History of Tour de France in Timeline
The Tour de France is an annual, multi-stage bicycle race primarily held in France. It is the oldest and considered the most prestigious of cycling's three Grand Tours, a group that also includes the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. The race is a significant event in the world of cycling.
July 1903: Start of the first Tour de France
On July 1, 1903, the first Tour de France started outside the Café Reveil-Matin in Montgeron.
1903: Race finished at the Parc des Princes stadium
From 1903 to 1967 the race finished at the Parc des Princes stadium in western Paris.
1903: Largest margin of victory: Maurice Garin wins by 2h 49m 45s
In 1903, Maurice Garin won the first Tour de France with the largest margin of victory ever, beating Lucien Pothier by 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 45 seconds.
1903: Maurice Garin's start-to-finish victory in the first Tour de France
In 1903, Maurice Garin won the first edition of the Tour de France, leading the general classification from the first stage to the end. He repeated the feat the next year, but the results were nullified due to widespread cheating.
1903: Creation of the Tour de France
In 1903, the Tour de France was created amidst rivalry between sports newspapers Le Vélo and L'Auto.
1903: First organization of Tour de France
In 1903, the Tour de France was first organized to boost sales of the newspaper L'Auto.
1903: First Tour de France staged
In 1903, the first Tour de France was staged as a five-stage race starting in Paris, with adjustments made to attract more competitors.
1904: Henri Cornet's Victory
In 1904, Henri Cornet was the youngest winner of the Tour de France, a record later approached by Tadej Pogačar in 2020.
1904: Concerns about Rider Cheating
In 1904, concerns about rider cheating led to changes in the general classification system for subsequent Tours de France.
1904: Night riding dropped
In 1904, night riding was dropped after persistent cheating.
1904: Widespread cheating in the Tour de France
The 1904 Tour de France was marred by widespread cheating and violence, leading to disqualifications and Desgrange's disappointment. The decision to disqualify the leading riders, including winner Maurice Garin, was made on November 30, 1904.
1905: Point-Based System for General Classification Introduced
From 1905, the general classification was awarded according to a point-based system based on their placings in each stage. It lasted until 1912.
1905: Longer Tour de France planned
In 1905, a longer Tour de France with 11 stages was planned, with stages taking place during daylight hours.
1906: Judging by points for placings each day
From 1906, the Tour de France judged by points for placings each day.
1906: Race went into Alsace-Lorraine
In 1906 the race went into Alsace-Lorraine, territory annexed by the German Empire in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War.
1908: Le Prix du Courage
In 1908, Sports Populaires and L'Éducation Physique created Le Prix du Courage, 100 francs and a silver gilt medal for "the rider having finished the course, even if unplaced, who is particularly distinguished for the energy he has used."
1910: First mountain stages
In 1910, the first mountain stages in the Pyrenees appeared in the Tour de France.
1912: End of Point-Based System for General Classification
In 1912, the point-based system for determining the general classification in the Tour de France was discontinued.
1912: Judging by points for placings each day
Until 1912, the Tour de France judged by points for placings each day.
1919: Introduction of the Yellow Jersey
In 1919, the yellow jersey was introduced to the Tour de France, with Eugène Christophe being the first rider to wear it. The color was chosen to match the yellow paper of L'Auto, the newspaper that created the Tour.
1920: Jules Deloffre holds record for most participations
Starting in 1920, Jules Deloffre held the record for the number of participations in the Tour de France.
1921: Papers other than L'Auto were allowed
The first time papers other than L'Auto were allowed was 1921, when 15 press cars were allowed for regional and foreign reporters.
1923: Touriste-routiers allowed
From 1923, private entrants called touriste-routiers were allowed to take part provided they make no demands on the organisers.
1923: Exchanging a damaged bicycle for another allowed
In 1923, exchanging a damaged bicycle for another was allowed.
1924: 15 stages in the Tour de France
From 1910 until 1924, the format settling on 15 stages.
1924: Ottavio Bottecchia's start-to-finish victory in 1924
In 1924, Ottavio Bottecchia led the general classification from start to finish to win the Tour de France.
1925: Team members from pacing each other forbidden
Until 1925, Desgrange forbade team members from pacing each other.
1927: Tour consisted mainly of team time-trials
The 1927 Tour de France consisted mainly of team time-trials.
1928: Nicolas Frantz's dominant victory in 1928
In 1928, Nicolas Frantz led the general classification for the entire race, and at the end, the podium consisted solely of members of his racing team.
