top speed in tour de france

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Road Cycling

Tour de france top speed | riders hit a huge 130kph / 81mph on stage nine of le tour, so the tour de france top speed is higher than the speed limit on the motorway....

What’s the best part of cycling? Going downhill! Obviously. We’re not saying that the odd-ascent can’t be enjoyable, but it’s the views at the top and the promise of the slope swapping around that often gives you – or give us anyway – the will to push on up.

Chris Froome hit the nail on the head recently when he raced to a spectacular descent victory on stage eight of the Tour de France , stating after: “I felt like a kid again, just trying to ride my bike as fast as I could.” And that’s it. At the end of the day, the reason we ride our bikes is for it’s fun.

Now, you might think that the Tour de France would be a place slightly void of fun – what with the brutal Tour de France crashes , the likes of Alberto Contador’s crash , and Chris Froome punching a Tour de France spectator on that same stage eight to get him out of the way – but alas, as long as there are downhills there is always going to be fun. And man, do they tackle those downhills fast.

IAM Cycling sprinter Leigh Howard blew a lot of minds in the cycling community when he showed that at one point during stage nine of the race he was riding at a full 122.7kph. The Australian was chasing the pack back after a full-bike replacement, tweeting that he was “#shittingmyself” later on as he smashed 75mph on a road bike.

But Howard’s crazy effort wasn’t even the Tour de France top speed on stage nine of the Tour. Below are a few stats to remember for next time your friends ask ‘what is the top speed in the Tour de France?’

Jeremy Roy later showed that he had managed to set a high speed of 127kph/79mph on the descent of the Cote de la Comella, while Marcus Burghardt of BMC took the bragging rights managing to aero-tuck his way to 130.7kph/81.2mph.

Just stop and consider that for a moment. Seriously. These three guys all broke the British speed limit for driving on a motorway, while riding a road bike. Think how terrifying that would be if you were in the saddle. You’d feel less stable than the British government and faster than Boris Johnson running away after the Brexit vote.

Seriously though, if Burghardt had been going that speed on the motorway in a car he probably would’ve been pulled over by the police, so needless to say the riders all broke the speed limit of the local French mountain roads. We somehow don’t think they’ll be getting any fines.

If you consider then that the German road cyclist finished 31 minutes down on stage winner Tom Dumoulin and Jeremy Roy only seven minutes quicker though, it certainly puts into perspective how difficult it must be to actually win a stage of the Tour de France 2016.

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Tour de France Speed – How Fast Do Cyclists Ride in MPH During the Famous Bike Race

How Fast Do Cyclists Ride at the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is one of the most iconic and grueling cycling events in the world. Every year, the world’s top cyclists race across France over a period of three weeks, covering around 2,000 miles in total. Naturally, riders need to maintain incredibly high speeds just to complete each stage on time, let alone compete for victory. So in this article, I’ll break down average and maximum speeds at the Tour de France, as well as factors that influence a rider’s pace.

Average Speeds

• Flat stages: Riders average around 25-27 mph (40-43 km/h) on relatively flat stages with few climbs.
• Hilly stages: Speeds drop to around 22-24 mph (35-38 km/h) when the route includes multiple short, steep climbs.
• Mountain stages: In the Pyrenees or Alps, average speeds may fall as low as 18-20 mph (29-32 km/h) over major mountain passes.

These averages can fluctuate based on weather conditions, the composition of breakaway groups, and each rider’s form and equipment on any given day. Nevertheless, sustaining speeds in the high 20s mph is no easy feat over several hours of cycling after two intense weeks of racing. As one rider told me, “To keep up that pace day after day takes insane levels of fitness, focus and pain tolerance.”

Maximum Sprints

While averages indicate general speed over a full stage, short bursts of maximum effort are also crucial – such as when climbing steep inclines or sprinting for the finish line. Some true sprinters are capable of hitting speeds up to 75 mph during the final few hundred meters, though they can only maintain that intensity for seconds before fatiguing.

From my experience racing, full-gas sprints at even 40-45 mph require an explosive strength that few weekend amateur cyclists can match. There’s a reason the top professionals train obsessively to develop their anaerobic capacity. As one Tour winner said, “You have to push your mind and body to a place most people didn’t even know existed.”

Factors Affecting Pace

Several factors cause speeds to fluctuate above and below the averages mentioned:

• Terrain – Downhills allow rest, uphills slow riders.
• Weather – Headwinds cut speeds; tailwinds provide boosts.
• Tactics – Large breakaways set fast paces; slow tactics precede final climbs.
• Mechanicals – Flats, crashes or bike malfunctions force unplanned stops.
• Fatigue – Later stages see declining average speeds as riders tire.
• Equipment – Aero helmets and bikes shave seconds; deep wheels climb faster.

In general, stages with more sustained climbs tend to see lower speeds. But individual strengths and race positioning play huge parts too. As one rider told me, “I’ve flown on flat stages when breaking away, but crawled up hills buried deep in the grupetto.” Clean equipment, tactics, fitness and a bit of luck all influence whether a rider posts an “A” or “C” performance on any given day.

The Impact of Drafting

Drafting – riding closely behind others to utilize their slipstream – is also critical to sustaining high speeds over three-week tours. Research has shown cyclists in the primary drafting position directly behind the leader enjoy a roughly 30% reduction in wind resistance compared to riding alone.

In the peleton, riders constantly switch off at the front to draw on this advantage. As one expert explained, “The dynamics of teamwork at the Tour are almost magical. Riders may swap hundreds of times in a single stage to share the load.” Following wheels through corners also allows conserves energy versus braking independently.

Casual cyclists groaning under single-digit headwinds can only imagine the energy savings pro riders reap from perfect pacing and tightly-packed peleton formation. It’s no exaggeration to say drafting extends what seems humanly possible over multi-day stage racing.

