The Tour de France is an incredibly exciting event that’s followed by followers all across the world.  Nonetheless, the Tour de France will also be intimidating to those that aren’t acquainted with the sport of cycling, or the race itself.  Let’s go over some of the basics, so that you just’ll be capable of observe this 12 months’s Tour de France with a better understanding of the events happening!

To begin with, the article of the Tour de France is, after all, to complete the overall race with the fastest time.  What complicates things is that the Tour de France is a race that is divided up over a period of about three weeks.  It’s important to know that the race itself is divided into totally different components called stages.  Each stage lasts at some point, although the phases will be fairly long.  There are a complete of 21 stages, and the complete race is usually properly over 1,800 miles (or over three,500 km) lengthy!

Though the item of the Tour de France is to win the general race as an entire, every stage is handled very like its personal particular person race.  Winners of phases obtain prize cash, and successful a stage of the Tour de France is commonly considered an even bigger accomplishment than profitable different single-day races.  The levels themselves could be flat, mountainous, or anywhere in between, and sometimes there are individual time trials that function stages.  Competitors usually get a couple of days to relaxation through the race, as well.

For those who’ve seen footage of the Tour de France earlier than, or heard others speak about it, you probably need to know what the yellow jersey is all about.  The famed yellow jersey is one among 4 totally different jerseys that designate that the rider sporting it has achieved a selected feat.  The rider carrying the yellow jersey is the general leader of the race.  To find out who has earned the yellow jersey at any point within the race, officers merely take the lowest total combined time from all the stages.

The inexperienced jersey is awarded to the points chief within the race.  Factors are earned according to passing order on the finish line or in intermediate sprints.  Because of this, riders who concentrate on sprints are generally those found carrying the green jersey.

The distinctive polka dot jersey goes to the leader of the “mountain classification”, with factors being earned in accordance with passing order on mountain stages.  Therefore, it’s often said that the rider wearing the polka dot jersey is the perfect climber of the race.

Finally, the white jersey is barely worn by riders aged 25 years or younger.  This jersey is meant to highlight the rising stars of the cycling world and the Tour de France.  Many riders who wore the white jersey have also gone on to win the coveted yellow jersey in their careers.

There are other awards given in the course of the Tour de France as well.  The combativity prize is often known as the fighting spirit award and is awarded by a panel of eight cycling specialists.  There may be also a staff award referred to as the team classification, which is given after adding the times of the top three riders for every crew for every stage to get a complete time.  Riders in teams typically assist one another by “slipstreaming” behind each other for higher speed, or utilizing other crew tactics.  Teams are grouped by frequent sponsors.

It also bears mentioning that ending straight stages in the top three can earn you bonus seconds, which show you how to shave valuable seconds off of your complete time.  Additionally, the final mountain climb of the Tour de France is for double points, which is a great incentive for climbers.  The double factors have been added to the official race rules beginning in 2004.

Now that we’ve addressed the fundamentals of the Tour de France, you’ll be better ready to take pleasure in one of the world’s most prestigious and historic sporting events.  Be certain to concentrate to what’s happening during the races, and also you’ll discover that it’s not nearly as sophisticated as it might have seemed.  Earlier than you already know it, you’ll be cheering your favorite rider on in direction of the yellow jacket!