1928: Tour consisted mainly of team time-trials
The 1928 Tour de France consisted mainly of team time-trials.
1929: Alcyon team's tactics
In 1929, the Alcyon team contrived to get Maurice De Waele to win even though he was sick.
1930: Charles Pélissier wins 8 stages
In 1930, Charles Pélissier won 8 stages in a single year.
1930: National teams rather than trade teams insisted
In 1930, Desgrange again attempted to take control of the Tour from teams, insisting competitors enter in national teams rather than trade teams and that competitors ride plain yellow bicycles.
1930: Advertisers preceded the race
In 1930, with the switch to the use of national teams, the costs of accommodating riders fell to the organizers, Henri Desgrange raised the money by allowing advertisers to precede the race.
1930: The caravan at its height
The caravan of advertisers was at its height between 1930 and the mid-1960s, before television and especially television advertising was established in France.
1930: Riders mend their bicycles without help
Until 1930, riders demanded to mend their bicycles without help and that they use the same bicycle from start to end.
1931: Fabio Battesini is the youngest stage winner
In 1931, Fabio Battesini became the youngest Tour de France stage winner at 19 years old.
1933: Introduction of the Mountains Classification
In 1933, the mountains classification was added to the Tour de France, with Vicente Trueba being the first winner.
1934: First Prizes Awarded for Mountains Classification
In 1934, prizes were first awarded for the mountains classification in the Tour de France.
1934: First time trial
In 1934, the first time trial in the Tour was between La Roche-sur-Yon and Nantes (80 km).
1936: Three stages in a single day
By 1936, there were as many as three stages in a single day in the Tour de France.
1937: Use of metal rims allowed
In 1937, riders were finally allowed to use metal rims.
1939: Tour de France disrupted by War
1939: Organisers excluded the last rider every day
In 1939, the organisers excluded the last rider every day in order to encourage more competitive racing.
August 1940: Death of Henri Desgrange
Henri Desgrange died on August 16, 1940. His deputy, Jacques Goddet, took over the race.
1940: Tour planned with a route along the Maginot Line
Henri Desgrange planned a Tour for 1940, after war had started but before France had been invaded. The route, approved by military authorities, included a route along the Maginot Line.
1944: Closure of L'Auto
In 1944, L'Auto was closed, and its belongings, including the Tour, were sequestrated by the state.
1947: Race was not held again until 1947
Due to World War II, the race was not held again until 1947.
1947: Jean Robic wins Tour after overturning deficit on final stage
In 1947, Jean Robic won the Tour de France after overturning a three-minute deficit on the final stage into Paris, without having worn the yellow jersey until the end of the race.
1947: L'Équipe given right to organise Tour de France
In 1947, L'Équipe was given the right to organize the Tour de France.
1947: Longest successful post-war breakaway by Albert Bourlon
In the 1947 Tour de France, Albert Bourlon had the longest successful post-war breakaway by a single rider, covering 253 kilometers in the Carcassonne–Luchon stage.
1949: Fausto Coppi won Giro d'Italia and Tour de France
In 1949, Italian rider Fausto Coppi won the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year.
1952: Fausto Coppi won Giro d'Italia and Tour de France
In 1952, Italian rider Fausto Coppi won the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year, the first rider to do so.
1953: Louison Bobet won Tour de France
In 1953, Louison Bobet won the Tour de France.
1953: Introduction of Green Jersey
In 1953, the Green Jersey 'Points' competition was introduced in the Tour de France.
1953: Introduction of the Points Classification
In 1953, the points classification was introduced in the Tour de France to attract sprinters and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tour. Fritz Schär was the first winner.
1954: Louison Bobet won Tour de France
In 1954, Louison Bobet won the Tour de France.
1955: Louison Bobet won Tour de France
In 1955, Louison Bobet won the Tour de France, becoming the first rider to win it in three successive years.
1957: Jacques Anquetil's First Victory
In 1957, Jacques Anquetil secured his first Tour de France victory, marking the beginning of his dominant presence in the sport.
1958: Start of Modern Combativity Award
In 1958, the modern competition for the combativity award started in the Tour de France.
1959: Change in Points System
From 1959, the points system for the points classification was changed to award points for high place finishes, with first place getting the most points, rather than penalizing for not finishing with a high place.
1959: Introduction of Super Combativity Award
In 1959, a Super Combativity award for the most combative cyclist of the Tour was awarded, though it was not initially awarded every year.
1960: First German team after the war
In 1960, the first German team after the war participated, although individual Germans had ridden in mixed teams previously.
