The world's biggest bike race, three weeks of drama every July. How much of it do you actually know?
From the origins of the yellow jersey to Cavendish's record and the legendary hairpins of Alpe d'Huez, these 10 questions cover the essentials of the Tour de France. No Googling allowed.
Every July, around 180 riders set off on a three-week loop around France, climbing mountains that most cars struggle with. The Tour de France has been running since 1903, and it comes with its own language: the yellow jersey, the polka dots, the King of the Mountains, the sprint royale on the Champs-Élysées.
This quiz walks you through the stories behind the race: why the leader wears yellow, which British rider changed everything in 2012, who broke a 49-year-old record in 2024, and what makes Alpe d'Huez the most famous climb in cycling. Whether you watch every stage or just caught the highlights, there's something here to test you.
Want to warm up before playing or double-check something? Open any question to reveal the correct answer and a short explanation.
Correct answer: 1903
The first Tour started in 1903, dreamed up by the newspaper L'Auto to boost its sales. Maurice Garin won that inaugural edition, which had just six giant stages.
Correct answer: It matched the yellow paper of the organising newspaper
L'Auto, the newspaper that created the race, was printed on yellow paper. The jersey was introduced in 1919, and Eugène Christophe was the first rider to wear it.
Correct answer: 5
Five legends share the record, Tadej Pogacar having joined them in 2026 with 5 wins each: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain, the only one to win all five in a row.
Correct answer: Mark Cavendish
In 2024, at age 39, Mark Cavendish took his 35th stage win, finally breaking Eddy Merckx's record of 34 that had stood for 49 years. Almost all came in sprints.
Correct answer: The best climber
The polka dot jersey, introduced in 1975, goes to the King of the Mountains, the rider who scores the most points at the top of the climbs. Frenchman Richard Virenque won it a record seven times.
Correct answer: Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins made history in 2012 with Team Sky, then won Olympic time trial gold in London days later. Chris Froome followed with his own Tour win in 2013.
Correct answer: 21
Each of the 21 hairpins carries the name of a stage winner at the summit. The first name on the mountain is Fausto Coppi, who won there in 1952.
Correct answer: The Cannibal
Merckx was called The Cannibal because he devoured every race he entered, winning 34 Tour stages between 1969 and 1975. The Badger was Bernard Hinault, The Pirate was Marco Pantani.
Correct answer: On the Champs-Élysées in Paris
The final sprint on the Champs-Élysées has been the traditional finale since 1975. One rare exception: in 2024 the race ended in Nice because Paris was hosting the Olympics.
Correct answer: The points classification, usually won by sprinters
Introduced in 1953 for the Tour's 50th anniversary, the green jersey rewards consistent high finishes. Peter Sagan owns the record with seven green jerseys.