Ten Tour de France phrases you should know Published on Thursday, July 18, 2013 Ten Tour de France phrases you should know Thanks to the BBC's Catherine Wyynne some of The Tour de France's most important French phrases have been translated. So if you can tear your eyes away from the scenery, here are a few phrases that will impress your friends when discussing Le Tour around the dining table. 1. Peloton Peloton refers to the main group of cyclists riding together during a stage. Literally translated as "little ball", the term was first used to refer to a small group of soldiers, who, like cyclists, travel in tight formation. The word "platoon" is thought to be a variation of peloton. Cyclists travel together in packs for protection - mostly from the wind, as a rider uses about a third less energy by riding in another's slipstream. 2. Domestique Riders win the tour as individuals, but they would not be able to do it without their teammates. This year's Tour started with 22 teams of nine riders. Each has a designated leader - the VIP of the team - who is looked after by riders known as domestiques.

They are the foot soldiers of this small, travelling army. A domestique will turn up the pace to try to weaken rivals or defend his leader from attack. He will also be expected to fetch food and clothing from the team car - and give up his bike if his leader has a mechanical problem. Overall, the main aim is to save the leader as much energy as possible for the crucial moments of the race. 3. Hors categorie Those crucial moments often take place on steep mountain roads. This is where many Tours are won and lost. Each mountain climb is ranked according to difficulty from four to one - but the most punishing are given the label "hors categorie", or beyond categorisation. Tour legend has it that the numbers originally referred to the gear that a car would have to be in to go up it. HC climbs, it is said, were either impassable by car or would even have to be tackled in reverse gear. Nice story, if true. 4. Flamme rouge A welcome sight to all riders, the flamme rouge is a red flag which indicates there is 1km to go in that day's stage. It hangs from an inflatable arch over the road.

Maillot jaune: The overall leader of the race, the one who has ridden it in the least amount of time, wears the yellow jersey Maillot blanc: The white jersey is worn by the best-placed rider under 26 years of age Maillot a pois: The polka dot jersey is worn by the King of the Mountains, the rider who has performed best on the mountain stages Maillot vert: The green jersey is given to the rider who has picked up the most points during the Tour. Points are awarded for winning stages and being the first to reach various points along the route. It rewards consistently good finishers and is often won by sprinters. 5. Lanterne rouge The lanterne rouge is the name given to the rider who finishes the Tour in the longest time. Last year's last man, Frenchman Jimmy Engoulvent, rode the 3,494.4km course almost four hours slower than the winner, Bradley Wiggins. Due to the publicity that comes with being the lanterne rouge, riders who have toiled as anonymous domestiques for three weeks have been known to ride more slowly towards the end to try to win the accolade.

The term comes from the red light that used to hang at the back of trains so that drivers could see that none of the carriages had come loose. 6. Autobus The lanterne rouge may often find himself riding in the autobus, or grupetto. This is the group of riders - typically star sprinters or hard-working domestiques - who cannot keep up with the best climbers on the punishing climbs through the Alps or the Pyrenees. As the slower riders gradually drop off the pace, they gather together and ride to the finish in a group. It saves energy and is a way of keeping up morale, helping to ensure that they don't get eliminated for being too much slower than the average rider. 7. Musette A musette is a rider's equivalent of a lunchbox. Part way through the stage cyclists will be handed a fabric bag by a team employee stationed by the side of the road. Riders are more likely to find high-energy bars, small cakes and sandwiches in their musettes. On the hotter days of the Tour de France, a team can also get through over 200 water bottles, or bidons, per day. 8.

Soigneur In the early days of the Tour, riders used metal bidons and stopped at village fountains to refill them. Now, filling up those hundreds of bottles a day and packing the musettes are part of the job of a team's soigneurs. A soigneur is the non-cycling equivalent of a domestique. He or she makes sure that the riders sleep, eat and drink well and also gives the riders their daily massages. 9. Directeur sportif Even English-speaking teams, tend to still refer to the boss as the directeur sportif. The DS is often a former professional rider and their office during the Tour is the team car. They decide on tactics and speak to the riders - and sometimes other teams' directeurs - about strategy. They can often be seen handing a bottle or shouting encouragement to a cyclist through the car window. 10. Chapeau A wonderful French term which is frequently used by cyclists to indicate respect for another's achievements. By saying "chapeau", which literally means "hat", the rider is doffing his cap to a colleague for a good day's riding.

The Jerseys of the Tour - Tour de France 2015 The Jerseys of the Tour Homepage > The Jerseys of the Tour The Jerseys of the Tour THE EMOTION OF THE RACE © Le Coq Sportif Presentation Since 2012, the French athletic brand has provided Tour de France riders with high-tech, custom-designed products that prove its textile expertise. The 2015 Yellow Jersey THE TOUR MARKS 40 YEARS ON THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES A combination of technical detail and design, the 2015 Yellow Jersey celebrates the 40th Tour de France finish on the Champs-Elysées. This anniversary edition takes us back to the day when French cyclist Bernard Thévenet became the first man to don the Yellow Jersey on the world's most beautiful avenue. The jerseys use high-tech materials designed specifically for each section and have an anatomical cut for better breathability and adherence while you ride. The short sleeves are made of a supple, seamless elastane blend fabric for added comfort. The sleeves extend to just below the triceps, eliminating pressure and encouraging circulation in the arms.

The mid-length zipper and back ventilation panels - a triangular panel in ultra-breathable 3D mesh at the base of the neck and, just beneath it, a panel that covers the back, made of micro-aerated mesh - encourage air circulation. Each detail effectively regulates riders' body temperatures as the weather conditions change, reducing the amount of energy they expend. Comfort and aerodynamics, two key priorities for riders, are finally ensured thanks to the jersey's non-chafing flat seams, the silicone strip at the hem, the elastic on the back, and the polyurethane strips at the base of the sleeves, for perfect support. © Le Coq Sportif © Le Coq Sportif The Green Jersey The green jersey was created in 1953 for the 50th anniversary of the race. It brought a new interest to the race, the yellow jersey not being the only jersey at stake any longer. The first green jersey in history was held by Swiss Fritz Schaer. It is worn by the leader of the points classification. Points are being awarded in the intermediate sprints and the stage finishes.

© Le Coq Sportif The Polka-Dot Jersey The King of the Mountains classification was created in 1933 for the best climbers (first winner: Spain’s Vicente Trueba). But the polka-dot jersey only appeared in 1975. France’s Richard Virenque holds the record of most KOM jerseys: he won it seven times between 1994 and 2004. © Le Coq Sportif The White Jersey It was created in 1975. In 1988, the jersey was abandoned, but not the best young rider classification. The white jersey was reintroduced in the peloton in 2000. It rewards the best-placed under-25 rider in the overall standings. The jersey revealed some of the best talents in the sport – Denis Menchov in 2003, Alberto Contador in 2007, Andy Schleck from 2008 and 2010, Pierre Rolland in 2012. © Le Coq Sportif The Etape du Tour Jersey DESIGN AND MODERNITY Le coq sportif has released the 2015 Etape du Tour jersey.

