The Tour de France Explained | Everything You Need To Know About The Biggest Bike Race In The World

[@gcn]

What's your favourite thing about the Tour de France? Will this be the first time you've watched the race? Let us know in the comments below!

[@TARUNPOPSTAR]

First reply

[@reubennaude9171]

What is a pelaton

[@DarenC]

My favourite thing about the Tour is that it's _the Tour_ ! I first watched it in 1983 or so when Channel 4 in the UK started showing highlights, and I've never missed a year yet. So many memorable moments. Abdou's horrible crash on the Champs Elysees, Roche coming round the corner on La Plagne, LeMond's TT to win against Fignon, Thierry Marie's saddle spoiler... Man, I could fill this box with hundreds of memories. I love this race!

[@gcn]

@@DarenC That's what it's all about! So many great moments every year - we can't wait!

[@sebastianalfredohernandezs2611]

It's going to be my first time, this video couldn't have had a better timing.

[@manuel7102]

Why am I watching this after having followed 25 consecutive years of pro cycling

[@gcn]

Nothing wrong with refreshing your memory! It's been a while since any of us watched the Tour de France!

[@abdoullahmitiche8405]

Exactly! 😅

[@SisterBaby]

To see if it is explained any better than the previous year!

[@daisybluegroff]

Because GCN are amazing presenters.

[@JohnFoxBass]

@@daisybluegroff But his French pronunciation is KILLING ME.

[@davidgarrick2539]

Ive just got back into cycling and have started watching the TdF again. I found this very useful indeed. Thank you.

[@itsjaboi8316]

Great video, thanks! I got into cycling over lockdown and I'm looking forward to watching my first TDF this year!!

[@reddiver7293]

I knew all this yet I thoroughly enjoyed the vid. Well done.

[@georgiaguardian4696]

I absolutely love this game explanation video! Wow all the rules open my eyes. I knew only one - the yellow jersey.

[@salkinfamilychiropractic3142]

Some one used to call the Yellow Jersey "the Mellow Johnny" as I recall

[@josephpittman8968]

You mentioned the GCN Race Pass as the best way to watch the TdF. But for residents of the USA, that is (sadly) not an option. I currently have to subscribe to a couple of other different services to see cycling events throughout the year; I hope GCN is able to secure USA broadcast rights to more races in 2021!

[@gcn]

We’d love to be able to show more content in more locations, but race rights won’t let us, sorry! Fingers crossed that we’ll be able to bring more races to you in the future.

[@josephpittman8968]

@@gcn Thanks, my fingers are crossed too... I greatly enjoy your content and presenters!

[@gcn]

@@josephpittman8968 Thanks, Joseph - appreciate the support!

[@TreyGruel]

Rather disappointed that JPow left out that key piece of info about Race Pass, especially as he's from the US, where TdF isn't available on it.

[@keithcohen5582]

Thanks

[@gcn]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Keith!

[@PaulRiezebos]

I thought the points jersey is awarded to the best Slovakian rider

[@gcn]

Haha - it's definitely been that way for a long time! Perhaps this year Sagan will have a bit more of a challenge?

[@pavolkocis7456]

You can make it hard as much as you want for Peter Sagan he is the old time record breaker. 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢🇸🇰🇸🇰🇸🇰

[@julz19]

It's bigger than the Olympics?

[@Karabintree3]

Haven't missed a Tour de France since I am 14 untill this year none of my local tv network decided not to stream it -_-

[@maxrevell3830]

Shouldn't cycling teams have an "away" kit like in football, so that they don't clash with the leader's jersey? For the Tour, for example, Jumbo Visma should wear a kit with minimal yellow and EF at the Giro should wear jerseys without pink.

[@gcn]

Some teams do change their kit specifically for the grand tours! In the 90s, Team Once swapped their regular yellow kit for pink at the Tour de France - specifically so they didn't blend in with the yellow jersey!

[@maxrevell3830]

@@gcn bring this back!

