The 2014 Tour de France, the 101st edition of the race, consisted of 21 stages covering a total distance of approximately 3,660 kilometers (2,274 miles). The race began in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, marking the fourth time the Tour started in the United Kingdom. Yorkshire hosted the first two days racing on the 5th and 6th July before the Tour headed south for a third stage in southern England, and concluded in Paris on the Champs-Élysées.
Italian cyclist Vincenzo Nibali of the Astana Pro Team emerged as the overall winner, securing his first Tour victory. Nibali took the yellow jersey after Stage 2 and dominated the race with consistent performances across all terrains. He won four stages, including two mountain stages and a cobblestone stage that was particularly treacherous due to wet conditions.
Early in the race, key contenders like Chris Froome and Alberto Contador were forced to withdraw due to crashes, which significantly altered the dynamics of the competition. Nibali finished the race with a commanding lead of over seven minutes ahead of French riders Jean-Christophe Péraud, who finished second, and Thibaut Pinot, who took third place.
Thibaut Pinot won the white jersey as the best young rider. Peter Sagan won the green jersey for the points classification, continuing his dominance in the sprints, while Rafal Majka secured the polka dot jersey for the King of the Mountains.
Trivia
- It was the first time that the Tour started in the United Kingdom since 2007, and its was the first visit to Yorkshire.
- Nibali's lead at the end of more than seven minutes was the biggest winning margin since 1997.
Related Pages
- Information about each of the tours
- Tour de France home
- About the World of Sport in 2014
- About Sport in France