The Human Capability

So in summary – while average speeds range from 18-27 mph depending on the stage, world-class cyclists are capable of generating power outputs equivalent to sprinting over 45 mph for short bursts. Sustaining those kinds of wattages day after day for three weeks of racing truly pushes the limits of human endurance.

As one ex-pro told me, “Most people don’t grasp how crazily fit you need to be to simply endure the Tour, before even considering fighting for the win.” Perfecting the interplay of anaerobic power, stamina, equipment and tactics allows riders to maximize their potential and push speed barriers ever higher each year. The Tour continues to amaze through displays of incredible speed despite grueling conditions – a testament to both the infrastructure of pro cycling and raw human athletic talent.

Does this help explain the typical speeds achieved over different parts of the Tour de France route? Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!

Average Speeds of Tour de France Winners

How fast do cyclists ride during the tour de france.

Cyclists in the Tour de France can basically reach speeds of around 15-30 mph on flat stages. However, going downhill they can potentially go even faster, reaching speeds over 40 mph. It’s pretty stunning how quick they can ride a bike!

Do they ride that fast the whole way?

No way, riding at those top speeds is sort of draining. The pros have to pace themselves to save energy for later in the race. On hilly or mountain stages, their average speed drops below 15 mph as they grind it out in lower gears. But they still push hard on the flats!

How does wind speed affect their riding?

A headwind can really slow the cyclists down, sometimes by as much as 5 mph. Strong tailwinds have the opposite effect and allow them to cruise even faster, which is amazing on those flat stages. One expert said crosswinds make handling the bike a bit scarier too. I’d be blown all over the road!

Are there speed limits on the course?

Surprisingly, there are no set speed limits for the cyclists on the Tour route. The officials kind of just let them rip as fast as they can go. But is that fair – what if someone got clocked at 60 mph zooming downhill? The organizers appear to take safety very seriously though, with lots of barricades and signs to protect spectators.

What if they have to take a nature break?

Good question! Sometimes nature calls in the middle of a long hard stage. The poor guys have to kind of scamper off the road as quick as possible if the urge strikes. Funnily enough, a few have been known to go rocking behind a bush at 20+ mph without missing a pedal stroke – they must have bladders of steel!

How do they power up climbs if they can’t keep those speeds?

When tackling steep climbs in the Alps or Pyrenees, the riders have to grin and bear it in their lowest gears. They grind away at maybe only 5-10 mph, utterly spent. Stronger climbers can push 15 mph on minor upslopes. Lance Armstrong once quoted maintaining 12 mph up the crazy Mount Ventoux – I’d be walking!

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The Tour de France is the pinnacle when it comes to cycling competitions. It is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world and showcases some of the fittest athletes on the planet. The pure athleticism that is on display during this 21-day, 2,200-mile race is inspiring, enlivening, and these cyclists seem somewhat superhuman. 

You might be asking yourself, “So how fast are they even going?” Or, “How do I compare to these athletes?” Luckily for you, with today’s technology, various metrics can be tracked during these cycling competitions, so everyone can compare their statistics to those of the pros. As with any metric, the speeds at which the Tour de France pros cycle will vary, but there are averages that have been tracked for decades now. 

Here are a few of the average speeds for the professional cyclists that race in the Tour de France:

Average Speed on Flat Ground: 25-28 mph

The average speed for professional cyclists while traversing on flat terrain is 25-28 mph. The average amateur cyclist travels about 17-18 mph while on flat ground. For many pro athletes racing in the Tour de France, being able to maintain a fast speed on flat terrain allows them to simply stay competitive with the other athletes. It is in the climbing portions of the Tour de France that the best gain separation from the peloton. 

Average Cobblestone Speed: 22-24 mph

In every Tour de France, there is at least one section of cobblestone that the cyclists must ride through -- sometimes, though, this is replaced with a stretch of gravel pavement. The small grooves in the road and uneven terrain can be difficult to tread, but these athletes still average an impressive 22-24 mph.

Average Speed Climbing: 12.8 mph

In the 2019 Tour de France, the athletes averaged 12.8 mph while trudging through the infamous climbs of the race. These athletes are literally cycling up and through the Pyrenees and Alps during this phase of the Tour de France, making for some of the most memorable moments of the Tour.

Fastest Recorded Speed: 63.1 mph

The fastest recorded speed of the Tour de France came from German Nils Politt while descending Col de Vars during stage 18 of the race. This was the second of four climbs in the stage, and Politt was the first-ever rider to break the 100 km/hr barrier by traveling at a speed of 101.5 km.hr on this descent. 

Jonas Vingegaard Tour de France 2022 | Average Speed: 26.11

Jonas Vingegaard won his first Tour de France in 2022 on his second time participating in the tour. He spent the majority of the race trading leads back and forth with fan-favorite, Tadej Podacar.  Vangegaard pushed through stage 19 and crossed the finish line 2 minutes and 43-second ahead of Podačar. After a total of 79 hours, 33 minutes, and 20 seconds on the bike, Jonas Vangegaard became the first Danish Tour de France champion since 1996

Tadej Pogačar Tour de France 2021 | Average Speed: 25.5 mph

Tadej Podačar was only 22 years old when he earned his second consecutive win at the Tour de France. Podačar made the victory look easy when he also earned a polka-dot jersey for top climber and white jersey for best young cyclist. His quick rise to first place had people consider him one of the most exceptional young cyclists the Tour de France had seen in years. He finished the race in 82 hours, 56 minutes and 36 seconds. 

