Think the Tour de France is just a lot of people riding bikes for three weeks? Think again! Here’s your simple, jargon-free guide to understanding the world’s most famous cycling race, from the yellow jersey to mountain climbs, team tactics and why everyone seems to be wearing a different colour.
You don’t need to own a road bike, know your watts from your wheels, or be able to pronounce peloton correctly to enjoy it. Whether you’re a casual cyclist, a fan of the Tour’s spectacular scenery, or someone who just wants to understand what all the fuss is about, here’s everything you need to know.
So, what exactly is the Tour de France?
The Tour de France is an annual professional cycling race that takes place over approximately three weeks in July. First held in 1903, it has grown into one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Riders race across France and sometimes neighbouring countries, tackling everything from flat country roads and picturesque villages to steep mountain passes and busy city streets.
The modern race usually consists of 21 stages, with rest days in between. Each stage is a separate day of racing, and the route changes every year.
The finish traditionally takes place in Paris, although the exact route and finishing arrangements can vary.
The important thing to understand is that the Tour isn't simply about winning individual races each day. It's about completing the entire race in the fastest overall time.
You can watch the official route and race information on the Tour de France website.
How does the Tour de France actually work?
Imagine a really long school sports day that lasts three weeks, involves hundreds of miles of cycling, and has a different challenge every day.
That's the Tour de France, more or less!
Here's how it works.
1. There are different stages
Each day of racing is called a stage. Some stages are relatively straightforward, while others are absolutely brutal.
The main types of stages are:
Flat stages: These take place on flatter roads and are often best suited to powerful, fast riders called sprinters. They can look relatively calm for much of the day before exploding into an incredibly fast finish.
Mountain stages: These involve long, steep climbs where riders can spend hours battling gravity. Mountain stages are often where the overall contenders make their biggest moves.
Hilly stages: Somewhere between the two, these stages feature rolling roads and smaller climbs that can be surprisingly difficult.
Time trials: These are races against the clock. Riders, or teams in a team time trial, set off in a controlled format and try to complete the course as quickly as possible.
The route is different every year, which means the riders must adapt their strategies depending on what lies ahead.
2. The overall winner is the rider with the lowest total time
This is the most important rule of the Tour.
Every rider accumulates a time across the stages they complete. At the end, the rider with the lowest combined time wins the overall race.
For example, imagine two riders have completed the first five stages.
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Rider A has a total time of 20 hours.
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Rider B has a total time of 20 hours and 30 seconds.
Rider A is leading by 30 seconds.
Even if Rider B wins the next stage, Rider A can still be ahead overall. It depends on how much time each rider gains or loses.
This is why you might see a rider finish a stage in second or third place and still be delighted. If their biggest rival finishes several minutes behind them, they've potentially made a huge gain in the overall competition.
There can also be time bonuses at certain finishes, so the standings aren't always just a straightforward addition of stage times.
3. The yellow jersey is the one everyone wants
The famous yellow jersey, known in French as the maillot jaune, is worn by the rider leading the overall classification.
In other words, it's worn by the person who is currently on course to win the Tour.
After each stage, the standings are updated and the new leader gets to wear yellow on the following stage.
A rider might wear yellow for several days, lose it in the mountains, and then regain it later.
The final wearer of the yellow jersey is the overall Tour de France winner.
Fun fact: The yellow jersey was introduced in 1919. The colour is traditionally associated with the yellow paper used by the newspaper L'Auto, which organised the race.
What do the different coloured jerseys mean?
If you've ever watched the Tour and wondered why some riders wear yellow, others wear green, and some have red spots all over them, you're not alone.
There are four main individual classification jerseys to know about.
The yellow jersey: The overall leader
This is the big one. It belongs to the rider with the lowest accumulated time across the race.
Think of it as the Tour's equivalent of being top of the league.
The green jersey: The sprinter
The green jersey represents the points classification.
Riders earn points at designated sprint points and stage finishes. The system generally favours fast finishers, particularly those who can consistently compete for stage wins on flatter days.