The brand is an official partner of this top international cycling race, which will see 15,000 riders set off on Sunday 19 July, from Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to La Toussuire. The elegant jersey features a subtle graphic print of the race route against a gradient blue background. This Premium version is made of the same material as the Tour de France leaders' jerseys. The tricolour lines depict the different peaks and stages, with the text "L’Étape du Tour" printed on either side. This great-looking, high-performance jersey is sure to be a hit with cycling enthusiasts. The 2015 TOUR DE FRANCE jerseys are available at lecoqsportif.com Emile Camuset opens a hosiery factory in Romilly-Sur-Seine, in the Aube. 1903 © A.S.O. HENRI DESGRANGE Henri Desgrange creates a cycling contest that will become one of the cultest sporting events ever, Le Tour De France. 1930 Le Coq Sportif creates its first cycling jersey, the No 29. 1951 © A.S.O.

LE COQ SPORTIF STEPS IN THE GRANDE BOUCLE Thanks to its modern jerseys, le coq sportif becomes the official tour de france' jerseys provider. a first recognition for the brand with the triangle. 1953 © A.S.O. LOUISON BOBET Louison Bobet reigns on the cycling world with Coppi in the first half of the 50s. Popular and brave champion, he wins the first Tour de France of his career in 1953, his 6th participation. In the picture, Louison doing his first lap of honour at the Parc des Princes for the 50th anniversary of the Tour. 1961 © A.S.O. JACQUES ANQUETIL X RAYMOND POULIDOR Four years after his first victory, Jacques Anquetil takes part to the Tour for the fourth time. Anquetil declares that he wants to take up the challenge of wearing the yellow jersey from the first to the last phase of the contest, something he will indeed achieve.

1964 Forever the runner up of the Tour de France behind Jacques Anquetil in the 60s and then behind Eddy Merckx in the 70s, Poulidor "Poupou" enjoys a great popularity with the French public. He never wore the yellow jersey, failing by a handful of seconds, 14 exactly, on the summit of the Puy de Dome in 1964. He was neck and neck with Anquetil during the entire ascent only to fail at the top, in what is still nowadays a cult Tour de France duel. 1969 © A.S.O. EDDY MERCKX During the Tour de France 1969, Eddy Merckx takes cyclism to a new age after his incredible performance in the ride to Mourenx. He is already the leader of the Tour by far, the Belgian rider, also nicknamed "The Cannibal", affords himself a solo break away over 140 km to win with 8 minutes over his challengers. He wins the first of his five Tour de France.

1975 Cycling Jersey Colours | Cycling Jewellery MADE IN THE UK, DELIVERED WORLD WIDE Jersey Colours MADE IN THE UK, DELIVERED WORLD WIDE UNIQUELY MADE FOR YOU Jersey Colours If you’ve ever watched a cycling WorldTour such as the Tour de France, you may have noticed the different coloured jerseys independently worn by certain competitors. These coloured jerseys each represent a specific achievement in the race, so wearing a jersey is highly prestigious and therefore coveted by competitors. At the beginning of the race, the only jerseys worn by the riders are their own team jerseys, which are sometimes marked with national colours if they are a champion in their home country. However, after a single stage up to all of the special jerseys are given out to certain riders. This means the wearer of a jersey can change after each stage. The Yellow Jersey (maillot jaune’) The yellow jersey is the most known jersey in cycling history. It represents the leader of the General Classification (GC) in road races, most famously the Tour de France. In order to become leader of the GC, a rider must have completed the entire race in the lowest cumulative time.

This is determined by adding up the total amount of time taken for a rider to complete each stage at the end of the race; therefore it is possible for a rider to have not finished first in any stage but still be awarded the yellow jersey. In the 2014 Tour de France, winning Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali wore the yellow jersey for the majority of the race. Other WorldTour races may use a different coloured jersey to represent the leader of the GC, such as the Giro d’Italia, in which the overall leader sports a pink jersey. The Green Jersey (maillot vert’) The green jersey is given to rider with the highest number of points. This is calculated by totalling the amount of points a rider has accumulated overall. Points can be gained by sprinting to cross the finish line in each stage, with the amount of points dependent on the finishing position. Points can also awarded for winning sprints at certain places along the route of a stage, often referred to as an intermediate sprint. As well as this, time trials are opportunity for riders to gain points.

In the 2014 Tour de France, Slovakian rider Peter Sagan was able to secure the green jersey after winning the points classification for the third year in a row. The White Jersey (maillot blanc) The white jersey is similar to the yellow jersey in that it is given to the rider that has completed the race in the shortest amount of time, however they must be under the age of 26 years old. The wearer of the white jersey if often referred to as best young rider. The winner of the white jersey in the 2014 Tour de France was French rider Thibaut Pinot, aged 24. The Polka-dot Jersey (maillot à pois rouges) The Polka-dot jersey is awarded to the best climber in the race, often referred to as King of the Mountains. There are numerous mountain stages in each race, which are categorised in terms of the steepness and length. Categories range from 1-4, 1 being the hardest. There is also a special outside category (Hors categorie) for mountains that are more difficult than category 1 mountains.

Points are rewarded to those who cross the finish line in the top positions, with the hardness of the stage determining the amount of points. Points are doubled in the five summit finish stages – La Planche des Belle Filles, Chamrousse, Risoul, Pla d’Adet and Hautacam. Our Cycling Jersey Jewellery Gifts We have designed a beautiful range of sterling silver charms, key rings and cufflinks as an ode to the glory and pride that comes with being awarded one of these special jerseys, making them the perfect gift to commemorate a cycling achievement. If you wish to purchase or view any of the pieces below in more detail, click the image. You can customise the design of any jersey jewellery piece to include coloured metals and gemstones if you wish to depict a specific jersey colour. Please see our bespoke page for more details. The Jerseys of the Tour - Tour de France 2014 The Jerseys of the Tour Homepage > The Jerseys of the Tour The Jerseys of the Tour THE TOUR DE FRANCE JERSEYS Le Tour de France 2014 extends its route for England!