Tadej Pogačar Tour de France 2020 | Average Speed: 24.77

Tadej Podačar for UAE Team Emirates shocked fans at his 2020 Tour de France debut. At 21 years old he managed to break all expectations and snatch a victory from Primoz Roglic, who was expected to cruise to a first-place finish. In the final stage of the tour, Podačar sped through a 57-second deficit and earned his first yellow jersey, becoming the youngest Tour de France Winner in 111 years. 

Egan Bernal Tour de France 2019 | Average Speed:  25.2 mph

The 2019 Tour de France winner, Egan Bernal of Colombia, averaged 25.2 mph. He is the first Latin American to ever win the Tour de France. At age 22, he is also the youngest Tour de France winner in modern racing history. He finished the 2,091.4 mile race in exactly 82 hours and 57 minutes.

While not every cyclist has aspirations of ever racing in the Tour de France, having these metrics is a fun way for everyday cyclists to compare themselves to the superhuman riders that conquer the most famous cycling race in the world.

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Tour de France 2019 in numbers | Can you guess the fastest recorded speed?

The key facts and figures from this year’s Tour de France, including Nils Politt's white-knuckle descent

Alex Broadway/ASO

Colin Henrys

After 23 days, 21 stages and more than 3,000km of racing, there could only be one winner of the 2019 Tour de France — but what were the key numbers behind Egan Bernal’s maiden Tour triumph?

The Colombian took the title in Paris, but an extraordinary three weeks saw Julian Alaphilippe light up the race throughout. Throw in elbow-to-elbow bunch sprints, hair-raising descents and brutally high climbs, and the 2019 race produced the kind of spectacle that only the Tour de France can.

The Tour’s official technology partner, NTT, has crunched the numbers from the 106th edition of cycling’s greatest race. Read on for some of the key facts and figures.

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Top recorded speed: 101.5kph (63.1mph)

The fastest recorded speed at the 2019 Tour de France came on a white-knuckle descent of the Col de Vars by one of the peloton’s hard men.

Katusha-Alpecin’s Nils Politt – a top-five finisher at Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders this year – became the first rider to break the 100kph barrier according to the Tour’s official data feed, hitting a mind-boggling 101.5kph on a section of the descent with a negative 7 percent gradient.

The category one Col du Vars was the second of four ascents on stage 18, coming before the hors catégorie climbs of the Col d'Izoard and Col du Galibier. Politt eventually finished 44th on the stage, 21 minutes, 24 seconds behind Nairo Quintana.

Winner’s average speed: 40.58kph (25.2mph)

Egan Bernal conquered the Tour in a cumulative time of exactly 82 hours and 57 minutes. That gives him an average speed a shade above 40km/h for the 3,365.8km race.

For the numbers nerds, that's 0.35kph faster than Geraint Thomas’s average speed at last year's Tour.

Speed difference between first and last place: 2.11kph (1.3mph)

At the other end of the scale, EF Education First’s Dutchman, Sebastian Langeveld, was this year’s Lanterne Rouge – the last rider on the general classification.

Langeveld’s cumulative time was four hours, 34 minutes and 23 seconds slower than Bernal’s – making his average speed 2.11kph slower.

Average climbing speed: 20.6kph (12.8mph)

Of course, the real difference in the 2019 Tour was made when the road pointed skywards – not least in the Pyrenees and the Alps.

Bernal was in imperious form in the mountains, following in the footsteps of many of his Colombian countrymen — a nation that has produced many fine climbers — and proving he has a head for heights.

Over climbs including the Col du Galibier, Col du Tourmalet and, most tellingly, the Col de l’Iseran, Bernal recorded an average climbing speed of 20.6kph.

Fastest Col du Galibier ascent: 22:28 minutes

Talking of Colombian climbers, while Bernal claimed the yellow jersey, there was also success for his countryman Nairo Quintana.

The Movistar rider ultimately finished eighth overall, failing to make a challenge on the podium, but he did claim a stage win in Valloire – and broke a long-standing Tour record in the process.

En-route to the finish, Quintana climbed the iconic Col du Galibier in 22 minutes and 28 seconds (measured over the final 8.5km from the Col du Lautaret). That's a whole minute faster than the mark Frank Schleck set in 2011.

Number of different individual stage winners: 15

Quintana was one of 15 riders to claim a stage win in this year’s Tour de France – two more than there were in last year’s race.

Caleb Ewan led the way – his victory on the Champs-Elysees was his third of the race – while Great Britain’s Simon Yates won twice in the mountains.

From Mike Teunissen’s opening stage win in Brussels to Ewan’s final triumph, nine different nationalities stood on the podium as individual stage winners in this year’s race.

Number of stages won by overall winner: 0

Despite winning the race overall, Bernal wasn’t among those 15 riders. The Colombian earned his maiden Tour de France triumph without winning a stage.

Chris Froome was the last rider to do that (in 2017), though the four-time champion does have seven stage wins to his name in total.

Number of riders who wore the yellow jersey: 4

Bernal was one of four riders to wear the yellow jersey in all, having claimed the race lead after the shortened stage 19 on the Col de l’Iseran.

Bernal took over from Julian Alaphilippe, who claimed 14 yellow jerseys across two spells as race leader.

In between, Italian Giulio Ciccone led the race for two stages while the only other rider to pull on the maillot jaune was stage one winner Mike Teunissen.

Age of winner: 22y, 196d

Bernal’s triumph not only made him the first Colombian to win the Tour de France, but he is also the youngest winner for 110 years.

Francois Faber was 22 years and 187 days old when he won the Tour in 1909 – just nine days younger than Bernal – while the youngest champion remains 19-year-old Henri Cornet in 1904.

Number of classifications won by Egan Bernal: 2

Bernal’s age means he not only won the yellow jersey but the white jersey for best young rider, too — only the fifth time since the youth classification was introduced in 1975 that has happened.

Bernal joins Laurent Fignon (1983), Jan Ullrich (1997), Alberto Contador (2007) and Andy Schleck (2010) in the record books.

