When Did The Tour De France Begin?

The Tour de France began in 1903 and was the brainchild of a Frenchman called Henri Desgrange. Henri wanted an idea to help to promote his sports newspaper, L'Auto and decided that a cycling tour around Frnace was the answer.
Originally riders had to compete as individual, rather than in teams and had no one to help them with food or even arrange accomodation for them. They were even required to cycle throughout the night. Riders are much more technically equipped today than they were one hundred years ago. Today the race attracts over 15 million roadside spectators and up to two billion television viewers. Despite the improvement of the cycles, riders still suffer incredible hardship in battling to win the title. The legendary American Lance Armstrong achieved an astonishing seven straight wins from 1999- 2005. At the 1989 Tour de France , Lance rode with 40 shot pellets ramaining in his body from a hunting accident two years earlier!

The Tour De France began in 1903.