The Leaders' Jerseys:

• Yellow Jersey for the General Time Classification
• Green Jersey for the General Points Classification
• There are three intermediate sprints on each of the first seven non time-trial stages and two on each stage thereafter
• White and Red Polka-Dotted Jersey for the Best Climber Classification
• White Jersey for the Best Young Rider, for riders no more than 25 years old in the year of the race

• Running from Saturday July 2rd to Sunday July 24th 2011
• The 98th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,430.5 kilometres
• The official start of the Tour will take place at the Passage du Gois. Connecting the continent to the island of Noirmoutier and measuring 4.5 km in distance, the Passage du Gois is a submersible road covered twice daily at high tide, however remains fully accessible at low tide
• There is a team time trial and one individual time trial this year
• There are ten flat stages, six mountain stages and three medium mountain stages
• No bonuses will be awarded during the intermediate sprints and stage finishes
• Stage six: Dinan to Lisieux (226.5km) this the longest stage of the 2011 Tour takes place in Normandy. A day of undulating terrain and a steep hill with one mile remaining could prove decisive
• The two rest days are Monday 11 July and Monday 18 July
• There are 23 mountain passes or summit finishes of category 2, category 1 or of the highest level
• The mountain pass, ‘Col du Galibier’ will be climbed twice during the Tour and on the 18th stage it will be the first time the peloton conclude on the 2645 metre top

• First Tour: 1903
• Shortest Tour: 2,388 kilometres in 1904
• Longest Tour: 5,745 kilometres in 1926
• Longest stage: 482 kilometres from Les Sables d'Olonne to Bayonne in 1919
• Fewest stages: Six in 1903
• Most stages: 31 in 1937
• Fewest participants: 60 in 1903, 1905 and 1934
• Most participants: 210 in 1986
• Seven-time winner: Lance Armstrong (1999, 2000, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05)
• Five-time winners:
  Jacques Anquetil (1957, 61, 62, 63, 64), Eddy Merckx (1969, 70, 71, 72, 74), Bernard Hinault (1978, 79, 81, 82, 85), Miguel Indurain (1991, 92, 93, 94, 95)
• The course and total distance travelled changes every year
• The fastest average speed over the whole tour was 40.276 kph and was set by Lance Armstrong in 1999
• The last hour of each stage is televised live throughout Western Europe
• The Tour has its own motorcycle police force and a travelling bank - the only one in France allowed to open on Bastille Day
• More than 2300 accredited journalists, 1100 technicians or chauffeurs, 4500 support staff and 1500 vehicles accompany the riders throughout the event