Number of finishers: 155

Some 176 riders set out from Brussels for the 106th Tour de France on Saturday 6 July, with 155 making it all the way to the Paris finish line.

Thibaut Pinot, who had to climb off the bike during stage 19 having been in overall contention, was the last of 19 riders to abandon this year’s race.

A further two – Tony Martin and Luke Rowe – were disqualified after an altercation on the way to the stage 17 finish line.

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The Evolution of Speed in the Tour de France

Mathew Mitchell

• Published on June 23, 2023
• in Men's Cycling

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Tour de France, beyond the dazzling victories and dramatic rivalries, is the evolution of the race’s average speed. Throughout its history, a multitude of factors have contributed to significant changes in the pace of the peloton, from technological advancements to race strategies. Let’s embark on a journey through the annals of the Tour to examine this transformation.

Table of Contents

The early editions

The early years of the Tour de France were characterised by lengthy stages often exceeding 400 km, rudimentary bicycles, and rugged roads, which resulted in a slow pace compared to today’s standards. Maurice Garin, the winner of the first Tour in 1903, achieved an average speed of 25.7 km/h, or approximately 16 mph. This may seem leisurely in the modern era, but given the conditions at the time, it was an impressive feat.

From these humble beginnings, the Tour’s average speed gradually increased as a result of several key factors. First and foremost, technological advancements played a significant role. Innovations such as derailleur gears, lighter frames made from aluminium or carbon fibre, aerodynamic clothing, and improvements in nutrition and training regimes all contributed to an upward trend in the peloton’s pace.

Fastest editions of the Tour de France

Among the fastest five editions of the Tour de France, the 2005 edition holds the record, with an astonishing average speed of 41.7 km/h, or approximately 25.9 mph, achieved by Lance Armstrong. However, it’s worth noting that Armstrong was later stripped of his titles due to doping . 2003, 2015, 2017, and 2019 Tours are also among the fastest, with average speeds ranging from 40.7 km/h (25.3 mph) to 40.9 km/h (25.4 mph). 2022’s Tour de France , won by Jonas Vingegaard, saw a new record set with an average speed of 42.03 km/h (26.1mph). That’s now a jump in the Tour de France average mph of 10mph since the inaugural edition in 1903.

Slowest editions of the Tour de France

Contrastingly, the slowest Tours de France typically date back to the early 20th century, primarily due to the aforementioned factors of longer stages, simpler bicycles, and challenging road conditions. The five slowest Tours were the editions from 1919, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1926, with average speeds ranging from 24.1 km/h (15 mph) to 24.3 km/h (15.1 mph).

How and why the average speed has changed over time

It’s crucial to mention that strategies have also evolved significantly, with modern cycling teams employing more sophisticated tactics, optimising rider roles, and using advanced data analysis to gain an edge. The increased professionalism in the sport has contributed to the upward trend in speed.

Looking forward, it’s exciting to contemplate what could further increase the Tour de France’s average speed. Advancements in bicycle technology continue at a rapid pace, with continuous improvements in weight, aerodynamics, and power transfer. Similarly, cutting-edge training techniques, informed by genetics and sophisticated performance data, will continue to enable cyclists to push the boundaries of human endurance and speed.

Furthermore, improvements in road surfaces, planning of race routes, and even changes in race rules could have an impact. For example, more downhill finishes could raise the overall average speed, although the safety of riders would always be paramount.

In conclusion, the evolution of speed in the Tour de France is a fascinating aspect of this iconic race. From the early Tours, characterised by their gruelling pace and hardy riders, to the high-speed, technology-driven spectacle of today, the race continues to captivate and surprise. As we look to the future, we can expect the boundaries of speed, just like the race itself, to be continuously challenged and redefined.

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What Is the Average Speed of a Tour de France Rider? Plus More FAQs

Even if you are tuning in for the first time, these facts will make you look like a seasoned viewer of the TdF.

As you get ready to watch the 2023 Tour de France, you might have some questions. This information will transform you—quickly—into a Tour expert. First, the basics: The 110th Tour de France will take place from July 1 - July 23. It’s good to know that the route changes every year. And in 2023, the Grand Départ is in the Basque Country of Spain, with the typical finish in Paris after 21 stages.

How fast do riders go?

We have looked into this ! A Tour pro’s ability to produce more power for longer means that they can really hammer over different types of races and terrains.

Average Time Trial Speed Average Rider: 19 to 20 mph | Tour Pro: 29 to 31 mph Average Speed on Flat Terrain Average Rider: 17 to 18 mph | Tour Pro: 25 to 28 mph Maximum Sprint Power

Average Rider: 600 to 800 watts | Tour Pro: 1,200 to 1,400 watts

Why do so few Americans compete in the Tour de France?

In 2022, there were seven Americans in the Tour. As of the middle of June, start lists aren’t finalized, but viewers will most likely see Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma), and Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar).

Christopher Thompson, author of The Tour de France: A Cultural History , believes fewer Americans race professionally because the U.S. has historically seen cycling as more of a pastime than a competitive endeavor. In Europe, it is more common for children to be trained in competitive racing, and it’s hard for American racers to compete with that training

Also, the cost of competing for an American is higher: Racers need to go where the big races are, and that almost always means moving to Europe.

How much prize money does the Tour de France winner get?

According to the Tour de France website, a total of around 2.3 million Euros will be awarded to the teams and riders, including 500,000 Euros to the winner of the final individual general classification (who usually shares his money with his team). That is equal to roughly $537,000 (USD). Second place GC is awarded 200,000 Euros, third place GC walks away with 100,000 Euros, and so on. Other top prizes go to stage winners, who get 11,000 Euros, and the winners of the points classification and mountains classification, both of whom receive 25,000 Euros. Riders can also win money during intermediate sprints and certain climbs. There’s even prizes for the five best teams and the four best young riders.

