| The French are great cycling enthusiasts. The Tour de France is a
bicycle race which is held every summer, and is the biggest annual sporting event in the
world. It was started by Henri Desgranges in 1903. About 200 cyclists from around the
world take part, though the tour is so gruelling that, by the end, 50 or more cyclists may
drop out. The Tour lasts 22 days and takes the cyclists 4,000 kilometres around France
– through towns and villages, over high mountains, and often into neighbouring
countries such as Spain and Italy. Each day a different stage of the race is held, and the
person who is winning overall at that point wears a yellow jersey. The person who goes
fastest overall in the mountain stages is called King of the Mountains, and wears a polka
dot jersey. Before the race begins, people paint the names of their favourite cyclists on
the road, and then turn out in their thousands to cheer the cyclists on. |