[@pegitamg9716]

This race has had a huge impact on my marriage. My husband loves to ride and watched every episode religiously. Each day there were 3 or more hours of tape to watch and he did! It's hard to be in the middle of this situation and realize you share your husband with 200 people ( the number of riders usually) so I started listening while he watched. It was really hard to catch on to but I stuck with it and was able to enjoy it literally right next to him. Then I started to pick up on the language and manuveres and could understand why certain moves were so important to the understanding of the whole race. I can now 37 years later discuss it with him and share my insights. This race was the "other woman" in my marriage!

[@PipeScholar]

This is delightful, thank you for sharing Pegita!

[@tongobong1]

So who do you think will win Tour de France this year?

[@CheAdlawan]

I like this guy who is ALL about TDF haha and I'm trying my best to learn the sport cos I do feel like the race is really important to him. I wanna be able to talk about it with him and be able to "enter" his world :)

[@ftbix]

who?

[@metaldigger]

Your man is lucky 🙂

[@888johnmac]

simply explained with minimal jargon .. perfect for newbies .. nicely done

[@gcn]

Thanks very much - exactly what we were going for. Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@ZEWilloughby]

As a newcomer to the sport, this is why I love GCN so much

[@hond4h34d]

also well structured and organized

[@dorindas7330]

Agree 100%! Great video!

[@Fa0404B]

"How to get your friends into cycling?" - Just let Jeremy talk to them for 2 minutes and they will see it's the key to happiness :D

[@adude888]

Who's here from Netflix tour de France unchained 😂

[@NicholasVincent-ol1zk]

#mellodiecastconstruction #ghostingmellows #deathdate #timeofdeathclubmed #examminercoreon

[@tennissir1986]

Not me.

[@kiranvputhettu4799]

This guy should have been my tutor in school 😂

[@gcn]

If only they taught bike racing in schools!

[@reesestar7079]

I finally understand what’s going on in the Tour , Looking forward to watching it on the GCN app. Best explanation ever, thanks so much from a very new bike rider in Australia.👌

[@kennethdayman3386]

Great video! Would love to see a video for intermediate race watchers. How do team strategies work? Working for different riders, how do the domestiques become successful, what are different sorts of tactics to look out for, what more is there to racing than pedal hard eyeballs out the whole time?

[@tungruffel]

This guy always looks so happy and it makes me happy! Can we keep him?

[@gcn]

Jeremy's not going anywhere, don't worry!

[@markush7001]

@@gcn I want to see JPow take on someone from GMBN! Go for the jugular.

[@yaacov9008]

@@gcn This aged well 🙃

[@johannesglintborg-mikkelse4186]

“No one can win the tour on their own” Pogacar: Laughs in Slovenian

[@gcn]

Haha - that was an exceptional performance wasn't it

[@deficharliegosseTK]

@@gcn I was thinking if there was a hybrid sprinter/climber this had to have happened there must've been a rider with enough HP in their legs and pump in their arms/back to have been god at both

[@razaninaufal]

@@deficharliegosseTK that's puncheur, the likes of julian alaphillipe, mvdp, wva, etc. Usually great at classics but at times can be a gc rider too. The downside is that since you need a lot of power to sprint, they usually weigh more than the great climbers, making them lost a lot of time on big mountains.

[@DilbertMuc]

@@gcn Exceptional? Happened this time in 2021 again, over and over again.

[@idabjernemose]

Sprinters: biggest men Climbers: smallest men Team leaders (aiming to win): middle men Sprinters are too heavy to climb mountins quick, climbers are too small to sprint and team leaders need to be a good at everything, not amazing, but good.

[@omniyambot9876]

Why do sprinters have to be heavy?

[@kaos7116]

@@omniyambot9876 sprinters need strong muscles to burst forward, i think dont quote me on that

[@laobe5119]

Caleb😂

[@juliewerner9592]

I finally understand what’s going on in the Tour , Looking forward to watching it on the GCN app. Best explanation ever, thanks so much from a very new bike rider in Australia.👌

[@gcn]

Great to hear you found the video useful, Julie! Enjoy Le Tour! If you have any feedback on Race Pass, we'd love to hear it!

