Cyclists have been competing in this prestigious, multi-stage race since 1903. The route is changed every year but always includes a mix of terrains and elevations, mostly in France. Originally conceived as a promotion for a newspaper, the Tour is now a worldwide sporting event that draws billions of viewers each year, making it more popular than the Super Bowl. Here, competitors are biking alongside the summertime sunflowers of southern France that are in full bloom during the race. This scenic image is a foil to the grueling duration of the race, which covers more than 2,000 miles over a 23-day span. Although athletes are organized into teams, the individual who completes the strenuous course in the overall shortest amount of time wins and gets a cash prize often shared with teammates. This year’s race starts in Belgium and will pedal past the iconic sunflowers around stage 16 before coming to a stop in Paris.
Racers pushing past sunflowers in the 2018 Tour de France
Today in History
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A festival of colors
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Black History Month
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Clouds over the River of Grass
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A river runs through rice fields
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Native American Heritage Month
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Mexico celebrates its Independence Day
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Celebrating Charles Darwin
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It s tree-climbing season
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Canada s $20 view
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Great Backyard Bird Count
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International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
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Cherry blossoms at the National Mall, Washington, DC
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High trekking season in Upper Mustang
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Reflecting on Black History Month
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Village of Zahara de la Sierra, Cadiz, Spain
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Sunlight sets Iceland s Eyjafjallajökull aglow
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The Sky Over Nine Columns in Venice, Italy
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The (Inca) empire strikes back
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Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
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’Chess on ice’
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Lanterns alight in Pingxi
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Bear cubs roughhouse on Siblings Day
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Work out on your way to work
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It’s showtime for a precious crop
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