Every summer the world’s top cyclists descend on France for the calendar’s most emblematic event, the Tour de France.
It is the most recognizable cycling event in the world, the pinnacle of a sport which demands extreme levels of fitness and mental strength from its participants. Over the course of a month, riders circumnavigate France, usually taking in parts of both the Alps and Pyrenees mountain ranges before finishing in the capital, Paris.
France may be better known to tourists as the home of cheese and wine, but each July the country hosts an event which is far more physically demanding than imbibing some of the finer things in life.
In 2016 the race begins on the northern coast in Normandy, before heading down to the Pyrenees on the border with Spain. From here, riders will pass along the Mediterranean coast before climbing into the Alps and finally on to Paris.
The race provides the perfect excuse to take in some of France’s famously beautiful landscapes while also watching a major sporting event. Many spectators flock to the more mountainous stages as the riders are generally slower moving and the race itself is often decided in moments of high drama on the winding mountain roads.
Only the most hardcore cycling fans will want to follow the whole event, and most people will be happy to see one of the famous mountain climbs like the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees.
The Tour de France is a great opportunity to appreciate the superhuman efforts of some of the toughest sportsmen in the world while also taking in one of the most beautiful countries in Europe.
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