21 Stages, 21 Stories

German sports fans turned their backs on pro cycling en masse following the Team Telekom doping scandal a decade ago. Can the Grand Départ in Düsseldorf kickstart a revival? An in-depth report from journalist Andrew Curry and photographers Olaf Unverzart and Sebastian Schels.

Our Tour de France edition stars Chris Froome, Romain Bardet, Andy Schleck, Caleb Ewan, Robert Millar, Adam Hansen, Maxime Bouet and Sam Bennett.

With Tour tales, past and present, from along route, including: Down on the Maginot Line; Vittel’s water; Lascaux caves; Roger Blachon; Hippolyte the Terrible; La Course and the Izoard; Patrouille de France; Marseille-Paris; Lanterne Rouge.

Written contributions from Richard Abraham, Isabel Best, Ian Cleverly, Andrew Curry, Paul Fournel, Max Leonard, Paul Maunder, Andy McGrath, Robert Millar, Morten Okbo, Matt Rendell and Matt Seaton.

Photography by Pauline Ballet, Michael Blann, Benedict Campbell, Joel Hewitt, Marshall Kappel, Kristof Ramon, Sebastian Schels, Jakob Kristian Sørensen and Olaf Unverzart.

Plus six highly desirable race-ready bikes from Sarto, Specialized, Wilier, Look, Time and Canyon.

The Tour de France, from start to finish.