[@franckr6159]

Indeed a very good introduction video. However if you really want to "understand what’s going on in the Tour" I would recommend you read a specialized daily newspaper. In France there is "L'Equipe" (which replaced L'Auto, the newspaper that created the TdF), it provides daily several pages analysing the previous stage and explaining what should be each team tactics during the coming day. Really a must read if you are a fan and/or what to understand the race during the coming day (and if you read French btw....). Also viewing the TdF on a TV channel commented by a competent cycling specialist is very welcome. This is not that simple to understand cycling tactics. Also, btw, I suppose GCN might be doing it daily on KZbin (or elsewhere?) but I don't know yet this web channel (sorry).

[@jthepickle7]

Part two covers blood doping, EPOs and other performance enhancing drugs, herbal prescriptions, hidden electric motors and etc.

[@redbeardsbirds3747]

I basically went from knowing almost nothing about the Tour de France to being totally "hooked" on watching this great BIG TEST of stamina and teamwork...it takes more than just riding...it's also about strategy and helping your team finish as winners. Thank so much for this nice introductory video!

[@reecemossvlogs]

First time I'm looking forward to the tour de France, hope its going to be a good one!!!

[@gcn]

Enjoy it, Reece! It's looking like it's going to be an amazing race!

[@doughboi007]

IF it truly was an equal sport, there would be women on the Tour de France teams. Seeing as they tend not to be as competitive, it's not going to happen.

[@Lulikmaid]

Great video! But it took all the fun out of asking my husband random questions while he watches the tour 😂

[@ninagraciacanete1162]

Im here cuz of yowamushi pedal

[@tsuyoikuma1400]

OMG me too !!! 😂😂😂😂 Onoda for president

[@mosesbuddhajesus3362]

I wish Jeremy will star in more videos in the future! I love this guy, anyone else think so?

[@gcn]

Haha, we hope Holywood doesn't steel him away from us any time soon...

[@mosesbuddhajesus3362]

@@gcn steel, eh? 😜

[@neilaquino5294]

I'm a sprinter by heart but that polka dot jersey is my favorite jersey. 🥰

[@gcn]

It's so iconic, isn't it!

[@neilaquino5294]

@@gcn and to think it came from a Chocolate Sponsor makes it more sweeter 🤩

[@MegaNastyHabits]

I've been watching every televised minute of the Tour since 1989. My favorite thing about the tour are the battles on the mountain stages. Although I first was made aware of the the Tour when I read a book by Stirling Moss. There used to be a Tour de France for sports cars. In the book Sir Stirling said that one year, the car race was paused so the bike race could pass by uninterrupted.

[@gcn]

Full commitment! This years edition has a lot to live up to!

[@christellelemaire9749]

Je prends arkena ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ZaydDepaor]

Only the French could come out with such a convoluted competition format

[@ianism3]

well, it's been made more complicated over the decades to try to make things more exciting for people watching. like, intermediate sprints were put in to give you something to watch halfway through the stage, as most of the time the action happens in the last 10-20km (out of 180km)

[@chazpilks]

I’d watch J Pow showing us how to change a plug...

[@gcn]

Haha!

[@nathantang9964]

Absolute quality from J pow. I might not like everything from GCN but this video is well explained and not easy to find.

[@gcn]

Cheers, Nathan!

[@pernels.thyseldew2157]

May I say something controversial? I have watched all the major winners since Jacques Anquetil, and I would like to say that even though Lance Armstrong was 'Juiced' he put on a 'Great Show' every race, and he was not the only 'Juiced' person in the peloton. Hence I wince every time I see the ******'s for his wins, I saw the races on Sat-TV and he won them. Thx.

[@funofflying15]

This was an excellent presentation giving concise and pertinent information about the TDF, which was perfect for someone like me who knows absolutely nothing about it lol :-) Much more interesting than videos on how to wash your bike (again) or tyre size and stopping distances. Thank you!

