Over its 101 history the Tour de France has garnered plenty of impressive facts and figures. We don't mind the odd interesting statistic, and we've collected a few of our favourites here to share.
Just because you start doesn’t at all mean you will finish …
60 cyclists started the Tour in 1903, but only 21 crossed the line. Compare that to 69 starting in 1919 and only 10 finishing. Last year 198 started and 169 remained at the end – the odds are improving with time!
The biggest win margin
That went to Maurice Garin, who managed a whopping two hours, 59 minutes and 21 seconds in 1903. They don’t make margins like that anymore!
Versus the smallest win margin
Which was Greg LeMond by the chin of his chinny chin, who clocked in just eight seconds ahead of Laurent Fignon in 1989.
The most wins
Well – this accolade was with Lance Armstrong (seven wins) until he was stripped of his titles due to doping. The mantle now lies with Bernard Hinault at five.
The most number of stage wins
Goes to none other than Eddy Merckx, with an astounding 34.
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The mountain goat award goes to
Frenchman Richard Virenque, who amassed seven polka dot jerseys.
The highest altitude reached
Was Col de la Bonnette at 2,802-metres. Ouch.
The most loved mountain
Appears to be Tourmalet in the Pyrenees, which has been visited by the Tour some 76 times (and will be visited again this year!).
Photo credit of Lee Hewett
The slow coach
Well, that’s a bit harsh, but the slowest average speed for a Tour de France race was in 1919, when Ottavio Bottechia became the first Italian to win. His average speed was 24.1km/h.
The fast flyer
24.1km is a huge contrast to the fastest average speed over the Tour, which did go to Lance Armstrong at 41.6km/h. He’s of course been stripped of his Tour win titles, which in turn now casts a lot of grey over this particular stat…
The young gun
Frenchman Henri Cornet made history in 1904 as the youngest cyclist to win the Tour.
Love facts? Heres more with '11 Things you didnt know about the Tour de France'
The senior cyclist
Belgian Firmin Lambot was in 1922 at 36 years of age the oldest cyclist to win the Tour. Cadel Evans however, assumes that title for post War Tour wins. Not bad for an old man…!?
The most senior of them all
Is 50 year old Henri Paret, who competed in 1904.
Always the best man, although once the groom!
That goes to Joop Zoetemelk, who rode in the Tour during the 70s and 80s and who accumulated six finishes in second place. He came away with first in 1980, though!
This year
198 riders from 22 countries started the race, but how many will finish it?
120 female cyclists will also be competing in La Course, a women-only race held on the final day of the Tour de France and also finishing at the Champs-Elysees.
