Tour de France winners 1903-2021, by podium position

The Tour de France is a world famous cycle race that took place for the first time in 1903. Its route crosses France and even passes occasionally in some neighboring countries. Also known as the "Big Loop", the Tour de France has become a competition that has gained international recognition over the years. Before being found guilty of illegal doping activities and being stripped of all his titles, the American rider Lance Armstrong was for a long time the winner of the most editions of the Tour de France. As of 2021, the most successful Tour de France rider was the Frenchman Bernard Hinault, who won the competition five times and came second on the podium twice.

Who has worn the yellow jersey the most?

The yellow jersey is the symbol of the Tour de France par excellence. Introduced for the first time 1919, it rewards the most seasoned riders of the competition, who are at ease on the flat, in the mountains, and in time trials. During the competition, the rider who won the most recent stage is awarded the yellow jersey for the next stage. As of 2020, Eddy Merckx was the cyclist who has worn the yellow jersey the most in all editions of the Tour de France. The Belgian rider wore the yellow jersey for 111 days.

Popularity of The Tour de France in France

In 2020, the Tour de France was the most popular sports property in France ahead of the French Open, a major tennis tournament also known as Roland-Garros. According to a 2020 survey, more than 30 percent of the French population stated they watched or followed the race over the past few years. In addition, France represented almost a third of the European TV audience of the 2021 edition of the Tour de France, with 42.4 million viewers.