[@MrJx4000]

You got a thumbs up from me but who came up with these rules? Holy smokes.

[@gcn]

Haha - it definitely is a little confusing! But that's why we love it - there's always something going on!

[@jamesphillips9632]

Thank you that was a brilliant lesson on the Tour De France Very easy to follow 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@gcn]

Thanks, James! Much appreciated!

[@yateswebb]

I always get annoyed at how hard it is to spot the yellow jersey. they should outlaw yellow as a team color :) Small complaint... but still...

[@kwd-2023]

My favorite part is watching a breakaway try to beat the peloton to the finish.

[@Lachielloco]

This video aged really well.

[@paulinhasab]

Tour de France for women, please!! Looking forward to it. One day it will come true :)

[@idabjernemose]

Next year! 2022, 8 day race after tour de france men.

[@superjan4459]

I started watching cycling like a month ago and this video helped me a lot, thank you.

[@gcn]

Glad it helped!

[@I_Am_Become_Light]

Something tells me the race was nowhere near this complicated when it first started out in 1903.

[@fightfan9739]

Don’t forget everybody takes gear so go visit your local doctor 💀💀

[@pernels.thyseldew2157]

One favorite are the faithful followers like the sealing wax red '67 VW Van that follows, and others, plus the landscapes, chateaus and no graffiti anywhere!

[@DaHoePatrol]

Wow this was great! I just got into cycling a couple of months ago after dusting off my old single speed bike that was in the garage and taking it down to the beach to ride the bike paths. Just happens that today after our ride at the beach I was trying to explain to my fiend how the TDF works after watching the highlights of the previous days and now this comes out! Awesome keep it up lads.

[@catospanky]

Excellent tutorial! My favorite feature this year has been the resurgence of Mark Cavendish and his incredible equaling (and hopefully breaking) of Eddie Merckx's record.

[@kevinhandy2490]

We will find out soon! #project35

[@JoRose-wc9de]

We found out yesterday 🎉🎉🎉

[@catospanky]

@@JoRose-wc9de Please tell me. My cable provider (Xfinity) quit carrying Peacock. I am without the ability to follow my favorite sport.

[@JoRose-wc9de]

@@catospanky he broke record at stage 5

[@catospanky]

@@JoRose-wc9de Thanks for the update. I really wish I could have seen it.

[@matthillard9363]

Thanks for this now my 7yr old understands what's going on and wants to race in the tdf

[@pernels.thyseldew2157]

I've followed the TdF since the mid-1960's, when we had to wait two weeks for the Cycling News' to come out. But I enjoyed your presentation, and obviously knew it all already!

[@simonsaville9962]

Great job, and a definite 'Hell to the Yeah!' for JPOW.

[@gcn]

Thanks, Simon! Jeremy nailed this one!

[@christinahoward2359]

Cheers for bringing up women's cycling! Hoping to be able to tune in to a large women's tour in my lifetime.

[@gcn]

Hopefully, we don't have to wait too much longer! I can't remember the last time I watched a women's race that wasn't really really exciting...

[@melodieland1451]

Thanks very much for this great video! This is my first year of watching the Tour and really trying to understand what's going on. This video went a long way in my beginning education of this sport. I now can say, at least, that I know what all the colored jerseys signify and that's a huge plus!

[@NicholasVincent-ol1zk]

Toured Fance on a cycle #2024#2025

[@josedacunhafilho]

Watching this, and just knowing the complexity and intensity of the Tour de France, I couldn't help but think, for the entire clip, about Greg LeMond's mind blowing 1989 victory. The more I know the details of that amazing win, the more I tend to believe it was the greatest sports achievement in history. And for that asshole, cheater, Armstrong treating LeMond so disrespectfully later on, I only wish he gets booed out of every place he goes for the rest of his miserable, cheating life.

[@kathym6603]

Appreciate your full coverage of the basics. It's a year old but still a great lesson.

[@NicholasVincent-ol1zk]

#franceclamour #womansfrenchconnexion

[@simonalexandercritchley439]

Best and clearest guide to TDF ever !! good job.