Who has won the most Tour de France titles?

That depends whether you’re counting titles that have been taken away ( cough — Lance — cough ). If not, the answer is a four-way tie between Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Indurain, Eddy Merckx, and Bernard Hinault, says Thompson.

Has the Tour ever been cancelled?

Only the two World Wars caused the race to be put on hold, says Thompson. All in all, battles cost the world 11 editions of the Tour: WWI broke out a few days after the 1914 Tour, he says, and didn’t run again until 1919. It went on hiatus again during WWII from 1940 to 1946, running again in 1947—two years after the end of the war.

“WWI was a war of attrition and the French were fighting the whole time. There were several Tour winners who were killed in the trenches,” he says. “But in WWII, France was defeated and occupied quite early, and that was different. There was a government that went along with the Nazis, so there was some racing to prove that things were normal under the occupation, but the Tour wasn’t held. After, France was so devastated by WWII that it took a while to get restarted.”

The Tour was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but eventually held in August of that year.

​Why is the leader’s jersey yellow?

Simple, says Thompson: L’Auto , the newspaper that first started and sponsored the race, was printed on yellow paper, so it was essentially an advertising strategy. (That’s also why the Giro d’Italia leader’s jersey is pink —the newspaper that created the Giro was printed on pink paper.) By the way, yellow in French is jaune and the jersey is called maillot jaune .

How do they make the jerseys so quickly?

There are four jerseys awarded during the course of the Tour de France each year and because who wears them gets decided during the race, they have to made on the spot and in a moment.

Has anyone ever died in the Tour?

Sadly, yes. Four riders have passed away over the course of the race’s history. In 1910, Adolphe Heliére drowned on a rest day; in 1934, Francisco Cepeda crashed into a ravine on a descent; in 1967, Tom Simpson passed away after a heart attack ; and in 1995, Fabio Casartelli was killed after crashing and hitting his head.

Unfortunately, there have also been a number of horrific crashes. To see how grueling the race is, even for those who don’t fall or crash, watch Unchained on Netflix.

​What do Tour riders do on rest days?

They ride! At least, they go for short rides to keep their legs from cramping up. Max Testa , M.D., former team doctor for a variety of Tour teams including Team BMC, 7-Eleven, and Motorola, says that the short rides (which can be up to three hours!) help keep inflammation at bay and keep muscles ready for another hard day in the saddle.

Is there a women’s Tour de France?

After a number of iterations over the years, the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will be held from Sunday, July 23 to Sunday, July 30. The course is 594 miles and includes a mountain stage, four flat stages, two hilly stages, and the time trial. They will not race at all in Paris.

Who were the oldest and youngest Tour cyclists?

Both distinctions occurred in 1904: Henri Paret was the oldest competitor at age 50 when he competed in 1904, while 20-year-old Henri Cornet was the youngest. Cornet was also the youngest winner. The oldest winner was in 1922, when 36-year-old Belgian Firmin Lambot took the yellow jersey.

Do racers make their stage data public?

Sometimes—but don’t count on them spending their evenings uploading their numbers . Still, you can keep an eye on some top pros’ Strava accounts.

How much do Tour de France bikes weigh?

In the 1900s, a Tour de France cyclist pedaled up and down mountains on a bike that weighed a whopping 40 pounds. In fact, Fiets, a Dutch cycling magazine, showcased a bike from the 1903 race weighing 39.7 pounds with a fixed gear. Today, bikes weigh just under 15 pounds—but not any lower, since the UCI’s minimum bike weight is 6.8kg, which translates to 14.99 pounds.

What tire pressures do the cyclists run?

Every racer and mechanic has a specific (top-secret) tire pressure that they considers to be optimal, but there are some guidelines.

“In general, with all of those variables [like weather and riders’ personal preference], that tire pressure is 8 to 8.5 bar for the road stages, and then 9.5 to 10 bar for the time-trial stages. Around 115 psi in the front and 125 psi in the back for the road stages and 130-135 psi for time-trial stages. And we drop that by 10 or 15 for rainy days,” Geoff Brown, veteran mechanic for Garmin-Sharp and EF Education First teams tells Bicycling .

They run about 10 psi lower in the front for more control, as well, and with tubular tires , they tend to run slightly lower pressures. Clinchers need to be kept around 110 to 120 psi in order to avoid pinch-flatting.

How do the competitors go to the bathroom?

It’s a long, hot ride so the pros are hydrating a lot. In the first five to 10 minutes of a race, when the pace is more leisurely, “riders pull to the side of the road, pull their shorts down just like you would underwear—you know, pull front down, do your business,” says retired pro cyclist Ted King, who’s ridden the Tour de France several times.

During this neutral roll out, King says, there’s plenty of time to catch back on to the peloton before the race starts in earnest. Fortunately, nature calls for all riders. “It’s a lot easier to wait for a lull in the race when a big fraction of the peloton pulls to the side of the road rather than doing it solo, because that solo chase is tough!” King says.

Of course, riders also pee off the bike while riding, although it requires having their teammates pedal while they go. “If peeing to the right, your right leg is in a 6 o’clock position, left at 12. Left hand on the handlebars, right hand holds the shorts down, and coast while relieving yourself,” King advises.

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• Winner average speed in the Tour de France 1903-2023

Tour de France winner's average speed from 1903 to 2023 (in kilometers per hour)

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Tour de France Statistics You Probably Never Heard About (2023 TdF Included)

Tour de France’s rich history goes back to 1903, when its first edition took place. Nowadays, it is the most famous cycling race globally. One day, I asked myself:

What will I discover if I visualize the data collected from over 100 editions?

