The Tour de France

The Tour de France is the most famous bike race in the world. It happens every summer in France. Riders pedal for about three weeks. They go over flat roads, up big mountains, and through small towns. The race is more than 2,000 miles long.

How It Works

The race is broken into 21 parts called stages. Each stage is like a mini race. The time for all stages is added up at the end. The rider with the lowest total time is the winner. They get to wear a special yellow shirt called the yellow jersey.

Special Jerseys

There are four special jerseys in the race. The yellow jersey is for the overall leader. The green jersey is for the best sprinter. The polka dot jersey is for the best climber in the mountains. The white jersey is for the best young rider. These jerseys are given out every day.

Fun Facts

• The Tour de France started in 1903.
• Riders burn about 6,000 calories every day during the race.
• The race ends on a famous street in Paris called the Champs-Elysees.

Did You Know?

The Tour de France is so long that riders need to eat while biking, often grabbing food from their team car without stopping.