How Hard is the Tour de France Really?

The Iconic Bike Race Explained

The Tour de France, now in its 112th edition, is an annual cycling event for elite professionals. It features 21 stages and covers over 3,000 km, winding through mountains and valleys. The race ends in Paris with riders cycling full throttle down the iconic Champs-Élysées – it never fails to impress!

Beneath the spectacle that is the Tour de France lies the question: how hard is it really?

The Grind

The Tour de France is a test of human endurance, mental resilience and strategy – and it’s gruelling. Cyclists:

• Burn 5,000 to 7,000 calories a day
• Climb the equivalent of Mount Everest multiple times
• Reach speeds of over 100 km/h on descents
• Cycle 100+ miles (160 km) daily for three consecutive weeks with only 2 days rest
• Race for a total of nearly 100 hours
• Face mechanical failure, weather extremes and crashes

Indeed, finishing the race itself is a massive accomplishment as many cyclists do not finish at all.

How does the Tour de France work?

The race is split into 21 stages with cyclists racing one stage per day. Each stage averages 160km (100 miles), and the cyclist who crosses the finish line first is the winner of that stage.

The winner of the Tour de France will have the lowest cumulative time across all stages. This means that the overall winner does not have to have won a single stage, although this is unlikely.

Two rest days are built into the schedule.

Types of Stages:

Across the 21 stages, there are different types of stages. They fall into:

• 7 flat stages
• 6 hilly stages
• 6 mountain stages (with 5 summit finishes) – the highest point in the 2025 Tour is Col de la Loze, which reaches 2,304m above sea level.
• 2 individual time trials

Winning one stage is a fantastic feat. Some stages have cutoff times, and failing to finish in time can lead to disqualification.

The Final Stage of the Tour de France

The final stage, stage 21, is flat and goes from Mantes-la-Ville to the Champs-Élysées.

By this point in the Tour, the overall winner is usually determined and so it’s seen as bad sportsmanship to challenge the leader at the last moment.

However, for sprinters, the long stretch of the Champs-Élysées is a fantastic opportunity for a career-defining win. This means that although the general classification is probably settled, the day still delivers a dramatic sprint finish.

When is the Tour de France?

Saturday 5th July to Sunday 27th July 2025. The rest days are on the 15th July and 21st July.

Where is the Tour de France Held?

Despite its name, the Tour de France has not always been exclusively held in France – it's often started in other countries, but it always finishes on the Champs-Élysées in Paris with a prestigious sprint finish. Famous climbs like Alpe d’Huez and Mont Ventoux also feature in multiple races.

In 2025, the Tour is staying fully within France, covering 11 regions and 34 departments.

How Many Cyclists Compete in the Tour de France?

In 2025, there are 23 teams, each with 8 riders, creating a total of 184 cyclists.

Each team also has support vehicles, nutritionists, physios and mechanics, and has a sponsor.

Support vehicles follow the team in order of the overall peloton ranking.

How Do the Teams Work in the Tour de France?

Although only one cyclist wins the maillot jaune (yellow jersey), the Tour is a true team sport and the winner is only made possible by their teams. The win is also shared by the whole team.

Riding in a teammate’s slipstream (drafting) reduces energy output by up to 30% which is why teamwork is essential. Teams of eight are working together to support a team leader, although sometimes members of the team will want to win one of the individual stages based on their role, which are as follows:

General Classification Riders (GC): These are the people competing for the overall win and the coveted yellow jersey. To be a GC, you need to be good at everything, from climbing to time trials. They tend to be the team leader, and it’s the rest of the team that’s working to support them.

Sprinters: Sprinters are more interested in winning individual stages. Typically, sprinters will wait to attack at intermediate sprints. Some teams are built around a sprinter and focus on winning stages and the Green Jersey given to the points leader.

Climbers: They excel in mountains, competing for stage wins on the tough mountain stages. They also work to support their GC leader.

Domestiques: Most riders in the team work as ‘domestiques’ supporting their team leader. They help the leader by pacing them, allowing them to draft behind, bringing them food and water, and providing support in the instance of a crash or mechanical fault. Having a team of good domestiques is critical for success.

Time trialists: Some riders specialise in time trials, so they strive to compete for wins on these stages. On the rest of the stages, they work as powerful domestiques.

What Do the Tour de France Jerseys Mean?

The jersey for each category is awarded to the leader of that classification at the end of every stage. The recipient can then wear it the following day of racing. When a rider has led in multiple classifications, the yellow jersey is prioritised.

Yellow Jersey

Known in French as the maillot jaune, the yellow jersey is arguably the most prestigious piece of kit in cycling.

It’s worn by the overall leader who has the fastest combined time.

