Tour de France: Too Fast To Be Clean?
On the way to his second Tour de France victory last year, Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard was facing tough questions regarding his pace before he even arrived in Paris. How was he going so fast? How was it possible to be over seven minutes ahead of a cyclist of Tadej Pogačar's caliber? Some reporters even explicitly asked: "Are you cheating?".
Vingegaard's response? In a press conference following stage 17, which he had finished more than five minutes ahead of his biggest rival Pogačar, the Dane proclaimed: "For me, it’s hard to tell what more you can say. I guess, I understand that it’s hard to trust in cycling with the past there has been. But I think nowadays everyone is different than they were 20 years ago. And I can tell from my heart that I don’t take anything. I don’t take anything I would not give to my daughter, and I would definitely not give her any drugs.”
At the end, Vingegaard completed the grueling 3-week, 3,401 kilometer competition at an average speed of 41.4 km/h (25.574 mph). Given cycling's deservedly bad reputation, it is perhaps understandable that exceptional performances like that still raise suspicions. As this chart shows, the Tour de France has not slowed down since the doping-infested years of the early 2000s. Whether that's due to super-fast carbon bikes, favorable routing or the use of performance-enhancing substances is a question the sport is not yet fully able to answer.
Dataset
Year | Starting and | length, Kms | Number of stages | Winner's Average Speed | Entrants | Finishers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
And Dates | finishing cities | Kms/Hr | ||||
1903 | Paris - Paris | 2,428 | 6 | 25.679 | 60 | 21 |
July 1-July 21 | ||||||
1904 | Paris - Paris | 2,388 | 6 | 24.849 | 88 | 27 |
July 2-July 24 | ||||||
1905 | Paris - Paris | 2,994 | 11 | 27.107 | 60 | 24 |
July 9-July 30 | ||||||
1906 | Paris - Paris | 4,545 | 13 | 24.463 | 82 | 14 |
July 4-July29 | ||||||
1907 | Paris - Paris | 4,488 | 14 | 28.47 | 93 | 33 |
July 8-August 4 | ||||||
1908 | Paris - Paris | 4,488 | 14 | 28.74 | 112 | 36 |
July 13-August 9 | ||||||
1909 | Paris - Paris | 4,497 | 14 | 28.658 | 150 | 55 |
July 5-August 1 | ||||||
1910 | Paris - Paris | 4,737 kms | 15 stages | 29,099 km/hr | 110 | 41 |
July 3-July31 | ||||||
1911 | Paris - Paris | 5,344 | 15 | 27,322 | 84 | 28 |
July 2-July30 | ||||||
1912 | Paris - Paris | 5,289 | 15 | 27.763 | 131 | 41 |
June 30-July 28 | ||||||
1913 | Paris - Paris | 5,287 | 15 | 26.715 | 140 | 25 |
June 29-July 27 | ||||||
1914 | Paris - Paris | 5,380 | 15 | 26.835 | 145 | 54 |
June 28-July 26 | ||||||
1919 | Paris - Paris | 5,560 | 15 | 24.056 | 69 | 10 |
June 29-July 27 | (Slowest Tour ever) | (Lowest ever) | ||||
1920 | Paris - Paris | 5,503 kms | 15 stages | 24.072 km/hr | 113 | 22 |
June 27-July 27 | ||||||
