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Tour De France
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Published: August 17, 2006
The most famous three weeks of voluntary suffering, known as the Tour de France, began as the result of a competitive French newspaper's marketing strategy in the early 20th century.
Cycling journalist Georges Lefevre created the race as an event to boost public awareness of the French newspaper L'Auto, which competed against Le Petit Journal, and rally against the journal-sponsored cycling race called the Paris-Brest Et Retour. L'Auto needed to increase publicity after having to change its name due to a dispute with another publication. Lefevre proposed a six-day race outside on the streets of France rather than the normal race on an indoor track. Labeled the greatest cycling trial in the world by L'Auto, the first Tour de France began in July 1903.
By today's standards, the first Tour de France was anything but a complete and competitive platoon of riders. Because of its 20-franc entrance fee, only 15 riders initially registered for the first Tour de France. To boost public support, the race director, L'Auto's editor Henri Desgrange, decided to pay 5 francs per day for the costs of riding to the first 50 riders enlisted. He also increased the prize money.
On July 30, 1903, 60 cyclists took the road and the first Tour de France was underway. Maurice Garin was won the contest's 20,000-franc prize. 20,000 French people witnessed history as the victor sped across the finish line. Garin was not the only winner; L'Auto's circulation more than doubled after the completion of the first Tour De France, and it would only continue to grow afterward.
Desgrange became the tour's director, modifying the already-intense course. Seven years after the first race, he included a portion of the race set in the Pyrenees Mountains. The next year, cyclists were dared to defeat the Alps. By 1920, the overall leading rider wore a signature yellow jersey, or maillot jaune, a tradition still present in today's Tour de France.
The Tour de France has occurred every year since its genesis, except during World Wars I and II. During the 1960s, the French cyclist Jacques Anquetil won the tour four straight years. The legendary Eddy Merckx, whose son now professionally races, also won the race for four straight years, from 1969 to 1972, and again in 1974. The French dominated most of the Tour de France during the 20th century with riders like Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon. In the 1980s, however, American Greg LeMond took home the crown a total of three times. Spanish cyclist Miguel Indurain also amazed the cycling world by winning five years in a row, from 1991 to 1995.
American cyclist Lance Armstrong emerged in the late 1990s as a formidable Tour de France opponent. After battling an aggressive and nearly-fatal strain of cancer, Armstrong shocked the world in 1999 when he won the first of seven consecutive overall championships at the Tour de France. While continually testing negative for alleged drug use, Armstrong was only challenged a few times, mainly by Germany's Jan Ullrich.
The Tour de France has become increasingly popular around the world due to the dramatic increase of media outlets, Armstrong's unequivocal success and the health benefits of cardiovascular exercise. Originally a marketing tactic to increase sales of a French newspaper, the Tour de France has evolved into one of the greatest spectacles of brute determination, incomparable endurance and exhilarating finishes.
Cycling journalist Georges Lefevre created the race as an event to boost public awareness of the French newspaper L'Auto, which competed against Le Petit Journal, and rally against the journal-sponsored cycling race called the Paris-Brest Et Retour. L'Auto needed to increase publicity after having to change its name due to a dispute with another publication. Lefevre proposed a six-day race outside on the streets of France rather than the normal race on an indoor track. Labeled the greatest cycling trial in the world by L'Auto, the first Tour de France began in July 1903.
By today's standards, the first Tour de France was anything but a complete and competitive platoon of riders. Because of its 20-franc entrance fee, only 15 riders initially registered for the first Tour de France. To boost public support, the race director, L'Auto's editor Henri Desgrange, decided to pay 5 francs per day for the costs of riding to the first 50 riders enlisted. He also increased the prize money.
On July 30, 1903, 60 cyclists took the road and the first Tour de France was underway. Maurice Garin was won the contest's 20,000-franc prize. 20,000 French people witnessed history as the victor sped across the finish line. Garin was not the only winner; L'Auto's circulation more than doubled after the completion of the first Tour De France, and it would only continue to grow afterward.
Desgrange became the tour's director, modifying the already-intense course. Seven years after the first race, he included a portion of the race set in the Pyrenees Mountains. The next year, cyclists were dared to defeat the Alps. By 1920, the overall leading rider wore a signature yellow jersey, or maillot jaune, a tradition still present in today's Tour de France.
The Tour de France has occurred every year since its genesis, except during World Wars I and II. During the 1960s, the French cyclist Jacques Anquetil won the tour four straight years. The legendary Eddy Merckx, whose son now professionally races, also won the race for four straight years, from 1969 to 1972, and again in 1974. The French dominated most of the Tour de France during the 20th century with riders like Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon. In the 1980s, however, American Greg LeMond took home the crown a total of three times. Spanish cyclist Miguel Indurain also amazed the cycling world by winning five years in a row, from 1991 to 1995.
American cyclist Lance Armstrong emerged in the late 1990s as a formidable Tour de France opponent. After battling an aggressive and nearly-fatal strain of cancer, Armstrong shocked the world in 1999 when he won the first of seven consecutive overall championships at the Tour de France. While continually testing negative for alleged drug use, Armstrong was only challenged a few times, mainly by Germany's Jan Ullrich.
The Tour de France has become increasingly popular around the world due to the dramatic increase of media outlets, Armstrong's unequivocal success and the health benefits of cardiovascular exercise. Originally a marketing tactic to increase sales of a French newspaper, the Tour de France has evolved into one of the greatest spectacles of brute determination, incomparable endurance and exhilarating finishes.
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