The Tour de France is one of the most prestigious and popular global cycling events. One of the reasons for this is because of the route of the race. The race crosses most of France and some other countries. In 2024, it went through France, Italy, San Marino, and Monaco. It’s a real exposure to the beauty of these countries and local spectators who flock to watch as riders come through their towns. Some of the spectators even camp out a day or two before to make sure they get a good viewing spot.
Widespread global coverage
People from all over the world love watching the Tour de France. In 2020, there were already about 40 million television viewers. Viewership of the race usually averages about 3.5 million per stage. Many people also visit the official website and use the app.
Swiss Watchmaker, Tissot, hosted a fantasy game in 2020 where fans could create their own cycling team using names of participating cyclists. Nearly 193,000 players signed up to play. The Tour de France is one of the most bet-on cycling races yearly. In America, sports betting is now legal in many states, and Americans will be eagerly looking forward to placing their bets on the race next year. Many of them use their mobile phones and sports betting apps to place their bets conveniently.
The first Grand Tour in the world
It may be hard to believe but the Tour de France started in 1903 as a way for a French newspaper to get publicity. Two newspapers in France, Le Vélo and L’Auto, were both popular for reporting on sports. Le Vélo was the first and largest daily newspaper so it was hard to compete against. A cycling journalist at L’Auto suggested a long-distance cycle race to give the paper more presence. The first Tour de France took place over 19 days in six stages and it started and ended in Paris.
It attracts the best cyclists
In competitive online gaming, playing with more skilled players can challenge other players to improve. The same is true when it comes to competitive cycling. Great cyclists all want to participate in the Tour de France. It doesn’t matter whether they are sprinters, one-day cyclists, or mountain bike riders. Teams from every continent participate, and each team does everything to bring their rider to victory.
A whole economy around the event
Many brands sponsor the Tour of France because they get great visibility. Many people arrive way before the race and wait on chairs for a picnic or a drink. La caravane is like a parade where about 150 vehicles pass by and throw gifts like tote bags, stickers, and toys at the crowd. This is all part of what makes it a memorable experience.
Great mountain ranges
The route passes through various breathtaking mountains – the Apennines in Italy, the Italian and French Alps, the Massif Central, and the Pyrenees. Reaching a mountain pass is exciting for cyclists and spectators. The steep inclines can push cyclists to their limits. The Pyrenees’ Col du Tourmalet is one mountain that tests their endurance. To add to the difficulty, the long narrow roads are lined with spectators.
It epitomizes cycling
The Tour de France epitomizes cycling. It is the main event of the cycling year, the most prestigious one, and one of the most beautiful to watch. July is a spectacular time of year in European countries. If you want to know where to watch the highlights of the Tour de France from July 2024, NBC holds the rights to broadcast it in the U.S.