The iconic Tour de France race will see the French manufacturer honour the English county of Yorkshire, which will be hosting the Grand Départ in July 2014. DESIGN The 1951 first historic flat seamed collared Yellow Jersey from le coq sportif is re-interpreted for the 2014 edition with the famous white rose of Yorkshire – a touch of originality that will unite perfectly alongside the velvety, flocked le coq sportif logo and the initials of the founder of the Tour de France, Henri Desgrange. These two uniquely French signatures are joined by an inscription on the back of the jersey, also in French, dedicated to Desgrange and stating: “En 1903, Henri Desgrange créait le plus grand évènement cycliste de tous les temps “ (In 1903, Henri Desgrange created the greatest cycling event of all time). The inside of the collar is lined with the little triangles so dear to le coq sportif’s heart and the tricolour label on the back adds the French signature finishing touch to the 2014 jersey.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY & EXPERTISE The 2014 Yellow Jersey is constructed from a mixture of high tech materials that ensure it is ultra-light and are demonstrated in aerodynamic properties such as; the front panel, the anatomical cut that fits the rider’s body perfectly, and a transparent silicone band printed with the famous le coq sportif initials with multi-triangle motif on the back of the jersey at the bottom. This season, the bands on the bottom front of the jersey and inside the sleeve-edges are made of polyurethane, ensuring they stay perfectly in place and stop any air getting in. The sleeves are cut from a single, supple and seamless piece of elastane-mix fabric to further increase rider comfort, and stop just below the triceps, avoiding all pressure points so as to improve blood flow in the arms. Additional key details include a mid-length zip to improve airflow, which is also helped by two ventilation panels in the back. A triangular one at the nape of the neck, made of ultra-breathable 3D mesh, is joined to a second micro-aerated mesh panel across the back. All these features are designed to regulate the rider’s temperature in the varied weather conditions, reducing energy expenditure.

Last but not least, the jersey boasts only flat, non-irritating seams. For this new season of sport, le coq sportif has once again combined expertise with a spirit of path-breaking innovation in its efforts to offer Tour de France champions a daring fusion of advanced technology and style. © Le Coq Sportif Green jersey The green jersey was created in 1953 for the 50th anniversary of the race. It brought a new interest to the race, the yellow jersey not being the only jersey at stake any longer. The first green jersey in history was held by Swiss Fritz Schaer. It is worn by the leader of the points classification. Points are being awarded in the intermediate sprints and the stage finishes. It has been sponsored by PMU since 1992. © Le Coq Sportif Polka-dot jersey The King of the Mountains classification was created in 1933 for the best climbers (first winner: Spain’s Vicente Trueba). But the polka-dot jersey only appeared in 1975. France’s Richard Virenque holds the record of most KOM jerseys: he won it seven times between 1994 and 2004.

The polka-dot jersey is sponsored by Carrefour. © Le Coq Sportif White jersey It was created in 1975. In 1988, the jersey was abandoned, but not the best young rider classification. The white jersey was reintroduced in the peloton in 2000. It rewards the best-placed under-25 rider in the overall standings. The jersey revealed some of the best talents in the sport – Denis Menchov in 2003, Alberto Contador in 2007, Andy Schleck from 2008 and 2010, Pierre Rolland in 2012. It has been sponsored by Skoda since 2004. Tour de France Leaders Jersey Meanings And History Tour de France Leaders Jersey Meanings And History Updated on May 25, 2014 A guide to the leaders jerseys in the Tour de France To many people the Tour De France is the pinnacle of the professional cycling calendar. It is arguably the biggest spectator event in world sport with millions of fans lining the roads throughout France and whichever countries through which the event passes: from cobblestones to remote and exhaustingly high Mountain Passes.

To the uninitiated the nuances and culture within professional cycling as a sport can be baffling so here's a guide to the leaders jerseys seen at Le Tour with an insight into their historical significance. The Tour de France In Paris The Tour De France peloton hits the Rue De Rivoli on the finishing circuit in central Paris. | Source Tour De France leaders jerseys explained In the 2013 edition of the Tour de France you will see four leaders jerseys change hands The Yellow Jersey (General classification) The Polka-Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains) The Green Jersey (Sprinters points jersey) The White Jersey (Young rider classification) Below gives a historical account of the inception of each jersey and it's inclusion within the Tour de France. The inception of the Tour de France It's hard to imagine but the Tour de France was actually dreamt up as a marketing idea to promote the French magazine L'Auto back in 1903. The origin of the Tour de France dates back to the Dreyfuss Affair in Northern France in the late 1800 which was a great divider of opinion.

Alfred Dreyfuss was a soldier who was convicted, and the acquitted of selling French military secrets to the German's. The main sporting newspaper at the time was Le Velo, although their one-sided reportage and belief of Dreyfuss' innocence led to the formation of L'Auto as a rival. L'Auto appointed as Editor Henri Desgrange, a published writer on cycling and part owner in the Parc des Princes velodrome although the paper was not the success its backers had hoped and in 1902 a crisis meeting was called to look at ways to increase publicity and sales. The idea for a cycle race travelling around France came from Géo Lefèvre, the chief cycling correspondent for L'Auto. He suggested a six day race around France and so the idea of the Tour De France developed and led to the first race in 1903 which was won by Frenchman Maurice Garin who didn't wear a leader’s jersey. Garin wore a green armband which denoted that he was the leader on the road. The yellow jersey in the Tour de France The most prominent leader’s jersey in the Tour de France is the yellow jersey.

(Often known as le maillot jaune in French). The yellow jersey is awarded to the leader rider of the Tour on time. It is awarded based on a calculation of the combined racing time of the individual rider on general classification. To have a rider in the yellow jersey can open up a variety of complexities for any team. It is traditionally regarded that that will work at the front of the peloton towards keeping the yellow jersey for the team. The main prize of winning the Tour de France involves a rider being in the yellow jersey on arrival on the Champs Elysees in Paris on the last day of the race. To win the yellow jersey a rider must possess a combination of abilities in climbing, time trialling and have not suffered the misfortune of punctures and crashes within the bunch at the wrong times. The yellow jersey denotes the leader on general classification Bradley Wiggins in the yellow GC leaders jersey at the 2012 Tour De France | Source The history of the yellow jersey in the Tour de France There is some dispute regarding exactly when the first yellow jersey was worn in the Tour de France.

Official records show that it was first awarded to Eugène Christophe in the stage from Grenoble to Geneva on July 18, 1919. Desgrange wrote in the 1919 edition of L'Auto "The man leading the race [de tête du classement général] should wear a jersey in the colours of L'Auto. The battle to wear this jersey is going to be passionate" The irony was that Christophe is noted to have been displeased of the effect the jersey had towards spectators teasing that he looked like a canary. This was compounded by his nickname Cri-Cri which is French baby-talk for a bird. The first yellow jersey wearer? Philippe Thys Philippe Thys of Belgium is believed to have been the first wearer of the Tour de France yellow jersey however there is no official evidence to prove this. Controversy over the first yellow jersey at the Tour. While there is no official reports that there was a yellow jersey awarded before the First World War there are anecdotal reports from a Belgian rider Philippe Thys was offered a yellow jersey as leader back in 1913.

Thys has been quoted that he refused the jersey as he thought the colour would make him stand out in the peloton and therefore mark him a marked man in the bunch although Thys subsequently is noted to have agreed to wear a year jersey after conversations with Henri Desgrange[1] and his Peugeot team manager Alphonse Baugé who believed it would be a great advertisement for the company. Respected Tour de France historian Jacques Augendre has previously noted that Thys was a well respected rider who was noted for his intelligence and therefore it is hard to discount the accounts that a yellow jersey was awarded back in 1913[2]. Michael Rasmussen climbing in the yellow jersey before his omission from the Tour The last days of Michael Rasmussen in yellow. The Rabobank rider was sacked whilst leading the tour due to inconsistencies over his whereabouts. | Source Further controversy in the yellow jersey- Michael Rasmussen in 2007 During the 2007 Tour de France the Danish rider Michael Rasmussen was leading the race; however had his team contract terminated during the race for lying about his whereabouts for a missed doping control.

Rasmussen had taken over the yellow jersey after winning a mountainous stage in the Alps between Le Grand Bornand and the ski resort of Tignes however with just a few days left till the finish in Paris he was sacked by his Rabobank team for violating team principles as a retired cyclist Davide Cassanni had reportedly seen Rasmussen training in Italy during the June of 2007 when he had reported he had been training at altitude in Mexico. Rasmussen subsequently served a two year ban which he challenged in the Court of Arbitration for Sport but was upheld. On 31 January 2013, Rasmussen admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs (PED's) between 1998 and 2010. He admitted to having used a broad selection of PED's (Including Cortisone, EPO, growth hormone and testosterone, as well as having used blood transfusions). The polka dot jersey is for the leader of the mountains classification The best climber in the Tour de France wears the polka dot jersey | Source The polka-dot jersey in the Tour de France One of the most standout jerseys you will see at the Tour is the polka dot jersey.

The jersey features large reds dots on a white background. The iconic "red peas" colour-scheme was initiated by Poulain Chocolate to match one of their products as part of a sponsorship deal in 1975. The polka dot jersey is awarded based on accumulated points allocated at the top of major climbs along the race route. Climbs can range from fourth category climbs which may not pose a significant challenge to the riders. Climbs are categorised based on their steepness and Third category climbs start to get more challenging, second category even more so. First category climbs include some of the high passes of the Alps and Pyrenees and the most challenging climbs of the race are classified as "Hors categorie". (Outside categorization). A twist in the tale was added in 2004 with the stipulation that the KOM points scored double on the final climb of the day if it is categorized as second category or higher. This gave much more prominence to riders who spent significant time in breakaways and riders high up the general classification performing well in the mountains.

A history of the polka dot jersey in the Tour de France While L'Auto started to acknowledge the best climber of the Tour de France (meilleur grimpeur) from 1903 onwards however the mountain passes and climbs did not gain significance within the general classification battle for the yellow jersey until 1934 where a time bonus was offered for the first rider over the top of a major climb. The iconic polka-dot jersey for the best climber classification was introduced in 1975 and the colour-scheme resembled that of the sponsor Chocolat Poulain, whose chocolate bars featured white wrappers with red spots. Carrefour supermarkets currently sponsor the jersey and have done so since 1993 under both their Champion and Carrefour brands. Despite the prominence of performing well in the mountains on the overall classification, over recent years the classification become a specialism almost in its own right and there are arguments made that the jersey has been somewhat de-valued as it often is won by riders with limited chance of challenging in the general classification battle and are subsequently allowed to escape the peloton to gather points in breakaways.

Richard Virenque in the polka-dot jersey at the 1995 Tour Richard Virenque climbing in the Tour de France polka-dot jersey of the climbers | Source Which rider has won the polka dot jersey the most times? The rider to have won the polka dot jersey mountains classification the most times is Frenchman Richard Virenque. He won the classification in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003 and 2004 for a total of seven wins. Virenque is closely followed by Federico Bahamontes and Lucien Van Impe who won the classification six times each. The green jersey The green jersey is the domain of the sprinters. In French it is known as the maillot vert. Green jersey points are awarded at sprint points throughout the race route and at the end of each stage. The green jersey point’s classification award was implemented to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tour de France in 1953.

The colour green was implemented as the first sponsors were a lawn mower company although the jersey changed temporarily to red in 1968 to please a sponsor. The green jersey is currently sponsored by French state-owned betting company PMU. The jersey the sprinters want to win. The green jersey Thor Hushovd in the green sprinters jersey at the 2009 Tour de France | Source A history of the green jersey points classification in the Tour de France Since its inception in 1953 for the 50th anniversary of the Tour de France the green jersey has become synonymous as being the 'sprinters jersey'. However to be successful in the competition a degree of all-round fitness and racing abilities are required as the rider has to physically drag themselves over the high passes of the Alps and Pyrenees inside the allotted time limits whilst managing their levels of fatigue throughout the course of a 3-week Grand Tour. Initially the green jersey was awarded based on a rider continuously finishing high up the field. Penalty points were awarded based on how far down the field the rider finished and the winner of the classification was the man who had accumulated the fewest points at the end of the race.

The first rider ever to wear the green jersey in the Tour de France was Dutchman Wout Wagtmans although the first rider to win the competition outright was the Swiss all-rounder Fritz Schär. Green jersey points allocations per stage- 2013 Position Le Tour de France in Cannes | SeeCannes.com Le Tour de in Cannes Discover the cycle race and how to see it in Cannes About Le Tour de France Le Tour de France is the most fervently supported and highly anticipated sporting event in France. Even those who don’t know their bicycle clips from their hand pumps recognise the yellow jersey of the Tour de France stage leader; but few would imagine that Le Tour was created because of the trial and conviction of French soldier Alfred Dreyfus. The 2016 Tour de France takes place in the first 3 weeks of July with a mixture of flat stages, cobble stones, dramatic sprints and some of the biggest mountain stages that the tour will ever see, ensures that the battle will continue right until the end.

With the inclusion of the enormous and emblematic summits of the Mont Ventoux , the Port de la Bonaigua, or the Col du Tourmalet, the Pyrenees and the French Alps will become a battle ground for the athletes to show their skills, strength and assert their authority on the peloton. After the Tour starts in Mont Saint-Michel and travels through the east and centre of France to the border with Spain, it will then ascend into the Pyrenees through Cataluña and Andorra before crossing over towards the Ardeche and Provence. Travelling deeper into the Alps, it will enter Switzerland to its capital, Bern. It will then return to France with no less than 4 courses in Haute-Savoie. There will be a new finish at the edge of the Emosson dam after the Forclaz climb at an altitude of 1960m, overlooking Mont Blanc, as well as a time trial between Sallanches and Megeve.

Albertville to Saint Gervais will see the Tour passing over three different 'Forclaz' to Mont Blanc which will offer a stunning backdrop to the final mountain stages with finishes in Megève, Saint-Gervais-Mont Blanc and Morzine. The 20th stage, before the final showdown on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, will be from Megeve to Morzine (also the Etape du Tour, where members of the public can take part ahead of the Tour riders coming through). Climbs will include those of the Aravis, the Col de Colombiere, Col de la Ramaz and onto the Col de Joux Plane. This is a stage where the final positions of the GC (General Classification) riders will be decided. When asked what makes the Tour de France such a special event Cadel Evans, a recently retired cyclist and previous Tour de France winner said, "the length, the duration, how hard it is, and the mystique that surrounds it", and when asked if he was regretting retirement with the announcement of this years route his response was "I am happy to do so, I have had my time!".

The 21 Stages of the Tour de France 2016: Stage 1: Saturday, July 2 - Mont Saint-Michel to Utah Beach - 188km Stage 2: Sunday, July 3 - Saint-Lô to Cherbourg-Octeville - 182km Stage 3: Monday, July 4 - Granville to angers - 222km Stage 4: Tuesday, July 5 - Saumur to Limoges - 232km Stage 5: Wednesday, July 6 - Limoges to Le Lioran - 216km Stage 6: Thursday, July 7 - Arpajon-sur-Cère to Montauban - 187km Stage 7: Friday, July 8 - L'Isle-Jourdain to Lac de Payolle - 162km Stage 8: Saturday, July 9 - Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon - 183km Stage 9: Sunday, July 10 - Vielha (Spain) to Arcalis (Andorra) - 184km Monday, July 11 - first rest day Stage 

10: Tuesday, July 12 - Escaldes-Engordany (Andorra) to Revel - 198km Stage 11: Wednesday, July 13 - Carcassonne to Montpellier - 164km Stage 12: Thursday, July 14 - Montpellier to Mont Ventoux - 185km Stage 13: Friday, July 15 - Bourg-Saint-Andéol to La Caverne du Pont-d'Arc - 37km individual time trial Stage 14: Saturday, July 16 - Montélimar to Villars-les Dombes - 208km Stage 15: Sunday, July 17 - Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz - 159km Stage 16: Monday, July 18 - Moirans-en-Montagne to Bern - 206km Tuesday, July 19 – second rest day Stage 17: Wednesday, July 20 - Bern to Finhaut-Emosson - 184km Stage 18: Thursday, July 21 - Sallanches to Megève -

 17km individual time trial Stage 19: Friday, July 22 - Albertville to Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc - 146km Stage 20: Saturday, July 23 - Megève to Morzine - 146km Stage 21: Sunday, July 24 - Chantilly to Paris - 113km History Dreyfus was found guilty of selling secrets to the Germans and was sentenced to life imprisonment; the outcome of the trial appeared to be heavily influenced by the fact that Dreyfus was Jewish and many people, including the editor of Le Vélo, believed him to have been innocent.

Le Vélo was France’s most dominant sporting newspaper of the time, but unfortunately the editor’s view was not shared by all. Dion Car Works, Le Vélo’s biggest advertiser, disagreed strongly with the newspaper and as a result withdrew their advertising and started their own publication, L’Auto. The idea of publicising the new venture with a cycle race was in direct competition with the Paris-Brest race organised by Le Vélo; the Paris-Brest race continues to this day and is still popular, but does not hold the iconic status of Le Tour de France. Le Tour de France is not just a race, it is a celebration of all things French; the rural villages, the stunning scenery, the cheering crowds, the sportsmanship and, finally, the grande finale in Paris. The first Tour du France was in 1903, 60 people participated but only 21 completed the race. The winner was Maurice Garin who won 6075 francs in prize money and averaged 25km/hr. He beat the 2nd place winner, Lucien Pothier, by 2 hours 49 minutes, which is still the record for the greatest margin.

The mountain stages of Le Tour de France were introduced to the itinerary in 1910 when the Pyrenees were added to the route and are amongst the most challenging stages of the race. This upset many regular competitors because all of a sudden the ‘power cyclists’ found themselves at a disadvantage on the steep ascents. However, this gave ‘climbing cyclists’ more of a fighting chance than they had before and, if anything, made the race more exciting by opening up the playing field to a wider range of contenders. The first mountain stage went from Luchon to Bayonne; other climbs of the Pyrenees were Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque. The same year, not coincidentally, saw the introduction of the broom wagon; a vehicle that follows the race ‘sweeping’ up riders who can’t continue! The mountain stages are amongst the most exciting of the race as the riders need not just speed but strength, endurance and thighs of steel!

The 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez are amongst the most legendary of the mountain stages, anyone who has ever tried to complete them in their own time will know just what an incredible feat it is to whizz up them the way these guys do! The race of 1919 was the first one after the First World War and the toll that the battlefields had taken on Europe’s male population was evident in the noticeable decrease in the number of competitors. It was also the slowest race since 1906, due to bombed out roads and the loss of many of the great pre-war cycling champions. It was in 1919 that the Yellow Jersey was introduced to highlight the overall race leader. 1952 was the year that Le Tour went global. The race was filmed for television for the first time, opening up its popularity to a much wider fan base. It was also the first year that the legendary heights of Alpe d’Huez were climbed with a mountain top finish in Sestrières and on the Puy de Dôme. Only in France! 1964 saw possibly the most gastronomically influenced battle for the Yellow Jersey ever.

Multiple Tour winner and favourite contender Jacques Anquetil nearly blew his chances by over indulging at a BBQ on a rest day during the Pyrenees stages. The following day a terrible bout of indigestion took its toll while he was speeding along the Envalira Pass. His coach saved the day by passing him a bottle of champagne, which he guzzled whilst still on his bike, apparently curing his indigestion and allowing him to make up the lost time, overtake his nearest competitor and regain the Yellow Jersey! The 61st Tour de France visited England for the first time in 1974. The riders passed through 10 towns and completed a circuit stage in Plymouth. Alas the trophy was not won by a Brit this year but by a Dutchman, Henk Poppe. 1975 was a year of firsts for the race: the first polka-dot jersey awarded to the best climber; first white jersey awarded to best young rider; first Tour finish on the Champs-Elysées. The final stage is the most high-profile as the stage starts with a champagne toast and the winners are cheered over the finishing line by huge crowds, flashing cameras and jostling media.

