Tour-de-France

[ toor-duh-frans, -frahns; French toor-duh-frahns ]

noun

1. a bicycle touring race, held over a period of 21 days: it covers about 2,500 miles (4,000 km) in France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tour-de-France¹

< French: tour of France

Example Sentences

Or, you decide to nip out for some bread just as a club of 120 Lycra-clad, Tour-de-France wannabes pedal past your driveway.

From Forbes

More About Tour De France

What is the Tour-de-France?

The Tour-de-France is an annual bicycle race that covers more than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) in 21 stages over 23 days.

It is generally considered the most famous and most prestigious cycling competition in the world. It is known for its difficulty, including steep mountain climbs.

The route of the Tour-de-France changes each year, primarily traveling throughout France but also sometimes going into neighboring countries. The race always ends in Paris. Spectators line the route throughout the race to watch the cyclists pass.

The winner of the Tour-de-France is the cyclist who accumulates the least racing time throughout all stages. The cyclist with the lowest overall time at the end of each day is famously given a yellow jersey to wear the next day, signaling their position at the race leader.

When is the Tour-de-France?

The 2024 Tour-de-France will be held from June 29–July 21.

It usually starts in late June or early July each year and lasts for about three weeks.

More information and context on Tour-de-France

In English, Tour-de-France simply means “Tour of France.”

The first Tour-de-France was held in 1903 as a publicity event for the L’Auto newspaper. Yellow is said to have been chosen as the color of the leader’s jersey because the newspaper was printed on yellow paper. Today, a green, white, and red-dotted jersey are also awarded for various achievements.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Tour-de-France?

• cycling
• bicycle
• stage
• route
• climb
• jersey

How is Tour-de-France discussed in real life?

The Tour-de-France is the most famous cycling race and is known for its difficulty,  including steep mountain climbs.

Primoz Roglic asserts his Tour de France credentials with a victory in the first mountain stage; Julian Alaphilippe keeps the race leader’s yellow jersey.#TDF2020
https://t.co/3cJpQAYMGG

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) September 1, 2020

Tomorrow I will go to Paris for the first time in my life, by bicycle…in the Tour de France. Dreaming.

— Taylor Phinney (@taylorphinney) July 22, 2017

Peter Sagan has ridden 100 Tour de France stages.

He's finished in the top 10 on 51 of them, not including TTT's. #TDF2016

— Daniel Lloyd (@daniellloyd1) July 18, 2016

Try using Tour-de-France!

True or False?

The Tour-de-France is a day-long race.