Tour de France 2016 Guide: Everything you need to know plus fun facts
HOW far do they ride, how fast can they go and for how much cash do they compete? All the answers uin out fun fact guide to the TDF.
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DID you know 40,000 beds are reserved for the Tour de France organisation and the teams riding the annual race every day of the epic event?
That there are 10 doctors, five nurses and even a radiology truck on tour every day.
Stage 1: Contador bruised and battered
That 23,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilised for securing the Tour de France route.
One of the world’s greatest sporting events kicks off on Saturday.
Here’s what you need to know, what you might not have known and a few other fun facts and figures.
FACTS AND FIGURES
There are 198 riders competing in 22 teams of nine riders.
The total distance of the tour is 3535km.
It goes for three very long weeks.
The course comprises nine flat stages, one medium mountain stage, nine mountain stages with four mountain top finishes, two individual time-trials, 28 pass or climbs and top finishes.
Four countries will be visited this year: France, Spain, Andorra and
Switzerland.
TV
SBS TV is covering the Tour de France in Australia. Check their guide for details.
FAST FACTS
The 103rd edition of the Tour de France will see Chris Froome attempting to become the first rider since the legendary Miguel Indurain in 1995 to successfully defend his Tour de France title.
Spaniards Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana are two of the favourites for the race and determined to prevent Froome achieving the feat.
10-12 million estimated spectators will watch the race from the roadside.
€2,295,850 ($A3,429,750) — The total prize purse at the Tour de France
€50,000 ($A74,695)— Prize for the best team in the race
THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM
Michael Mathews is team leader this year and big things are expected of him. The name of the team is Orica-BikeExchange
The full team is:
201 Michael Matthews (Aus)
202 Simon Gerrans (Aus)
203 Adam Yates (GB)
204 Michael Albasini (Swi)
205 Christopher Juul Jensen (Den)
206 Daryl Impey (RSA)
207 Luke Durbridge (Aus)
208 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa)
209 Mathew Hayman (Aus)
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
This is the 103rd edition of the race.
237.5km is the length of the longest stage of the race, stage four from
Saumur to Limoges.
113km is the length of the shortest stage of the Tour from Chantilly-Paris Champs-
Élysées.
2408m is the altitude of Port d’Envalira, the highest point of the 2016 Tour de France.
SECURITY NUMBERS
50 members of the Republican Guard and 12 fulltime police officers are on duty as the permanent police of the Tour de France.
23,000 police officers and gendarmes have been mobilised for securing the Tour de France route
CRAZY NUMBERS
There will be 2800 traffic signs affixed on dangerous points.
A total of 100,000 recyclable trash bags will be distributed along the route
of the Tour de France
SPECTATORS ON THE ROADSIDE
More than 40 different nationalities have been identified. They are 65 per cent male
and 35 per cent female, 80 per cent French and 20 per cent foreign.
LOGISTIC NUMBERS
4000m on average of linear barriers at the start and the finish of each stage.
2.2km on average of banners per stage
TOUR DE FRANCE STAGES
Stage One: Saturday July 2: Mont-Saint-Michel / Utah Beach
Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
Stage Two: Sunday July 3, Saint-Lô / Cherbourg-en-Cotentin,
Stage Three: Monday July 4, Granville / Angers, 223.5km
Stage Four: Tuesday July 5, Saumur / Limoges, 237.5km
Stage Five: Wednesday July 6, Mountain stage Limoges / Le Lioran, 216km
Stage Six: Thursday July 7, Arpajon-sur-Cère / Montauban, 190.5km:
Stage Seven: Friday July 8, L’Isle-Jourdain / Lac de Payolle, 162.5km
Stage Eight: Saturday July 9, Pau / Bagnères-de-Luchon, 184km
Stage Nine: Sunday July 10, Vielha Val d’Aran / Andorre Arcalis, 184.5km
Rest day: Monday July 11, Andorre
Stage 10: Tuesday July 12, Escaldes-Engordany / Revel, 197km
Stage 11: Wednesday July 13, Carcassonne / Montpellier, 162.5km
Stage 12: Thursday July: Montpellier / Mont Ventoux, 184km
Stage 13: Individual time trial, Friday July 15, Bourg-Saint-Andéol / La Caverne Du Pont-d’Arc, 37.5km
Stage 14: Saturday July 16, Montélimar / Villars-less-Dombes Parc des Oiseaux, 208.5km.
Stage 15: Sunday July 17, Bourg-en-Bresse / Culoz, 160km
Stage 16: Monday July 18, Moirans-en-Montagne / Berne, 209km
Rest day: Tuesday July 19, Berne
Stage 17: Wednesday July 20, Berne / Finhaut-Emosson, 184.5km
Stage 18: Individual time trial, Thursday July 21, Sallanches / Megève, 17km
Stage 19: Friday July 22, Albertville / Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc, 146km
Stage 20: Saturday July 23, Megève / Morzine-Avoriaz, 146.5km
Stage 21: Sunday July 24, Chantilly / Paris Champs-Élysées, 113km
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