The race had finished at the Champs-Elysées every year since 1975 and the spectacle of the competitors speeding past landmarks such as the Louvre and the Arc de Triomph make for a great atmosphere. The winner has normally already been decided on points by this stage, so the great dash for the finish is mostly just for the glory and prestige of being first over the historic line. Unfortunately 1975 did not bring a first for Belgian cyclist Eddie Merckx, who was intending to make this his sixth win; a enraged spectator leapt from the crowd and punched Merckx in the kidney, causing him to lose time and finish in second place. An American cyclist, Greg Lemond, became the first to get a stage win in 1985 at the Lac de Vassivière. He unfortunately got shot during the winter though in a hunting accident and could not defend his title the following year. He made a strong return in 1989 and won 1st place.

1989 was also the year that Le Tour celebrated the French revolution’s bi-centenary by awarding a 17 890 Francs bonus at kilometer 1789, in Martres-Tolosane (Luchon - Blagnac stage), where the Women’s Tour started. British cyclists have never made much of an impact on Le Tour de France but in 1998 Britain's Chris Boardman won his third Prologue and captured the yellow jersey. This year was also tarnished by scandal when, before the Tour had even started, a Festina team car was found to be loaded with performance enhancing drugs on the French/Belgian border. In the ensuing investigation team director Bruno Roussel confessed to systematic doping of the riders; the entire team was then expelled from the race. The incident kicked up a furor when the race organizers insisted on conducting further drug inquiries, prompting two sit-down strikes by the Tour riders and marring the 1998 race. The discovery of the drugs and the Roussel's admission lead to an enquiry which saw police searches, arrests, court cases and a huge amount of negative publicity that has made doping a controversial part of Le Tour de France ever since.

1999 was the first year that Lance Armstrong won 1st place, signaling the start of his domination of the race for the next 7 years. Claiming the winner’s podium an incredible 7 consecutive times Armstrong became a hero to race fans when it was revealed that prior to his first victory he had beaten a severe form of testicular cancer that had spread to his brain and lungs. He had undergone brain and testicular surgery as well as extensive chemotherapy as part of his recovery process. Interestingly a 2006 report by CS Atwood claims that Armstrong’s medical treatment may actually have contributed to his athletic ability by altering his hormonal system and his body’s production of testosterone in a way that would allegedly enhance his endurance performance. Armstrong’s physical attributes have been the subject of much discussion amongst sports journalists over the years. Apparently one of his distinguishing features is a heart that is 30% larger than average, which beats at 32-34 bpm at rest and can reach up to 201 bpm when strenuously exercising.

He also has extremely low lactate levels, meaning that he is less prone to a buildup of lactic acid (the stuff that makes your muscles burn and stiffen up when you exercise) in his legs. His domination of the sport and astonishing performances year after year has left him open to accusations of drug taking. Armstrong has described himself as ‘the most tested athlete in the world.’ These claims would appear to be entirely unfounded though as only one test has ever returned a positive result and the substance was proven to be present in an approved cream that Armstrong had been prescribed for saddle sores. Armstrong finally retired from Le Tour de France in 2005, after claiming his last victory. The race of 1999 was one of thrills and spills for Italian cyclist Guiseppe Guerini when during the arduous climb up Avoriaz he came face to face with one of his fans - quite literally. A young German photographer, known as Erik, was so keen to snap a good photo that he got a little too close to the action and collided head on with Guerini, knocking him off his bike! Guerini scrambled back into the saddle and made up his lost time to win the stage.

Erik was said to be so mortified by causing the accident that he refused to sell the photo, despite being offered large sums for it. Instead he visited Guerini in his hotel room that night, apologised profusely and gave him the roll of film to do with as he wished. Guerini was apparently very gracious and bore the young German no hard feelings. Click here to see a video clip of Erik's notorious photo shoot! The 93rd Le Tour of 2006 was another controversial race dominated by accusations of drug taking; American cyclist Floyd Landis brought disgrace to the Yellow Jersey when he was found guilty of drug use four days after being declared the winner. This year’s race had already got off to an unsteady start when on the eve of the first stage 13 riders were banned from competing due to suspicion of doping. With some of the race favourites out of the picture, as well as the retirement of Lance Armstrong, the field was now wide open for a lesser known contender to make his name. In the closest finish in the race’s history Floyd Landis, already a leading favourite, took 1st place.

It was his unexpectedly good 17th stage in Morzine that aroused suspicion (especially after his inauspicious 16th stage). A urine sample was taken, which twice showed positive for a banned synthetic testosterone substance. Landis vehemently denied the charges and appealed against the test results; however, the accusation was upheld and in 2007 Landis was stripped of his title. After a 14 month legal battle second place finisher Oscar Pereiro was announced the true winner. With drugs testing now being a focal point of the race organization 2007 inevitably threw up more scandal and controversy when a number of cyclists tested positive for banned substances, causing the T-Mobile, Astana and Cofidis teams to be withdrawn from the race. The T-Mobile ban caused German TV broadcasters ZDF and ARD to withdraw their coverage of the race. More bizarrely the 2007 Tour de France was also disrupted by a pair of kamikaze dogs… A wandering Labrador Retriever was struck by a rider in the 9th Stage, throwing the rider over the handlebars and buckling his front wheel. Fortunately the dog was unhurt and was quickly scooped out of the way by a spectator.

Another overexcited hound threw a spanner in the works by dashing out in front of the pack during the 18th Stage, causing a collision between 2 riders. There have been no allegations that the dogs were on drugs, but you never know... Where & when Anyone making the pilgrimage to see Le Tour in action will enjoy the atmosphere as much as the race itself. It takes place each year across France during the first 3 weeks in July. Crowds of people line the streets hours (sometimes even days!) in advance; tents, picnics and BBQs turn the wait for the cyclists into an impromptu street party and the arrival of the publicity caravan heralds the start of the festivities. The caravan is a 20km long procession of 200 decorated sponsored vehicles that precedes the race. Added as a regular feature of the race in 1930 the caravan makes its way through the towns and villages that make up the race route, whipping up a carnival atmosphere and throwing free gifts to the cheering crowds along the way! Each vehicle tries to outdo the others to advertise their own brand, so the event is quite a spectacle.

Tour de France 2007: Stage 20 Results | Cyclingnews.com Skip Ad Daniele Bennati kicks Champs-Élysées for second Tour win Daniele Bennati made the most of the Tour de France by adding a sprinters' dream win on the Champs-Élysées to his first stage win in Castelsarrasin on the final stage of the 2007 Tour de France. 'Benna' took the lead in the sprint early but was able to hold off a strong charge from Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) and Erik Zabel (Milram). The 26 year-old Italian followed the Quick.Step-Innergetic lead-out train down the Rue de Rivoli to the Avenue des Champs Élysées, and was left in the best position possible behind Tom Boonen's lead-out man Sébastien Rosseler. The Belgian pulled off with 300 metres to go, but Bennati was able to hold his acceleration to distance Hushovd and Zabel. Barloworld's Robert Hunter made an impressive acceleration to take fourth place, salvaging his second in the points classification with the 24 points gained.

