The Tour de France is one of the most anticipated events for bike enthusiasts. Every year in July, the race brings together over 200 cyclists who ride over 2,000 miles in 23 days. The race takes place in various cities, towns, countryside, and mountains of France, but sometimes starts in another country. Do you know the difference between the yellow jersey and the polka dot jersey? Do you know the difference between a mountain stage and a flat stage? To learn the answers to all these questions, keep reading. The Tour de France is basically a big bike race around France. It's the world's largest free sports event, with millions of people watching over 23 days and 21 stages - which means cyclists only get two rest days. 22 teams from around the world participate, with each team having no more than 9 cyclists. Cyclists ride at an average speed of 25 miles per hour throughout the course, but at some points, they can go much faster, sometimes reaching speeds of 70 miles per hour, which is the speed at which motor vehicles can travel on the highway. The race was started in 1903 by Henri Desgrange as a promotional campaign for a newspaper called L'Auto. Desgrange wanted to promote L'Auto by organizing a bike race. The first race was a huge success, with 60 cyclists riding 1,500 miles. The Tour de France is a big competition made up of a series of smaller competitions. Cyclists can compete to win a stage or earn the right to wear one of the famous jerseys. The green jersey is for the points prize. Cyclists earn points during the race and among the first finishers each day. This jersey, usually won by a sprinter, shows the speed of the cyclists. The Tour is not just about reaching the highest speeds, but also about climbing mountains. Cyclists climb thousands of meters in the Alps and Pyrenees, and the best cyclist in these stages wins the red and white polka dot jersey. The white jersey is awarded to the best young cyclist - which is a cyclist under the age of 25. But the prize that everyone dreams of is the yellow jersey. Cyclists compete fiercely just to have a chance to wear the jersey for a day, let alone at the end of the race. The cyclist wearing the yellow jersey is the leader of the general classification. Tour champions are usually good at everything - climbing, sprinting, and time trials. The race doesn't just take place in France, sometimes it also takes place in neighboring countries. The first two days, the Grand Départ, take place in a new location every two years. In 2014, the Tour started in Yorkshire, and in 2023, the Italian city of Florence hosted the Grand Départ. The 2026 race will start in Barcelona, ​​Spain. The following year, in 2027, both the men's and women's Tour de France will start in the UK. Organizers have confirmed that the men's race will start in Edinburgh and that each of Scotland, Wales, and England will host a stage. The UK has previously hosted the men's race, but this will be the first time the women's race - known as the Tour de France Femmes - will start here. Also, the men's and women's races will start in the same country, outside of France, in the same year. The race consists of 21 different stages, and it's not just flat roads. The Tour takes cyclists up mountains as well. Different stages have different names: Prologue: Each cyclist races against the clock in a short time trial (usually less than six miles). Flat: Despite its name, this doesn't necessarily mean a flat road. Cyclists usually ride in large groups, together, for 125 miles. These stages end with either an individual victory or a group victory. Time trial: A one-hour race. These stages are shorter than the others (30 miles instead of 100-125 miles). Sometimes cyclists ride alone, sometimes in teams. The 2026 Tour will start with a 19 km team time trial in Barcelona. The Tour will start with a team time trial for the first time in 55 years. Mountain stage: These stages include climbs from sea level to over 2,000 meters and are sometimes done multiple times in one day. It's a very challenging competition. Did you know that the Tour de France has been held every year since 1903? It was only not held during World War I and World War II. The Tour de France is one of the most anticipated events for bike enthusiasts and sports fans. The race shows the speed, endurance, and mountain-climbing skills of the cyclists. Cyclists work very hard to prove themselves and win the yellow jersey. The Tour de France is not just a competition, but also a festival. Millions of people come to France to watch the race and support the cyclists. The race is an event where bike enthusiasts come together and enjoy the sport of cycling. What do you think about the future of the Tour de France? Do you think cycling will become even more popular in the future? Do you think bike enthusiasts' interest in the Tour de France will increase? You can share your thoughts about the future of the race.