1921 | Paris - Paris | 5,485 | 15 | 24.724 | 123 | 38 |
June 26-July 24 | ||||||
1922 | Paris - Paris | 5,375 | 15 | 24.196 | 121 | 38 |
June 25-July 23 | ||||||
1923 | Paris - Paris | 5,386 | 15 | 24.233 | 139 | 48 |
June 24-July 22 | ||||||
1924 | Paris - Paris | 5,425 | 15 | 24.25 | 157 | 60 |
June 22-Jul 20 | ||||||
1925 | Paris - Paris | 5,440 | 18 | 24.82 | 130 | 49 |
June 21-July19 | ||||||
1926 | Evian - Paris | 5,745 | 17 | 24.275 | 126 | 41 |
June 20-July18 | ||||||
1927 | Paris - Paris | 5,340 | 24 | 27.224 | 142 | 39 |
June 19-July 17 | ||||||
1928 | Paris - Paris | 5,476 | 22 | 28.4 | 162 | 41 |
June 17-July 15 | ||||||
1929 | Paris - Paris | 5,257 | 22 | 28.319 | 155 | 60 |
June 30-July 28 | ||||||
1930 | Paris - Paris | 4,822 kms | 21 stages | 28.000 km/hr | 100 | 59 |
July 2 -July 27 | ||||||
1931 | Paris - Paris | 5,091 | 24 | 28.735 | 81 | 35 |
June 30-July 26 | ||||||
1932 | Paris - Paris | 4,479 | 21 | 29.047 | 80 | 57 |
July 6-July 31 | ||||||
1933 | Paris - Paris | 4,395 | 23 | 29.818 | 80 | 40 |
June 27-July 23 | ||||||
1934 | Paris - Paris | 4,470 | 23 | 30.36 | 60 | 39 |
July 3-July 29 | ||||||
1935 | Paris - Paris | 4,338 | 21 | 30.65 | 93 | 46 |
July 4-July 28 | ||||||
1936 | Paris - Paris | 4,418 | 21 | 31.108 | 90 | 43 |
July 7-August 2 | + 6 half-stages | |||||
1937 | Paris - Paris | 4,415 | 20 | 31.768 | 98 | 46 |
June 30-July 25 | + 11 half-stages | |||||
1938 | Paris - Paris | 4,694 | 21 | 31.565 | 96 | 55 |
July 5- | + 6 half-stages | |||||
Jul-31 | ||||||
1939 | Paris - Paris | 4,224 | 18 | 31.986 | 79 | 49 |
July 10-July 30 | + 10 half-stages | |||||
1947 | Paris - Paris | 4,640 | 21 | 31.412 | 99 | 53 |
June 25-July 20 | ||||||
1948 | Paris - Paris | 4,922 | 21 | 33.442 | 120 | 44 |
June 30-July 25 | ||||||
1949 | Paris - Paris | 4,808 | 21 | 32.121 | 120 | 55 |
June 30-July24 | ||||||
1950 | Paris - Paris | 4,773 kms | 22 stages | 32.778 kms/hr | 116 | 51 |
July 13-August 7 | ||||||
1951 | Metz - Paris | 4,690 | 24 | 32.949 | 123 | 66 |
July 4-July29 | ||||||
1952 | Brest - Paris | 4,827 | 23 | 32.233 | 122 | 78 |
June 25-July 19 | ||||||
1953 | Strasbourg - | 4,476 | 22 | 34.593 | 119 | 76 |
July 3-July 26 | Paris | |||||
1954 | Amsterdam (Netherlands) | 4,656 | 23 | 33.229 | 110 | 69 |
July 8-August 1 | -Paris | |||||
1955 | Le Havre - Paris | 4,495 | 22 | 34.446 | 130 | 69 |
July 7-July 30 | ||||||
1956 | Reims - Paris | 4,498 | 22 | 36.268 | 120 | 88 |
July 5-July 28 | ||||||
1957 | Nantes - Paris | 4,665 | 22 | 34.52 | 120 | 56 |
June 27-July20 | ||||||
1958 | Brussels | 4,319 | 24 | 36.919 | 120 | 78 |
June 26-July 19 | -Paris | |||||
1959 | Mulhouse - Paris | 4,391 | 22 | 35.474 | 120 | 65 |
June 25-July 18 | ||||||
1960 | Lille - Paris | 4,173 kms | 22 stages | 37.210 km/hr | 128 | 81 |
June 27-July 17 | ||||||
1961 | Rouen - Paris | 4,397 | 21 | 36.033 | 132 | 72 |
June 26 - July 16 | ||||||
1962 | Nancy - Paris | 4,274 | 22 | 37.317 | 149 | 94 |
June 25-July 15 | ||||||
1963 | Paris - Paris | 4,137 | 21 | 37.092 | 130 | 76 |
June 23-July 14 | ||||||
1964 | Rennes - Paris | 4,504 | 22 | 35.419 | 132 | 81 |
June 22-July 14 | ||||||
1965 | Cologne (Germany)- | 4,177 | 22 | 35.886 | 130 | 96 |
June 22 - July 14 | Paris | |||||
1966 | Nancy - Paris | 4,322 | 22 | 36.76 | 130 | 82 |
June 21-July 14 | ||||||
1967 | Angers - Paris | 4,758 | 22 | 34.756 | 130 | 88 |
June 29-July 23 | ||||||
1968 | Vittel - Paris | 4,492 | 22 | 33.556 | 110 | 63 |
June 27-July 21 | ||||||
1969 | Roubaix - Paris | 4,117 | 22 | 35.409 | 130 | 86 |
June 28-July 20 | ||||||
1970 | Limoges - Paris | 4,254 kms | 23 stages | 35.589 km/hr | 150 | 100 |
June 27-July 19 | ||||||
1971 | Mulhouse - Paris | 3,608 | 25 | 38.084 | 130 | 94 |
June 26-July 18 | ||||||
1972 | Angers - Paris | 3,846 | 20 | 35.514 | 132 | 88 |
July 1-July 23 | ||||||
1973 | Scheveningen (Netherlands)- | 4,090 | 20 | 33.407 | 132 | 87 |
June 30-July 22 | Paris | |||||
1974 | Brest - Paris | 4,098 | 22 | 35.241 | 130 | 105 |
June 27-July 21 | ||||||
1975 | Charleroi - Paris | 3,999 | 22 | 34.906 | 140 | 86 |
June 26-July 20 | ||||||
1976 | St. Jean de | 4,016 | 22 | 34.518 | 130 | 87 |
June 24-July 18 | Monts - Paris | |||||
1977 | Fleurence - Paris | 4,092 | 22 | 35.419 | 100 | 53 |
June 20-July 24 | ||||||
1978 | Leiden (Netherlands) - Paris | 3,914 | 22 | 36.084 | 110 | 78 |
June 29-July 23 | ||||||
1979 | Fleurence - Paris | 3,720 | 24 | 36.513 | 150 | 90 |
June 27-July 22 | ||||||
1980 | Frankfurt (Germany) - | 3,946 kms | 22 stages | 35.144 km/hr | 130 | 85 |
June 26-July 21 | Paris | |||||
1981 | Nice - Paris | 3,757 | 24 | 38.96 | 150 | 121 |
June 25-July 19 | ||||||
1982 | Basel (Switzerland) - Paris | 3,512 | 21 | 38.059 | 169 | 125 |
July 2-July 25 | ||||||
1983 | Fontenay-sous-Bois - Paris | 3,962 | 22 | 36.23 | 140 | 88 |
July 1-July 24 | ||||||
1984 | Montreuil - Paris | 4,021 | 23 | 35.882 | 170 | 124 |
June 29-July 22 | ||||||
1985 | Plumelec - Paris | 4,127 | 22 | 36.232 | 180 | 144 |
June 28-July 21 | ||||||
1986 | Boulogne-Billancourt - | 4,083 | 23 | 37.02 | 210 | 132 |
July 4-July 27 | Paris | |||||
1987 | West Berlin | 4,231 | 25 | 36.645 | 207 | 135 |
July 1-July 26 | (Germany) - | |||||
Paris | ||||||
1988 | Pornichet - Paris | 3,286 | 22 | 38.909 | 198 | 151 |
July 4-July24 | ||||||
1989 | Luxembourg - | 3,285 | 21 | 37.487 | 198 | 138 |
July 1-July23 | Paris | |||||
1990 | Furturoscope - Paris | 3,504 kms | 21 stages | 38.261 km/hr | 198 | 156 |
June 30-July 22 | ||||||
1991 | Lyon - Paris | 3,914 | 22 | 38.747 | 198 | 158 |
July 6-July 28 | ||||||
1992 | San Sebastian | 3,983 | 21 | 39.504 | 198 | 130 |
July 4-July 26 | (Spain) - Paris | |||||
1993 | Le Puy de Fou - Paris | 3,714 | 20 | 38.709 | 180 | 136 |
July 3-July 25 | ||||||
1994 | Lille - Paris | 3,978 | 21 | 38.383 | 189 | 117 |
July 2-July 24 | ||||||
1995 | St. Brieuc - Paris | 3,653 | 20 | 39.193 | 189 | 115 |
July 1-July 23 | ||||||
1996 | 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) - Paris | 3,907 | 21 | 39.227 | 197 | 129 |
June 29-July 21 | ||||||
1997 | Rouen - Paris | 3,950 | 21 | 39.23 | 198 | 139 |
July 5-July 27 | ||||||
1998 | Dublin (Ireland) | 3,875 | 21 | 39.983 | 189 | 96 |
July 11-August 2 | - Paris | |||||
1999 | Le Puy de Fou - Paris | 3,686 | 20 | 40.273 | 180 | 141 |
July 3-July 25 | ||||||
2000 | Futuroscope - | 3,662 kms | 21 stages | 39.556 km/hr | 197 | 127 |
July 1-July 23 | Paris | |||||
2001 | Dunkirk - Paris | 3,446 | 20 | 40.02 | 189 | 144 |
July 7 - July 29 | ||||||
2002 | Luxembourg - | 3,276 | 20 | 39.93 | 189 | 153 |
July 7-July 29 | Paris | |||||
2003 | Paris- Paris | 3,427 | 20 | 40.94 | 198 | 147 |
July 5 - July 27 | ||||||
2004 | Liege (Belgium) | 3,391.10 | 20 | 40.553 | 188 | 147 |
July 3-July 25 | - Paris | |||||
2005 | Fromentine - | 3,608 | 21 | 41.654 | 189 | 155 |
July 2 - July 24 | Paris | |||||
2006 | Strasbourg - | 3,657.10 | 20 | 40.781 | 176 | 139 |
July 1 - July 23 | Paris | |||||
2007 | London - Paris | 3,547 | 20 | 38.98 | 189 | 141 |
July 7 - July 29 | ||||||
2008 | Brest - Paris | 3,559.50 | 21 | 40.5 | 180 | 145 |
July 5 - July 27 | ||||||
2009 | Monaco - Paris | 3,459.50 | 21 | 40.31 | 180 | 156 |
July 4 - July 26 | ||||||
2010 | Rotterdam - Paris | 3,641.90 | 20 | 39.585 | 197 | 170 |
July 3 - | plus prologue | |||||
Jul-25 | ||||||
2011 | Le Barre de Monts - Paris | 3,430 | 21 | 39.788 | 198 | 167 |
July2- | ||||||
Jul-24 | ||||||
2012 | Liège - Paris | 3,488 | 20 plus prologue | 39.83 | 198 | 153 |
June 30- | ||||||
Jul-22 | ||||||
2013 | Porto Vecchio, Corsica - Paris | 3,403.50 | 21 | 40.545 km/hr | 198 | 169 |
June 29- | ||||||
Jul-21 | ||||||
2014 | Leeds, UK - | 3,659 | 21 | 40.662 | 198 | 164 |
July 5- | Paris | km/hr | ||||
Jul-27 | ||||||
2015 | Utrecht, Netherlands - | 3,360.30 | 21 | 39.64 km/hr | 198 | 160 |
July 4-July 26 | Paris | |||||
2016 | Mont St. Michel- | 3,519 | 21 | 39.616 | 198 | 174 |
July2- | Paris | |||||
Jul-21 | ||||||
2017 | Düsseldorf , Germany - | 3,540 | 21 | 40.997 km/hr average speed | 198 | 167 |
July 1 - | Paris | |||||
Jul-23 | ||||||
2018 | Noirmoutier en l'Île - Paris | 3,349 km | 21 | 40.210 km/hr | 176 | 145 |
July 7 - July 29 | ||||||
2019 | Brussels - | 3,365.8 km | 21 | 40.576 km/hr | 176 | 155 |
July 6 - | Paris | |||||
Jul-28 | ||||||
2020 | Nice - | 3,482.2 km | 21 | 39.872 km/hr | 176 | 146 |
Aug 29 - | Paris | |||||
Sep-20 | ||||||
2021 | Brest - | 3,414.4 km | 21 | 41.165 km/hr | 184 | 141 |
June 26 - | Paris | |||||
Jul-18 | ||||||
2022 | Copenhagen - | 3,343.80 | 21 | 42.031 km/hr | 176 | 135 |
July 1 - | Paris | km | ||||
Jul-24 | ||||||
2023 | Bilbao - | 3,401.30 | 21 | 41.431 km/hr | 176 | 150 |
July 1 - | Paris | km | ||||
Jul-23 |
Data sources
* no Tours were held from 1915-1918 and 1940-1946