away, but the artists who had once made their homes nearby had moved to the city’s left bank and carried Paris’s cultural mass with them.

The occasional salon and cabaret still opened its doors on fall evenings like this one, however, and new jazz clubs had moved into the shuttered spaces between, buoyed by the unending tide of the city. Desgrange, the editor-in-chief of the sports daily l’Auto, could look out his office window and see the corridor that led to Bouillon Chartier’s entrance where waiters scribbled out customers’ receipts on unfussy paper tablecloths. He’d sometimes take his journalists to the restaurant after editorial meetings, when a walk to boulevard Montmartre felt too far with the evening’s deadlines. If he turned his head to the left, he could just make out the second-story awning of Gaumontcolor. The cinema’s neon lights cast a faint glow on the opposite wall; geometric shapes snapped in and out of existence on the pavement underfoot.

Anyone waiting outside the theater that day was subsumed by the passing bodies who crowded the Faubourg Montmartre street. Few were willing to miss the celebrations that continued into the late afternoon. For the first time in years, the streetlights remained lit as the evening aged but did not wane; they cast a glow on the people’s newly freed movements well into the night.

Parisians, Americans, British, Belgians—most anyone who found themselves in the French capital—amassed on the streets that day to celebrate the armistice signed between the Allied countries and Germany. They arrived knowing the fighting on the western front had ended at 11:00 am, though most who crowded onto the avenues had not yet heard what the document’s terms were. Whatever clauses and subclauses had been agreed on by their leaders and those on the table’s opposite side mattered little to the people’s immediate celebrations: it was enough that the thing was through.

No matter the conditions of the armistice, no matter how much Germany paid for those four years, the document couldn’t make up for the war’s cost. Like the rest of France, Desgrange had been consumed with the war. It had stamped his existence, left no corner un-inked. And his country? The war had threatened to tear it from its foundation, to cart off its remains, to expand Germany’s excision of territories and to break apart the alliance France had formed with Great Britain.

he country’s borders had not collapsed any further in the war—they’d expanded—but the conflict had succeeded in its first aim: to uproot the ground in tracts of land to Paris’s northeast. In doing so it shattered those young men, and plenty of old ones, too. Men who had been sent away in those first days of fighting with spirit in excess. Their stamina hadn’t lasted as long as the war did. Those men couldn’t be blamed; they had volunteered for a tragedy few had expected or prepared for, even those who led the aggressors.

A few saw how war had changed in the 60 years before 1914, in the cast artillery guns and industrial train tracks that ran like roots behind units in the Crimean War and in Vicksburg’s trench networks in the American Civil War. The Great War revealed those logistical and engineering lessons as ruinous, if inevitable, advances to warfare. Little could have protected the men on the front, short of killing every last German who had stepped onto their country’s trampled ground. Underfoot, the land carried each side. It held as they advanced and retreated, back and forth, but after four years it was broken: its roads dredged up and its farmlands and forests fallow. Negotiating with German generals and politicians might have spared lives, but after the war had slowed, burrowed into the clay, no conversation could have brought back those poilus Desgrange had funneled through l’Auto’s offices.

Desgrange paused. His fingers hovered over the keys. The paper’s found­ing message, written by him and published in l’Auto ’s first issue on October 16, 1900—19 years ago—said the newspaper would avoid political issues, in contrast to its many competing sports dailies. He and l’Auto ’s advertisers had seen an opportunity to differentiate themselves from Le Vélo , their widest-circulating opponent, whose writ­ers and editors regularly waded into domestic political conversations. Le Vélo ’s editor-in-chief, Pierre Giffard, had come to the defense of Alfred Dreyfus in its pages, to the chagrin of Le Vélo ’s conservative advertisers. Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, had been convicted of selling military secrets to the Germans.

At the time of Giffard’s defense, those who supported Dreyfus hoped to reopen his case and overturn the conviction, while anti-Dreyfusards thought that doing so would weaken people’s faith in France and its government. An antisemitic undercurrent ran throughout. At the time of the affair, Desgrange was a public relations representative of Clément-Bayard automobiles, itself a Le Vélo advertiser. He had already left his days as a professional cyclist behind. He had not broken from the sport entirely, though.

Only a few years before he had become the director of Parc des Princes, an arena with a cycling track in the city’s western suburb of Boulogne-sur-Seine. Desgrange wrote articles and opinion pieces about physical education and sports for Le Vélo and other publications outside his regular public relations duties. As the Dreyfus Affair continued, he remained publicly mute, a quality that appealed to his employer, Adolphe Clément-Bayard.Soon after Giffard declared his support of Dreyfus in his newspa­per’s green-tinted pages, Clément-Bayard, the founder of the company bearing his name, brought Desgrange into discussions between Le Vélo ’s advertisers. Clément, like the other corporations who advertised in the paper, had publicly disagreed with Giffard’s slant in Le Vélo ’s coverage. Clément and the others had pulled their advertisements in protest. They had little desire to return that money to Le Vélo any­time soon.

Instead, they hoped to create a competing sports daily that would sate the public’s interest in athletics without the political coverage that had fragmented readership. Clément believed Desgrange could be an ideal editor for the new paper: he was a cyclist who had achieved some public acclaim after setting records in the hour, the 50 and 100 kilometers, and the 100-mile lengths on bicycles. He had written columns and books on his own experiences. As a public relations manager, he knew how to deal with journalists, even if he wasn’t one himself. The advertisers didn’t want to consider anyone else for the job; they offered the editor-in-chief position to Desgrange. He accepted.

L’Auto ’s founding message well represented its early stance toward politics, even before the war broke out. “What we wanted to say is said,” Henri wrote to l’Auto ’s readers of the Dreyfus Affair, though the paper had said nothing until that point. He didn’t comment on Dreyfus again. The advertisers of the new sports daily, yellow tinted in contrast with Le Vélo ’s green, were satisfied with their investment.

L’Auto ’s founding and the Dreyfus Affair were far from Desgrange’s mind that November evening. His enemies, those his readers and adver­tisers shared, weren’t fellow Frenchmen but foreigners. He saw little chance a civil war would erupt between his fellow citizens who hated the Germans and those who thought they were being treated too harshly in their defeat. The few who believed that were in the minority and most were smart enough to recognize it and watch their own language. Le Vélo had shuttered in 1904 and the war had created a common enemy, one all of Paris could agree upon—Desgrange was free to write as he pleased.

Given the celebrations on most every Paris street, in count­less small towns on the city’s outskirts, and in trenches that had been rendered worthless, l’Auto ’s major advertisers like Jacques Braunstein at Zig-Zag and the Palmer Tire executives wouldn’t mind their ads abut­ting another of Desgrange’s political columns. They had remained loyal to the editor over the years. They had trusted him to expand the news­paper’s circulation in its first years as it competed directly with Le Vélo , and had stuck by him once Le Vélo had closed, quotas on materials had restricted l’Auto ’s coverage, and its reporters—fighting-age men—had been called to the front. The newspaper’s readers had more pressing concerns than what l’Auto covered, cycling and gymnastics, running and yachting. But the sporting events Desgrange and his correspon­dents wrote about, those that continued in the wartime years, provided those readers with a release from the events that filled the pages of other newspapers: the movements of battleships, the arrest of foreign spies not far from where they lived, the deployment of units filled with sons, husbands, and fathers.

In l’Auto ’s early days, Desgrange worked to live up to his advertis­ers’ initial confidence. His public relations experience, however, hadn’t carried him far in the newsroom. He had few ideas for stories and didn’t have much knowledge on how to manage a team of journalists. He only followed what others in the industry did and hoped the absence of something—political coverage—would be enough to drive readers to l’Auto . His brash writing hid a caution in business manners: whenever possible, he preferred others take risks in developing new projects while he waited to see whether their ventures would pay off. Given that plenty of other sports dailies were still in the market, even after Le Vélo faltered, l’Auto ’s circulation stalled in those first years. The newspaper’s future had been uncertain enough that Desgrange’s job had been threatened. The advertisers expressed their hope he would turn things around, a sign that anyone without his relationships would have already been fired from the job. The threat wasn’t enough to change Desgrange’s nature, but it at least opened him to others’ ideas.

