Tour de France 2026 Fun Facts

This year marks 123 years of the intense 3 week cycling race that has captured the attention of cyclists and spectators around the world for generations. The 21-stage race takes racers around hills, mountains and flat terrain across 7 regions and 29 departments. This is the 3rd race to start in Spain, with a start in Barcelona this year. To get in the spirit of this historic race, we’re sharing 10 lesser-known fun facts you’ll want to dive into whether you’re a yearslong fan or following the race for the first time.

1) Thousands Tuning-in

The Tour is broadcast in 190+ countries and is one of the most-watched annual sporting events worldwide. Across the three weeks, the Tour attracts a cumulative TV audience in the hundreds of millions. Some estimates (depending on methodology) put total worldwide audience reach in the billions over the whole event.

2) Caravan Chaos:

Since the 1930s, the “caravane publicitaire” has been one of the most unique and entertaining parts of the Tour de France experience for fans along the route. A parade of sponsor vehicles travels the entire race route about 1-2 hours before the riders, with brands decorating cars, trucks and floats with bright designs, music and mascots. Staff on the vehicles throw out free goodies, with many fans just going for the goodies!

3) Calorie Crunching:

The Tour de France demands the best of riders but also a lot of their energy, with most riders burning between 5,000 and 7,000 calories a day - some eating the equivalent of 10-12 meals to keep going. On a flat but fast stage: often 4,000-5,000 kcal in a day. On a big mountain stage or time trial day: 6,000-7,000+ kcal isn’t unusual. For comparison, the average adult might need 2,000-2,500 kcal per day. Across three weeks, riders can burn the equivalent of over 50,000 kcal.

4) Spectacular Speeds:

Cyclists can clock top speeds of 80-100 km/h (50-62 mph)! In extreme cases, with perfect conditions, some riders have been clocked at over 100 km/h. These speeds are achieved with just gravity, aerodynamics and powerful braking skills. Professionals train for years to corner at high speed, knowing exactly when and how hard to brake. Many riders and teams recon (pre ride) key descents or study them in detail on video and maps so they know what speeds they can maintain during each stage. Despite these high speeds, even riders known as fearless descenders still weigh the risk of crashes, especially in wet conditions.

5) In France and Beyond

Although the majority of the race is in France, stages pass through other neighbouring countries. The race often begins outside France with a special “Grand Départ” to showcase other countries and cities. Past starts have included:

  • London (UK)
  • Brussels (Belgium)
  • Utrecht and Rotterdam (Netherlands)
  • Copenhagen (Denmark)
  • Bilbao (Spain)
  • Florence (Italy)

Even when the start is in France, stages frequently dip into other countries such as:

  • Belgium
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • Andorra
  • Monaco

6) Monstrous Miles

Riders typically cover 3,000-3,500 km in total, which is roughly the same distance as cycling from London to Athens and back to Paris. Across the 21 stages over 23 days (including 2 rest days), that averages to roughly 150-170 km per racing day.

7) Exhilarating Ending

Since 1975, the Tour has traditionally finished on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris. Racers finish the last sprint from outside central Paris, then head into the city. Once on the Champs-Élysées, riders complete multiple laps up and down the avenue in a high-speed race to the end.

8) The Yellow Jersey's Journey

The iconic yellow jersey wasn't actually introduced until 16 years after the first race. The Tour de France was created by L’Auto in 1903, a newspaper well-known for printing on yellow pages to stand out from competitors. When a jersey was decided on to designate the leader of the race, yellow was the obvious choice. The yellow jersey was first sported by Eugène Christophe, during the 1919 edition.

9) Broom Wagon Sweeping

Since 1910, the Broom Wagon has made an appearance in every race. The Broom Wagon, or “voiture balai” in French, is a vehicle that follows behind the racers and “sweeps up” riders who abandon or miss the time cut, taking them and their bikes to the finish. The name comes from the idea of sweeping the road clean behind the race.

10) Old Origins

The iconic cycling race was originally a publicity stunt to help the sport newspaper, L’Auto, gain popularity against its competitor. Devised by Géo Lefèvre, the very first race was 6 long stages around France. Totalling 2,400km, the race took riders through brutal conditions on dirt roads. Despite this, the race was a huge hit with readers and has since captured the imagination of cyclists.