The Grand Départ of the world’s best known cycle race, the Tour de France, took place in 2017 in the North Rhine-Westphalian capital of Düsseldorf. Over three weeks, riders will tackle 21 stages, with 53 leg-burning climbs, covering 3,540 kilometres across Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. There are 198 riders in 22 teams this year.

credit: Günter Hentschel

The Tour debutant Peter Sagan is one of favourites for absolute victory at Tour de France 2012. The Liquigas rider celebrate his first stage by first place. Peter is a Slovak professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team Liquigas-Cannondale. Sagan started to ride bikes at the age of nine when he joined a small local club in his home town. He has a past as a biker and cross country cyclist, disciplines in which he has had major success at both European and World level. In 2009, Sagan joined the road cycling circuit.

credit: Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious

credit: Roxanne King

credit: Roxanne King

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credit: Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious

credit: DrabikPany

credit: DrabikPany

credit: DrabikPany

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