Desgrange held an editorial meeting in response. He asked the journalists who worked under him and those administrators on the business side of the paper for their ideas on how l’Auto could grow its subscription base. Géo Lefèvre, a 26-year-old cycling and rugby correspondent whom Desgrange had hired away from Le Vélo , spoke up. Lefèvre’s previous employer had sponsored sporting compe­titions and provided exclusive coverage of the results: Paris–Roubaix, Bordeaux–Paris, Paris–Brest–Paris. The three were one-day cycling events that Le Vélo helped organize and run. By offering readers exclu­sive interviews with the contestants and by following the cyclists on each section of road, Le Vélo encouraged nonsubscribers to pick up the paper on race days. Some, they hoped, would even subscribe after see­ing the surrounding reporting.

The one-day cycling races worked well for the newspaper’s aims: the races didn’t require much in the way of logistics and took place on regular roads instead of in stadiums—for-profit companies themselves that would have their own ideas about coverage. The events appealed to competitive cyclists but also attracted amateurs. Races any longer than one day would be difficult for cyclists who didn’t train for endurance. On a longer race, registrants would flag, but the sponsoring newspaper could extend the days it offered in-depth coverage. More adventurous than Desgrange, with less to lose, Lefèvre suggested a cycling race longer than anyone before had considered, one spanning France’s entire border. “A Tour de France,” Desgrange clarified.

The Tour had existed as part of French life even if it had never been a cycling race. Kings went on tour to inspect their more distant lands, to let those with tenuous allegiances know that they remembered them; craftsmen left their hometowns for tours to learn how others in regions not their own built cathedrals, baked pastries. Le Tour de la France par deux enfants , a book French children read in primary school, described two children’s journey around their country to find their uncle. A Tour de France race on bikes had never been considered, but it could be imagined. It was enough for Desgrange to not dismiss Lefèvre’s idea immediately.

The editor took the journalist to a café after the meeting and dis­cussed the proposed race further. The pair decided Desgrange would bring the idea to l’Auto ’s business director and cofounder, Victor Goddet, for his input. If Goddet thought it impossible, that was easy enough: the idea wouldn’t go any farther. When Desgrange went to him, however, Goddet thought it was just what l’Auto needed.

The Tour de France’s first years surpassed Desgrange’s guarded expectations. People left their homes to watch the cyclists on the 1903 Tour’s six stages. In time, the Tour route extended, hewed closer to France’s borders. The cyclists beat the bounds of their country. They marked France’s borders and every town they rode through, in each new clime they reached. As the cyclists biked through some of the same small towns in subsequent years, the association between that town and the Tour grew. The towns formed the Tour, and the Tour formed the towns as well as the country.

Many cyclists didn’t find the Tour appealing at first. It was unques­tionably more difficult than one-day events with relatively large purses for the cyclists’ investment of time and training. The Tour was a chal­lenge as much as a race. The average professional didn’t know whether they could finish until they rode back to Paris. Sponsors still promised cyclists’ salaries for the competition, however, and with the smaller prizes along the way, racers could justify the effort. L’Auto and Desgrange’s job were saved. Near the Tour’s end, l’Auto ’s circulation ballooned, mul­tiples of Le Vélo ’s on its best days. The competing paper shuttered in 1904. Desgrange even became comfortable with the race he had once considered a gamble. He had made it part of his image: the father of the Tour de France. It was his foresight, after all, that let it occur those first years, before its concept had been proven. Géo Lefèvre—who had conceived of the race—was transferred to writing about boxing and aviation while Desgrange stayed involved with the Tour’s administra­tion, covering it in regular dispatches as he followed its route.

On the day of the 12th Tour’s start, June 28, 1914, the archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo. The cyclists were already on the road to Le Havre when Gavrilo Princip fired two shots into the archduke’s car. They rode on even after they heard the news. The race ended on its scheduled day of July 26th. On August 3rd, France entered the war; Tour winner Philippe Thys’s Belgium had already been invaded by that time. With the news, plans for the thir­teenth Tour—the event that had saved l’Auto from failure—halted. The race couldn’t hope to cycle along the country’s borders.

Desgrange and the paper couldn’t afford to stagnate until the war had ended, even if the Tour couldn’t take place. L’Auto continued to cover life and sport during the wartime years, even as one after another major sporting event was canceled or held with smaller crowds and diminished competitors. In his columns, H. Desgrange was replaced by H. Desgrenier , a thin pseudonymous veil. The paper’s founding promise of reporting unaffected by politics fell away with the other vestiges of the prewar landscape.

Desgrange’s columns darkened. “This is our work!” he began in his August 15th column, just before Desgrange had turned into Desgrenier. German politicians “alone are amazed to see France draw up against the German brute, they who haven’t bothered to study, for twenty years before the war began, our moral and physical evolution.” He barely distinguished between German leaders and German men who had been conscripted in the fight against France. He continued writing columns supporting France’s decision to fight as the war went on, when his coun­try’s prospects were dim and plenty of other Frenchmen were support­ing politicians’ few attempts to resolve the war quickly and peacefully. He continued after he volunteered for the military in April of 1917, at the age of fifty-two, sending his columns back by post. He only let a few close friends and his mistress know his decision. He privately hoped to carry out the mission he had been writing about since the war’s start, to do his part in reclaiming the French lands that had been lost after the Franco-Prussian War and to fight the Germans who would have his country reduced even further.

L’Auto ’s front page was at times a small altar to former Tour com­petitors. The name of a cyclist from the 1914 edition of the race would appear. “Lapize falls on the field of honor,” “Death of Lucien Petit-Breton: the end of a great champion—the accident—his main victo­ries.” In the editor’s bold pen, cyclists who had died in the war were memorialized. Those reading the obituaries were safe behind the lines, celebrating in Paris while their country’s heroes had been brought down in the war. They should remember them, Desgrange wrote in his col­umns, celebrate them, do anything but forget them.

He ended the obituary of Octave Lapize, the 1910 Tour champion, who had been shot down eight kilometers behind French lines in a dogfight, with one last proclamation: “Hourlier, Comès, Faber, Bouin, Engel! And now Lapize!” he wrote, listing the cyclists killed in the war. “O heroic dead, victims of this Teutonic barbarism, receive splendidly this beautiful son of superb France. He will be, like you, worthily avenged!” Three winners of the Tour had been killed in the war; others had been maimed. Countless not-yet professionals and aspirants who might have someday competed in the race died in the front’s churn.But the war had ended, and the crowd outside l’Auto ’s office flocked past.

The people of France, or at least those who read him, had come to expect something from Desgrange: a salve for those preceding years, someone who recognized the hardships they had gone through, would continue to go through, who wasn’t afraid to place blame for those hard­ships. He was a voice of confidence who could direct their attention, someone who recognized, knew personally, the costs they had endured and the spirit that had stayed with them despite the war’s toll. He couldn’t disappoint them by letting its end pass without comment.

”Ah! My dear country, what suffering we’ve paid to purchase your resurrection,” Desgrange typed. “And what funeral hours next! What grief! The despair we had when the German brute took advantage of us with his methodical planning!” Desgrange drew his conviction from the same source he had found those years back, at the war’s outset, when he’d told French boys to not take mercy on the German soldiers but to shoot them where they stood. “Let us draw a line. Let us live.” He paused once more. “Goodbye to the Boche, and hello to your home!” Desgrange knew some towns along the front would need to be rebuilt entirely. The land around them might never be useful again. Local poli­ticians and whoever chose to return home might find new uses for the fallow ground—more factories, perhaps, like those that had sprung up far from the trenches, supplying the battle lines with all they needed. Bricks or cement could pave over the cratered landscape. People might be able to turn those onetime towns into bustling cities that could sup­ply new factories with the workers they would need. Or the land might stay as it was that day, a memorial spanning hundreds of kilometers where visiting crowds could look in from its edges, few desiring to intrude any farther.

