The Tour de France begins

The annual Tour de France, which starts today, is the world's most famous men's bicycle race. It is the oldest of the Grand Tours, with 109 iterations since it began in 1903, and is regarded as one of the most prestigious competitions in professional cycling. The 2,200-mile-long competition is divided into 21, day-long segments called stages. While certain areas are perennially raced through, like the French Alps, the Pyrenees Mountains, and the final stage's Champs-Élysées, some stages vary from year to year. For example, our image's Pont du Gard—an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that was built sometime in the first century AD—has only appeared in the 2019 race. The entire event takes place over a 23-day period with teams made up of eight cyclists, each competing for a cash prize and the coveted yellow jersey. For these riders, this competition is the apex of years of training and dedication.
© Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters