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The Tour de France is a stage race; that is, it consists of a series of one-day races over different routes, with the overall winner determined by the combined time from all events, with bonus and penalty times removed and added.

The Tour de France is a stage race; that is, it consists of a series of one-day races over different routes, with the overall winner determined by the combined time from all events, with bonus and penalty times removed and added.

Riders who compete in the Tour de France are members of corporate-sponsored teams of nine riders. These nine riders work together to help the team leader or other team members to increase their standing. Team Discovery Channel (formerly United States Postal Service) is the only team in the Tour based out of the United States.  

Riders who compete in the Tour de France are members of corporate-sponsored teams of nine riders. These nine riders work together to help the team leader or other team members to increase their standing. Two teams competing in the 2009 Tour de France were based in the United States: Team Columbia-HTC and Garmin-Slipstream.

Riders in the Tour de France compete in several different competitions; the leader of each competition is awarded a jersey at the end of each stage race. The [[Yellow Jersey]] is awarded to the overall race leader. The Green Jersey is awarded to the leader of the points competition, in which points are awarded to riders winning a series of sprint races. The Polka-dot Jersey is awarded to the "King of the Mountains" leader, given to the rider who has the best record climbing designated hills and mountains in the race. The White Jersey  is awarded to the "Best Young Rider", the rider under the age of 25 with the highest placement in the overall race standings.

Riders in the Tour de France compete in several different competitions; the leader of each competition is awarded a jersey at the end of each stage race. The [[Yellow Jersey]] is awarded to the overall race leader. The Green Jersey is awarded to the leader of the points competition, in which points are awarded to riders winning a series of sprint races. The Polka-dot Jersey is awarded to the "King of the Mountains" leader, given to the rider who has the best record climbing designated hills and mountains in the race. The White Jersey  is awarded to the "Best Young Rider", the rider under the age of 25 with the highest placement in the overall race standings.

[[Greg Lemond]] was the first American to win the Tour, in 1986.  Lemond won again in 1989 and 1990.  American [[Lance Armstrong]] won the race a record seven times from 1999 to 2005. While the French media often accused Armstrong of steroid use, such claims were never supported by his drug test results. The 2006 winner was another American, [[Floyd Landis]], however his victory was contested due to a failed drug test following a stage victory. The controversy came after a number of riders, including race favorites [[Ivan Basso]] and [[Jan Ullrich]], were banned from competing in the race just a few days before it began due to allegations of steroid use.  Landis was eventually stripped of his title, and Spanish rider Oscar Pereiro became the 2006 winner.  The most recent Tours were won by Spaniards: Alberto Contador (2007) and Carlos Sastre (2008).  American [[Lance Armstrong]] has indicated that he will ride in the 2009 Tour.

[[Greg Lemond]] was the first American to win the Tour, in 1986.  Lemond won again in 1989 and 1990.  American [[Lance Armstrong]] won the race a record seven times from 1999 to 2005. While the French media often accused Armstrong of steroid use, such claims were never supported by his drug test results. The 2006 winner was another American, [[Floyd Landis]], however his victory was contested due to a failed drug test following a stage victory. The controversy came after a number of riders, including race favorites [[Ivan Basso]] and [[Jan Ullrich]], were banned from competing in the race just a few days before it began due to allegations of steroid use.  Landis was eventually stripped of his title, and Spanish rider [[Oscar Pereiro]] became the 2006 winner.  The most recent Tours were also won by Spaniards: [[Alberto Contador]] (2007, 2009) and [[Carlos Sastre]] (2008).  American [[Lance Armstrong]] returned to professional cycling and competed in the 2009 Tour, finishing third behind Alberto Contador of [[Spain]] and [[Andy Schleck]] of [[Luxembourg]].<ref>http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/LIVE/us/2100/classement/index.html</ref>

[[Category:Cycling]]

[[Category:Cycling]]