Some towns—Ailles and Courtecon, Moussy-sur-Aisne and Allemant, Hurlus and Ripont and Nauroy and others—were given to the war as martyrs. The government had already deemed them irreplaceable, at least in physical terms. Next to nothing stood where streets once ran through their center. The towns, politicians decided, could be moved elsewhere; they could be re-created with old plans and local memories—whose house stood next to the butcher, which town hall features should be preserved and which were always complained about, and so on—but they couldn’t exist where they once had been. At the Meuse–Argonne, Desgrange had witnessed that putty knife of the war, flattening the landscape and whatever features had once existed. The people wouldn’t leave the war behind; nothing could cause them to do that, not entirely. But maybe their eyes could be directed elsewhere, at least for a time. Let them see that the scarred country still had its strength, its élan, even if that sinew was not what generals thought it to be in the war’s first days.

Nine days had passed since the armistice’s signing. The November 20th edition of Le Temps arrived on newsstands in the morning fog. Headlines said that on Thursday, the German naval fleet would likely be surrendered to the Allies, barring any delays. On the newspaper’s final page, between advertisements for the bookstore Berger-Leverault and Vin de Vial tonic, the editors noted small events not worthy of includ­ing on the front page. In two days, poet Jean Richepin would hold a lecture on American life at the Sorbonne; the Société de Auteurs held their general assembly the evening before; the Maisons Laffitte horse track on Paris’s outskirts would enter the final week of its annual season. Small bits of lifelike grass on tilled ground broke through. These scraps were marginal, but they at least existed. Pronouncements and congratu­lations from liberated towns decorated its borders. Proclamations from foreign leaders, congratulating the French for all they’d done for the world, filled whatever space remained.

Paperboys unbundled and stacked the daily edition of l’Auto at newsstands. An article discussed how Henry Farman, a French air­plane designer, had revealed plans for an aircraft that could transport twenty people in its hollow fuselage. The Six Days of New York bicycle race—scheduled to take place in Madison Square Garden December 2nd to 7th—would return after being canceled in the preceding years. Organizers hoped this year’s race could reclaim just some of its previous glory. Robert Dieudonné penned a new short story, “Pot of Varnish,” which Desgrange published. The editor-in-chief’s column appeared on the center of the front page. It still carried the byline H. Desgrenier . The article concerned the project Desgrange had worked on during the war, before he had volunteered for the front: national physical fitness. An announcement, written in fine print to accommodate its lengthy contents, took up the two rightmost columns of the front page and extended four more onto the second. It described plans for an upcom­ing race, what documents interested cyclists would need to register, their arrival locations in various cities, and the itinerary of what had already been an ambitious race, in what was bound to be, according to Desgrange, its most ambitious edition.

____________________________________________

Excerpted from Sprinting Through No Man’s Land by Adin Dobkin. Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Little A. Copyright © 2021 by Adin Dobkin.

Adin Dobkin

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Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France defence in doubt after Basque crash

• 2022 and 2023 winner fractures collarbone and scapula
• Twelve riders crash on fourth stage of Basque tour

The Tour de France champion, Jonas Vingegaard, was taken to hospital with a broken collarbone after a serious crash on stage four of the Itzulia Basque Country.

Vingegaard also suffered several broken ribs from the high-speed accident that also included Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic among a group of 12 affected riders. “It was a nasty crash, but fortunately he is stable and conscious. He remains in hospital as a precaution. Thank you for all your messages,” Vingegaard’s team Visma-Lease a Bike said in a statement.

Six riders went to hospital after the incident, including the Australian Jay Vine, who was diagnosed with a fractured cervical vertebra and two fractures in his thoracic spine. “Fortunately, there were no neurological problems and there are no other serious injuries or skull injuries,” Vine’s UAE Team Emirates said in a statement.

Evenepoel’s team Soudal-QuickStep revealed the Belgian must undergo surgery on a fractured collarbone and fractured scapula. Roglic was the least affected of the big-name trio involved and he headed for the team car having received medical attention. The incident took place when the peloton was descending around a tight right-hand bend with less than 40km of the stage to go, one riding sliding out of the road and on to the bank, sparking a chain reaction as more followed.

The race was then neutralised until the finish, with only the six riders who had been at the front being allowed to sprint for the finish to try to win the stage, victory eventually going to the underwhelmed South African Louis Meintjes, who admitted it was a hollow triumph.

“It’s a sad day. I wish all the guys who crashed all the best and wish them a fast recovery,” Mattias Skjelmose, who took the overall race lead from Roglic, said at the finish. “My mind is with the guys who crashed, and right now I am not thinking about the leader’s jersey.”

Vingegaard won the Tour de France in 2022 and 2023 but with this year’s event starting on 29 June, doubt now hangs over his ability to defend his crown.

• Tour de France

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Tour de France 2021

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In the Winners’ Words: Tadej Pogacar

Tadej pogacar wins 2021 tour de france as van aert takes final stage.

Tour de France stage 21 - As  it happened

Wout van Aert ( Jumbo-Visma ) sprinted to the prestigious stage 21 victory in Paris to win the final stage of the 2021 Tour de France . The finish straight on the Champs-Élysées was 700 metres in length, 400 metres longer than in previous years, but that did not afford chasers enough real estate to catch Van Aert, who surged to the front of the peloton with under 250 metres remaining and took his third stage win of the three-week Grand Tour.

Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) finished second, less than a wheel length from the line, to get his third second-place finish at the Tour. Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck-QuickStep) finished third, but held on to the green jersey as the overall points classification victor, beating Michael Matthews (Team BikeExchange) by 56 points.

UAE Team Emirates rode into Paris with Tadej Pogačar wearing the maillot jaune and safely escorted him to the final podium to claim three classifications – overall, mountains and best young rider.

For the first time since 2012, only two riders finished within 10 minutes of the yellow jersey - Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) finished second, 5:20 off the winning mark, and Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) placed third, another 1:43 back.

Bahrain Victorious won the team competition by 19 minutes ahead of EF Education-Nippo, and Franck Bonnamour (B&B Hotels p/b KTM) claimed the super-combativity award after an aggressive three weeks of racing.

Stage 21 started in Chatou with a gentle pace set by UAE Team Emirates, sporting new jerseys emblazoned with yellow bands to celebrate Pogačar’s second consecutive Tour win. The final 52km of the stage took place over the eight laps of the Champs Élysées, and while sprinters looked for glory in the stage win, Pogačar and his teammates eased across the finish to celebrate a job well done.