The result is a unique set of charts and facts about the Tour de France that can provide valuable insights. And maybe, we can also better predict the future winners.

Learn more about the total distance, average stage length, rider’s height, weight, BMI, and other interesting data, and how they developed.

Let’s dive into one of the biggest sets of the Tour de France statistics.

Abbreviations used: GC – General Classification, GT – Grand Tour, TdF – Tour de France, BMI – Body Mass Index

I used publicly available data from wikipedia.org , procyclingstats.com , and the official Tour de France website letour.fr as data sources. Some data is not available (especially the rider’s weights/heights).

Please also keep in mind the following:

• The Tour de France did not take place between 1915-1918 and 1940-1946.
• Lance Armstrong was stripped of all his results and prizes from 1 August 1998; no alternative winners of TdF 1999-2005 have yet been declared.
• The actual rider’s racing weight could vary.

Tour de France 2023 Summary

The overall winner of the 2023 Tour de France is Jonas Vingegaard (DK). He finished 7:29 ahead of Tadej Pogačar . Vingegaard covered the 3,401 km route, averaging 41.43 km/h.

The 2023 Tour de France points classification winner is Jasper Philipsen (BE). He accumulated 377 points and won 4 stages (stage 3, stage 4, stage 7, and stage 11).

The 2023 Tour de France mountain classification winner is Giulio Ciccone (IT). He accumulated 106 points.

The best young rider (under 25 years) for the 2023 Tour de France is Tadej Pogačar (SLO). He finished 7:29 behind Jonas Vingegaard.

Tour de France Total Distance

The Tour de France was the longest Grand Tour for decades. The first 3 editions were relatively short (2,428, 2,428, and 2,994 km). However, that changed with the 4th edition. For the next decades, riders had to cover an overall distance exceeding 5,000 km. Luckily for riders, this distance shortened over time.

The average Tour de France length of all editions is 4,190 km . The average length was 4,139 km between 1960 and 1980, 3,791 km between 1980 and 2000, and “only” 3,491 km between 2000 and 2020. The total length of the 2023 Tour de France is 3401.3 km .

Tour de France Average Speed

The average Tour de France speed of all editions is 34.62 km/h . The average speed was 27.67 km/h between 1919 and 1939, and 40.15 km/h between 1999 and 2019. The average speed of the 2023 Tour de France was 41.43 km/h .

The average speed improved mainly thanks to technological progress, better training methods, and nutrition specialists

Do you think we will ever see a Tour de France ridden with an average speed exceeding 45 km/h?

Number and Length of the Tour de France Stages

The number of Tour de France stages increased from 6-15 stages to more than 20, depending on the edition. For the last few years, it has remained the same (21).

The average Tour de France stage length of all editions is 218 km (time trials included). It went down from a whopping 286 km between 1909-1939 to 197 km between 1949-1979 and 173 km between 1989-2019. The average stage length of the 2023 Tour de France is 162 km .

Historical Extremes of the Tour de France

Can you guess the longest and shortest Tour de France edition ?

The longest Tour de France took place in 1926. Riders had to cover 5,745 km (this is about the same distance as from New York to London).

The shortest Tour de France were the first two editions (1903 and 1904); they had the same length of 2,428 km .

The longest Tour de France stage was the 5th stage of the 1919 edition; it was 482 km long.

The fastest Tour de France took place in 2022. The average speed of the winner was 41.84 km/h.

The slowest Tour de France was the 22nd edition (1924). The winner, Ottavio Bottecchia, reached a winning time of 226h 18′ 21″ on an overall distance of 5,425 km. This results in an average speed of 23.97 km/h .

IMPORTANT NOTE : Many websites (including Wikipedia) list the 1919 Tour de France as the slowest TdF ever (24.06 km/h). This claim is incorrect because the 1924 Tour de France was even slower (23.97 km/h).

Interested in more statistics? I summarized Giro and Vuelta as well.

Tour de France Rider’s Height, Weight, and BMI (Over Time)

How do the Tour de France riders’ height, weight, and BMI develop over time? How do these data differ between riders for the general classification, climbers, and sprinters (all-rounders)? You learn in this section.

NOTE : The heights and weight data are unfortunately not available for all riders.

General Classification

Tour de France winners are getting taller but leaner. ..

A friend once told me I am too tall for cycling (I am 1.85 m). I thought he was right, but he was not. Even tall riders like Bradley Wiggins (1.90 m), Chris Froome (1.86 m), or Miguel Indurain (1.86 m) have won the Tour de France. And it seems that the Tour de France is being won by taller and taller riders (check the chart below).

The average height of a Tour de France winner is 1.77 m .

The tallest Tour de France winner ever was Bradley Wiggins (TdF 2012). He is 1.90 m tall.

The shortest Tour de France winner ever was Romain Maes (TdF 1935). He was 1.60 m tall.

Lower weight = Better Chance to Win Tour de France?

The average weight of a Tour de France winner is 68.1 kg .

The heaviest Tour de France winner was François Faber. He won the 1909 TdF, weighing 88 kg .

The lightest Tour de France winner was Marco Pantani. He won the 1998 TdF, weighing just 57 kg .

Of all the charts in this article, I like the BMI chart the most because it shows an interesting trend. Let’s quickly repeat what BMI means.

BMI uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. ( Source )

Here is a quick guide on how to interpret these values:

• Below 18.5 – underweight,
• 18.5-24.9 – normal,
• 25.0-29.9 – overweight,
• 30.0 and above – obese.

With this know-how, we get a better understanding of these values.

Tour de France winners have an average BMI of 21.70 .

The Tour de France winner with the highest BMI was François Faber. He won the 1909 Tour de France with a BMI of 27.77 (1.78 m, 88 kg). Yes, the Faber won TdF while being overweight.