"I still don't believe that I have won this great sprint," said Bennati after crossing the line. "As far as I am concerned it is a dream. As soon as I raised my arms I saw the Arc de Triomphe ahead of me, I had goose bumps right away. There were tears... It was the most beautiful win for me. "It was long and hard for me to conquer. The 200 metres were so long over the cobbles but I had a huge sprint." Young and yellow Alberto 'Kid' Contador of Discovery Channel enjoyed the cloudy and damp Parisian day riding in the maillot jaune which he easily kept after ending yesterday's time trial with 23 seconds on Cadel Evans (Predictor-Lotto) and 31 seconds on team-mate Levi Leipheimer. The 24 year-old Spaniard rode into Paris without a final challenge from Cadel Evans' Predictor-Lotto team to his small GC advantage; it was a gap that proved enough for him to be crowned king of the world's largest bike race. "I want to celebrate it and to have parties, then go on holidays, enjoying this first win," commented Contador on the overall win.

He came back from a near-death brain clot to capture the greatest cycle race. "I could not image when I was there [in the hospital] that today I would be here with all these people watching me and with these results." Not only did Contador take home the prize of best overall rider after 3,569.9 kilometres of racing but also he showed he will be around for a few years by winning the maillot blanc of the best young rider. The next best rider was Soler at 16 minutes back. Bruyneel suggested before the Tour started that he should go for the young rider classification but he proved that he was out for more with his response. "A week before the Tour I scanned the rivals for the Tour's white jersey and sent him an e-mail with names like Gerdemann and Dekker," explained Discovery Team Manager Bruyneel. "He answered, 'I hope my rivals will be Valverde and Evans.'" Boonen's green dream Tom Boonen's (Quickstep-Innergetic) dream of winning the maillot vert of best sprinter was finally achieved when he crossed the line fifth on the Champs-Élysées finish.

The 26 year-old Belgian from Mol has worn the green jersey before but never taken it home in Paris. In fact, he only made it to Paris at all once before, in 2004. That year he won two stages including the final romp on the Champs-Élysées, but his inability to haul his huge body over the mountains spelled the end of his hopes for green. He won another two stages in 2005 but pulled out midway through with a knee injury. 2006 was winless for Boonen, and while he had consolation in the three days he spent in the maillot jaune, he still couldn't make it to Paris. Today was different. Boonen took the maillot vert of best overall sprinter of the 2007 Tour de France on stage two , and only let it go to allow Milram's seasoned veteran Erik Zabel the opportunity to wear it for old times' sake. The green jersey will now go into his treasure chest along side the 2005 World Champion's jersey and add to his rock star status in Belgium as winner of Ronde van Vlaanderen in 2005 and 2006.

"I did not go for the victory because the last two weeks I have been going for the stages. Not today because I did not want to have a crash and lose my green on the stones," stated Boonen in the green sprinter's jersey. "I stayed in the neighbourhood of Zabel and Hunter. If you stay near them, you know that you cannot win the stage but it is more important to have the green. "My legs were good but here I was tired after the fight over two weeks." Boonen's major competitor for the green jersey should have been three time points competition winner Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto), but the Australian, winner of stage one to Canterbury, left the race after missing the time cut on stage eight. Boonen's closest competition instead came in the surprise form of Barloworld's Robert Hunter, the winner of stage 11. 2005's green jersey Hushovd finished the race, but only managed 186 (to Boonen's 256) points and second in the final sprint that he won in 2006.

Evans raises Australian status Evans would have had to fight for a time gap on Contador to make his yellow quest a possibility, however, the last day is into Paris is typically ruled by the sprinters' teams and Contador's Discovery soldiers would have quashed any attempt for freedom had one been tried. It was the highest ever placing by an Australian in Paris at the end of the three week test. Prior to Evans' fifth in 2006, there was the fifth of Phil Anderson in 1982 and 1985. "It was very special to stand on the podium," added Evans to Cyclingnews' John Trevorrow. "I can't really come to terms with it yet; it is so huge. I felt numb up there on the podium. It will take about a week for this to settle down and for me to appreciate what happened." Disco dominates Levi Leipheimer rode the best Tour of his life and added to Discovery Channel's haul at the Tour. The American came close to stealing the Tour overall when he blasted to yesterday's time trial win and closed to within eight seconds of Evans and 31 from the overall win.

The ride garnered him his first-ever stage win at the Tour while adding to Discovery's earlier stage victory with Contador on the Plateau de Beille and its overall win in the team's classification. Doping clouds Grand Boucle Despite a sunny, warm welcome to the Tour in London on July 6th, a black storm cloud of doping scandal was brewing even before the race began, and it hit the Tour with its first clap of thunder with news of a positive doping control from T-Mobile's Patrik Sinkewitz on July 18th. Sinkewitz had already crashed out of the Tour, and the positive sample came from before the Tour started, but the Tour organisers criticised the UCI for making the results known only after the Tour had started. That first bit of news was only a warning shot, and the real barrage hit the Tour on July 24th when it was announced that Astana's battered Kazakh, Alexandre Vinokourov, who had thrilled fans with double stage victories after battling back from serious crash injuries, had tested positive for homologous blood transfusions. Astana was then invited to exit from the Tour, and they did, taking GC hopeful Andreas Klöden with them.

The gale-force winds of doping controversy continued to buffet the Tour the very next day when another positive control was announced. Cofidis' Cristian Moreni embarrassed his vocally antidoping team by testing positive for testosterone, and the team packed up and left in disgrace. But those rumblings were nothing compared with what came out the next morning. The race's own maillot jaune, Michael Rasmussen, was withdrawn from the race by his own Rabobank team over his failure to inform antidoping authorities of his correct whereabouts prior to the Tour. However, nothing can stop the power and popularity of the Tour, and the riders, fans and race organisers pushed through the difficulties despite an undercurrent of rumblings about new yellow jersey Alberto Contador and mountains classification winner Mauricio Soler (Barloworld), rumours which the Tour director, Christian Prudhomme, himself had to quash. Youth dominates the Tour Alberto Contador took home his first Tour win at just 24 years of age, but he wasn't the only young rider to stand on a podium in Paris.

