The most prestigious cycle race nicknamed the ‘Grande Boucle’ will take place next month in France. More than 250 cyclists will travel the French roads for three weeks in 20 races. Known as the hardest cycling race in the world because of its small steep roads in the French mountains, all the best cyclists – from Eddy Merckx to Lance Armstrong – want to win this mythical race. Most of the top cyclists  have fallen owing to the fast pace of the race, the rain when it comes and – more rarely – the melting of bitumen when it is very hot. It could be dangerous; so dangerous that many cyclists give up the fight as they get injured. Last year, over 30 cyclists gave up due to a fall or insufficient health conditions. Here is the 2011 course the cyclists will face next July:

The rules of the Tour de France

The cyclist who absolutely wants to win the Tour doesn’t need to win every race. The most important thing is to be steady in your tempo to do the best time on the Champs-Elysees. Many cyclists can distinguish themselves from the others by wearing a special shirt:

-          The Yellow Shirt: indicates the current leader of the Tour de France

-          The Green Shirt: indicated the best cyclist in terms of  points (i.e. the best sprinter)

-          The Polka Dot Jersey: indicates the best climber

-          The White Shirt: indicated the best young cyclist (under 25)

The very first race of the Tour called the “prologue” is always an against-the-clock to determine the identity of the four cyclists wearing the leading shirts. The faster cyclist of this race automatically gets to wear the yellow shirt. The faster cyclist in a determined place in the course (often a straight line or the finish) obtains the Green Shirt. Then, the faster cyclist climbing a hill has the Polka Dot Jersey.

The favourites

The only two cyclists able to win this year are the Spanish Alberto Contador (three-time winner) and the Luxembourg cyclist Andy Schleck. Both athletes were already fighting for first place but the Spaniard has been as cunning as a fox, so  he won the duel. But Contador did not win alone. He won with the help of his teammates. Their role is to do their utmost for their best cyclist (Contador here) so that he wins the Tour, often by elaborating strategies.

The best places in France

Obviously, the Tour de France is also the occasion for those who watch it every year, to discover some of the best places in France. The most mythical areas of the Tour de France are the Col du Tourmalet (in the Pyrenées), the Passage du Gois (on the Atlantic coast), the Mont Ventoux (French Alps) and the Alpe d’Huez. This year, the Tour starts at Noirmoutiers-en-l’Ile and ends with the famous climb to the ski resort of the Alpe d’Huez. In fact, the last race on the Champs-Elysées is rarely the last fight of the Race as it represents the end of the Grande Boucle. It is more of a festivity than the last moments before the final victory, to the dismay of fans who would prefer the fight to go on ‘til the end. So has been the tradition of the Tour de France…

The Tour de France near your property

This year, if you live near the Domaine de la Mandoune in Marseillan (ref 34516 and 36107), you can support the runners at the 16^th race. We advise you to go into the Pyrenees and watch from the top of a hill because tempo is slower there than on a flat road.  You can then take beautiful pictures of your idol – maybe Mark Cavendish who represents  Great Britain. If you live in the French mountains, you will undoubtedly cross the cyclists every year: one year in every two at the Alpe d’Huez and at the Col du Tourmalet, and one in every five years at the Mont Ventoux.

In case you own a property in Brittany, you will enjoy the most famous cycling race in the world as 3 races will take place here: the 3^rd, the 4^th and the 5^th. They will cross Normandy. You can bump into the Tour de France wherever you are in France!