The Tour de France winner with the lowest BMI was Chris Froome. He won the TdF in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017 with a BMI of 19.08 (1.86 m, 66 kg).

Do you want to know how do you compare with pro riders? Feel free to calculate your BMI using the calculator below.

BMI CALCULATOR

Mountain Classification

The average height of a Tour de France mountain classification winner is 1.75 m .

The tallest Tour de France mountain classification winner ever is Mauricio Soler (TdF 2007). He is 1.90 m tall.

The shortest Tour de France mountain classification winner ever was Julián Berrendero (TdF 1936). He was 1.62 m tall.

The average weight of a Tour de France mountain classification winner is 64.4 kg .

The heaviest Tour de France mountain classification winners were Louison Bobet (TdF 1950) and Santiago Botero (TdF 2000). They won the mountain classification, weighing 75 kg .

The lightest Tour de France mountain classification winner was Luis Herra. He won the 1985 and 1987 TdF mountain classifications, weighing just 57 kg .

Tour de France mountain classification winners have an average BMI of 21.14 .

The Tour de France mountain classification winner with the highest BMI was Sylvère Maes. He won the 1939 Tour de France mountains classification with a BMI of 24.80 (1.68 m, 70 kg).

The Tour de France mountain classification winner with the lowest BMI was Warren Barguil. He won the 2017 Tour de France mountains classification with a BMI of 18.42 (1.82 m, 61 kg). This means he was underweight.

You might also be interested How much does a Tour de France bike cost? How much does a Tour de France bike weigh?

Points Classification

The average height of a Tour de France points classification winner is 1.78 m .

The tallest Tour de France points classification winner s ever were Tom Boonen (TdF 2007) and Wout van Aert (2022). They are 1.90 m tall.

The shortest Tour de France points classification winner ever was Stan Ockers (TdF 1955, 1956). He was 1.65 m tall.

The average weight of a Tour de France points classification winner is 72.5 kg .

The heaviest Tour de France points classification winner was Tom Boonen. He won the 2007 TdF points classification, weighing 82 kg .

The lightest Tour de France points classification winner was Stan Ockers. He won the 1955 and 1956 TdF points classification, weighing just 61 kg .

A Tour de France points classification winner has an average BMI of 22.88 .

The Tour de France points classification winner with the highest BMI was Walter Godefroot (1.71 m, 73 kg). He won the 1970 Tour de France points classification with a BMI of 24.96 .

The Tour de France points classification winner with the lowest BMI was Bernard Hinault (1.74 m, 62 kg). He won the TdF 1979 points classification with a BMI of 20.48 .

TIP : Don’t you have a bike yet? Feel free to browse my selection of the  best bikes on the market.

Overall Victories, Stage Wins, Days in Yellow…

The riders with the most Tour de France GC wins (5) are Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, and Miguel Indurain. Chris Froome is the closest active rider to these legends with his 4 TdF wins.

Eddy Merckx also dominated another statistic as he is the rider with the most days spent in the yellow jersey * (Maillot Jaune).

*Including half-stages.

The following table shows the three riders with the most Tour de France stage wins .

Who is the rider with the most Tour de France participation ? Sylvain Chavanel . The 2nd place belongs to George Hincapie, Stuart O’Grady, Jens Voigt, and the 3rd to Joop Zoetemelk and Haimar Zubeldia.

Riders with the Most Mountain & Points Classification Victories

The best climber , according to the number of Mountain Classification victories, was Richard Virenque. He won this classification seven times .

According to the number of Points Classification victories, the best sprinter is the Slovak Peter Sagan , who has won 7 times .

If you are into cycling and numbers, make sure you also read these Incredible Bicycle Statistics .

I hope you enjoyed these Tour de France statistics as I did when putting them together. What is your favorite stat? Let me know in the comments section.

Be sure also to check my Cycling Grand Tours Statistics , where I compare all Grand Tours, or continue reading:

Tour de France Statistics FAQ

Not yet. However, Eddy Merckx was closest to this in 1969. He won the yellow jersey, polka dot jersey, and green jersey. The young rider classification was introduced in 1975. Only riders below 26 years of age are eligible. Eddy Merckx was 24 years old in 1969. This means he would have won all 4 jerseys in the same Tour de France edition.

Eddy Merckx is considered “the greatest” Tour de France rider and “the greatest” cyclist of all time. He won 11 grand tours (5 times Tour de France, 5 times Giro d’Italia, and once Vuelta a España). He won 3 TdF points classifications, 2 mountains classification, and 4 combativity awards. Together with Mark Cavendish, he also holds a record for the most stage wins (34).

This scenario happened only twice (in 1947 and 1968) and will likely not happen again. It is a tradition that riders don’t compete for GC in the final stage.

This scenario happened four times (in 1903, 1924, 1928, and 1935). With the tough competition nowadays, it is likely never to happen again.

wikipedia.org procyclingstats.com letour.fr lequipe.fr The preview picture ©A.S.O./Charly Lopez (cropped)

Browse Other Cycling Statistics

General Stats Bicycle Statistics & Facts Best Bicycle Brands Road Bike Prices & Weights Statistics Road Bike Wheels Weights Statistics How Much Does a Tour de France Bike Cost?

Grand Tours Cycling Grand Tours Statistics (Compared) Tour de France Statistics Giro d’Italia Statistics Vuelta a España Statistics

Cycling Monuments Cycling Monuments (Compared) Milan–San Remo Statistics Tour of Flanders Statistics Paris–Roubaix Statistics Liège-Bastogne-Liège Statistics Giro di Lombardia Statistics

About The Author

Petr Minarik

4 thoughts on “tour de france statistics you probably never heard about (2023 tdf included)”.

I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles.

