Tour de France, Le

   The world's most famous and popular cycling race, the Tour de France was organized in 1903 to promote cycling, health, and tourism. The first winner that year was the Frenchman Maurice Garin. The Tour, which takes place each year in July (it was canceled only during the World War I), covers more than 3,400 kilometers through almost all France's major cities and regions and ends on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. it is conducted in stages with teams and support staff. Winners have come from many different countries, including Belgium (Eddy Merckx), Spain (Miguel Indurain), the United States (Lance Armstrong), Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the Netherlands, as well as France (Bernard Hinaut, Jacques Anquetil).