CRAZY FACTS ABOUT THE TOUR DE FRANCE YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

2016 IS THE 103RD TOUR DE FRANCE

STARTED IN 1903, IT HAS BEEN HELD EVERY

SINGLE YEAR EXCEPT FOR DURING THE WORLD WARS

IT BEGAN AS A COMPETITION BETWEEN SPORTS

NEWSPAPERS, WITH L’AUTO TRYING TO GET

MORE READERSHIP THAN VELO

L’AUTO WAS SUCCESSFUL AND THE

TOUR DE FRANCE TOOK OFF

ALTHOUGH LANCE ARMSTRONG HAD THE MOST

WINS WITH 7, HE WAS STRIPPED OF HIS

TITLES BY THE UNITED STATES ANTI

DOPING AGENCY (USADA) IN 2012

THIS IS BECAUSE HE WAS ACCUSED OF DOPING.

BUT EVER SINCE 1903 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN

TRYING TO GAME THE SYSTEM

EARLY RIDERS CONSUMED ALCOHOL AND

ETHER TO DULL THE PAIN

BUT ALCOHOL WAS EVENTUALLY BANNED

AFTER BEING LABELLED A STIMULANT

IN 1947 SOME DRIVERS EVEN TOOK ON BOTTLES

FILLED WITH LEAD AT THE TOPS OF MOUNTAINS

SO THAT THEY WOULD DESCEND FASTER