Cyclists posing durig the first Tour de France in 1903.

5 facts about Tour de France 1903

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The first Tour de France started at 3 pm on the 1st of July in 1903 from the Café au Reveil Matin (Paris).

Cyclists gatering to start the first Tour de France
The start of the first Tour de France

Most of the stages started in the middle of the night, the last one (6th) started at 9 pm the day before it finished.

A moment from racing the Tour de France 1993
Tour de France 1903

Maurice Garin, one of the biggest favourites and later winner of the race, led the general classification since the first stage.

Maurice Garin at the first Tour de France in 1903
Maurice Garin, winner of the first Tour de France

Although the first Tour de France didn't include big mountains, there were still a few ascents to climb, like the Col du Pin-Bouchain (759 m) or the  Col de La Republic (1116 m)

A cyclist stops at a feedzone during the first Tour de Frwnce
Feedzone alá Tour de France 1903

If someone didn't finish a stage, he was out of the general classification, but was still allowed to start and eventually could win the next stage. This happened on the second stage, which was won by Hippolyte Aucouturier,and on the 4th one, won by the Swiss rider Charles Laeser.

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