When Henri Desgrange began a bicycle road race in 1903, he saw it as little more than a publicity stunt to promote his newspaper. The sixty cyclists who left Paris to ride through the night to Lyons had little idea that they were pioneers of the most famous of all bike races. A wonderful blend of history, sport, and culture, this account follows the Tour from its humble origins up to its present-day international fame. Alongside a collection of captivating cycling stories are tales of some of history’s most famous—and infamous—riders, among them Coppi, Simpson, and Armstrong. The Tour’s impact on French culture is also addressed, adding a unique and fascinating study of 20th-century European life.