News and features

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• Kelderman falls short in battle for Tour de France fourth
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• Vingegaard: Tour de France has been a big, big learning process for me
• Tour de France podium in view for Carapaz after final mountain stage
• Tour de France: Mark Cavendish survives Luz Ardiden with two chances to beat Merckx's record
• Rigoberto Uran cracks and loses chance of Tour de France podium
• Tour de France: Which GC riders lost time at Luz Ardiden
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• Tour de France: Which GC riders lost time on the Col du Portet
• Pogacar doubles down on overall lead with win on 'hardest stage' of Tour de France
• Vingegaard: Second at the Tour de France is really amazing for me
• Majka: Now nobody can say Pogacar doesn't have a strong team at Tour de France
• Ben O'Connor: If I can keep fifth place at the Tour de France, that would be insane
• Kelderman makes gains in Tour de France GC despite crash on stage 17 descent
• Mark Cavendish survives time cut on hardest Tour de France stage so far
• Gaudu working his way up Tour de France hierarchy in final week
• Steven Kruijswijk abandons Tour de France, leaving Jumbo-Visma with four riders
• Nibali: Racing hard at Tour de France has helped me peak for Tokyo Olympics
• Wright makes his first breakaway of Tour de France to support teammate Colbrelli
• Van Aert sparks late skirmish for Tour de France GC favourites on stage 16
• Tour de France: Going long pays off for Konrad in Saint-Gaudens
• Michael Matthews closes in on Mark Cavendish in Tour de France green jersey race
• Chris Froome: If Pogacar stays on his bike this Tour de France is over
• Tour de France stage 16: Riders stop after cold downhill neutral start
• Tour de France stage 15 analysis: a team sport for individuals
• Pogacar broadens his lead on Tour’s first full day of Pyrenean racing
• Sepp Kuss ends 10-year-drought on American Tour de France stage wins
• Jonas Vingegaard: I'm growing into team leader role at Tour de France
• Guillaume Martin: When you have given everything, you can’t be disappointed
• Tour de France: Ineos vow to fight on despite Pogacar's continued dominance
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• Simon Yates abandons Tour de France after crash on stage 13 descent
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• Tour de France leader Pogacar warns he could attack again in the Pyrenees
• Breakaway denies Cavendish a chance to equal Tour de France stage record in Nîmes
• Politt seizes chance offered by Sagan's early Tour de France exit
• Alaphilippe rolls the dice in another Tour de France attack but misses out again
• Peter Sagan abandons the Tour de France
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• Rowe on Tour de France: I hit the wall, guys who I'd normally out-climb were leaving me for dead
• O'Connor battles through 'hardest in-race moment' to stay in Tour de France top five
• Urán moves up to second in Tour de France after steady Mont Ventoux ride
• Tour de France: Wout van Aert claims 'best victory ever' over Mont Ventoux
• Mark Cavendish beats Tour de France time cut on Mont Ventoux as Rowe misses out
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• Primoz Roglic abandons Tour de France
• Mathieu van der Poel’s dream week in Tour de France yellow ends in Alps
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The build-up

Here at Cyclingnews we've been counting down the days until the 2021 Tour de France, with a series of special features to build up to the Grand Départ on Saturday June 26. 

• Tour de France 2021: The essential race guide
• Tour de France bikes: who's riding what in 2021
• Form ranking: Tour de France 2021 contenders, pre-race
• Philippa York: I struggle to see Chris Froome as a Tour de France road captain
• Tour de France snubs: The 9 most controversial rider non-selections
• Out of Pinot's shadow and into the glare: David Gaudu takes aim at the Tour de France
• Tadej Pogacar: A life-changing moment captured in a photograph
• Analysing Ineos Grenadiers' 2021 Tour de France team
• Analysing Jumbo-Visma's 2021 Tour de France squad
• Tour de France 2021: 5 key stages
• Brandon McNulty: The Tour de France call-up
• Alberto Contador: Blowing the Tour de France apart

The 2021 Tour de France will start in Brest in Brittany , on Saturday, June 26 having originally been scheduled for a Grand Départ in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The opening two stages to Landerneau and Mûr-de-Bretagne will provide a chance for the puncheurs, versatile sprinters and climbers to take the maillot jaune early on before the sprinters get two chances to win as the race heads east across the centre of France.

An early GC showdown will come on stage 5 with the 27.2-kilometre time trial from Changé to Laval Espace Mayenne before the road racing resumes with two stages that take the peloton to the Alps.

Stage 8 to Le Grand Bornard will see the first major climbing of the Tour, with three first-category climbs – including the Col de la Colombière – in the second part of the 150.8-kilometre stage. The following day to the 21-kilometre long summit finish at Tignes is just as tough, revisiting the Critérium du Dauphiné one-two of the Col du Pré and Cormet de Roselend.

Tignes also hosts the first rest day on July 5, ahead of a sprint stage in Valence and stage 11's visit to Mont Ventoux, which will be tackled twice before a descent straight to the finish in Malaucène.

Nîmes and Carcassonne offer up two more sprint chances on the following days before a nailed-on breakaway stage in the hills to Quillan take the peloton to the Pyrenees.

There, stage 15 to Andorra brings with it three first-category tests, including the Souvenir Henri Desgrange as the race hits 2,408 metres at Port d'Envalira. A rest day in the microstate. A tough stage to Saint-Gaudens follows but all minds will be on the final two mountain stages.

Stage 17 takes the riders over the Col de Peyresourde and Col de Val Louron-Azet before the HC-rated summit finish at 2,215 metres at the Col du Portet. Stage 18 provides two more HC tests in the Col du Tourmalet and the summit finish at Luz Ardiden, the last chance for climbers to make their mark.

A penultimate sprint stage follows, taking the peloton to Libourne, where stage 20 brings the GC finale in the shape of a 30.8-kilometre time trial to Saint-Emilion. If the Tour hasn't already been decided, then it certainly will be here.

As ever, the grand finale and the crowning of the Tour de France champion comes in Paris on the Champs-Élysées following a 108.4-kilometre ride from Chatou on July 18.

Check out the full details of the 2021 Tour de France route here.

The contenders

Once again, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) will be the main favourites for the title. The two are among the strongest climbers in the peloton and are also world-leading time trialists, which could prove decisive with two tests against the clock lying in wait for the riders.

The pair have enjoyed stellar starts to 2020, with Pogačar taking wins at the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, while Roglič took three wins at PAris-Nice and the overall at Itzulia Basque Country.

The main challenge to the Slovenian duo should come from Ineos Grenadiers, who are led by 2018 winner Geraint Thomas and 2019 Giro d'Italia champion Richard Carapaz . The Welshman recently finished third at the Critérium du Dauphiné and looks best placed to challenge in both the mountains and time trials, while Carapaz is arguably the stronger climber.

Movistar's triumvirate will this year be headed up by new signing Miguel Ángel López , alongside Enric Mas and Alejandro Valverde. The Colombian looked in dominant form at the Mont Ventoux Dénivéle Challenge in June and will hope to improve on his sixth place in 2020.

His compatriot Nairo Quintana is a three-time podium finisher at the Tour and once again leads out Arkéa-Samsic. He won the Vuelta Asturias earlier this year but was off form at the Dauphiné.

Another Colombian to watch is EF Education-Nippo's Rigoberto Urán , who finished second in 2017 and has taken two top 10s since. His teammate and countryman Sergio Higuita could end up the team leader this year.

Elsewhere, look out for Ben O'Connor (AG2R Citroën), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation), Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious), Wilco Kelderman (Bora-Hansgrohe), Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo), and Simon Yates (Team BikeExchange). They're all likely to be in the top 10 GC battle, though fighting for the very top spots looks a little tougher.

Finally, the battle for sprint victories and the green jersey looks wide open, with Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) facing challenges from Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma), Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal), Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious), Tim Merlier and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), Elia Viviani (Cofidis), Giacomo Nizzolo (Qhubeka Assos), Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Cees Bol (Team DSM), Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), and more.

Bikes and tech

As the world's biggest bike race, the publicity and global reach that the Tour de France achieves is a sponsor's dream. As a result, the Tour de France is always a hotbed of tech, with new releases and custom colourways unveiled almost daily as brands work to capture the attention of onlookers. 

What's more, with the hard-fought battle for the yellow jersey, teams will do everything within their power to eke out marginal gains with innovative inventions and mechanical hacks. Most of the time this comes directly from their contracted sponsors, but occasionally teams will look further afield, breaking contracts in the pursuit of free speed. 

