From Saturday 3rd till Sunday 24th July, the Tour de France will be the headline of sports news. This is the 98th edition of this cycling race which technically should travel around France but never actually does. It takes mainly place in France but over the years, there have been "étapes" (rounds/stages) in all the neighbouring countries, even England I believe.
This year, it will cover 3430,5 kilometers over the 3 weeks and visit places such as Cap Fréhel, Carhaix, Serre-Chevalier, Valfréjus, Olonne-sur-Mer, and Pinerolo (Italy). Also named "la Grande Boucle" (the Big Loop), it is the yearly celebration of a very popular sport; the bicycle ,a national treasure is nicknamed "la Petite Reine"(the little Queen).
There is a lot of jargon attached to this sport and "le Tour".
Every day ,cyclists will cover une "étape de plaine "(flat terrain), "de montagne "(mountain) or "contre la montre" (against the clock!).This year , there will be 21 étapes.See this year's itinary.
The cyclists will be relieved to see "la flamme rouge" which lets them know there is only one kilometer left to "la ligne d'arrivée". The main bulk of men who cycle together is "le peloton".
Every day, the "classement "(ranking) will change according to performance.The last cyclist is called "la lanterne rouge"!
The more successful ones will wear "un maillot" (Tshirt) with specific coulours.
The most famous one is le "maillot jaune" (the best of the race). It has become an expression to describe somebody/a country/a town/a business who is the best at something... L'Italie porte le maillot jaune de consommation de pâtes! (Italy eats the most pasta!)
"Le maillot vert" goes to the best sprinter, the white one with red dots to the best climber, the white one to the best young cyclist.
The "Tour" finishes on a Sunday with a last sprint on the Champs Elysées. in Paris.
Even if you are not interested in sports or cycling, it is a great "periple" (venture) to follow the "Tour" day after day, discovering France and its regions, its cities and villages, its mountains and plains which are the backdrop of this classic race.
Offical website Letour.fr
Official Letour.fr in English
Follow the Tour with http://www.cyclingfans.com/
Que le meilleur gagne!
May the best man win!
