Maurice Garin, a former chimney sweep with a mustache, won the first tour in 1903. Of the 60 starters, only 21 reached the finish line 19 days later.

French cyclist Maurice Garin (undated photo) AFP / Getty

It was the grueling nature of the tour that intrigued sports fans and writers. The Manchester Guardian previewed the 1921 race, stating that if it were run in a straight line, it could stretch from Paris to Baghdad.

Tommy Simpson, 1966. Photo: Getty / Images

The participation of British cyclists in the post-war period was overshadowed by the death of Tommy Simpson. The Nottinghamshire rider collapsed during a mountain stage of the 1967 edition. An autopsy found that he had taken amphetamines.

The Guardian, July 14, 1967.

Drug use would accompany the tour for years. Nevertheless, thanks to the French Jacques Anquetil, the race had cemented its place as a major sporting event. His amazing natural driving ability and endurance helped him win five tours, four of them in consecutive years.

Another five-time winner, Belgian Eddy Merckx, known as “The Cannibal”, became a sports legend thanks to his great will to win. He won his fifth tour in 1974. The French Bernard Hinault, who is considered one of the greatest cyclists of all time, joined the exclusive club of five-time winners in 1985.

Eddy Merckx won the Tour de France for the fifth time in 1974. Photo: STAFF / AFP / Getty Images

It was a former Hinault teammate, US rider Greg Lemond, who won the tightest finish of a tour in 1989. Lemond, who wore the latest aerodynamic helmet and rode a tri-handlebar bike, beat Laurent Fignon by just eight inch seconds on the final day.

The Spanish dominance of the event came in the form of Miguel Indurain or “Big Mig” who made Le Tour history in the 1990s by winning it five times in a row.

Lance Armstrong, 2002. Photo: Peter Dejong / AP

His record was broken by US driver Lance Armstrong, who won the race seven times in a row between 1999 and 2005. Many thought Armstrong’s record would never be broken, but the American was stripped of his titles and was banned from cycling for life in 2012 for doping.

The Tour de France, which was damaged in 1998 by a doping scandal involving the Festina team, appeared to be in danger.

Bradley Wiggins, 2012. Photo: Laurent Rebours / AP

However, the dark past of professional cycling didn’t stop broadcast giant Sky from investing heavily in the sport in 2009. They named David Brailsford to manager of Team Sky, who said he would win the tour with a “clean” driver. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins kept that promise and became the first British driver to win the race.

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