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Among the different cycling competitions, some stand out for their prestige and excitement. Find out and learn more about three sporting events that are among the biggest competitions in road cycling.
The Tour de France: the most iconic cycling competition
Created in 1903 by Henri Desgrange and Géo Lefèvre, the Grande boucle was announced at the time as "the greatest cycling event in the entire world." A promise kept!
If the Tour de France is one of the most prestigious cycling competitions, it is also one of the most followed across the planet with a broadcast in nearly 200 countries. It is still the 3rd most watched sporting event in the world.
As a UCI World Tour event, this iconic stage race is one of the three grand tours that every rider dreams of adding to his or her prize list, alongside the Giro (Tour of Italy) and the Vuelta (Tour of Spain).
Nowadays, the editions of the Tour de France last three weeks and include 21 stages for a distance covered of about 3,500 km. The cyclists cross the Hexagone on a route that is sometimes mountainous, sometimes rural, and then finish their feat in Paris, on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
The rider leading the general classification wears the famous yellow jersey during the race. Although the winner of the Tour is the cyclist who finishes first in the final overall classification, there are other renowned classifications:
the points classification (green jersey);
the mountain classification (polka dot jersey);
the youth classification (white jersey);
the team classification (yellow helmet and bib).
Four legendary cyclists have won the Grande Loop five times, including two Frenchmen, Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault.
The UCI Road Cycling World Championships
Being crowned world champion is no small feat! It's been nearly 100 years since this road cycling competition - one of the most important in the discipline - saw the world's best cyclists compete.
The unique feature of these World Cycling Championships is that they are contested by national team, whereas most other events are raced by branded team.
The time trial and road race events, both men's and women's categories, are one-day races. A rainbow jersey is awarded to the lucky winners as a symbol of their athletic prowess.
The Olympics: the Holy Grail
Cycling is among the pioneering disciplines of the Olympics. That's right, road cycling has been around since the very first Summer Olympic Games in 1896! This mythical and unique sporting event in the world is undoubtedly among the greatest road cycling competitions...
To obtain the Olympic medal, the riders will have to compete in the individual road race or in an individual time trial.
Just like for the world championships, the cyclists put on their country's colors to try to get this Grail.
An unmissable event for any road cycling fan!