A rider doesn't have to win the entire Tour to win the green jersey. They just need to collect the most points in this competition.
The polka-dot jersey: The mountain specialist
The white jersey with red spots goes to the leader of the mountains classification.
Points are awarded for reaching designated mountain summits, with tougher climbs generally offering more points.
This jersey is often associated with the best climbers, although the competition can also reward riders who make a habit of attacking in the mountains.
The white jersey: The best young rider
The white jersey is awarded to the best-placed eligible young rider in the overall classification.
Under the current rules, riders must be under 26 at the start of the year to qualify.
It's a way of recognising the next generation of cycling talent.
One rider can sometimes win more than one classification, although the rules determine which jersey they wear when classifications overlap.
Why do cyclists ride in teams if only one person wins?
This is one of the most confusing things about the Tour for beginners.
If the yellow jersey goes to an individual, why are there teams of riders working together?
Because cycling is surprisingly tactical, and even the strongest rider cannot do everything alone.
A team typically has a leader who is their main contender for the overall title. The other riders help that leader conserve energy, stay safe and get into the best position for important moments.
These supporting riders are often called domestiques.
They might:
- Ride in front of their leader to help shield them from the wind.
- Fetch water bottles and food from the team car.
- Chase down riders who have escaped ahead.
- Set a fast pace to tire out rival teams.
- Help their leader on mountain climbs or during difficult stages.
Think of it like a football team where everyone has a different job, but one player is the main goal-scoring threat.
A rider who looks like they're doing very little might actually be saving their energy for the moment when their team needs them most.
And sometimes a supporting rider gets permission to chase their own stage victory. Teamwork and individual ambition can go hand in hand.
Why do cyclists ride so close together?
You'll often see dozens of riders packed tightly together in a large group. This is called the peloton.
It might look chaotic, but there's a good reason for it.
Riding behind another cyclist reduces the amount of wind resistance you face, helping you save energy. In a race lasting thousands of kilometres, that can make a huge difference.
Riders take turns near the front, shelter behind one another and try to conserve as much energy as possible.
When a rider moves away from the group and tries to stay ahead, it's called a breakaway.
Sometimes a small group escapes early and stays away until the finish. Other times, the main group catches them just before the end.
That uncertainty is part of what makes the racing exciting.
Why are the mountains such a big deal?
The mountains are often where the Tour is won or lost.
Cyclists must climb long, steep roads that can stretch for many kilometres. They also have to manage their energy carefully because there's usually another stage waiting the next day.
The strongest climbers can gain time on their rivals by riding uphill faster, attacking at the right moment or simply maintaining a pace that others cannot match.
But climbing is only half the challenge. Riders must also descend safely at high speeds on winding mountain roads.
The famous mountain ranges of the Tour include the Alps and the Pyrenees.
Mountain stages can completely change the overall standings. A rider who has been leading for days can lose several minutes in a single difficult climb.
This is also why the overall winner needs to be a well-rounded rider. Being fast on flat roads isn't enough if you lose too much time in the mountains.
Who wins each day?
Every stage has its own winner, and these victories are a big deal in their own right.
A rider might not have any realistic chance of winning the yellow jersey but could still be a brilliant sprinter, climber or breakaway specialist.
Different riders target different stages depending on their strengths.
For example:
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A sprinter might save their energy for a flat stage with a fast finish.
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A climber might target a difficult mountain stage.
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A rider outside the overall contest might attack early and try to stay ahead of the peloton.
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A time-trial specialist might focus on the stages where individual speed against the clock matters most.
The overall winner doesn't need to win every stage. They simply need to finish the race with the lowest accumulated time.
How long is the Tour de France?
The Tour generally covers around 3,000 to 3,500 kilometres over approximately three weeks, although the exact distance changes every year.
That's roughly the equivalent of cycling from London to Istanbul, depending on the route you take!
Riders usually race on 21 days, with rest days built into the schedule.
The distances vary considerably. Some stages are relatively short, while others can involve well over 200 kilometres of racing.