Here are the tech talking points we've seen so far:

• Tour de France bikes : who's riding what in 2021
• Oakley launches 2021 Tour de France collection
• Lapierre launches new Xelius SL ahead of the Tour de France
• Trek-Segafredo bikes given all-new colour schemes ahead of the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia Donne
• Pinarello launches new Dogma F in preparation for the Tour de France
• Michael Matthews gets a custom Bianchi Oltre XR4 for Tour de France
• Why are Jumbo Visma using blue tyres at the Tour de France?
• Ineos Grenadiers switch to sponsor-incorrect Princeton Carbonworks wheels at Tour de France
• Tour de France tech: All the tech and trends from the 2021 race
• Is Canyon's broken Aeroad handlebar now fixed? Van der Poel's Tour de France bike suggests it is
• Tour de France winning bikes : Which brand has won the most Tours in history?
• Julian Alaphilippe's S-Works Tarmac SL7 at the Tour de France
• Radical new sunglasses for Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France
• Tour de France gallery: 40 years of time trial technology
• Mark Cavendish's Tour de France stage-winning S-Works Tarmac SL7
• 10-hour journey delivers sponsor-incorrect wheels for Van der Poel's Tour de France time trial
• Alpecin-Fenix go all-in with sponsor-incorrect tech as Van der Poel fights to keep yellow
• Kasper Asgreen to ride the Specialized Aethos in Tour de France mountain stages
• Tour de France helmets : Who's wearing what?
• Tour de France power analysis: Ben O'Connor's Stage 9 win in Tignes
• Spotted: Jumbo Visma on yet more non-sponsor wheels at the Tour de France

Race history

Pogačar is the reigning champion, having overhauled his Slovenian compatriot Roglič in the final time trial at last year's race. The 21-year-old became the race's second-youngest winner after Firmin Labot back in 1904.

Pogačar broke a Ineos/Sky stranglehold on the race, with the British team having won seven of the previous eight Tours de France with Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins and four-time winner Chris Froome. Vincenzo Nibali, then riding for Astana, was the other man to break the British squad's dominance with a win in 2014.

The Tour wins record is currently held by four men, with Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain all on five titles.

2020 was also the year which saw the rare occasion of Sagan getting beaten in the battle for the green jersey. He lost out to Bennett after a race-long battle, but still holds the all-time green jersey rankings with seven wins in nine participations. Erik Zabel's six jerseys lie second, ahead of Sean Kelly's four.

Pogačar is the reigning mountain classification champion, too, having won the yellow, polka dot and white jerseys in 2020. He broke a three-year French stranglehold on the jersey after wins for Romain Bardet, Julian Alaphilippe and Warren Barguil.

Richard Virenque holds the record for polka dot jersey wins at seven, and it won't be beaten anytime soon as Rafał Majka is the only current rider to have won more than one king of the mountains title, with two.

Read on for a list of the riders with the most wins of the Tour de France, the most stage wins, as well as the major jerseys (active riders in bold ).

Most Tour de France wins

• 5 – Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain
• 4 –  Chris Froome
• 3 – Phiilippe Thys, Louison Bobet, Greg LeMond
• 2 – Lucien Petit-Breton, Firmin Lambot, Ottavio Bottecchia, Nicolas Frantz, André Leducq, Antonin Magne, Sylvère Maes, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, Bernard Thévenet, Laurent Fignon, Alberto Contador
• 1 – Vincenzo Nibali , Geraint Thomas , Egan Bernal , Tadej Pogačar

Most Tour de France stage wins

• 34 – Eddy Merckx
• 30 – Mark Cavendish
• 28 – Bernard Hinault
• 25 – André Leducq
• 22 – André Darrigade
• 20 – Nicolas Frantz
• 19 – François Faber
• 17 – Jean Alavoine
• 16 – Jacques Anquetiil, René Le Grevès, Charles Pélissiier –
• 12 – Peter Sagan
• 11 – André Greipel
• 7 – Chris Froome
• 6 – Vincenzo Nibali

Most Tour de France green jersey wins

• 7 –  Peter Sagan
• 6 – Erik Zabel
• 4 – Sean Kelly
• 3 – Jan Janssen, Eddy Merckx, Freddy Maertens, Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, Robbie McEwen
• 2 – Stan Ockers, Jean Graczyk, André Darrigade, Laurent Jalabert, Thor Hushovd
• 1 – Mark Cavendish , Michael Matthews , Sam Bennett

Most Tour de France polka dot jersey wins

• 7 – Richard Virenque
• 6 – Federico Bahamontes, Lucien Van Impe
• 3 – Julio Jiménez
• 2 – Felicien Vervaecke, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul, Imerio Massignan, Eddy Merckx, Luis Herrera, Claudio Chiappucci, Laurent Jalabert, Michael Rasmussen, Rafał Majka
• 1 – Nairo Quintana , Chris Froome , Warren Barguil , Julian Alaphilippe , Romain Bardet , Tadej Pogačar

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Tour de France 2024

The 2024 Tour de France will host a first Grand Départ in Italy along with gravel roads, several mountain tests and a first ever finish outside of Paris

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Tour de France

• Dates 29 Jun - 21 Jul
• Race Length 3,492 kms
• Race Category Elite Men

Updated: January 29, 2024

Tour de France 2024 overview

The 2024 Tour de France will begin on Saturday 29 June, with a first-ever Grand Départ in Italy. The 111th edition of Le Tour will run until Sunday 21 July, finishing in Nice. It will be the first time in the race's history that it will finish outside of France's capital due to the Olympic Games.

The race will feature four summit finishes across the three weeks, at Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet and Plateau de Beille in the Pyrenees before Isola 2000 and Col de la Couillole in the Alps. There are three further mountain days, four hilly stages, and eight stages for the sprinters to target.

Two time trials feature in the route too, with a 25km course on stage 7 and a 34km final stage time trial into Nice. It marks the first time that the Tour de France will conclude with a race against the clock since the iconic Fignon-LeMond battle in 1989.

Gravel also makes an appearance at the Tour for the first time in 2024, with 32km of Champagne region white gravel roads included in stage 9's parcours.

The full route for 2024's edition was unveiled by race organisers ASO on October 25 at Paris' Palais des Congrès.

• Tour de France 2024 route revealed
• Tour de France 2024: Analysing the contenders
• Geraint Thomas to ride both Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in 2024
• Tadej Pogačar to race Tour de France, Olympics, and Worlds after Giro debut
• Jumbo-Visma still expect Tadej Pogačar to threaten at Tour de France

Tour de France 2024 key information

When is the Tour de France 2024?  The 2024 edition of the Tour de France will start on Saturday 29 June and run until Sunday, 21 July.

Where does the Tour de France 2024 take place?  The 2024 Tour de France starts in Italy for the opening three stages, before moving to France for the remainder. For the first time in the race’s history, it will finish outside Paris, due to the 2024 Olympic Games in the French capital, with Nice stepping in to host the finale. In between the Tour will make use of its two staple high-mountain ranges, the Alps and Pyrenees.

Who won the Tour de France in 2023?  The 2023 edition was won by Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), with the Dane putting two-time winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) to the sword for the second year in a row. The contest was evenly-matched until the stage 16 time trial in the Alps, where Vingegaard blew the competition to smithereens.

How old is the Tour de France?  The Tour Tour de France was first held in 1903. The 2024 edition is the 111th.

Who won the first Tour de France?  Maurice Garin was the first ever winner of the Tour de France in 1903, winning the opening stage and holding the lead all the way through.

Who has the most wins at the Tour de France?  Four riders stand at the top of the all-time honours list, with five victories each for Jacques Anqetuil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain They claimed their fifth titles, respectively, in 1964, 1974, 1985, 1995.

Tour de France 2024 route: Four summit finishes, two time trials and gravel roads

The 2024 Tour de France will feature four summit finishes, two time and some gravel roads after a testing start in Italy.

The route for the 111th edition of the race was officially unveiled to the world in Paris’ Palais des Congrès on October 25th by race organisers ASO.

An Italian Grand Départ for the first time ever was already known, so too were the race's final two stages, taking place around Nice as the traditional finish in Paris has been disrupted by the French capital gearing up for the Olympic Games. It marks the first finish outside Paris in the Tour de France's history.

