A Century of the Tour de France: From Its Founding to the Glory of the Modern Era

On July 1, 1903, 60 riders set out from a cafe in Montmartre, Paris, on a race that would change the history of cycling forever. This was the birth of the Tour de France — today, it is one of the most-watched annual sporting events in the world, drawing more than 3.5 billion viewers globally each year.

The Origins: A Newspaper’s Marketing Strategy

The Tour de France was born out of a commercial rivalry. The newspapers L’Auto and Le Velo were locked in a fierce battle for readers, and L’Auto editors Henri Desgrange and Geo Lefevre hit on a bold idea: organize a bicycle race around the whole of France, and let the coverage drive newspaper sales.

The Astonishing Scale of the First Edition

Item	1903
Start	Montmartre, Paris
Stages	6
Total distance	2,428 km
Starters	60
Finishers	21
Winner	Maurice Garin

Champion Maurice Garin completed the full course in 94 hours 33 minutes, an average speed of just 25.7 km/h. But in 1903, that was already a remarkable achievement.

The Birth of the Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune)

The origin of the yellow leader’s jersey has a lovely backstory: in 1919, L’Auto was printed on yellow paper (to distinguish it from its main rival’s white paper). Editor Henri Desgrange decided that the overall leader should wear a yellow jersey to echo the newspaper’s color.

From that moment on, the yellow jersey (Maillot Jaune) became cycling’s single most iconic symbol.

Interrupted by War

There are two major gaps in Tour de France history:

• 1915-1918: World War I halted the race for four years
• 1940-1946: World War II halted the race for seven years

During the war years, France was occupied by German forces, yet the French passion for the Tour never went out. During the 1943 occupation, French citizens even organized their own unofficial “Resistance race,” refusing to let the tradition die.

Stories of Legendary Champions

Eddy Merckx: “The Cannibal” (1969-1974)

Belgian rider Eddy Merckx is still regarded by many as the greatest cyclist of all time. His statistics are staggering:

• Tour de France titles: 5 (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974)
• Career wins: 525
• Numerous records across mountain sprints, time trials, and points classifications

His nickname, “The Cannibal,” came from his ruthlessness — he never gave his rivals an inch.

Lance Armstrong: Glory and Downfall

Lance Armstrong left behind a complicated legacy in Tour de France history:

• Once claimed seven consecutive titles (1999-2005)
• Handed a lifetime ban by USADA (the United States Anti-Doping Agency) in 2012
• Stripped of all his titles
• Admitted to years of systematic doping

The scandal forced the Tour to re-examine its historical results and drove a major strengthening of anti-doping measures.

The Modern Hero: Tadej Pogacar

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar represents a new era for the Tour de France:

• Won his first title in 2020 at just 21 years old (the second-youngest champion in history)
• Won again in 2021
• Claimed a dominant third title in 2024

His flawless combination of climbing ability and time-trial power has led many to compare him to a new-generation Merckx.

The Evolution of the Race Format

The Modern Tour’s Jersey System

Jersey	Represents	Scoring basis
Yellow Jersey (Maillot Jaune)	Overall leader	Lowest cumulative riding time
Green Jersey (Maillot Vert)	Points leader	Points from intermediate and stage-finish sprints
Polka Dot Jersey (Maillot a Pois)	King of the Mountains	Climbing points (scored by summit difficulty)
White Jersey (Maillot Blanc)	Best young rider	Overall leader among riders under 26

Diverse Terrain

The modern Tour carefully designs its route so that every type of rider gets a chance to shine:

• Flat Stages: The sprinters’ stage (roughly 8-10 stages)
• Hilly Stages: Opportunities for breakaways or puncheurs
• Mountain Stages: The decisive battleground for all-rounders (usually featuring multiple mountain passes)
• Time Trial: Racing against the clock, typically 1-2 per Tour
• Mountain Top Finish: The stages where the race is often truly decided

A Viewing Guide for Taiwanese Fans

The Time Difference

Tour de France live broadcasts in Taiwan typically fall at:

• Regular stages: 11 PM to 2 AM Taiwan time
• Mountain stages: 1 AM to 4 AM Taiwan time

Many Taiwanese fans choose to watch replays or highlights the next day, but the truly devoted stay up through the night.

Which Moments Are Worth Losing Sleep Over?

Stage type	Excitement level	Recommendation
Time trial	Four stars	Worth staying up for
The final major mountain crossing	Five stars	Must-watch
Final stage (Champs-Elysees)	Four stars	A cherished tradition
Flat sprint stages	Three stars	Highlights are enough

The Tour’s Emotional Peaks

• The final time-trial standings: seconds decide the champion
• Summit finishes in the Alps or Pyrenees: attacks and chases among the riders
• The overall winner’s entry onto the Champs-Elysees in Paris: by tradition, no one attacks the yellow jersey here — a display of the sport’s chivalry

The Tour’s Cultural Impact

What It Means to French Culture

The Tour de France is more than a sporting event — it is part of French national identity:

• More than 10 million French spectators line the roadside every year
• For small towns along the route, this single day can drive a year’s worth of business
• Places the race passes through (such as Alpe d’Huez and Col du Tourmalet) have become pilgrimage sites

Industries It Drives

Industry	Impact of the Tour de France
Tourism	Cycling tourism along Tour routes stays busy year-round
Bicycle manufacturing	Technological innovations (aerodynamics, materials) filter down to consumer products
Sports science	Advances in training, nutrition, and recovery
Media broadcasting	Innovations in aerial coverage (among the earliest sports to use helicopter broadcasting)

Conclusion

Across 120 years of history, the Tour de France has borne witness to the limits of human physical performance, the march of technology, and both the brilliance and the darker sides of sporting spirit. It is a mirror reflecting the shape of each era it has passed through.

For cyclists in Taiwan, the Tour de France is far more than a distant European race — it is a symbol of the grand dream every cycling enthusiast carries in their heart each time they get on a bike. Every pedal stroke is, in its own small way, a tribute to that great history.

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