And remember, this isn't a leisurely weekend ride with a coffee stop halfway through. Riders must recover, eat, sleep, maintain their bikes and prepare for the next stage while travelling from place to place.
The physical demands are enormous.
How did the Tour de France start?
The Tour de France began in 1903 as a way of promoting the French sports newspaper L'Auto.
The first race was organised to attract attention and boost newspaper sales. It proved so successful that it became an annual event, interrupted only during the World Wars.
Over the decades, it developed into an international sporting spectacle, attracting the world's best cyclists and millions of spectators.
Today, the Tour is watched by people around the world, both on television and along the roadside.
You don't even need to buy a ticket to enjoy the atmosphere. Spectators line the route through villages, towns and mountain passes, often waiting hours to see the riders flash past in a matter of seconds.
The scenery, crowds, team tactics and dramatic finishes all help make the Tour much more than a simple bike race.
A few Tour de France facts to impress your friends
Here are some useful facts to remember the next time the Tour comes up in conversation.
It began in 1903. The first edition was organised by the newspaper L'Auto.
The yellow jersey dates back to 1919. It has become one of the most recognisable symbols in sport.
There are several competitions within the race. Riders can compete for the overall title, sprint points, mountain points and the best young rider classification.
The peloton is an energy-saving machine. Riding in a group can reduce wind resistance considerably compared with riding alone.
Teams matter enormously. Even the strongest contender relies on teammates for protection, positioning and tactical support.
The route changes every year. Different climbs, time trials and stage finishes can favour different types of rider.
You don't have to win a stage to win the Tour. Consistency and the lowest overall time are what count.
How to enjoy watching the Tour de France if you're a beginner
You don't have to understand every tactic or remember every rider's name to enjoy the Tour.
Here are five easy ways to get started.
1. Follow the yellow jersey. Start by watching who leads the overall classification and how much time separates the main contenders.
2. Look out for the mountains. These stages often create the biggest changes in the overall standings.
3. Watch the final kilometres. Flat stages can be relatively quiet for long periods before the sprinters launch an incredibly fast finish.
4. Notice the teamwork. Watch how riders position themselves, protect their leaders and take turns at the front.
5. Enjoy the scenery. The Tour is also a spectacular way to see France, from tiny villages and historic towns to dramatic mountain landscapes.
You might even find yourself getting invested in a rider who has absolutely no chance of winning the overall race but makes every stage entertaining.
Inspired by the Tour? Get out on your own bike
Of course, you don't need to be a professional cyclist to enjoy life on two wheels.
Most of us aren't going to be tackling the Alps at racing speed, and that's probably for the best. Cycling can be about commuting to work, exploring your neighbourhood, riding to the park or heading out for a weekend adventure.
At Goodordering, we make colourful, practical bike bags and accessories for everyday cycling.
If watching the Tour inspires you to spend a little more time on your own bike, take a look at our blue and white Eco Rolltop Backpack Pannier. It's designed to combine the practicality of a bike pannier with the flexibility of a backpack.
Whether you're carrying your work essentials, shopping or everything you need for a day out, having the right bag can make cycling part of everyday life.
You can also explore Goodordering for more cycling bags and accessories.
Because you don't need to ride 3,000 kilometres, wear lycra or win a yellow jersey to call yourself a cyclist.
The Tour de France in a nutshell
If you've made it this far, here's the whole thing in six simple points:
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The Tour de France is a professional cycling race held over approximately three weeks.
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It usually consists of 21 stages, including flat, hilly, mountain and time-trial stages.
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The rider with the lowest total time wins the overall race.
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The yellow jersey identifies the overall leader.
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The green, polka-dot and white jerseys recognise success in other classifications.
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Teams work together to help their leaders, but individual riders can also win stages and other competitions.
And that's it! You're officially ready to watch the Tour de France without wondering why the cyclist in yellow is so important.
You might even find yourself shouting at the television when someone attacks on a mountain climb.
Just remember: the next time somebody says the Tour is simply a group of people riding bikes, you can tell them there's a lot more to it than that.