Starting in Florence on June 29 and finishing, 21 stages and two rest days later, in Nice on July 21, the race will cover 3,405.6km, through Italy, San Marino, Monaco and France, with a total of 52,230m of elevation gain.

The race's mountain-heavy focus across the board is clear to see, with a hilly opening few days in Italy followed by a return to France with a bang. Stage 4 sees the race head north from Pinerolo in Italy and the only way is via the Alps. An early meeting with the Col du Galibier before a finish down in Valloire on stage 4 means the highest point in the 2024 Tour will come on the first day of racing on French soil.

Once that's tackled, the Tour de France heads north for a time trial and some gravel roads along France's eastern flank.

As the race enters its second half, back-to-back summit finishes await in the Pyrenees before the riders return to the Alps with finishes atop Isola 2000 and La Colmiane likely to play a deciding factor in the overall standings.

Even after the Alps are dealt with, a final stage individual time trial from Monaco to Nice still includes some climbing, with both La Turbie and Col d'Èze to be tackled before the three weeks can officially be drawn to a close and the winner crowned.

The 2024 Tour de France route will feature gravel for the first time

Despite the race actually featuring 4,170m less elevation gain that the 2023 edition, its bookend positioning is likely to keep the sprinters up at night. The 2024 Tour de France route will traverse four different mountain ranges over the three weeks, including the Apennines in Italy, both the Italian and French Alps, the Massif Central and the Pyrenees. Of the seven mountain stages, four of them will be summit finishes: Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, Plateau de Beille, Isola 2000 and the Col de la Couillole.

Meanwhile, away from the climbing, there's an increase to the time trialling distance at the 2024 Tour de France. Compared to 110th edition's meagre serving of just 22km, there will be 59km against the clock in 2024 on stages 7 and 21. The first ITT is a 25km rolling test, whilst the final stage measures 34km from Monaco to Nice which includes the La Turbie and Col d’Eze climbs before a long descent back to the coast for a short run up and down the Promenade des Anglais to finish the Tour.

The sprinters will be buoyed by at least seven possible chances of glory, however they will first have to battle through the opening few days in the Apennines and Alps.

Arguably one of the most eye-catching days of the race will fall on stage 9, with 32km of white gravel roads included on the route that starts and finishes in Troyes. The hilly stage features 14 gravel sectors across its 199km distance, with the first arriving after 47km and the last just 10km from the line.

For a full look at the route, including a breakdown of each of the three weeks, head to our route announcement page .

Tour de France 2024 contenders: Vingegaard, Roglič, Evenepoel and surely Pogačar

Although the route has not yet been officially unveiled, it’s already clear that we will have a stellar cast of Grand Tour stars for the 2024 Tour de France. Jonas Vingegaard , winner of the past two editions is all but certain to return to go for the triple, and build his season around that target.

It’s also no secret that Primož Roglič , having won the Giro d’Italia last year and the Vuelta a España three times before that, has made the Tour the central ambition of what remains of his career. He has forced an exit from Jumbo-Visma precisely to make that happen, and will certainly lead the line for his new team Bora-Hansgrohe next July.

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) has also strongly indicated that 2024 is the time for his Tour de France debut, even if the Giro d’Italia’s hefty helping of time trialling might give him some cause for doubt. The 23-year-old Belgian won the Vuelta in 2022 but was forced out of this year’s Giro with COVID-19 before an off-day derailed his Vuelta, but he is eager to make the next step to the highest rung of Grand Tour riders.

There is a little more doubt surrounding the other member of the superstar tier of contenders, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), who has been linked with a debut at the Giro. The Slovenian won the Tour twice in 2020 and 2021 but has been runner-up to Vingegaard for the past two years and, for a rider so keen on variety, 2024 may well be the time to shake things up. Even if he did the Giro, it’s unlikely UAE would let him miss the Tour entirely. Whether he could win both is another matter – no one has done it since Marco Pantani in 1998.

Ineos Grenadiers won seven yellow jerseys in the nine years from 2012 to 2019, but have fallen from their perch and don’t appear to have a rider on the same level of those listed above, with Carlos Rodríguez and possibly Geraint Thomas to carry the torch.

Which teams are racing the Tour de France 2024?

The 2024 Tour de France will comprise 22 teams, 18 of which are the WorldTour teams , and two of which are set to be the automatically-invited top two second-division ProTeams . That leaves two wildcard slots for the organisers to grant to teams of their choosing.

• AG2R Citroën
• Alpecin-Deceuninck
• Arkéa Samsic
• Astana Qazaqstan
• Bahrain Victorious
• Bora-Hansgrohe
• dsm-firmenich
• EF Education-EasyPost
• Groupama-FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
• Jayco AlUla
• Jumbo-Visma
• Soudal-Quick Step
• UAE Team Emirates
• Lotto Dstny (if they take up their invite)
• Israel-Premier Tech (if they take up their invite)
• Wildcard invite (TBC)

Tour de France jerseys

As well as 21 stage wins, there are also four distinctive jerseys up for grabs at the Tour de France, with each of the four awarded to a rider at the end of each stage, before the ultimate winner is crowned at the end of the race.

© Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images

The jersey winners at the 2023 Tour de France

Yellow jersey (maillot jaune) –  worn by the leader of the general classification, the rider with the lowest overall time.

Polka dot jersey (maillot à pois) –  worn by the leader of the mountains classification, with points awarded on all categorised climbs.

Green jersey (maillot vert) –  worn by the leader of the points classification, which is based on finishing positions on all road stages. This is often a sprinter.

White jersey (maillot blanc) –  worn by the best young rider, being 25 or under, on the general classification.

Additional classifications:  There is a teams classification, where the riders of the leading team wear yellow dossards (bib numbers), and a combativity prize, where the boldest rider from the previous stage wears a red dossard, with an overall combativity award presented at the end.

What happened at the Tour de France 2023?

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) won the 2023 Tour de France, claiming his second straight yellow jersey after another entertaining battle with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)

Vingegaard landed the first real blow, gaining over a minute on the first Pyrenrean stage in the opening week, but Pogačar hit back the very next day, dropping Vingegaard en route to stage victory at Cauterets. The pair were locked in battle throughout the second week, with Pogačar the chief aggressor on the Puy de Dome, Grand Colombier, and the Col de Joux Plane that preceded the finish in Morzine.

However, he could not shake Vingegaard, and he was knocked for six on the opening day of the final week as the Dane produced one of the most stunning time trial displays in recent memory, taking more than 90 seconds on the hilly TT in the Alps. This time, Pogačar could not fight back, and he fell apart the next day on the tough stage over the Col de la Loze to Courchevel, falling to more than seven minutes down.

There was one final kick-back, as Pogačar won the penultimate stage on the Markstein, but Vingegaard was sailing by that point, and rode into Paris to seal his second Tour de France title.

The green jersey was won by Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who won four sprint stages, while the polka-dot mountains jersey was won by Lidl-Trek’s Italian Giulio Ciccone. Pogačar was the best young rider in his last year of eligibility, while Jumbo-Visma topped the teams classification.

Tour de France history

This maiden Tour started in Montgeron and finished in Paris, visiting Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes along the way. Many of the stages in this first edition exceeded 400km in length, forcing riders to race throughout the night. The home favourite, Maurice Garin, won this inaugural edition and in doing so etched his name into the cycling history books. The Frenchman, affectionately known as ‘The Little Chimney Sweep’, won the first edition by a massive margin of two hours, 59 minutes and 21 seconds - the largest ever winning margin in the history of the race.

In the editions that followed the race snowballed in popularity and soon inspired similar races elsewhere in Europe, most notably in Italy with the Giro d’Italia. During these early years Desgrange toyed with the race’s format and in 1910 he sent the race on its first foray into the Pyrenees, setting a precedent that would remain for nearly every edition since.

