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Tour de France 2005 | Tour de France Odds

FAST FACTS

• Yellow Jersey for the General Time Classification (sponsored by Crédit Lyonnais)
• Green Jersey for the General Points Classification (sponsored by PMU)
• There are three intermediate sprints on each of the first seven non time-trial stages and two on each stage thereafter
• White and Red Polka-Dotted Jersey for the Best Climber Classification (sponsored by Champion)
• White Jersey for the Best Young Rider, for riders no more than 25 years old in the year of the race (sponsored by Aquarel)

This year’s Tour:

• 21 stages over a total distance of 3,607 kilometres
• 9 flat stages, 9 mountain stages, 2 individual time-trials and 1 team time-trial (2 rest days)
• Two transfers - 1 by train (TGV) and 1 by plane
• 20 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes will be climbed
• 9 new stop-over towns: Fromentine, Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, Les Essarts, La Chataigneraie, Chambord, Gerardmer, Miramas, Agde et Lézat-sur-Lèze.
• There are previous winners of each jersey in this year’s race – Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich (yellow), Robbie McEwen and Baden Cooke (green), and Santiago Botero (polka-dot)
• In 2004, American Lance Armstrong became the first person ever to win six Tours
• Two sons of previous winners are riding this year - Axel Merckx (Divitamon Lotto) and Sebastien Hinault (Credit Agricole)
• A total of 3 million euros, of which 400,000 euros are for the winner,. Daily prizes are awarded to the first three in intermediate sprints and first 25 on each stage as well as the jersey wearers

Tour facts:

• First Tour: 1903
• Shortest Tour: 2,388 kilometres in 1904
• Longest Tour: 5,745 kilometres in 1926
• Longest stage: 482 kilometres from Les Sables d'Olonne to Bayonne in 1919
• Fewest stages: Six in 1903
• Most stages: 31 in 1937
• Fewest participants: 60 in 1903, 1905 and 1934
• Most participants: 210 in 1986
• Six Time winners: Lance Armstrong (1999, 00, 01, 02, 03)
• Five time winners:
  Jacques Anquetil (1957, 61, 62, 63, 64), Eddy Merckx (1969, 70, 71, 72, 74), Bernard Hinault (1978, 79, 81, 82, 85), Miguel Indurain (1991, 92, 93, 94, 95)
• The course and total distance travelled changes every year
• The last hour of each stage is televised live throughout Western Europe
• The Tour has its own motorcycle police force and a travelling bank - the only one in France allowed to open on Bastille Day
• More than 2300 accredited journalists, 1100 technicians or chauffeurs, 4500 support staff and 1500 vehicles accompany the riders throughout the event.