1961: Jacques Anquetil predicts and achieves start-to-finish victory in 1961
In 1961, Jacques Anquetil predicted that he would wear the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification from start to finish, which he accomplished. He wore the yellow jersey after the time trial.
1961: Anquetil's Dominance
In the 1961 Tour de France, Jacques Anquetil boldly declared he would wear the yellow jersey from start to finish, a feat he accomplished despite competition from past winners.
1961: National teams contested in the Tour
Until 1961, national teams contested the Tour de France.
1962: Return to trade teams
In 1962, the Tour de France returned to trade teams. In the same year, Émilion Amaury became financially involved in the Tour.
1963: Death of Jules Deloffre
Jules Deloffre, who held the record for the number of participations in the Tour de France, died in 1963.
1964: Fifth victory for Anquetil
In 1964, Jacques Anquetil won his fifth Tour de France, becoming the first cyclist to achieve this milestone.
1966: André Darrigade ties Jules Deloffre's record
In 1966, André Darrigade tied Jules Deloffre's record for most participations in the Tour de France by riding in his 14th Tour.
1967: Race finished at the Parc des Princes stadium
From 1903 to 1967 the race finished at the Parc des Princes stadium in western Paris.
1967: The first prologue
In 1967 the first stage in modern Tours is often a short trial, a prologue, to decide who wears yellow on the opening day.
1967: Tom Simpson's Death and Rider Strike
In 1967, the death of Tom Simpson due to doping led to a rider strike, highlighting the growing problem of doping in cycling. The organisers suspected sponsors provoked them
1968: Race finished at the Piste Municipale
From 1968 to 1974 the race finished at the Piste Municipale south of the capital.
1968: Introduction of Combination Classification
From 1968, there was a combination classification, scored on a points system based on standings in the general, points and mountains classifications.
1968: Jan Janssen secures Tour win on the last day in 1968
In 1968, Jan Janssen of the Netherlands won the Tour de France by securing his win in the individual time trial on the last day, never having worn the yellow jersey until the race was over.
1968: Return to National Teams
In 1968, the Tour de France temporarily reverted to national teams as 'an experiment'.
1968: Green Jersey Changed to Red
In 1968, the points classification jersey was changed to red to please the sponsor, but the color was changed back the following year.
1969: Merckx's Commanding Lead
In 1969, Eddy Merckx secured a commanding lead in the Tour de France with a long-distance solo attack, winning by a significant margin.
1969: Eddy Merckx's dominant performance in 1969
In 1969, Eddy Merckx won the King of the Mountains, combination classification, combativity award, points competition, and the Tour de France in the same year, which was also the first year he participated.
1969: Return to Trade Teams
In 1969, the Tour de France returned to trade teams, marking the end of the 'experiment' with national teams, although there were suggestions that national teams could come back every few years.
1970: Eddy Merckx wins 8 stages
In 1970, Eddy Merckx won 8 stages in a single year.
1972: Eddy Merckx's Triple Win
In 1972, Eddy Merckx won three jerseys in a single Tour de France.
1973: Green Caps for Leading Team
From 1973, members of the leading team would wear green caps.
1973: Ocaña Wins as Merckx Skips Tour
In 1973, Eddy Merckx did not participate in the Tour de France, leading to Luis Ocaña winning the competition.
1974: Race finished at the Piste Municipale
From 1968 to 1974 the race finished at the Piste Municipale south of the capital.
1974: Eddy Merckx wins 8 stages
In 1974, Eddy Merckx won 8 stages in a single year.
1975: Finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris
From 1975, the Tour de France included a finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
1975: Thévenet Ends Merckx's Streak
In 1975, Bernard Thévenet ended Eddy Merckx's winning streak, finishing ahead of Merckx in the Tour de France.
1975: Introduction of the Polka Dot Jersey
In 1975, the Tour de France organizers decided to award a distinctive white jersey with red dots, colloquially referred to as the "polka dot" jersey, to the leader of the mountains classification.
1975: Polka-Dot Jersey and Champs-Élysées Finish Introduced
In 1975, the polka-dot jersey for the Mountains Classification winner was introduced, along with the finish of the Tour at the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
1975: Introduction of the Young Rider Classification
In 1975, the young rider classification was added to the Tour de France, with Francesco Moser being the first winner.
1975: Race finished with laps of the Champs-Élysées
Since 1975 the race has finished with laps of the Champs-Élysées.
1975: Coupe Omnisports presented by the president of the French Republic
Since 1975, the winner of general classification is the recipient of Coupe Omnisports, presented by the president of the French Republic.
1976: First prize was an apartment
From 1976 to 1987 the first prize was an apartment offered by a race sponsor.
1976: Freddy Maertens wins 8 stages
In 1976, Freddy Maertens won 8 stages in a single year.
1976: José-Luis Viejo wins a stage with a large time gap in 1976
In 1976, José-Luis Viejo won the Montgenèvre-Manosque stage with a time gap of just over 23 minutes, beating the second place rider by 22 minutes and 50 seconds.
1979: Bernard Hinault's near-sweep in 1979
In 1979, Bernard Hinault won the overall and points competitions and placed second in the mountains classification.
1979: The maillot jaune was attacked through the end of this stage
In 1979, the only time the maillot jaune was attacked in a manner that lasted all the way through the end of the Champs-Élysées stage during the Tour de France.
1980: Zoetemelk defeats Hinault
In 1980, Joop Zoetemelk won the Tour de France after Bernard Hinault withdrew from the race.
1980: Joop Zoetemelk wins the 1980 Tour de France
In 1980, Joop Zoetemelk won the Tour de France. He also shares the record with Chavanel for the most finishes at 16, having completed all 16 of the Tours that he started.
1981: Annual Super Combativity Award
Since 1981, the Super Combativity award for the most combative cyclist of the Tour has been given annually.
1982: First Non-European Classification Winners
In 1982, Sean Kelly of Ireland won the points classification, and Phil Anderson of Australia won the young rider classification, marking the first time cyclists from outside Continental Europe won Tour classifications.
1983: Laurent Fignon wins the Young Rider Classification
In 1983, Laurent Fignon won both the young rider classification and the general classification in the same year.
1983: Young Rider Classification Restriction Change
In 1983, the young rider classification was restricted to only first time riders in the Tour de France.
1984: Introduction of Intermediate Sprints Classification
From 1984, an intermediate sprints classification was introduced, awarding a red jersey for points awarded to the first three to pass intermediate points during the stage.
1984: Hinault Soundly Defeated by Fignon
In 1984, Laurent Fignon soundly defeated Bernard Hinault, marking one of the few times Hinault faced a clear defeat in the Tour de France.
1984: Women's Tour de France held
In 1984, a similar race for women was held under various names.
1984: First Tour de France Féminin
In 1984, the Société du Tour de France organized the first Tour de France Féminin, a version for women, which was won by Marianne Martin.
1985: Jules Deloffre still the record holder for number of participations
In 1985, Jules Deloffre was still the record holder for the number of participations in the Tour de France.
1986: LeMond's Victory Amidst Team Conflict
In 1986, Greg LeMond won the Tour de France with support from Bernard Hinault, although the sincerity of Hinault's support was questioned, leading to conflict within the team. It was the first ever victory for a rider from outside of Europe.
March 1987: Lévitan Fired
On March 17, 1987, Felix Lévitan was fired from his position, leading to Jean-François Naquet-Radiguet taking over the organization of the Tour de France.
1987: First prize was an apartment
From 1976 to 1987 the first prize was an apartment offered by a race sponsor.
1987: Pedro Delgado vowed to attack
In 1987, Pedro Delgado vowed to attack during the stage to challenge the 40-second lead held by Stephen Roche. He was unsuccessful and he and Roche finished in the peloton.
1987: Roche's Victory and Triple Crown
In 1987, Stephen Roche won a highly competitive Tour de France, and later became only the second rider to win cycling's Triple Crown by winning the Giro d'Italia and the Road World Cycling Championship in the same year.
1987: Current Young Rider Classification Rules Established
In 1987, the rules of the young rider classification were changed to what they are today, restricting it to riders under the age of 26.
1987: Riders receive a toy lyon
Since 1987, after every stage, the general classification leader receive a toy lyon offered by the yellow jersey sponsor, Crédit Lyonnais.
1987: Tour started in West Berlin
The Tour started in West Berlin on the city's 750th anniversary in 1987. Plans to enter East Germany were abandoned.
1988: Beginning of the EPO Era
1988 marked the beginning of the doping era with the emergence of a new drug, erythropoietin (EPO), which was undetectable at the time. Pedro Delgado won the 1988 Tour de France.
1988: Louy replaces Naquet-Radiguet
In 1988, Xavier Louy replaced Jean-François Naquet-Radiguet as director.
1988: First prize included a car and studio-apartment
In 1988, the first prize was a car, a studio-apartment, a work of art, and 500,000 francs in cash.
1988: "la préface" in La Baule
The 1988 event, at La Baule, was called "la préface".
1988: Green Caps Discontinued for Leading Team
Up to 1988, members of the leading team would wear green caps.
1989: White Jersey Discontinued
Between 1989 and 2000, the Tour de France stopped awarding a white jersey to the leader of the young rider classification.
1989: LeMond's Close Victory
In 1989, Greg LeMond returned from injury to win the Tour de France, securing an 8-second victory on the final time trial, marking the closest two-way battle in TDF history.
1989: Smallest margin of victory: Greg LeMond wins by 8 seconds
In 1989, Greg LeMond won the Tour de France by the smallest margin ever, beating Laurent Fignon by only 8 seconds.
1989: Carenso and Leblanc as directors
In 1989, Jean-Pierre Carenso and Jean-Marie Leblanc became directors.
1989: Cauterets Stage Win
In 1989, Miguel Induráin won a mountain stage to Cauterets.
1989: Abolishment of Combination Classification
In 1989, the combination classification was abolished.
1989: First Official Tour de France Femmes
In 1989, the first official Tour de France for women since 1989 took place, marking a significant moment in the event's history. The 2022 edition revived the event.
1989: Abolishment of Intermediate Sprints Classification
In 1989, the intermediate sprints classification with its red jersey was abolished, but the intermediate sprints have remained.
1989: Greg LeMond won by eight seconds
In 1989, the last stage was a time trial. Greg LeMond overtook Laurent Fignon to win by eight seconds, the closest margin in the Tour's history.
1990: LeMond's Back-to-Back Victory
In 1990, Greg LeMond achieved back-to-back Tour de France victories, solidifying his comeback from injury.
1990: Luz Ardiden Stage Win
In 1990, Miguel Induráin won a mountain stage to Luz Ardiden.
1990: Prizes only in cash returned
In 1990, prizes only in cash returned.
1990: Yellow Caps Discontinued for Leading Team
Until 1990, the leading team in the team classification would wear yellow caps.
1991: Induráin's Reign Begins
In 1991, Miguel Induráin began his dominant reign by winning the Tour de France, marking the start of five consecutive victories.
1991: Thierry Marie's breakaway in 1991
In 1991, Thierry Marie had a 234 kilometers escape.
1993: Bjarne Riis EPO usage begins
In 1993, Bjarne Riis began using EPO regularly, as he admitted on May 25, 2007. This usage continued until 1998 and included the period when he won the 1996 Tour.
1993: Ownership of L'Équipe Moves
In 1993, ownership of L'Équipe moved to the Amaury Group, which formed Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) to oversee its sports operations.
1993: First L'Étape du Tour held in 1993
L'Étape du Tour, an organized mass participation cyclosportive event, was first held in 1993.
1994: The only clean Tour
Carlos Sastre, the 2008 winner, was a rider who went his entire career without a single doping incident and between approximately 1994 and 2011 this was the only Tour to have a winner with a clear biological passport.
1994: GAN gave out caps, badges, plastic bags, and copies of its race newspaper
In 1994, a bank, GAN, gave out 170,000 caps, 80,000 badges, 60,000 plastic bags, and 535,000 copies of its race newspaper.
1995: Induráin's Fifth Victory
In 1995, Miguel Induráin secured his fifth consecutive Tour de France victory, solidifying his place among the greatest cyclists.
1996: Snowstorm shortens stage
During the 1996 Tour de France a snowstorm at the start area led to a shortening of the stage from 190 kilometres (120 mi) to just 46 kilometres (29 mi).
1996: Riis Ends Induráin's Reign
In 1996, Bjarne Riis became the first rider from Denmark to win the Tour de France, ending Miguel Induráin's winning streak. He attacked in Hautacam.
1996: Doping admissions related to the 1996 Tour
In 1996, the top three cyclists were linked to doping. Erik Zabel admitted in May 2007 that he used EPO during the first week of the 1996 Tour, when he won the points classification. Bjarne Riis admitted in May 2007 that he used EPO regularly from 1993 to 1998, including when he won the 1996 Tour.
1997: Ullrich's Win
In 1997, Jan Ullrich became the first German rider to win the Tour de France.
1997: Jan Ullrich wins the Young Rider Classification
In 1997, Jan Ullrich won both the young rider classification and the general classification in the same year.
August 1998: Beginning of the period Armstrong's titles were stripped from
In October 2012, Lance Armstrong was stripped of all titles won since August 1, 1998, due to doping.
1998: Bjarne Riis EPO usage ends
In 1998, Bjarne Riis ended his regular use of EPO, as he admitted on May 25, 2007. His usage had started in 1993 and included the period when he won the 1996 Tour.
1998: Pantani's Double Victory
In 1998, Marco Pantani won both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same calendar year, a feat matched again by Tadej Pogačar in 2024.
1998: French Government Investigation into Doping
In 1998, a French government investigation revealed that close to 90% of riders tested retroactively during the 1998 Tour de France tested positive for EPO.
1998: Festina Affair Doping Scandal
In 1998, the Festina Affair doping scandal shook the sport, revealing systematic doping within teams, with Marco Pantani ultimately winning a decimated Tour.
1999: Armstrong's First Victory
In 1999, Lance Armstrong won the first of his seven consecutive Tour de France victories, marking what was initially seen as a ‘Tour of Renewal’ following the doping scandals.
1999: Fastest massed-start stage in 1999
In 1999, Mario Cipollini won the fastest massed-start stage from Laval to Blois at 50.4 kilometers per hour.
2000: White Jersey Reinstated
In 2000, the Tour de France reinstated the white jersey for the leader of the young rider classification.
2004: Mountain time trial on Alpe d'Huez
During the 2004 Tour de France, the Alpe d'Huez stage was the scene of a 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi) mountain time trial on the 16th stage. Riders complained of abusive spectators.
2005: Armstrong's Retirement
Following Lance Armstrong's retirement in 2005, the 2006 edition saw his former teammate Floyd Landis finally get the chance he worked so hard for
2005: Alexander Vinokourov attacked and won the stage
In 2005, Alexander Vinokourov attacked and won the stage, in the process taking fifth place overall from Levi Leipheimer.
2006: Landis's Victory and Doping Accusation
In 2006, Floyd Landis won the Tour de France, only to be accused of doping shortly after, leading to his win being revoked.
2006: Óscar Pereiro Declared Winner
In 2006, as a result of doping scandals surrounding Floyd Landis, Óscar Pereiro was declared the winner of the Tour de France.
2006: Numbers Printed Black-on-Yellow for Leading Team
Since 2006, the leading team in the team classification has worn numbers printed black-on-yellow.
May 2007: Doping admissions by Erik Zabel and Bjarne Riis
In May 2007, Erik Zabel admitted to using EPO during the 1996 Tour de France. Following this, Bjarne Riis admitted on May 25, 2007, to using EPO regularly from 1993 to 1998, including when he won the 1996 Tour.
May 2007: Riis Admits to Doping
On May 25, 2007, Bjarne Riis admitted to using banned substances during his 1996 Tour de France victory.
July 2007: Alexander Vinokourov tests positive for blood doping
On July 24, 2007, Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for a blood transfusion after winning a time trial, leading to his Astana team's withdrawal and a police raid. The following day, Cristian Moreni tested positive for testosterone, causing his Cofidis team to also withdraw.
2007: Contador's First Victory Amidst Controversy
During the 2007 edition, Michael Rasmussen was in the lead late in the Tour, but was fired by his team for a possible doping infraction, allowing Alberto Contador to win his first Tour de France.
2007: Tour starts outside France three times
In 2007 director Christian Prudhomme said that "in general, for a period of five years we have the Tour start outside France three times and within France twice."
2007: Alberto Contador wins the Young Rider Classification
In 2007, Alberto Contador won both the young rider classification and the general classification in the same year.
2007: Prudhomme Replaces Leblanc
In 2007, Christian Prudhomme replaced Jean-Marie Leblanc as director of the Tour de France, having been assistant director for three years.
2007: Time Bonuses Discontinued
Until 2007, time bonuses were awarded for the general classification at intermediate sprints.
July 2008: Doping incidents in the 2008 Tour de France
In July 2008, Manuel Beltrán tested positive for EPO after the first stage. On July 17, 2008, Riccardo Riccò tested positive for continuous erythropoiesis receptor activator, a variant of EPO, after the fourth stage.
July 2008: Riis's Victory Reconfirmed with Asterisk
In July 2008, the Tour de France organizers reconfirmed Bjarne Riis's 1996 victory but with an asterisk to indicate his doping offences.
October 2008: Revelation of doping by multiple riders in 2008 Tour
In October 2008, it was revealed that Leonardo Piepoli, Stefan Schumacher, and Bernhard Kohl tested positive for doping in the 2008 Tour de France.
2008: Time bonuses not awarded
From 2008 to 2014, time bonuses of 10, 6, and 4 seconds were not awarded to the first three finishers.