[@hanktacular]

This was a great explainer for a newbie. Thank you so much!

[@gcn]

Cheers, Henry! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SuperLanyard]

Finally! Thanks for the explainer video. Well done and very helpful. You guys are great! Viva Le Tour!!!!!

[@gcn]

Glad it helped!

[@ChristianMercadoAcevedo]

As a newbie who has always been lost by competitive sports, this video is a godsent.

[@NicholasVincent-ol1zk]

Be our hustle @brussels.

[@milescorporosus4058]

I always wonder what spectators are yelling at the riders. Like, what do you have to say that you think is worth yelling at someone participating in one of the pinnacle events of their career?

[@typhoonsd9720]

I'm upset I was not aloud to win. I had to let our team leader win. Even if I was better than he was. Same with horse racing etc. They told me I had to hold back for them. And after all these year's he was striped from his titles and medals. If you studied history you might find out what I'm talking about.

[@TheOriginalStevenH]

This was amazingly produced. Why the heck didn't this video come out 4 years earlier when I started getting into serious cycling?!

[@gcn]

Glad you liked the video! Make sure you share it with people you know who are just getting into it, so they don't miss out!

[@theproductyt]

Thanks! I just got into cycling and this answers EVERYTHING that was confusing me. You guys rock!

[@gcn]

Glad you found the video useful!

[@maremare9515]

Roglič will do magic at this year's TDF . . .

[@gcn]

We can't wait to see how he performs!

[@mcan_akpinar]

"Stages fall into one of five different categories" 1.Flat 2.Mountain 3.TT 4.Team TT 5.?

[@ianism3]

I guess they cut out the hilly ones. they also didn't talk about the puncheur types of riders that do well on those stages

[@amberventris3306]

Love that you included a nod to the women's LA TDF at the end. Thanks

[@markarthur1083]

there was me thinking it was just one long race from start to finish #knowledgeispower

[@gunthertoastbrot3738]

Since reducing the team size from 9 to 8, the 4th rider counts in the TTT!!!!!!!!!!

[@seban678]

Living in France for almost all of my life, near the Alps, it's been impossible for me to not see/hear about/stumble upon this race every year, even though I initially had very little interest and was endlessly confused about what was going on. Then I found GCN and started watching videos out of pure curiosity. And now, after 30 years, I finally understand the appeal and I feel like I can follow along. One little thing I'm confused about in this video: there are 5 types of stages in the Tour 1) flat stages 2) mountain stages 3) individual time trials 4) team time trials 5) ...?

[@gcn]

Great to hear we’ve been able to help you enjoy the sport :) (Did we fail on the counting? Sorry about that)

[@corinacimbala7791]

I was thinking the 5th type are the ones normally won by breakaways, not flat, but not mountain stages, either. The saw-shaped ones.

[@Cloudimfm]

Wow, GCN finnally realised that they're mainly watched by european audience and switched to kmph instead of those silly imperial units!

[@jwfriar]

True - though hard for us Americans to think in kilometers per hour. I figured he might do MPH, but nope!

[@JosephLycettCycling]

It’s not a silly method of measurement. Just different.

[@sudduthjonathan]

I would actually be curious to know approximate numbers of subscribers by major country/region. That would be interesting and I think the results would be surprising.

[@jwfriar]

Aaron David Yeah...despite a lack of good cycling content on KZbin coming from the States (maybe VC being the exception), cycling is still pretty big here. I wouldn’t be surprised if our pure size and cycling culture means there are as many viewers in the States as in Europe.

[@MrLuigi-oi7gm]

I have always been curious about the demographics of the GCN audience since the presenters on their English speaking channel are almost exclusively from Great Britain. I wonder if the demographics of virtual cycling platforms like Zwift might provide an insight into the GCN viewing audience. At the time of day I ride on Zwift, there are riders from many countries. A lot from places like Great Britain. But also a lot from the United States.

[@k21im]

5:17 How can 1 thing exist in 2 states? Small AND super big. Sounds BOBUS!!!!!

