The most prestigious and iconic race in the cycling calendar, the Tour de France has changed immeasurably from its formative years. The Tour de France is an annual multi-stage cycling race held (mostly) in France. Beginning well over a century ago, the Tour de France history is one of the longest and most fascinating of … Read more
A penny-farthing is the iconic Victorian-era bicycle (1870s–1880s) with a giant front wheel (50–60 inches in diameter) and a tiny rear wheel — named after the British penny and farthing coins, which were similarly sized. The huge front wheel was direct-drive (pedals attached to the hub), so a single pedal revolution moved the bike forward … Read more
Marco Pantani (1970–2004) was the last cyclist to win both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia in the same year (1998). Nicknamed “Il Pirata” for his bandana and earrings, he was one of the greatest pure climbers in cycling history — his 1997 Alpe d’Huez ascent in 37’35” stood as the record until 2024. … Read more
As the peloton races around the Italian countryside, you’ll notice the riders’ Giro d’Italia jerseys are just as colorful as the beautiful scenery. Just like the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia has its own set of colored jerseys for different classifications, with riders competing fiercely to win different each one. And the colored jerseys … Read more
Major Taylor was the first African American Cycling World Champion, a formidable athlete and gentlemanly competitor who has been described as “the world’s first Black sports superstar”. Taylor won numerous international races and set a slew of world records in a time marred by vicious racism. His is an inspiring story of overcoming the odds … Read more
The Tour de France is 21 stages over 23 days (one rest day per week, sometimes two), covering roughly 3,400 km / 2,100 miles total. Daily stages range from short individual time trials (~20 km) to flat sprint stages (~200 km) and brutal mountain days (~150 km, 4,000+ m of climbing). Riders cover the equivalent … Read more
The 2022 Tour de France is fast approaching. One of the oldest and most iconic multi-stage bike races in the world, the Tour de France has a history stretching back almost 120 years, with the first edition taking place in 1903. However, it’s changed dramatically since then. This year’s edition covers a total distance of … Read more