Cycling Grand Tours

The three Grand Tours are the Tour de France (France), Giro d'Italia (Italy), and Vuelta a Espana (Spain). Each is a multi-stage race lasting about three weeks.

The yellow jersey (maillot jaune) is worn by the overall leader of the Tour de France. It has been used since 1919, reportedly inspired by the yellow pages of the sponsoring newspaper.

The first Tour de France was held in 1903, organized by the newspaper L'Auto. Maurice Garin won the inaugural race, which covered 2,428 km over six stages.

The green jersey (maillot vert) is awarded to the leader of the points classification, which rewards consistent high finishes and sprint victories throughout the race.

Four cyclists are tied with 5 Tour de France victories each: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain. Lance Armstrong's 7 titles were stripped due to doping.

The polka dot jersey (maillot a pois) is awarded to the King of the Mountains — the rider who accumulates the most points on designated mountain climbs during the race.

Eddy Merckx was nicknamed 'The Cannibal' because he won so frequently that he seemed to devour his competitors. He won 5 Tours de France, 5 Giros d'Italia, and numerous other races.

The peloton is the main group or pack of riders in a road cycling race. Riding in the peloton allows cyclists to conserve energy through drafting, reducing wind resistance by up to 40%.

Paris-Roubaix is known as 'The Hell of the North' due to its brutal cobblestone sections. It is one of the five Monument races and one of the oldest and most prestigious one-day races in cycling.

A typical stage in the Tour de France is between 150-200 km (93-124 miles). The entire race covers approximately 3,500 km over 21 stages plus 2 rest days.

A time trial is a race against the clock where riders start individually at set intervals. Often called 'the race of truth,' it tests a rider's individual ability without the benefit of drafting.

Alpe d'Huez is one of the most iconic climbs in the Tour de France, featuring 21 hairpin bends over 13.8 km. It has been a frequent summit finish since 1952.

Track cycling uses fixed-gear bicycles with no brakes, no gears, and no freewheel mechanism. The bikes are designed for the velodrome and cannot coast — pedals always turn when the wheels turn.

Cycling has been part of every modern Olympic Games since the first in Athens in 1896. Track cycling and road cycling were the original disciplines.

A domestique is a team rider who works to support the team leader by pacing, fetching water bottles, shielding from wind, and chasing down breakaway groups.