2008: Bernhard Kohl's involvement in Operation Aderlass
In 2008, Bernhard Kohl, who finished on the podium, was implicated in Operation Aderlass. He made accusations that a team doctor instructed riders how to dope, which prompted further investigation by authorities.
2008: Widespread Doping Concerns
The 2008 Tour de France was marked by widespread doping concerns. Carlos Sastre, a rider with a clear biological passport, won the Tour.
2009: Prize money distribution
In 2009, the winner of the general classification received €450,000, each of the 21 stage winners won €8,000 (€10,000 for the team time-trial stage), the winners of the points classification and mountains classification each won €25,000, the young rider competition and the combativity prize €20,000; the winner of the team classification receives €50,000.
2009: Last of the women's Tour de France
In 2009, the women's Tour de France held under various names ended.
2009: Armstrong's Return and Anthem Mistake
The 2009 Tour de France saw the return of Lance Armstrong and after Contador was able to defeat his teammate, the Danish National Anthem was mistakenly played. Landis joined OUCH, an American continental team, and not long after this initiated contact with USADA to discuss Armstrong.
2010: Alberto Contador tests positive for clenbuterol after winning the 2010 Tour de France
After winning the 2010 Tour de France, Alberto Contador tested positive for low levels of clenbuterol on 21 July rest day. He was later suspended and stripped of his 2010 victory in February 2012.
2010: Andy Schleck wins the Young Rider Classification
In 2010, Andy Schleck won both the young rider classification and the general classification in the same year.
2010: Andy Schleck Declared Winner
In 2010, due to doping scandals involving Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck was declared the winner of the Tour de France.
January 2011: Spanish Cycling Federation proposes a 1-year ban for Alberto Contador
On January 26, 2011, the Spanish Cycling Federation initially proposed a 1-year ban for Alberto Contador after he tested positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France.
2011: The only clean Tour
Carlos Sastre, the 2008 winner, was a rider who went his entire career without a single doping incident and between approximately 1994 and 2011 this was the only Tour to have a winner with a clear biological passport.
2011: Evans's Historic Victory
In 2011, Cadel Evans became the first Australian to win the Tour de France, after several near misses in previous editions.
2011: Fränk Schleck's third place in 2011
In the 2011 Tour de France, Fränk Schleck placed third; he was later disqualified during the 2012 Tour after testing positive for a banned substance.
2011: Škoda gave a green glass trophy
Since 2011, Škoda, the green jersey sponsor, have given a glass trophy in green to the winner of that competition.
2011: 100th anniversary of Galibier in the Tour
The 2011 Tour de France stage to Galibier marked the 100th anniversary of the mountain in the Tour and also boasted the highest finish altitude ever: 2,645 metres (8,678 ft).
February 2012: Contador suspended and stripped of 2010 victory
In February 2012, Alberto Contador was suspended and stripped of his 2010 Tour de France victory due to testing positive for clenbuterol.
October 2012: Armstrong stripped of all titles since August 1998
In October 2012, the UCI acted upon the USADA report and formally stripped Lance Armstrong of all titles since August 1, 1998, including all seven Tour victories, and announced that his Tour wins would not be reallocated to other riders.
2012: Yellow Helmets for Leading Team
As of 2012, the riders of the leading team in the team classification wear yellow helmets.
2012: Fränk Schleck disqualified from 2012 Tour
During the 2012 Tour de France, Fränk Schleck, who placed 3rd in 2011, tested positive for the banned diuretic Xipamide and was immediately disqualified.
2012: Wiggins's British Triumph
The 2012 Tour de France was won by Bradley Wiggins, the first British rider to ever win the Tour, with Chris Froome finishing on the podium.
2013: Ullrich Admits to Blood Doping
In 2013, Jan Ullrich, the first German rider to win the Tour, admitted to blood doping.
2013: Fastest stage win by Orica GreenEDGE in 2013
In 2013, the Orica GreenEDGE team won the fastest stage in a team time-trial in Nice at 57.8 kilometers per hour.
2013: Opening stages held on Corsica
The opening three stages of the 2013 Tour de France were held on Corsica as part of the celebrations for the 100th edition of the race.
November 2014: Pari Mutuel Urbain Ends Sponsorship
In November 2014, Pari Mutuel Urbain, a state betting company, announced that they would not be continuing their sponsorship of the points classification.
2014: Time bonuses not awarded
From 2008 to 2014, time bonuses of 10, 6, and 4 seconds were not awarded to the first three finishers.
