The race was started in 1903, sponsored by the car magazine "L'Auto" ( a rather unusual sponsorship since this is a cycle race!) Then, as now, the course ran through the whole of France; in recent years, the race has often included neighbouring countries too.

What makes this race so special is the fact that the riders have to be very skilled - they are expected to be able to sprint, ride cross country, have the stamina to race over enormous distances and be expert climbers since the course crosses some of the highest mountain passes in Europe.

The race is considered to be the hardest cycle road race in the world. Each year a different course is designed, with the route of the "Tour" running clockwise or anti-clockwise around France (the direction alternates each year.) The route designers aim to cover the distance in about 21 to 25 "stages" which roughly average about 250 km each.

The design of the route incorporates all types of terrain. Riders are often expected to undertake sprints, time trials, distance and mountain rides on the same day.

The steep mountain rides are classified on a scale of 4 (least difficulty) to 1 (greatest difficulty). The Tour is so challenging that there is even a special category of "hors catégorie" (beyond a category!) for the ascents which are so extreme that they are beyond the "1" classification!

These classifications are determined by the gradient of the slope, the length of the climb and the general difficulties presented by local conditions. The first three winners of a "4" climb are awarded 5, 3 and 1 points respectively. The "hors catégorie" ascents, though, award the first fifteen riders with points, the winner receiving 40.