It’s a man’s battle against his own athletic abilities. Yes, it’s the adrenaline of the time trial, the long route strategy, the exhaustion of climbing, the loneliness of the mountains, the hustle and bustle of escapism and the intense desire to wear the yellow jersey at every tiring ending. day.

This is how the journey goes as kilometers are spent between countries, cities, towns, valleys and mountains; one by one until they become tens, hundreds and thousands to complete more than 3,300 agreed for this edition.

Yes, the legendary Tour de France reigns supreme over all other races. No other competition is as grueling as this one, and therefore none offers the luxury and relevance of a win, already on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. 108 previous editions testify and support it for the beginning 109.

A story of glory and shame

In the world of sport there are events that cannot be ignored: there is the World Cup in football, the Superbowl in America, the World Series in baseball, 24 Hours of Le Mans in motorsports and, of course, the Tour de France in cycling.

Yes, with 119 years of existence, the Tour has had it all. Since the first edition in 1903, promoted by Henri Desgrange to increase sales of his newspaper, where 60 cyclists took part on bicycles weighing more than 20 kilograms, without having any equipment that the contestants had to carry themselves because mechanical assistance was not allowed, let alone an accompanying vehicle.

Thus they covered the first six stages of the Tour in 19 days to cover the scheduled 2,428 kilometers. The first place winner was Maurice Garin… and from then on it was discovered that the master test of physical endurance had been born.

And yes, it’s the Tour that sets itself apart from the rest of the sport due to the enormous demand that cyclists experience during the 21 stages that make up its route, with only two days off. In 2022, four countries will be crossed, with six flat stages, seven relief stages, six mountain stages and two spectacular time trial stages.

But unlike more than a hundred years ago, today’s technology goes hand in hand, with increasingly lighter bikes, a clearer strategy, and a team that specializes in launching figures in search of Elysées glory.

It is also clear that not everyone can compete in the Tour de France, much less win due to the enormous physical wear and tear required, which is why it has always been, and even more so in recent years, under constant scrutiny from doping-fighting authorities. ; In fact, we must not forget that the EPO scandal that was blown up gradually in 1998 led to the formation of the World Anti-Doping Agency. In addition, in its black history is the memory of Lance Armstrong which left a stripped title gap.

Nonetheless, the Tour stays true and adapts to the new age, with an unbreakable legendary label.

great race

Tour de France reaches its 109th edition, starting its route in Denmark and ending on the Champs Elysées in Paris

BACKGROUND

First edition: 1903

Founder: Henri Desgrange

Edition: 109

top winner

Jacques Anquetil (France) 5 degrees

Eddy Merckx (Belgium) 5 titles

Bernard Hinault (France) 5 titles

Miguel Indurain (Spain) 5 titles

2022 ISSUE

date: July 1-24

Beginning: Copenhagen, Denmark)

conclude: Paris, France)

stages: twenty one

country: Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and France

Equipment: 22

cyclist: 176

mileage: 3,349.8 kilometers

FAVORITE

Tadej Pogacar

Country: Slovenia

Team: UAE Team Emirates

Primoz Roglic

Country: Slovenia

Team: Jumbo-Visma

Jonas Vingegaard

Country: Denmark

Team: Jumbo-Visma

Geraint Thomas

Great Britain

Team: INEOS Grenadier

Daniel Felipe Martinez

Colombia

Team: INEOS Grenadier

STEP

Stage 1 (07/1)

Copenhagen

trial time

13.2 kilometers

Stage 2 (2/07)

Roskilde to Nyborg

shovel

202.5 kilometers

Stage 3 (3/07)

Vejle to Sønderborg

shovel

182 kilometers

TRANSFER (4/07)

Stage 4 (5/07)

Dunkirk to Calais

mid-mountain

171.5 kilometers

Stage 5 (6/07)

Lille Metropole to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut

Middle Mountain

157 kilometers

Stage 6 (7/07)

Binche to Longwy

mid-mountain

220 kilometers

Stage 7 (8/07)

Tomblaine to La super Planche des Belles Filles

Mountain

176.5 kilometers

Stage 8 (9/07)

Dole to Lausanne

mid-mountain

186.5 kilometers

Stage 9 (10/07)

Aigle to Châtel Les Portes du Soleil

Mountain

193 kilometers

break (11/07)

Stage 10 (12/07)

Morzine Les Portes du Soleil to Megeve

mid-mountain

148.5 kilometers

Stage 11 (13/07)

Albertville to Col du Granon

Mountain

152 kilometers

Stage 12 (14/07)

Briancon to Alpe d’Huez

Mountain

165.5 kilometers

Stage 13 (15/07)

Bourg d’Oisans to Saint-Etienne

shovel

193 kilometers

Stage 14 (16/07)

Saint-Etienne to Mende

mid-mountain

192.5 kilometers

Stage 15 (17/07)

Rodez to Carcassonne

shovel

202.5 kilometers

break (18/07)

Stage 16 (19/07)

Carcassonne to Foix

mid-mountain

178.5 kilometers

Stage 17 (2007)

Saint-Gaudens-Peyragudes

Mountain

130 kilometers

Stage 18 (21/07)

Lourdes Hautacam

Mountain

143.5 kilometers

Stage 19 (22/07)

Castelnau-Magnoac to Cahors

shovel

188.5 Kilometers

Stage 20 (23/07)

Lacapelle-Marival to Rocamadour

trial time

40.7 kilometers

Stage 21 (24/07)

Paris La Defense Arena-Champs-Elysées

shovel

116 kilometers

MGC