The Tour de France in numbers

Impress your friends with our selection of fascinating number-based facts and stats about the Tour de France

123,900

The approximate average number of calories burned by a rider during the Tour

21,125

The total elevation of the classified climbs in metres in this year's Tour de France - they have an average gradient of 6.6 per cent

3,430

The length of the 2011 Tour de France in kilometres. That's a breeze compared to the longest ever edition of the race - 5,745km in 1926

2,645

The altitude in metres of the Col du Galibier, where the 18th stage of this year's Tour will finish. It's the highest ever stage finish and also 100 years since the Galibier was first used in the Tour

1955

The last year there was only one individual time trial in the Tour

30.213

The average speed in miles per hour of the fastest road race stage ever in the Tour, from Laval to Blois in the 1999 Tour. Mario Cipollini won it

28-17

The larget post-war Tour winning margin, Fausto Coppi in the 1952 Tour

16

The records for the most Tours ever started (and finished) belonging to Joop Zoetemelk of Holland, who completed the 1970-73 and 1975-86 Tours. George Hincapie (BMC) will equal the record if he completes this year

10

The smallest number of finishers ever in a Tour de France. In 1919 - out of 69 who started

8

The highest number of different riders to wear the yellow jersey in one Tour (1987)

Tour de France 2011: Related links

Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Tour de France: The jerseys, what they are and what they mean

Potted history of the Tour de France

The closest Tours in history

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins