One of cycling’s three Grand Tours, the 107th edition of the Tour de France began in Nice last Saturday (August 29). The tournament, expected to start on June 27, was delayed until August 29 due to the COVID-19 in France. The competition has been held every year, except for the two World Wars, since its start.
The Tour de France was founded in 1903 by Henri Desgrange, editor of the newspaper L’Auto to increase the newspaper’s sales. However, the tour is now run by the Amaury Sport Organisation. The tour consists of 21 day-long stages, running over the course of 23 days.
Besides, unlike other grand tours (Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España), Tour de France is the world’s most prestigious and difficult bicycle race. As a matter of fact, the race has more live viewers than in the Olympic Games and Fifa World Cups.
3,470km long race in 2020
This year, the race’s average distance is 3,470 km. The race starts from Nice with two stages, including a difficult second day with the vertical elevation 3700 meters. Following that, the route crosses the Orcieres-Merlette and Mont Aigoual summits on stages 5 and 6 prior to being bound for the Pyrenees.
Source: Wikimedia
There are some flatter stages after the rest day in La Rochelle, but it is only a short stop before the race goes again towards the Alps via the Central Massif. The tour will then move to the west coast and traverse the middle of the country. The race will then end with a traditional finish in Paris along the Champs-Élysées.
Details about the starting and ending stage of the 2020 Tour de France
- Nice Moyen Pays to Nice– 156km
- Haut Pays to Nice- 186km
- Nice to Sisteron- 198km
- Sisteron to Orcières-Merlette- 160.5km
- Gap to Privas- 183km
- Le Teil to Mont Aigoual- 191km
- Millau to Lavaur- 168km
- Cazères-sur-Garonne to Loudenvielle- 141km
- Pau to Laruns- 153km
- Île d’Oléron Le Château-d’Oléron to Île de Ré Saint-Martin-de-Ré- 168.5km
- Châtelaillon-Plage to Poitiers- 167.5km
- Chauvigny to Sarran Corrèze- 2018km
- Châtel-Guyon to Puy Mary Cantal- 191.5km
- Clermont-Ferrand to Lyon- 194km
- Lyon to Grand Colombier- 170.5km
- La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans- 164km
- Grenoble to Méribel Col de la Loze- 170km
- Méribel to La Roche-sur-Foron- 175km
- Bourg-en-Bresse to Champagnole- 166km
- Lure to La Planche des Belles Filles- 36.2km
- Mantes-la-Jolie to Paris Champs-Élysées- 122km
2020 Tour de France teams
The 19 teams that make up the top flight of professional cycling, competing in different WorldTour events earn an invitation. Furthermore, each of the invited team are contracted to race in Tour de France.
Source: Pixbay
In addition to the WorldTour teams, the organizers, ASO, have given spots to three Professional Continental squads through wildcard. In particular, the teams getting spot via wildcard in 2020 includes Total Direct Energie, B&B Hotels – Vital Concept p/b KTM, and Arkéa-Samsic.
Classification and jersey
Similar to previous tours, the tournament will again feature four jerseys: yellow, polka-dots, green, and white. Likewise, the race consists of four classifications: mountains classification, points classification, young rider classification, and best young rider classification.
Source: Ebay
On the other hand, classification and jersey are closely linked. In particular, the yellow jersey is for the overall classification, the polka dots for the mountain classification, the green for the points classification, and the white for the best young rider classification.
€2,293,000 as a prize money
The overall prize money available for the 2020 race amounts to €2,293,000, up from the €2,291,700 as prize money in 2019. However, the above sum is splitted into prize money for various categories. The best reward in the tournament is to wear the yellow jersey on the final day in Paris.
Being specific, every yellow jersey wearer will get €500 as prize money. Speaking about the winner of the competition, the squad would receive €500,000 (£426,500) plus €500 for each day spent in the leader’s position. In addition, there is also a prize money of stage winners, receiving €11,000.
To know more about the division of prize money, click here.
