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Lasting nearly three weeks and involving several hundred competitors, the Tour de France is ane of the biggest sporting events across the globe — and in the earth of cycling, information technology's definitely the biggest. This much-anticipated almanac race faced some setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the world hasn't returned to normal even so, devoted cycling fans (and those of us who simply dear edge-of-our-seats competition) are eager for the big return slated for this summer.

In honor of the Tour de France'southward thousand 2021 re-entry to the sporting universe on Saturday, June 26, nosotros're taking a look at some fun facts that'll get your apprehension building fifty-fifty more. Plus, you lot'll detect where and how you can picket every infinitesimal of the race from the condolement of home — no cleats or helmet necessary.

Thousands of People Are Involved

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You lot might already know that a bevy of bicyclists participate in the race — 198 riders spread across 22 dissimilar teams compete each year. Simply the number of people involved in ensuring the race goes off without a hitch is much higher than the number of athletes participating. Organizers take logistics to the next level with team staff members, members of the race jury, thousands of security professionals and members of the media. If you include the spectators in that count, the numbers — pre-pandemic, at least — can see the millions. From metropolis to city along the race route, hundreds upon hundreds of people follow the action throughout the course of the event. And organizers and support staff go along things running smoothly to the end line.

The Race Has a Surprising Connection to a Newspaper

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The first Tour de France wasn't held considering a bunch of bicycling fans got together and thought it'd be a great thought to first a contest — at least non totally. Information technology was actually a promotional consequence hosted with the intention of bringing more publicity to 50'Auto, a French newspaper that focused on reporting details about different sporting events. Although Fifty'Automobile has since closed down, the parent visitor of its replacement,L'Equipe, continues to organize the Tour de France today.

It's Not Only Big, only Also Long

And it's long in multiple ways, too. The race itself takes place over the course of about a month, with 21 unlike day-long segments making up the majority of the competition. The length of the course is also extensive, all the same; it'south typically over 2,000 miles long and can pass through multiple neighboring countries. It wasn't even e'er this curt, either — in 1926, the course encompassed a winding 3,570 miles and took a full calendar month for riders to finish.

Different Jerseys Hateful Dissimilar Things

As you picket the race, you'll detect cyclists wearing the bright kits and bibs that represent their teams — merely you'll also spot some even more than unique colors and designs among the pack. One of these is a yellow jersey, called the "maillot jaune," that'due south bestowed upon the racer who had the everyman cumulative ride time for the mean solar day. Other special jerseys include the green "maillot vert," which is awarded to the rider with the about points, and the "maillot a pois" — a crimson and white polka-dotted jersey given to the cyclist who earns the most points during the areas of the course that have steep inclines to climb. The rider who wears the maillot a pois is affectionately known equally "the male monarch of the mountain."

There Was Almost Only One Tour de French republic

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The first Tour de France took identify in 1903 – and that was almost the one and only iteration of the race. That's because paper editor Henri Desgrange, who helped organize the initial bout, was and then balked at the conduct not just of the fans just also of the competitors in the 1903 race that he wanted to discontinue information technology despite its clear appeal. Bouncy crowds turned violent, with spectators assaulting racers equally they passed along the course. The riders themselves found numerous ways to crook, disqualifying themselves in the process. But the Tour de France was and then lauded — and it increased circulation of L'Auto and then extensively — that the organizers had no choice but to go along hosting the issue.

The Race Has Its Own Language

Soigneurs prepare to manus out musette numberless with meals during stage xv of the 2017 Tour de France. Photo Courtesy: Chris Graythen/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

Bonking, anyone? As yous're watching the Bout de France, you might hear commentators use some curious turns of phrase — and many of them will be unique to the race itself. Boost your bicycling know-how by learning what these terms hateful before catching one of the race segments:

Bonking: Cyclists don't desire to "bonk" during this race; it means they've run out of energy and are besides wiped to continue.
Peloton: No, information technology'southward non the fancy practise bicycle yous bought during the pandemic. In Tour de France context, a peloton is the main group of riders where nigh of the participants are cycling together.
Sag Carriage: If someone bonks, they may need the assistance of the sag wagon. This is a automobile that follows the pack of cyclists and picks upward those who become too fatigued or injured to keep riding.
Musket Bag: While it may sound like something you'd find at a Civil State of war battleground, a musket bag is sort of similar a bagged luncheon — just it's packed with energy gels, water, sandwiches and other fuel for the cyclists. It's also called a "musette" or, sometimes, a "bonk bag."
Lanterne Rouge: In French this term means "ruddy light," and information technology refers to the cyclist who's in the very final place in the race. Being in this position gets riders ample attention, and those who know they won't win sometimes compete for this distinction instead.

Yous Can Watch the Action at Home — Hither'south How

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Now that the race has returned to regularly scheduled programming in 2021 post-obit its 2020 pandemic postponement, you might exist eager to catch the three-calendar week racing saga unfold from the comfort of home. Fortunately, you have the user-friendly option to stream the tour alive on both NBC Sports and NBC's Peacock streaming service.

The race coverage on Peacock is only bachelor through Peacock Premium, a paid tier of the service that costs $four.99 — a worthwhile investment if yous're a serious cycling fan who can't await to spotter this Grand Bout. NBC Sports is accessible if you're already paying for regular cable, but without that subscription you won't exist able to stream the program online or spotter it on Tv unless you lot bound for Peacock.

Keep in mind that, if you're not already a Peacock subscriber, yous'll receive a free weeklong trial to better help you determine if the service is right for y'all. Y'all tin can use that to take hold of up on the race and determine if you lot want to make the monthlong (or longer) investment.