Tour de France

Tour de France

The Tour de France is the most important bike race in the pro road cycling calendar. It is an annual multiple-stage race held primarily in France every summer, occasionally venturing into surrounding countries.   It comprises 21 stages that take place over 23 days, which consist of flat, hilly, mountainous terrain, as well as individual time trial races.
Johnny Hoogerland

Smoking riders, punches in the peloton and death-defying crashes: 24 remarkable images from the Tour de France

The unconverted say the Tour de France is a snooze-fest, but these images from the history of the race tell a different story
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Uno-X Mobility team's Norwegian rider Soren Waerenskjold cycles to the finish line to win the 11th stage of the 113th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, 161,3 km between Vichy and Nevers in central France, on July 15, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP via Getty Images)

Today's Tour de France stage 11 was the fastest in the race’s history 

Uno-X Mobility’s Søren Wærenskjold averaged 50.9kph over the 161.3km stage from Vichy to Nevers
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Tadej Pogačar Colnago Y1Rs Tour de France 2026

How much does a Tour de France bike weigh in 2026? We put 7 pro bikes on the scales to find out

Think every pro bike weighs 6.8kg? Think again...
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Luke Plapp Giant Propel Advanced SL at the 2026 Tour de France

Luke Plapp's Giant Propel Advanced SL weighs only 7.1kg ready to race

The Giant Propel has an impressively low weight for an aero bike
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Tadej's Pogacar's Colnago Y1Rs

How much does Tadej Pogačar's Tour de France bike really cost? I added up the total – and it's staggering

The build includes Carbon-Ti chainrings, an aero bottom bracket, custom saddle and special bolts
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Tom Pidcock at Tour de France.

Tom Pidcock crashes after Tour de France whitewashes roads to stop them melting in the heat

The coating was intended to stop the roads from melting, but the safety measure backfired with several riders crashing on stage 10
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Pro cyclists shaved legs

What’s the real reason Tour de France cyclists shave their legs – and why do MAMILs copy them?

There are many reasons why pro cyclists get the razor out, but ultimately there's only one that matters
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Milan Fretin Look 795 Blade RS at the 2026 Tour de France.

Milan Fretin‘s Look 795 Blade RS 3 for the Tour de France is stunning – but does the paint really weigh 200g?

Nice paintjob but does it add too much extra weight?
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Willie Smit pro cyclist.

Cyclist disqualified for using video-recording sunglasses calls out Tour de France hypocrisy

The UCI disqualified Willie Smit from the Tour of Magnificent Qignhai, but he highlighted the governing body's double standard
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Maurice Garin 1903 Tour de France winner

How much have Tour de France bikes changed in 123 years?

From frames to wheels, tyres and finishing kit, here's how the Tour de France bike has evolved since the inaugural edition
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EMBRUN, FRANCE - JULY 21: Cyclists pass a fake toilet with a sign that reads 'La Toilette du Dumoulin' during stage 19 of the 2017 Le Tour de France, a 222.5km stage from Embrun to Salon-de-Provence on July 21, 2017 in Embrun, France. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

What does a Tour de France rider do if they need to poo?

Plus 3 mid-race incidents these riders would rather forget
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Tour de France cyclists sleep outside after being given “questionable” hotel room

Poor sleeping arrangements prompted Tobias Johannessen and Anders Halland Johannessen to sleep outside, and they weren't alone
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Netcompany-Ineos cyclist at 2026 Tour de France.

Netcompany-Ineos provoked disgust, but we can now call them trendsetters

The team's shorts were called "horrid" and a "monstrosity", but switching black for white has caught on at the Tour de France
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“Focused on the raw, emotional reality of cycling”: Lapierre launches limited-edition Xelius DRS frameset to celebrate its 80th year

Unique colourway for its flagship road bike launched by the French brand on Bastille Day
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Tadej Pogačar's Colnago Y1Rs at the 2025 Tour de France

The most influential Tour de France tech, ranked

We rate the innovations that have made it from the pro peloton to everyday riders
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Alpecin-Premier Tech's Jasper Philipsen at 2026 Tour de France.

Jasper Philipsen teases new Shimano S-Phyre shoes at Tour de France

Alpecin-Premier Tech rider appears to have a set of unreleased shoes with minor tweaks over the S-Phyre RC903 released in 2022
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A L'Équipe car after crashing into the finish line barriers during stage 9 of the 2026 Tour de France

Eight fans injured at the Tour de France by car crash in finish straight

Authorities open investigation after incident on stage 9 from Malemort to Ussel
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08/07/2026 - Tour de France 2026 - Étape 5 - Lannemezan / Pau (158,3 km) - Tobias JOHANNESSEN (UNO-X MOBILITY)

"It’s becoming hotter and hotter every year": how the Tour de France is battling extreme heat

With temperatures across Spain and southern France nudging 40ºC, the Tour and riders are taking exceptional measures
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Tadej Pogačar at 2026 Tour de France.

Tadej Pogačar calls for radical overhaul of cycling calendar after Tour de France stage shortened due to heatwave

The defending champion said if he had the power there would be no racing in July and August, after Mathieu van der Poel won stage 9 in the gruelling heat
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Belgian rider Wout Van Aert crashes in the Col de Neronne ascent during the 11th stage of the 111th edition of the Tour de France on July 10 2024

How dangerous is the Tour de France? 

Roughly a fifth of pro riders experience a bone fracture as a result of a crash, and cycling's governing body wants to make racing safer
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PAU, FRANCE - JULY 08: Silvan Dillier of Switzerland and Team Alpecin-Premier Tech leads the peloton during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 5 a 158.3km stage from Lannemezan to Pau / #UCIWT / on July 08, 2026 in Pau, France.

Why do Tour de France cyclists ride together in a group? The peloton explained

The peloton provides easier riding for Tour de France contenders than going it alone
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Wout van Aert drinks a coffee during a rest day at the 2019 Tour de France. David Stockman/AFP via Getty Images)

Why do Tour de France riders drink so much coffee?

Tour caffeine consumption explained
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