The Tour de France 2026
Download a free version at this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TOUR-DE-FRANCE-2026-Interactive-Notebook-Activity-FREE-3894291
In 2026, the Tour de France will begin on July 4-July 26th. The race will
start in Barcelona, Spain, and end in Paris, France, along the famous Champs-
Elysees. It’s considered the world's biggest and most exciting bicycling race.
Athletes competing in the race will travel approximately 3333km ( 2071
miles) during the 23 day race. Each day(called stages), a leader will be
awarded a yellow jersey(or Maillot Jaune in French). In addition to the yellow
jersey, there is a polka dot jersey awarded to the best climber(king of the
mountains), a white jersey( the best youngest rider) and a green jersey(best
sprinter).The Tour de France began in 1903.This year, there are 23 teams of
eight riders competing in the Tour de France, a total of 184 riders.
See a map with the 2026 route: https://www.letour.fr/en/overall-route
Fun Facts:
1. Only men compete in the Tour de France.
2. Approximately, 123,900 calories are burned by each
rider in the Tour de France.
3. 42000 water bottles will be used by the racers!
4. Someone figured out that enough sweat is created from
racers competing in the 22 day race, to flush a toilet 39
times!
5. Riders from France have won the most races!(36 as of 2015)
6. The Tour de France is also known as "La Grande Boucle".
Vocabulary word: Peloton, the term for the "pack" of riders.
Your Turn!
1. Write a diary pretending to be one of the cyclists in the Tour de
France. What do you see? Feel? Hear?
2. Do you think women should be allowed to compete with the men's Tour
de France? Why or why not?
3. What are 2 character traits of a person that would participate in the
Tour de France?
4. After reading the History of Bicycle facts, why do you think Susan B.
Anthony called the bicycle, the “freedom machine”?
5. What are two positive things about riding a bicycle?
6. Learn about the country of France. Write 4 facts learned.https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/countries/france.html
Illustrate a fact
History of Bicycles...Did You Know?
1. As of 2017, Copenhagen, Denmark, is the bike friendly capital of the world.
Amsterdam, Netherlands, came in second, with Utrecht, Netherlands, third. Some
sources say Utrecht is more bike friendly than Amsterdam.
2. Some sources say the invention of the first “bicycle” is credited to Comte Medi
De Sivrac, of France. His bike didn’t have any pedals! The year was 1792 and it was
called a hobby horse(or celerifere). To move you needed your feet!
3. Other sources credit Baron Karl von Drais, of Germany, with the Draisine
meaning “running machine”.The 1917 human-propelled vehicle didn’t have any pedals.
4. A bike similar to today’s bike was created by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, from Scotland.
The year was 1839. His bicycle had pedals!
5.The word “bicycle” comes from the French word “bicyclette”. The term became
popular in 1868. Previous to this, bicycles were called “velocipedes” meaning “fast
foot”.
6. The Penny-Farthing was a British bicycle that had a large front wheel and a much
smaller wheel in the back. The name represented two British coins, the Farthing and
the British Penny.
7. Early bicycles (velocipede) were known as bone shakers by their riders. With
wooden wheels inside an iron rim and an iron frame, it was a very bumpy ride!
8. In 1887, Thomas Stevens became the first person to ride a Penny Farthing around
the world!
9. In 1867, father and son, Pierre and Ernest Michaux, invented the modern bicycle.
10. Did you know that suffragette, Susan B.Anthony made a comment on the bicycle?
She said that the mode of transportation “has done more to emancipate women than
anything else in the world.” She called the bicycle the “freedom machine.”
11. In 1896, Margaret Valentine Le Long rode a bicycle from Chicago to San Francisco!
Did you know that before Orville and Wilbur Wright became famous for their
flying machine, they owned a bicycle repair shop? It was in their shop, in 1903, that
they made their first airplane! It was called the Wright Flyer!
Teacher Page:
Ask students if they have heard of the Tour de France and share any information they may
have on the famous race. Have students locate the country of France on a world map.
Give the students the handout pages. Have students do one or more of the following
activities.
Extension Activities:
1. Try this FREE crossword puzzle on France: http://gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?
2. Draw/color a picture of a bicycle. Write a fact learned about the Tour de France on your
drawing.
3. Reading on the Eiffel Tower, one of France's most famous landmarks:
Timeline on the history of the bicycle.
5. Interesting article for teachers: Impact of the Bicycle on American Women: https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/pedaling-path-freedom
6. World Bicycle Day is 6/3: https://nationaltoday.com/world-bicycle-day/
#:~:text=On%20April%2012%2C%202018%2C%20the%20resolution%20declaring%20June,by%
20Turkmenistan%20and%20co-sponsored%20by%20around%2056%20countries.
7.How bicycles changed the world for women(for teachers): https://www.jalopnik.com/how-the-bicycle-changed-the-world-for-women-1834087720/
8. Webquest on France: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FRANCE-a-%20Webquest-Part-of-my-Country-in-Focus-Series-11641940
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