Both Contador and king of the mountains Mauricio Soler already had their jerseys, so the young Basque rider Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi), who was third behind the Contador and Soler in the best young rider classification, wore the maillot blanc on the jersey podium. Txurruka was also awarded the overall Prix de la Combativite for most aggressive rider. Together, the three made green jersey winner Tom Boonen seem old at the ripe age of 26. How it unfolded The Tour's final day began at a very relaxed pace, with the141 remaining riders enjoying the traditional procession until they hit the outskirts of Paris. The early part of the stage saw the riders cross the final two climbs of the race, the Côte de Saint-Rémy-les-Chevreuse and the Côte de Châteaufort. Both were category four and came 51 and 54.5 kilometres after the start. Juan Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) was already certain of victory in the mountains classification and so that fact combined with the light-hearted atmosphere meant that it was perhaps unsurprising that the riders didn't take those hills very seriously.

Known non-climber Gert Steegmans (Quickstep-Innergetic) was first over the top of both, with Thomas Lövkvist (Française Des Jeux) and Frederik Willems (Liquigas) second and third on the first and Michael Albasini (Liquigas) and Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery) the runners-up on the second. The peloton ambled onwards and approached the first of two intermediate sprints, situated at Chatenay-Malabry, the location of the French antidoping lab. Maillot jaune Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel) had started the day just 23 seconds clear of Levi Leipheimer (Predictor Lotto) who was in turn just eight seconds ahead of Contador's team-mate Levi Leipheimer. Mathematically it was still possible for Evans to win and also for Leipheimer to overtake him for second, and so this could have made the outcome of the intermediate sprints [which offered bonuses of six, four and two seconds] an interesting one. So too the fact that the green jersey competition was yet to be decided.

However the contenders in each of those two classifications decided to hold back on the first intermediate sprint, which came some 74 kilometres after the start. Instead, Boonen's team-mates Carlos Barredo and Steven de Jongh moseyed clear of the bunch to soak up the points and while they were passed by a stealth-like Lilian Jegou (Française des Jeux) just before the line, they were happy that the first possible threat to Boonen's points classification lead was averted. The riders continued on towards Paris, passing the offices of the Tour organisers, the ASO, in Issy les Moulineaux. With approximately 60 kilometres to go the mood and pace changed, with the Discovery Channel riders moving to the front and ramping up the speed. The team led the peloton up the Seine and past the Eiffel tower, then headed over the Grenelle Bridge, along the Rue de Rivoli, onto the Place de la Concorde and then over the finish line for the first of eight complete laps. George Hincapie and the rest of the team led the peloton across the line and, with 52 kilometres to go, the racing really started in earnest.

The bunch headed up the road towards the Arc de Triomphe, then rounded the 180 degree bend and accelerated down the other side of the Champs Elysées. With 48 kilometres to go Agritubel rider Freddy Bichot attacked and had a 15 second lead when he finished that first lap. Several riders tried to get clear in the hope of joining up with him but the peloton covered all the moves, then gobbled the lone Frenchman on the fast run down towards the Place de la Concorde. Vicente Garcia Acosta (Caisse d'Epargne) and Marcus Burghardt (T-Mobile) then tried their luck but were unable to break the elastic. With 40 kilometres to go Murilo Fisher (Liquigas) and Christian Knees (Milram) gave it a go and managed to slip away. Australian Ag2r Prévoyance rider Simon Gerrans set off in pursuit and others then joined up to make it a ten man break.

The remainder of the move was made up of Jose Ivan Gutierrez, Nicolas Portal (both Caisse d'Epargne), Ronny Scholz (Gerolsteiner), Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), Mickael Delage (Francaise Des Jeux) and Anthony Charteau (Credit Agricole). On the third lap of the finishing circuit Gerrans took the final intermediate sprint ahead of Ballan and Portal. The ten riders continued to work well together and with 34 kilometres to go they had an advantage of 27" over the peloton. The bunch was led by the Barloworld riders who were keen to set up Robert Hunter for both a stage win and a possible shot at the green jersey. However, despite their driving, the break continued to pull ahead. With 25 kilometres remaining the gap was 37 seconds and then three kilometres later this reached its maximum of 45 seconds. It stayed around this mark for several clicks but then the pendulum swung the other way as the Crédit Agricole team of last year's Paris stage winner Thor Hushovd joined the chase.

Gerrans and Ballan were amongst the most active but as the pursuit accelerated behind, the break's efforts started to become less co-ordinated. The gap dropped to 35 seconds with 18 kilometres remaining; a few splatters of rain fell but fortunately the threat of showers held off. At the ten kilometre go to point the ten riders were just twenty seconds ahead and this gap then fell more rapidly as the break started to lose hope. Flecha had been sitting on, feigning tiredness in a bid to get out of doing his share of the work, but his trickery was exposed when he and Gutierrez attacked with eight kilometres to go. However, despite some strong driving from the Rabobank rider the duo were caught with six kilometres remaining. From that point on the sprinters teams turned on the gas to prevent any further riders trying to go clear. Lampre were very prominent, then with a kilometre to the finish Crédit Agricole hit the front to set Hushovd up for what they hoped would be his second win here in a row.

Like the Norwegian, maillot vert rivals Boonen, Hunter and Zabel manoeuvred themselves into position but it was Daniele Benatti who was the quickest, exploding off the front of the peloton and hitting the line just ahead of Hushovd. Zabel had been trying to get the best of Boonen throughout the Tour but the Belgian was more consistent in the sprints, thus explaining their third and first place overall in the points classification. However, the German was quicker today, finishing ahead of Hunter and Boonen and placing third, but that wasn't enough to see him take the maillot vert. Boonen netted points for fifth and finishing 22 ahead of the South African and 24 up on Zabel. Sébastien Chavanel (Française des Jeux) was best placed Frenchman in sixth, with Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) and David Millar (Saunier Duval – Prodir) showing good sprinting speed in placing seventh and eighth. However many eyes were focussed further back in the field, where Alberto Contador was rolling across the line with his arms in the air.

He finished right behind closest rival Cadel Evans (Predictor Lotto) and just ahead of team-mate Levi Leipheimer, winning the Tour de France at just 24 years of age. Evans took the best ever Australian result in placing second, and Leipheimer landed his best Tour result with third. Carlos Sastre (CSC), Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel Euskadi) and Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) were fourth, fifth and sixth. Contador's dominant ride also saw him land the white jersey while his Discovery Channel squad beat Caisse d'Epargne in the team classification. The King of the Mountains award went to Juan Mauricio Soler, who continued an old Colombian tradition of coming to France and shining on the climbs. As for the most aggressive rider award, that went to the promising Euskaltel – Euskadi youngster Amets Txurruka. Share on Facebook

Question: What colour jersey is worn by the best-placed rider under 26 years of age in the Tour de France?
Answer: White