The yellow jersey is sponsored by LCL, a French Bank and is yellow as the original organiser of the Tour de France was L’Auto, a newspaper that printed on yellow paper.

Each day, a time bonus of 10, six and four seconds is awarded to the first three riders across the finish line each day. The bonuses are taken off their stage, therefore contributing to their overall time.

Green Jersey

The green jersey (maillot vert) represents the points classification leader and is earned through high finishes and intermediate sprints.

There are more points available on flat sprint stages. The points are then tallied up after each stage and awarded to the rider with the most points.

Polka Dot Jersey

The polka dot jersey (maillot à pois rouges) is given to riders who manage to summit classified climbs first – the ‘king of the mountains’.

The climbs are divided into five categories from Category 4 (least difficult) to Category 1 (most difficult). There is also a fifth category: the ‘Hors Categorie’ (HC), which means ‘beyond categorisation’ and is reserved for the most demanding ascent.

On HC climbs, points are awarded to the first eight riders to reach the summit. A category 4 climb only offers points to the rider who reaches the top first.

White Jersey

The plain white jersey (maillot blanc) is awarded to the fastest rider born after the 1st January 2000, making them 25 or younger. This jersey has come to symbolise future stars of cycling with many previous winners going on to claim the yellow jersey.

As well as jerseys, cyclists can receive an award:

Combativity Award

Given to the most aggressive or attacking cyclist that has shown the most fighting spirit during each individual stage. This award is chosen by the race jury and the next day, the winner of the combativity award will wear a gold race number. At the end of the Tour de France, a ‘super combativity’ award is handed out for the most aggressive rider during the whole race.

Team Classification

This is based on the combined times of the best three riders from each team per stage. The team leaders get to wear race number that are yellow with black digits and can wear yellow helmets, although wearing the helmet is not compulsory.

How Much Does the Tour de France Winner Earn?

The winner of the Tour de France earns around €500,000.

Stage wins are worth €11,000 and there are rewards for the top 20 finishers every day. Winning just one stage is an immense honour reflected in the cash prize.

The winner of the green jersey and the polka dot jersey each receives €25,000, whilst the white jersey winner earns €20,000. Beyond the overall champions, additional cash prizes are awarded: riders placing 1st to 8th in both the points and mountains classifications (green and polka dot) receive monetary rewards and those ranked 1st to 4th in the young rider classification (white jersey) also earn cash prizes.

The total prize pot for the Tour de France is €2.5 million.

Is There a Tour de France for Women?

Yes, of course! It’s called Le Tour de France Femmes and is on Saturday 26th July to Sunday 3rd August 2025.

This year, it starts in Vannes and ends in Châtel. The women cover 1,165km over 9 stages and 9 days of racing. It includes three flat stages, two hilly stages and four mountain stages. Although the race is shorter than the men’s, it is arguably more intense as there is more emphasis on each stage – each stage is a must-win.

The Tour de France Femmes is receiving growing attention but is still behind the men’s race, which receives significantly more media attention and has a larger prize fund.

Can Anyone Compete in the Tour de France?

In short, no. This race is reserved for cycling elites, and you must be invited to UCI WorldTour teams.

Tour de France cyclists are in the saddle for approximately 20 to 30 hours each week. They also have teams of nutritionists, physiologists, recovery specialists and mechanics.

Cyclists burn 5000 to 7000 calories a day, and over the course of three weeks, riders will average around 100 hours of intense racing. The Tour de France really is the pinnacle of grit, determination and resilience.

Amateurs have attempted the Tour de France; you can apply to The Tour 21, you'll do exactly the same as the professionals only one week before they set off to raise money for Cure Leukaemia.

The closest thing to the Tour de France for amateurs is the Haute Route Alps. It’s a seven-day event that starts in Megeve, crosses into Italy and finishes on the beach in Nice. You’ll clock 755km and climb over 20,000 metres of elevation. It’s open to anyone who wants to ride it and can complete each day within the time limit.

Bicycle Insurance

Whilst you might not be racing up Alpine climbs or chasing yellow jerseys, your bike still deserves protection. Whether you cycle as part of your commute, you’re training for a race or a sportive, or you enjoy the odd Sunday bike ride, Eversure bicycle insurance has you covered. We cover theft from your home or in public, accidental damage, as well as add-ons like racing cover and worldwide cover.

Final Thoughts

So, how hard is the Tour de France really? It is brutally hard. Cyclists battle punishing ascents and dangerous, relentless competition for three weeks straight, all whilst averaging over 100 km a day. It’s not just an incredible test of fitness, but one of endurance, strategy and mental grit, which is why winning it is such an impressive feat.