the very first Tour de France, the greatest cycle race (0) .!n' the world, was held in
1903. lt began when two French journalists, Henri Desgrange and G6o Lefdvre, came
(13) ..... with the idea of a race right around the country, (14) ..... that had never been tried
anywhere before.
Nowadays we might think the aim of (15) ..... an idea would be to bring in lots of television
money, or even tourists, but at the beginning of the twentieth century what they wanted to do
(16)..... sell more copies of their newspaper. And they succeeded. Circulation figures, {17).....
had been 25,000, went to 65,000 within a year, and on to half a million by 1923'
The reporters were in fact quite closely involved in organizing
the race, and Desgrange would
go (18)..... to remain Tour Director from 1903 right up to 1939. Even (19)....., their initial
design for the race changed in several important ways before the firSt one was run' For
instance, they had intended (20) ..... to be held over five weeks, but such a long race was just
too much for most riders and very (21) ..... wanted to take part'
So it became half (221..... length, and it would be run entirely in July (23) ...'. than from late
May to early July. As, however, it would still go right round France, the distance traveled each
a day would be much longer, with cyclists sometimes (241 ..-..to ride at night.