He changed the race once again in the 30s when he introduced the concept of national teams, forcing riders to race for their countries rather than their trade teams. After a brief hiatus during World War II the race returned in 1947 under the control of a new chief organiser, Jacques Goddet. Goddet orchestrated the race up until 1986, slowly moulding it into the three-week race we all know and love today.

Over these post-war years, each decade has been dominated by a different rider - their names almost as famous as the Tour itself. Jacques Anquetil dominated during the 60s, Eddy Merckx the 70s, Bernard Hinault the 80s and Miguel Indurain the 90s. These four riders also share the record for the largest number of wins, having won five overall titles apiece.

France dominates the winners list in this race, with 36 wins from 109 editions. Despite topping this list, the home nation has failed to win since 1985 when Hinault took his fifth and final overall title. Several Frenchman have come close over the years - most recently Romain Bardet who placed second in 2016 - but none have managed to bring home the coveted yellow jersey and end the 38-year drought.

It’s France’s sporting rivals, Great Britain, who dominated the race during the last decade. Since 2012, British riders have taken six overall titles with three different riders - Bradley Wiggins (2012), Chris Froome (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017) and Geraint Thomas (2018). All three of these riders rode for Team Sky during their Tour-winning years, a team that dominated the Grand Tours for the best part of a decade. In 2019 they won their seventh Tour title in just eight years, with the young Colombian, Egan Bernal.

The British team, however, have fallen from their perch, with UAE Team Emirates and Jumbo-Visma usurping them in the UCI rankings and sharing the past four Tours between them. The Vingegaard-Pogačar rivalry has served up a thrilling modern chapter of the Tour de France, and witg Evenepoel and Roglič joining the fray from different angles, the 2024 edition promises to be a blockbuster.

Explore more about the Tour de France by clicking on the tabs above.

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Vingegaard, Evenepoel, and Roglič see Tour de France and 2024 Olympic hopes hurt in serious crash at Itzulia Basque Country

A massive crash on Thursday, April 4th, injured several marquee riders on stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country road cycling race, including reigning Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard and fellow tour favourites Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič .

It'll now be a race against time for the three champions, and others injured in the accident, to regain full fitness ahead of a European Summer which includes the Tour de France stage race and the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Nasty crash floors three champions

The crash happened on a sharp bend in the road within the final 40 km of the stage. A dozen riders were involved, with many falling on the deck and into concrete ditches alongside the road.

Two-time defending Tour de France champ Vingegaard spent minutes on the ground before leaving the race on a stretcher to be taken to an ambulance.

"It was a nasty crash, but fortunately, he is stable and conscious. Examinations at the hospital have revealed that he has a broken collarbone and several broken ribs," his Danish team Visma Lease a Bike detailed on social media.

"Further examination in the hospital revealed that he also suffered a pulmonary contusion and pneumothorax,' they later added.

Remco Evenepoel, the 2022 Vuelta a Espana winner, had to wear a sling after the fall. His team, Soudal Quick Step, explained that the Belgian had suffered a fractured clavicle and shoulder plates. They announced on social media that he went to the hospital for further examination.

"Remco will travel to Belgium on Friday, where he will undergo an operation on his collarbone and further examination at the hospital in Herentals. Further updates will be given in due course," the team shared.

Roglič had been leading the race, but was also forced to abandon after a heavy fall. The Olympic time trial gold medallist isn't believed to have suffered injuries as serious as his two rivals. Slovenian cycling fans will be hopeful that the 34-year-old will be back on his bike well ahead of the Grand Tours season.

Others injured in the crash include Australian world champion from 2022 Jay Vine, and Eritrean cyclist Natnael Tesfatsion.

The seriously injured riders will face a battle against time to recover in time for the Tour de France. The 111th edition of the famous French race will begin in Florence, Italy, on June 29th, and end three weeks later in Nice on Sunday, July 21st.

The Paris 2024 Olympic road cycling competitions begin with the Individual Time Trials on 27 July, with the Men's Road Race on 3rd August.

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Vingegaard breaks collarbone and several ribs in crash at race in Spain. Evenepoel also injured

Jonas Hansen Vingegaard - Team Visma - Lease A Bike, the winner of the race, celebrates on the podium with the Trident Trophy after the 59th Tirreno - Adriatico 2024, Stage from San Benedetto del Tronto to San Benedetto del Tronto, Sunday, March 10, 2024 in San Benedetto del Tronto, Tuscany, Italy. (FGianmattia D’Alberto/LaPresse via AP)

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MADRID (AP) — Two-time defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard broke his collarbone and several ribs Thursday in a crash at the Tour of Basque Country that also caught up Olympic gold medalist Primoz Roglič and Remco Evenepoel, who also sustained a broken collarbone.

Evenepoel, one of the favorites for the road race at the Paris Games, also has a broken right shoulder blade and was scheduled return to Belgium on Friday for surgery on his collarbone, his team said.

Vingegaard was hardly moving as he was put in an ambulance wearing an oxygen mask and neck brace after the crash occurred with less than 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) left in the fourth stage.

“Examinations at the hospital have revealed that he has a broken collarbone and several broken ribs. He remains in hospital as a precaution,” Team Visma said of the 27-year-old Danish rider, who won the race in Spain a year ago.

The accident happened as riders were making a right-hand turn, and one rider’s front tire appeared to slip out and send other riders off the road. There were some large rocks in the area, though it wasn’t clear if any of the riders hit them.

Video and images of the crash showed riders strewn alongside the road, including in a concrete drainage ditch.

Vingegaard won both races he entered this season at Tirreno-Adriatico and the Gran Camino in Spain. He is considered the heavy favorite to triumph again at the Tour, which ends with a time trial in Nice this year because of the Paris Olympics.

“Over the radio we heard Jonas was involved in a big crash,” Visma sports director Addy Engels told Eurosport. “We immediately saw that it didn’t look good when we arrived to him. Fortunately, he was conscious. Jonas is now being examined at the hospital. We are waiting for any updates now.”

Evenepoel, who won stages at the Giro d’Italia and Spanish Vuelta last year, hit the pavement and landed in a wooded area during Thursday’s crash, though he appeared to be walking away while clutching his chest.

Evenepoel’s team, Soudal Quick-Step, later confirmed that the Belgian “suffered a fracture to his right collarbone and his right scapula.” The team said he will undergo surgery “and further examination” at the hospital in Belgium.

Roglič was leading the overall race despite a heavy fall on Wednesday. He was one of the riders that ended up in the drainage ditch, and he was later spotted walking to a Bora-Hansgrohe team car and driving away with a team staff.

The injuries to Roglič came one day after his teammate, Lennard Kämna, was hit by an oncoming vehicle and sustained serious injuries while on a training ride in Tenerife. Kämna was expected to spend several days in the intensive care unit.

Other riders taken to the hospital Thursday included Jay Vine of UAE Team Emirates and Steff Cras of TotalEnergies, which reported its rider was conscious and “transferred to hospital to carry out additional examinations.” EF Education-EasyPost said two of its riders, Alexander Cepeda and Sean Quinn were involved, and Quinn was forced to abandon the race and his “medical evaluation was ongoing.” Others involved in the crash included Quinten Hermans and Natnael Tesfatsion.

The race was neutralized until the finish line, and the restart had to be delayed until doctors could rejoin the race to accompany the remaining riders. Six riders who had been in a breakaway stopped to wait in the next town, and they were allowed to sprint for the stage win but neither their times nor any bonuses would count for the general classification.

Louis Meintjes of Intermarché Wanty wound up winning the stage. Mattias Skjelmose took the overall race lead.

“It’s a sad day. I wish all the guys who crashed all the best and wish them a fast recovery,” Skjelmose said at the finish. “My mind is with the guys who crashed, and right now I am not thinking about the leader’s jersey.”

