2016-01-19 Tue

The 1903 Tour de France was the first cycling race set up and sponsored by the newspaper L'Auto, ancestor of the current daily, L'Équipe. Desgrange, the editor of the paper proposed the idea to the financial controller Victor Goddet, who gave his approval, and on 19 January 1903, the Tour de France was announced in L'Auto.

It was to have been a five-week race, from 1 June to 5 July, with an entry fee of 20 francs. It ran from 1 to 19 July in six stages over 2,428 km (1,509 mi), and was won by Maurice Garin. The circulation of L'Auto increased more than six fold during and after the race, so the race was considered successful enough to be rerun in 1904.

The race which was originally started to the boost the circulation of L’Auto has now become an international event. There are many stamps which commemorate the Tour De France.

France in 2003 has issued an official Centennial Tour de France stamps to commemorate the start of the race. Mont Saint-Michel, Mont Ventoux and Mont Calvi are pictured on the collector’s sheet as some of the most recognizable and anticipated steps along this 100th edition of the Tour.