Tour de France: bicycle race
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Italy's Fabio Aru, Slovenia's Primoz Roglic, Australia's Richie Porte, Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang, stage winner Colombia's Rigoberto Uran and Colombia's Nairo Quintana, from left, climb after Britain's Chris Froome encountered a mechanical problem in the climb of the Mont du Chat pass during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 181.5 kilometers (112.8 miles) with start in Nantua and finish in Chambery, France, Sunday, July 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Tour de France: bicycle race
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Great Britain's Christopher Froome celebrates his overall leader yellow jersey on the podium at the end of the 187,5 km eighth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 8, 2017 between Dole and Station des Rousses. / AFP / Jeff PACHOUD
Tour de France: bicycle race
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France's Warren Barguil, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, celebrates on the podium after the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 181.5 kilometers (112.8 miles) with start in Nantua and finish in Chambery, France, Sunday, July 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France - July 9, 2017 - Team Sky rider and yellow jersey Chris Froome of Britain in action. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Tour de France: bicycle race
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Italy's Manuele Mori gets medical assistance after crashing during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 181.5 kilometers (112.8 miles) with start in Nantua and finish in Chambery, France, Sunday, July 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Tour de France: bicycle race
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France's Lilian Calmejane, wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, celebrates on the podium after the eighth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 187.5 kilometers (116.5 miles) with start in Dole and finish in Station des Rousses, France, Saturday, July 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Tour de France: bicycle race
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France - July 9, 2017 - Cannondale-Drapac rider Rigoberto Uran of Columbia wins the stage. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 187.5-km Stage 8 from Dole to Station des Rousses, France - July 8, 2017 - Team Sky rider Chris Froome of Britain reacts on the podium, wearing the yellow jersey. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Tour de France: bicycle race
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France - July 9, 2017 - The pack in action. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 187.5-km Stage 8 from Dole to Station des Rousses, France - July 8, 2017 - Direct Energie rider Lilian Calmejane of France wins the stage. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
Tour de France: bicycle race
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Spain's Alberto Contador, rear with red helmet, grimaces as he has trouble keeping up with the pace of the group of favorites prior to losing contact with group in the climb of the Mont du Chat pass during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 181.5 kilometers (112.8 miles) with start in Nantua and finish in Chambery, France, Sunday, July 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Tour de France: bicycle race
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Colombia's Rigoberto Uran crosses the finish line ahead to win the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 181.5 kilometers (112.8 miles) with start in Nantua and finish in Chambery, France, Sunday, July 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 187.5-km Stage 8 from Dole to Station des Rousses, France - July 8, 2017 - Direct Energie rider Lilian Calmejane of France reacts on the podium, wearing the best climber polka-dot jersey. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
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German supporter Didi Senft known as El Diablo cheers as France's Tony Gallopin rides in a breakaway during the 181,5 km ninth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 9, 2017 between Nantua and Chambery. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE
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Britain's Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, flashes a thumbs up on the podium after the eighth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 187.5 kilometers (116.5 miles) with start in Dole and finish in Station des Rousses, France, Saturday, July 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 187.5-km Stage 8 from Dole to Station des Rousses, France - July 8, 2017 - Team Sky rider and yellow jersey Chris Froome of Britain after the stage. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France - July 9, 2017 - Team Sky rider and yellow jersey Chris Froome of Britain and Direct Energie rider and polka-dot jersey Lilian Calmejane at the start. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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France's Romain Bardet rides in a breakaway during the 181,5 km ninth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 9, 2017 between Nantua and Chambery. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France - July 9, 2017 - Quick-Step Floors rider Daniel Martin of Ireland in action. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Great Britain's Christopher Froome celebrates his overall leader yellow jersey on the podium at the end of the 181,5 km ninth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 9, 2017 between Nantua and Chambery. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE
Tour de France: bicycle race
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France's Tony Gallopin, left, and Belgium's Jan Bakelants climb during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 181.5 kilometers (112.8 miles) with start in Nantua and finish in Chambery, France, Sunday, July 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France - July 9, 2017 - Team Sky rider Luke Rowe of Britain in action. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France - July 9, 2017 - The pack in action. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race - The 181.5-km Stage 9 from Nantua to Chambery, France - July 9, 2017 - Team Sunweb rider Warren Barguil of France reacts after the finish line. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
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Stage winner Colombia's Rigoberto Uran celebrates on the podium after winning the 181,5 km ninth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 9, 2017 between Nantua and Chambery. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE
Tour de France: bicycle race
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Stage winner France's Lilian Calmejane celebrates on the podium after winning the 187,5 km eighth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France cycling race on July 8, 2017 between Dole and Station des Rousses. / AFP / Lionel BONAVENTURE
Updated 10 July 2017
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Tour de France: bicycle race

The Tour de France is an annual multiple stage bicycle race primarily held in France,while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. The race was first organized in 1903 to increase sales for the newspaper L’Auto; which is currently run by the Amaury Sport Organization.

The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1903 except when it was stopped for the two World Wars. As the Tour gained prominence and popularity the race was lengthened and its reach began to extend around the globe.

Participation expanded from a primarily French field, as riders from all over the world began to participate in the race each year. The Tour is a UCI World Tour event, which means that the teams that compete in the race are mostly UCI WorldTeams, with the exception of the teams that the organizers invite.