As the 103rd annual Tour de France tournament begins today, we give you some interesting, astonishing and lesser-known facts and trivia about this esteemed tournament.
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;The nickname for Tour de France is 'La Grande Boucle' which means 'the big loop'.&nbsp;
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;The first Le Tour had 70 entrants. It began in the night and would conclude the next afternoon. <img title="Henri dESGRANGE" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/jan/henri19jan.jpg" alt="Henri dESGRANGE" /> Tour de France founder Henri Desgrange. Pic/ AFP&nbsp;
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;During the 1920s, it is believed that the cyclists would share cigarettes with each other during the race. This helped them in breathing much easily before encountering huge climbs.
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;American cyclist Greg LeMond won the tournament in 1989 with 35 shotgun pellets still in his body. This was due to an accident during 'hunting' that occured 2 years prior. <img title="Greg LeMond" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/jan/lemond19jan.jpg" alt="Greg LeMond" /> Greg LeMond. Pic/ AFP
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;Italian cyclist Mario Cipollini stuck a picture of Pamela Anderson to the handle bars of his cycle during a race for inspiration.
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;Four cyclists have died while competind in the Tour de France - Adolphe Heliere in 1910, Francisco Cepeda in 1935, Tom Simpson in 1967 and Fabio Casartelli in 1995. <img title="Tom Simpson" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/jan/simpson.jpg" alt="Tom Simpson" /> Tom Simpson. Pic/ AFP
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;The oldest winner is Firmin Lambot at age 36 in 1922 and the youngest winner is Henri Cornet at 19 years in 1904.
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;A Tour de France rider burns around 5,900 per day. The average man uses about 2,500.
&gt;&gt;&nbsp;Magnus Backstedt of Sweden is the heaviest man to take part in the competition. He weighed 97 kgs. <img title="Magnus Backstedt" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/jan/magnus19jan.jpg" alt="Magnus Backstedt" /> Magnus Backstedt . Pic/ AFP
&gt;&gt; On an average there are around 15 million spectators at the Tour de France every year.

As the 103rd annual Tour de France tournament begins today, we give you some interesting, astonishing and lesser-known facts and trivia about this esteemed tournament

French connect: 10 astonishing facts about the Tour de France

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As the 103rd annual Tour de France tournament begins today, we give you some interesting, astonishing and lesser-known facts and trivia about this esteemed tournament

French connect: 10 astonishing facts about the Tour de France

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Home / Sports / Other Sports / Article / French connect: 10 astonishing facts about the Tour de France

French connect: 10 astonishing facts about the Tour de France

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