The Story of the Tour de France - Volume 1: 1903-1975

In the early 20th century, French newspapers used bicycle races to boost circulation, leading Henri Desgrange, editor of L’Auto, to transform one-day events into the multi-day Tour de France in 1903. This groundbreaking race, which circumnavigated France over nearly three weeks on challenging terrain, quickly became a sensation and has evolved into the world’s premier sporting event held annually, except during the World Wars. Each year, it attracts a new group of riders, with Desgrange continuously refining its rules to enhance the competition.