Tour de France Course Overview
The course of the Tour de France changes every year. The Tour is always a 21 stage race and always ends in Paris on the Champs-Élysées, but everything else is subject to change year after year. The majority of the stages are raced in France, but the Tour routinely visits neighboring countries like Germany, Spain, and Belgium. Though the route changes each year, there is a consistent flow to the Tour that is repeated over and over.
The first week of the Tour normally has a very smooth and flat profile. This is the portion of the Tour that offers beautiful views the peloton riding through the countryside. It is also the portion of the Tour where the sprinters shine. The first week is where the majority of the sprint bonuses are found. While the race for the sprinter's Green Jersey is not decided here, the main threats are usually narrowed down to two or three riders during this early portion of the Tour. The Yellow Jersey is often worn by a sprinter during this portion of the Tour.
During the second week the Tour heads into the mountains. The Tour normally visits the Pyrenees mountain rage and the Alps, and sometimes both. Most sprinters have explosive speed but most cannot maintain their leads once the course becomes more vertical. The focus of the Tour now turns to the climbers. In the mountain stages we see many bonus points awarded for the King of the Mountain's Polka Dot Jersey competition. This is also where we first normally see an indication of who will be a contender for the overall race lead.
After spending time in the mountains, the Tour will eventually head back to flatter terrain as it turns toward Paris. As the Tour heads toward Paris the King of the Mountain competition is all but finalized. This final week of the Tour is focused on who will win the Yellow Jersey and possibly the Green Jersey.
The final day of the Tour is a long stage to Paris, followed by several laps around the Champs-Élysées. Normally the overall winner has been decided before the final stage begins, and there is a standing agreement that the peloton will not attack the Yellow Jersey on the final day. If the competition for the Green Jersey is close we will see the sprinters racing all out for the last bonus points available on the Champs-Élysées. Sprinters will also be competing for the glory of the final stage win.
The first week of the Tour normally has a very smooth and flat profile. This is the portion of the Tour that offers beautiful views the peloton riding through the countryside. It is also the portion of the Tour where the sprinters shine. The first week is where the majority of the sprint bonuses are found. While the race for the sprinter's Green Jersey is not decided here, the main threats are usually narrowed down to two or three riders during this early portion of the Tour. The Yellow Jersey is often worn by a sprinter during this portion of the Tour.
During the second week the Tour heads into the mountains. The Tour normally visits the Pyrenees mountain rage and the Alps, and sometimes both. Most sprinters have explosive speed but most cannot maintain their leads once the course becomes more vertical. The focus of the Tour now turns to the climbers. In the mountain stages we see many bonus points awarded for the King of the Mountain's Polka Dot Jersey competition. This is also where we first normally see an indication of who will be a contender for the overall race lead.
After spending time in the mountains, the Tour will eventually head back to flatter terrain as it turns toward Paris. As the Tour heads toward Paris the King of the Mountain competition is all but finalized. This final week of the Tour is focused on who will win the Yellow Jersey and possibly the Green Jersey.
The final day of the Tour is a long stage to Paris, followed by several laps around the Champs-Élysées. Normally the overall winner has been decided before the final stage begins, and there is a standing agreement that the peloton will not attack the Yellow Jersey on the final day. If the competition for the Green Jersey is close we will see the sprinters racing all out for the last bonus points available on the Champs-Élysées. Sprinters will also be competing for the glory of the final stage win.
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