Thank you. 🙂 – Petr

Impressive stats! That must have been a lot of work.

It sure was! – Petr

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Tour de France 2022: 10 best riders as Jonas Vingegaard misses out on top spot - Blazin’ Saddles

Updated 26/07/2022 at 12:42 GMT

Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard was a fitting winner of a Tour de France that started in Copenhagen – but was the 25-year-old even the best rider in the race? With the dust now settled on the Champs-Elysees, Felix Lowe takes a look back at an intense three weeks and picks out the best riders of a pulsating 109th edition of the world’s biggest bike race.

‘Wow’ – Vingegaard allows Pogacar to catch up after crash in ‘incredible’ gesture

Van Aert 'happy to be back training outside' just four weeks after horror crash

23/04/2024 at 18:59

10. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma)

‘Attack, attack, attack!’ – Jumbo-Visma try to crack Pogacar in thriller

9. Simon Geschke (Cofidis)

‘Sobbing Geschke sums it up’ – Heartbreak of Cofidis rider crystallises what Tour means

8. Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) and Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar)

'We were all on our knees' - Wright gets emotional after being told he 'animated' the Tour

7. Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma)

‘Phenomenal!’ - Laporte ends French drought with shock Stage 19 win

6. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers)

‘I dunno’ – Thomas coy on future as GC rider at Grand Tours

5. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Philipsen destroys field to win Stage 21 in Paris, Vingegaard crowned champion

4. Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost)

‘Brilliant to see’ – Cort delights Danish crowd in polka dots

3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)

Pogacar ‘already thinking about next year’ – Wiggins

2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma)

Vingegaard wins Stage 18 in Pyrenees as Pogacar finishes distant second

1. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)

So then... can Wout van Aert win yellow?

'I was quite emotional' – Pogacar dedicates win to fiancée's late mother

21/04/2024 at 17:42

'It was quite emotional' – Pogacar dedicates win to girlfriend's late mother

'a titan of our times' – pogacar storms to solo victory.

Only 122kph? Some riders went even faster on the Tour de France stage nine

Marcus Burghardt descended at 130.7kph on stage nine of the Tour de France, according to his Strava upload

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Marcus Burghardt gets low on stage nine of the Tour de France (Sunada)

Leigh Howard showed that he sped along at 122kph at one point on stage nine of the Tour de France , but he wasn't the fastest rider on the road on Sunday.

Jeremy Roy (FDJ) recorded 127kph (79mph) on the descent of the Côte de la Comella while Marcus Burghardt (BMC) topped out at 130.7 (81.2mph) on the long downhill section from the first climb, according to his Strava upload.

The smooth, long straight roads down from the Bonaigua climb as the riders headed towards Androrra provided the peloton with some much needed time to rest their legs, but travelling at over 130kph must be pretty taxing mentally.

Watch: Tour de France stage 9 highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GePAU9ubgko

Burghardt finished 31 minutes down on stage winner Tom Dumoulin , while Roy finished seven minutes quicker, although both were working for teammates on the challenging mountain stage.

They did technically break the speed limit of the road in the area, but I'm sure the authorities won't be chasing them down to pay a fine.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters. 

Cameron Wurf is both a member of Team Ineos Grenadiers and an accomplished professional long course triathlete who has racked up numerous World Tour and Ironman race finishes across his career.

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Tour of Turkey: Tobias Lund Andresen wins stage 4 sprint, moves into race lead

Dane claims first professional victory ahead of Van Poppel in second and Uhlig in third

Tobias Lund Andresen ((Dsm-firmenich PostNL) emerged from a hectic finish to win stage 4 of the Tour of Turkey in Bodrum.

The Dane needed a late bike change but returned to the peloton and then timed his effort perfectly on the rising finish after Manuele Tarozzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) and the remains of the early break were caught in the final kilometre.

Danny Van Poppel (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished second and Henri Uhlig (Alpecin-Deceuninck) third as other riders slowed each other in the search for the best wheel to follow.

Thanks to his stage victory and the time bonuses, Lund Andresen also took the race leader’s blue jersey, which he will wear during the 177.9km fifth stage from Bodrum to Kuşadası.

Lund Andresen was overjoyed to win his first professional race.

“The plan was that if Fabio made it over the climb, we’d go with him but he didn’t have the leg, so we made a nice plan for me and the team did an amazing job and I was able to take the win,” he said.

“It was a hard stage, with a lot of climbing. The roads are not the best, so it’s almost like riding cobblestones the whole day. It was grippy but that was quite nice for me.”

A breakaway again tried to foil the sprinters’ teams and the peloton, with eight riders going away with 110 km to race of the 137.9 km stage.

They worked well together and extended their lead to close to 2:00 but then Polti-Kometa and Astana Qazaqstan drove the chase. The Italian team was keen to defend Giovanni Lonardi’s race lead, while Astana Qazaqstan rode for stage 2 winner Max Kanter.

The hilly profile of the stage again ruled out the pure sprinters, with Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan), Fabio Jakobsen (Dsm-firmenich PostNL) and others dropped from the peloton.

The break reduced to five riders over the final climb after 95 km but James Whelan (Q36.5), Calum Johnston (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA),  Tarozzi, Owen Geleijn (TDT - Unibet) and Gianni Marchand (Tarteletto-Isorex) pushed on and held a lead of 40 seconds on the fast ride to Bodrum.

Whelan split the attack on a late climb with 10km to go, with only Tarozzi, Johnston and Marchand able to go with him. They attacked each other and the pace eased so the peloton closed the gap on the run-in to the finish.

Tarozzi refused to give up hope and attacked alone inside the final kilometre. He got a gap but then faded on the rising finish as Lund Andresen timed his effort to perfection.

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Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters , Shift Active Media , and CyclingWeekly , among other publications.

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