Tour de France

Multi-stage cycling race

Sports
Tour de France
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Overview

What happened

The first edition of the Giro d'Italia, a long-distance multiple-stage bicycle race, began in Milan, Italy, on May 13, 1909.

Date

May 13, 1909

Location

Milan, Italy

Key people

Armando Cougnet, Luigi Ganna

Why it matters

This article provides a detailed account of the first Giro d'Italia, including its history and significance. The article examines the event's impact on the development of modern cycling, with specific references to the introduction of multi-stage racing and the use of new technologies, such as derailleur gears. The article also explores the role of Armando Cougnet and La Gazzetta dello Sport in establishing the Giro d'Italia, and it analyzes the event's commercialization, including sponsorships by Bianchi and Legnano. By providing a comprehensive and engaging account of the Giro d'Italia, this article offers readers a deeper understanding of the event's historical context and its ongoing cultural significance, as recognized by institutions such as the Italian cycling federation and the Union Cycliste Internationale.

What was Tour de France?

The Tour de France (pronounced [tuʁ də fʁɑ̃s]) is an annual men's multiple-stage road cycling race held primarily in France. It is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Tours, which include the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. The race was first organized in 1903 to increase sales for the newspaper L'Auto (which was an ancestor of L'Équipe) and has been held annually since, except when it was not held from 1915 to 1918 and 1940 to 1946 due to the two World Wars. As the Tour gained prominence and popularity, the race was lengthened and gained more international participation.

Maurice Garin, winner of the first Tour de France standing on the right. The man on the left is possibly Leon Georget (1903).
Maurice Garin, winner of the first Tour de France standing on the right. The man on the left is possibly Leon Georget (1903).
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Tour de France cover Tour de France Graeme Fife · 1999 French Revolutions cover French Revolutions Tim Moore · 2003 Le compagnon du tour de France cover Le compagnon du tour de France George Sand · 1841 Le Tour cover Le Tour Geoffrey Wheatcroft · 2003 Wheelmen cover Wheelmen Reed Albergotti · 2013
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Background and consequences

The Tour is a UCI World Tour event, which means that the teams that compete in the race are mostly UCI WorldTeams, with the exception of the teams that the organizers invite. Traditionally, the bulk of the race is held in July. While the route changes every year, the format of the race stays the same and includes time trials, passage through the mountain chains of the Pyrenees and the Alps, and, from 1975 to 2023, a finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Jacques Anquetil (centre), Raymond Poulidor (left) and Federico Bahamontes (right), podium of the 1964 Tour de France
Jacques Anquetil (centre), Raymond Poulidor (left) and Federico Bahamontes (right), podium of the 1964 Tour de France
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Related on thisDay

Giro d'Italia Launch — May 13, 1909

113 cyclists embarked on the inaugural Giro d'Italia in Milan, Italy, on May 13, 1909, and finished the race, which is now a complete clause

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Giro d'Italia Launch — May 13, 1909Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Tour de France.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/tour-de-france/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Tour de France. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/tour-de-france/

Chicago

“Tour de France.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/tour-de-france/.

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