2014: Launch of La Course by Le Tour de France in 2014
In 2014, La Course by Le Tour de France was launched by ASO as a one-day classic held in conjunction with the men's race.
2014: Vincenzo Nibali Wins
In 2014, Vincenzo Nibali won the Tour de France, interrupting Team Sky's streak of victories.
2014: La Course by Le Tour de France held
In 2014, a one/two-day race called La Course by Le Tour de France was held.
March 2015: Škoda Sponsors Green Jersey
In March 2015, it was revealed that the green jersey would now be sponsored by German automaker Volkswagen AG's Škoda brand.
2015: Points Awarded
As of 2015, the points awarded in the points classification were revised.
2015: Krys Sponsors White Jersey
As of 2015, the young rider classification jersey is sponsored by Optician company Krys, replacing Škoda.
2015: Fastest time-trial: Rohan Dennis in 2015
In 2015, Rohan Dennis won the fastest time-trial in Utrecht at an average of 55.446 kilometers per hour.
2017: Tour started in Düsseldorf
In 2017, the Tour started in Düsseldorf.
2018: Sylvain Chavanel's record-breaking 18th Tour
In 2018, Sylvain Chavanel rode his 18th and final Tour de France, setting the record for the most appearances.
2019: Landslides and hail storms shorten mountain stages
During the 2019 Tour de France multiple landslides and hail storms forced two critical mountain stages to be considerably shortened.
2019: Egan Bernal wins the Tour de France
In 2019, Egan Bernal became the first Colombian winner of the Tour de France, marking a significant moment in the event's history.
2019: Egan Bernal wins the Young Rider Classification
In 2019, Egan Bernal won both the young rider classification and the general classification in the same year.
2019: Point Distribution for the Mountains
The point distribution for the mountains in the 2019 Tour de France event was set.
2020: Tadej Pogačar's First Victory
In 2020, Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates won the Tour de France, becoming the first Slovenian winner and the second youngest since 1904. The 2020 Tour started in late August due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the first time since the end of World War II that the Tour was not held in July.
2020: Tadej Pogačar wins the Young Rider Classification
In 2020, Tadej Pogačar won both the young rider classification and the general classification in the same year.
2021: Jonas Vingegaard Second Place Finish
In 2021, Jonas Vingegaard finished second in the Tour de France.
2021: Pogačar Repeats Victory and Cavendish Ties Stage Win Record
In 2021, Tadej Pogačar repeated his triple win, securing multiple jerseys for the second year in a row. On stage 13 of the 2021 Tour, Mark Cavendish tied the record of Eddy Merckx for all-time stage wins with 34.
2021: Tadej Pogačar wins the Young Rider Classification
In 2021, Tadej Pogačar won both the young rider classification and the general classification in the same year.
2021: Last of La Course by Le Tour de France held
In 2021, the last La Course by Le Tour de France was held.
2022: Jonas Vingegaard wins the Tour de France
In 2022, Jonas Vingegaard won the Tour de France, with Tadej Pogačar coming in second. The 2022 race was followed by the Tour de France Femmes, the first official Tour de France for women since 1989.
2022: Inauguration of Tour de France Femmes in 2022
In 2022, the Tour de France Femmes, an 8-day stage race in the UCI Women's World Tour, was held following the Tour, replacing La Course. The first edition was won by Annemiek van Vleuten.
2022: First Tour de France Femmes
In 2022, the first Tour de France Femmes was held.
2023: Jonas Vingegaard wins the Tour de France
In 2023, Jonas Vingegaard won the Tour de France, with Tadej Pogačar finishing second for the second consecutive year.
2023: Last finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris
In 2023, the Tour de France ended the tradition of finishing on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
2024: Mark Cavendish holds record for mass finish stage wins
As of 2024, Mark Cavendish has the most mass finish stage wins with 35.
2024: Mark Cavendish breaks Merckx's record.
In 2024, Mark Cavendish surpassed Eddy Merckx's record for most stage victories.
2024: Pogačar Wins, Cavendish sets stage win record
In 2024, Tadej Pogačar won the Tour de France by more than six minutes over Vingegaard. On stage 5 of the 2024 Tour, Mark Cavendish won his 35th overall Tour stage win, breaking the tie with Eddy Merckx. Pogačar became the first since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year.
2024: The final stage held as a time trial
In 2024, the final stage was held as a time trial.
2024: Race ended outside Paris
In the 111th edition of the Tour de France, because of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the race ended outside Paris for the first time, on the Place Masséna in Nice.
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