The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages.
Individual times to finish each stage are aggregated to determine the overall winner at the end of the race.
The course changes every year, but the race has always finished in Paris.
A distance of over 3642 km was covered.
(Bryn Lennon / Getty Images)
2.
Lance Armstrong finishes on July 3 at the individual race at the time around Rotterdam.
(PASCAL PAVANI / AFP / Getty Images)
3.
(REUTERS / Toussaint Kluiters / United Photos)
4.
A fan of seen at the start of the third stage.
(REUTERS / Bogdan Cristel)
5.
(Spencer Platt / Getty Images)
6.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
7.
(AP Photo / Fred Mons)
8.
Dirt on the face of Lance Armstrong.
(REUTERS / Joel Saget)
9.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
10.
Shadow of a cyclist, drinking water, during the fourth stage in Reims on July 7.
(AP Photo / Christophe Ena)
11.
American Tyler Farrar of Team waiting for doctors after a fall of the second stage between Brussels and Spa.
(Spencer Platt / Getty Images)
12.
Riders on the second stage to the town of Spa.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
13.
Christian Vuandevelde from the U.S. continues to race after a fall during the second stage on July 5.
(REUTERS / Bogdan Cristel)
14.
Cyclists passes a flower field on July 5.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
15.
A medical care team applying bandage on rider’s arm after a fall at Spa, Belgium.
(Spencer Platt / Getty Images)
16.
The gears and wheel of a bicycle (JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
17.
Frenchman Silvian Shavanel trying to catch up with the group at the second stage on July 5.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
18.
Australian Cadel Evans rides in the rain at the second stage of the Tour de France.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
19.
(LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP / Getty Images)
20.
(LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP / Getty Images)
21.
Briton Mark Cavendish cries after winning the fifth stage of cycling.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
22.
(Daniel Sannum Lauten / AFP / Getty Images)
23.
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is poured water on the eighth stage on July 11.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
24.
Silveyn Shavanel of France crosses the finish line at the seventh stage on July 10.
(AP Photo / Laurent Rebours)
25.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
27.
Fans welcome the Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez in the ninth stage of the race.
(LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP / Getty Images)
28.
French cyclist Damien Monier crosses the finish line with his team after the ninth stage on July 13.
(Spencer Platt / Getty Images)
29.
The mountains around Morzine-Avoriaz hinges rise in the background before the 9th stage.
(AP Photo / Christophe Ena)
30.
Christopher Sea from France goes to the ninth stage on July 13.
(REUTERS / Francois Lenoir)
31.
(PASCAL PAVANI / AFP / Getty Images)
32.
Riders on the 179-km 10th stage at Chambery-Gap, France, July 14.
(LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP / Getty Images)
33.
A fan dressed as a devil on the 10th stage of Tour de France.
(REUTERS / Bogdan Cristel)
34.
Winner of the Tour de France in 2009 the Spaniard Alberto Contador (left) on the 10th stage.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
35.
Riders on Transition Noyer on the 10th stage.
(AP Photo / Bas Czerwinski)
36.
Riders leaving a tunnel on the 10th stage.
(Spencer Platt / Getty Images)
37.
Cyclist taking a sharp bend on the road during the 10th stage of the race on July 14.
(REUTERS / Bogdan Cristel)
38.
(LIONEL BONAVENTURE / AFP / Getty Images)
39.
(JOEL SAGET / AFP / Getty Images)
40.
(PASCAL PAVANI / AFP / Getty Images)