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https://www.barrons.com/news/landa-abandons-tour-of-basque-country-after-another-crash-f3b3de5b

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Landa Breaks Collarbone In Another Tour Of Basque Country Crash

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Mikel Landa broke his collarbone in the Tour of the Basque Country stage five on Friday, with the race still reeling from a horrific mass crash the day before.

Two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard suffered lung damage, broken ribs and a broken collarbone on Thursday, while Remco Evenepoel also broke his collarbone in the same incident.

Primoz Roglic, who had been leading the general classification, retired despite not sustaining fractures in Thursday's crash, while Jay Vine, Sean Quinn and Steff Cras were also hospitalised.

Soudal Quick-Step riders Landa and Gil Gelders were forced out of the race on Friday after another crash.

It was a fast day's racing on the 175.9 kilometre run from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Amorebieta-Etxano, won by Romain Gregoire who edged a bunch sprint to the line.

Spaniard Landa, who finished second in the race last year and in 2018, was pictured on a stretcher being put in an ambulance.

The Belgian team said Landa had fractured his collarbone and "will now undergo further investigation to determine the best path for his recovery".

Lidl-Trek's Mattias Skjelmose defended the yellow jersey he inherited after Roglic's retirement with Max Schachmann two seconds behind after finishing third on stage five.

Gregoire edged Orluis Aular in a photo finish to claim his first world tour win.

"I feel incredibly satisfied, it was a super quick day today and I'm super proud to have won," said a delighted Gregoire.

"I had to really fight right until the end, even up to the finish line I didn't know whether I had won, it was a little bit stressful."

The final stage on Saturday starts and ends in Eibar, featuring seven classified climbs over 137.8 kilometres.

Last year Vingegaard crushed his opponents in a carbon copy of the stage, also claiming general classification victory.

The Dane's injuries pose a question mark over his hopes of recording a third successive Tour de France triumph this summer, with the race beginning on June 29 in Florence, Italy.

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Vingegaard breaks collarbone in major crash at Tour of the Basque Country

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Tour de France in doubt for Jonas Vingegaard and Jay Vine after horrific crash during the Itzulia Basque Country race in Spain

Sport Tour de France in doubt for Jonas Vingegaard and Jay Vine after horrific crash during the Itzulia Basque Country race in Spain

Jonas Vingegaard has been taken to hospital along with leading Australian rider Jay Vine after some of the world's best cyclists suffered injuries in a mass crash at high speed in the Itzulia Basque Country race in Spain. 

The reigning double Tour de France champion Vingegaard was reported to have suffered a broken collarbone and several broken ribs but was "conscious" after the alarming crash that threatens his hopes of a famous treble in July.

Vine, last year's Tour Down Under winner, also ended up crashing heavily in a concrete ditch and was taken away by ambulance.

The 28-year-old was later diagnosed with a fractured cervical vertebra and two fractures in his thoracic spine, with no other major injuries or head trauma. 

It was a disastrous day for another modern-day great too, with Remco Evenepoel, the 2022 world champion, managing to walk away from the crash despite suffering what his Soudal-Quick Step later confirmed was a fracture to his right collarbone and to his right shoulder blade.

He will need surgery on Friday in Belgium.

Giro d'Italia champ Primoz Roglic, who had been the overnight leader, also abandoned the race after giving a thumbs-up to cameras from the team car to show he was OK.

In all, 12 riders near the front of the peloton were involved in the crash, which happened with about 35 kilometres left of the fourth stage between Etxarri Aranatz and Legutio, in northern Spain.

The leaders were making a sweeping right-hand turn on a slight but swift descent, with some sliding off, sending others off the road into the ditch.

Denmark's Vingegaard, who has been in spectacular form and was favourite for the 2024 Tour de France, had to be carried to the ambulance in a neck brace and needed oxygen after treatment at roadside by doctors.

The race was then neutralised until the finish, with only the six riders who had been at the front being allowed to sprint for the finish to try to win the stage, with victory eventually going to the underwhelmed South African Louis Meintjes, who admitted it was a hollow triumph.

"It's a sad day. I wish all the guys who crashed all the best and wish them a fast recovery," Mattias Skjelmose, who took the overall race lead from Roglic, said at the finish.

"My mind is with the guys who crashed, and right now I am not thinking about the leader's jersey."

The crash, which featured three of the world's most outstanding riders in Vingegaard, Evenepoel and Roglic, was also a huge blow for 25-year-old Vine, who has graduated from riding a turbo trainer in his living room to being a peloton star.

He had begun the week-long race on Monday with an exceptional time trial that had left him second behind only Roglic at that stage and revealed afterwards that the Itzulia had been only a late addition to his schedule.

Earlier on Thursday, Roglic's teammate at BORA-Hansgrohe, Lennard Kamna, was reported to be in a "stable condition" in intensive care after he had collided with a car during a training ride in Tenerife.

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Reigning Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard in hospital following horror crash

D efending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard is in hospital after suffering a horror crash during stage four of the Tour of the Basque Country on Thursday.

His cycling team, Team Visma, said that Vingegaard suffered a broken collarbone, several broken ribs, a pulmonary contusion and pneumothorax, or collapsed lung.

“He is stable and had a good night,” the team added. “He remains in hospital.”

Vingegaard’s injury puts his Tour de France title defense in jeopardy, with the race starting earlier this year on June 29 due to the Paris Olympics.

The crash took place around 40 kilometers from the end of the stage as the riders came around a right turn on a descent, with fellow Grand Tour winners Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel also involved.

Television footage showed Vingegaard being taken away on a stretcher and put into an ambulance.

Evenepoel, the 2022 Vuelta a España winner, also suffered a fractured collarbone, his Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team said in a statement, as well as a fractured right shoulder blade.

“Obviously my plans for the short [near] future will change, but I hope and think my longterm goals will not change,” Evenepoel said in a video released by his team on X.

“Everything should be okay with that. Then I need to thank all of the doctors, and also the doctor of the team, that took care of me in the last couple of hours and, of course, I want to wish all of the riders that were involved in the crash all the best, a speedy recovery and I hope to see you all soon on the road again.”

Quick-Step said Evenepoel will travel to Belgium on Friday for surgery on his collarbone.

Other injuries sustained in the crash include a cervical and two thoracic spine vertebral body fractures for Team Emirates rider Jay Vine and a concussion and fractured sternum for EF Pro Cycling’s Sean Quinn.

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Tour de France champ Vingegaard has collapsed lung after crash

Danish rider may not be able to defend his title.

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Two-time defending Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard remained hospitalized in Spain a day after he broke his collarbone and several ribs in a bad crash with other top riders during the Tour of Basque Country.

The Danish rider's Visma-Lease A Bike team said Friday that further tests revealed the Vingegaard also suffered a collapsed lung and a pulmonary contusion. The team said that cycling's leading star was "stable and had a good night" but remains in a hospital in the northern Spanish city of Vitoria.

The accident comes less than three months before the start of the Tour on June 29 when Vingegaard is scheduled to to again face off against top rival Tadej Pogačar. That highly anticipated rematch is now in doubt.

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Vingegaard was hardly moving as he was put in an ambulance wearing an oxygen mask and neck brace after the crash occurred on Thursday with less than 30 kilometres left in the race's fourth stage.

The pileup also took out cycling stars Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel.

Evenepoel, considered one of the favourites for the road race at the Paris Games, broke a collarbone and his right shoulder blade and was set to undergo surgery when he returns to Belgium on Friday, his Soudal Quick-Step team said.

The accident happened as riders were making what looked to be a conventional right-hand turn going downhill when one rider's front tire appeared to slip out and send other cyclists off the road. There were some large rocks and trees in the area, though it wasn't clear if any of the riders hit them. There was also a concrete drainage ditch place on the edge of the curve.

Roglič, a three-time Spanish Vuelta winner, emerged with just scratches but he did have to abandon the race he was leading.

Vingegaard was trying to defend the tittle he won last year at the six-day Tour of Basque Country.

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