Top 6 Reasons Why Tour De France Should Be On Your Bucket List

The Tour de France is said to be the biggest event on two wheels and rightfully so; it’s the most popular cycling event in the world, watched by millions. Every year, all eyes are on France during the month of July, and fans can expect memorable moments as cyclists compete for victory. Here’s why the Tour de France is definitely an event that should be on your sporting calendar and why Tour de France tours are highly sought after by cycling enthusiasts.

An Event that Stands Out

Although there are hundreds of cycling events held during the year all over the world, most of them overlap, so it’s difficult for riders to decide where they should compete, and when. However, the July racing calendar is dominated by one event – the Tour de France. This also makes the majority of other races throughout the year more of a training event than anything else, as riders compete and prepare for the big one – the Tour de France.

It’s a Unique Event

With millions of people around the world watching – even non-cyclists – this event is definitely different from other cycling tours. There are four shirts given to leaders of the race. The overall leader gets the “maillot jaune”, while the “maillot vert” is given to the winner of that day’s stage. The “maillot pois” is given to the best climber, and the best youth competitor is awarded with the “maillot blanc”. The competitor who takes the lowest overall time is the winner of the Tour de France. This makes it possible for someone to win the tour without actually winning a stage in the race.

The Mountain Stages

The mountain stages are by far the most popular among viewers. It requires a lot of effort on the rider’s side, day after day, to ride up some of the most challenging roads in Europe. During the last few minutes of each day, the race gets exciting, as riders race to the end in speedy sprints to get ahead. Among the most challenging of mountain passes are the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees and the Alpe d’Huez in the Alps.

See Your Favourite Riders

With more than 10 million Euros spent on this tour every year by the French, it’s definitely an event worth noting. Fans can attend the event for free and even pat the racers, so getting up close and personal is a major attraction for cycling fans. The area is also perfectly chosen, as you’ll see some of the most spectacular views and surroundings imaginable. There are drones with HD cameras to view all the magnificent landmarks like churches and castles and mountains.

The Route

While some aspects of the race stays the same, the route changes every year. The tour begins in a different city every year, making it exciting for fans to watch. Most of the towns that the Tour de France go through will make a big deal of it, with decorations and welcome banners. This of course makes it better for every spectator as you get to experience the best of each location.

The Jerseys

The “maillot jaune” or the popular yellow jersey is the most important one of all, as any spectator will know. That jersey is worn by the rider at the top of the general classification, which means that they have completed the stages in the least amount of time so far. Even if it’s only for a day, wearing the yellow jersey is one of the highlights of any cyclist’s career. In the end, the yellow jersey goes to the winner.