[@RHelenius]

"truly equal sport"... what about just letting women compete in TdF?

[@matthewlo7868]

“Since 1975, the last stage has finished on the iconic Champs-Élysées in Paris…” Well… 2024 will be a touch different this year… Seeing as how Paris is prepping to host the summer Olympics this year, the tour organizers decided to kibosh the traditional Paris finish this year and move the last stage to Nice!

[@SnapCracklePapa]

Terribly explained. Too much information too quickly, and priority of importance of elements of the race completely absent. Try again.

[@grantwallace1882]

I have been watching the tour for many years and I still learnt something from this video. Good one, GCN.

[@NicholasVincent-ol1zk]

Klammers are DANISHES TEAM?

[@vincerelucio2]

I've been looking for this!!! i am 3 months into cycling btw

[@marlonndlovu722]

great explanations but horrible pronunciation of very.common french words. I am an English speaker too

[@Sean-ch9kq]

I just have to say, I am so glad I found you guys. I was afraid I would break my TV, Bob Roll has become such an old sellout hemakes me mad every time he speaks. I miss BOBKE. And of course Phil is still old. I needed you guys just so I could stop the Fbombs THANK YOU!!

[@stevecheng2142]

"Team work makes the dream work". Great quote.

[@shailanegron]

Is it crazy to sell my car for an e-bike and travel 46miles round trip for work M-F? In a town with streets not friendly for biking. I'm looking at getting a RadExpand5

[@ExcessiveDrip]

I feel like the prize money for Polka Dot, White, and Green jerseys is pretty low. 25K? -- Weak sauce.

[@tonygalicia5906]

This tour Should have a jersey for the OLDEST rider,,, or the rider the has been in the tour for many years in it. “Mr. Shut up legs”. comes to mind,,,

[@TheLettich17]

I don’t understand why a climber specialist wouldn’t be the best overall? It’s huge leg power and this is peddling a bike? Which type wins the most overall TDF?

[@theodorkrause2580]

This is only confusing for people, thag only watch soccer....

[@TheHojirt]

Nice job except for the pronunciation. Grand départ and maillot were badly massacred. Please work on that !

[@marcingluszek632]

Simply put: it is all abouth making sure you not get caught doping. The needle broke me arm ... 🤣🤣

[@ymi_yugy3133]

I really don't get how in 2021 cycling can get away with not having proper women's versions of the most prestigious competitions.

[@daggerdabber]

nice video to know everything in tour de france!!

[@KenSmith-bv4si]

Great video Jeremy. Well since I started riding a road bike 4 yrs and three bikes ago, Started watching the Tour, it's cool I like how they organize everything the team trucks how they have every spare you could need and then the ones you forget, also the food. But mostly its the location , if I never make it to France or other parts of Europe the TV shows so much of the country side, I get so jealous they have houses older then America.

[@gcn]

The Tour has so many amazing aspects to it! Enjoy this years race, Ken!

[@marcloertscher9881]

While not specific to the Tour I think an explanation of how the timing in races works would also be beneficial. I still don't think I fully understand it

[@JohnFoxBass]

What is your specific question? The clock starts when the first rider rolls off the start line, and for each rider, the clock stops when they cross the finish line. In case a large group of riders crosses the line at approximately the same time, the same time is given to everyone in that group.

[@srpelissier]

Don't be too much hyped, sometimes (often) the tdf can be very boring. It's for sure the biggest push-bike race, lots of marketing etc. Not the best imho. I think the giro is way better, more beautiful, but it has less money, so less hype, etc. ymmv

[@paintedtabletop]

Why would anyone want to be a domestique? all the work. none of the glory? Or am I misunderstanding?

[@johnlush8858]

Good explanation thx. But too many sentences start with the word “Now”. Very annoying

[@aroundandround]

Crash course didn’t explain what cycling is.

[@Emre_ulysses]

The organization got good money but gives just these small amounts to the riders. That is not fair. 25k euro, is it joke?