Prepare for a cycling race


Why Mountain Biking In France Is Popular

One of my favourite past times is to goadvertisers were against what Le Velo stood
mountain biking down countryside trails andand were very much against the support of
travel long distances from one town toDreyfus's innocence. Those that withdrew
another. For me this is an enjoyable form oftheir advertising later published their own
keeping fit and you have the added benefit ofrival  magazine.
appreciating the scenery. Mountain biking
does not necessarily have to be enjoyed inL'Auto was established and to promote it the
your own home territory and one can beTour de France began. This was also a
involved with mountain biking abroad. Placespublicity spectacle to rival Le Velo and
like France, Italy, Spain, Africa andtheir event, Paris-Brest et retour organised
Australia.by editor Pierre Gifford. Originally, the
race was discussed to be a five weeklong
Mountain biking in France is more populartour, however with only 15 entrants this was
than any other destination because of thethen reduced down to just 19 days. Cycling
smooth and challenging trails that makejournalist Geo Lefevre and Editor Henri
biking here more fun. The French Alps isDesgrange announced the event on January 19th
famous for holding the popular Tour de Franceof 1903 - thus born a new trend of mountain
biking event, whereby thousands of spectatorsbiking  in  France.
come from all over the world and support the
contenders. The Alps is also popular withThe public were caught and drawn in by the
skiing holidays and professional skiingevent, from the growing number of entrants
competitions, which has placed the French(who were offered a daily allowance) and the
Alps as one of the top destinations forentertainment attractions (some amateur and
activity  holidays.unemployed entertainers). The tour was split
into stages of riding 400km, this saw the
The Tour de France has helped to keep theriders riding into the night, which captured
Alps to maintain its reputation for being onethe spectators attention. After the event,
of the best experience mountain biking inthe magazine sales went from 25,000 copies
France as a whole. The first Tour de Francesold to 65,000. By 1933 when the Tour had
event began in 1903 and is structured so itfinished Desgrange had received a record of
is partaken in stages rather than one long854,000.
marathon. History will reveal that the Tour
de France was largely influenced and inspiredL'Auto magazine was not a direct predecessor
by the popular sporting magazine in France,to the now popular magazine L'Equipe, but was
called Le Velo. Like most sporting magazines,a spiritual figure and influence to the
this focussed on sporting events but alsocurrent organisers of the Tour. This is not
included politic and current affairs indirectly organised by L'Equipe but is run by
France.its owners called Societe du Tour de France.
To this day this is an event which has grown
Le Velo was produced and published toon a massive scale over the years. This has
symbolise the innocence of Alfred Dreyfus,influenced much of France to see many
who was accused and found guilty of sellingholidaymakers take part in mountain biking in
secrets to the Germans. There was a largeplaces like the French Alps, but also open up
division between the people of France, withother events like the Tour such as Giro
one side favouring his innocence and thed'Italia based in Italy and Vuelta a Espana
other believing he was guilty. Some of thebased in Spain.



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