The complete history of the Tour de France, cycling's greatest race. Though greatest is up for debate, it's certainly the most well known.
In 1903, the struggling French newspaper L'Auto birthed the greatest annual cycling event in the world, the Tour de France, in a bid to outdo its rival, Le Vélo. Conceived as a grueling 2,428-kilometer, 6-stage race around France, it attracted a motley crew of 60 riders drawn in by a hefty prize pool and the promise of adventure. The race quickly grew in popularity, and despite setbacks and scandals like cheating and violent fans, Henri Desgrange, the editor of L'Auto, was undeterred, making the race longer and more brutal to boost excitement and readership. From unpaved roads and no helmets to challenging mountain stages, the early races were a testament to the riders' pure strength, willpower, and resilience.
Over the years, the Tour has seen numerous changes. Initially contested by national teams, the format shifted to sponsor-supported trade teams in 1961. International riders joined the fray in the 80s, and the 90s saw the race expanding further, with starts in different countries. The turn of the century ushered in the era of Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor who won seven times consecutively before being stripped of his titles for doping. Recent decades have witnessed a transformation in the race's dynamics with teams becoming central, riders specializing, and technology playing a pivotal role in strategizing. In 2023, the Tour features a thrilling 19-stage, 3400km race with riveting rivalries and the promise of drama. The Tour de France remains a spectacle of triumphs, heartbreaks, and redemption – a journey that transcends the finish line on the Champs-Elysées.
First time trying the storytelling aspect of a video - wrote it in early May so hopefully the contenders still hold up (rip Tadej Pogačar's wrist). If I messed stuff up, please let me know in the comments how bad I am :)
@LeTourDeFrance
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]
I do not own any of the content used in this video.
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
