1-343-933 - Art Media/Heritage Images

Tour de France, 17 July 1903. 1903 saw the first running of the Tour de France bicycle race. The event was staged over a 2428 kilometre route divided into 6 stages, finishing in Paris. The winner of the inaugural tour was Maurice Garin (pictured), a Frenchman. Garin also won the following year, before being disqualified for covering part of the route by train.