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Allez Opi-Omi -

In 2021, an unidentified spectator holding a cardboard sign sent German cyclist Tony Martin tumbling at high speed on June 26, leading to a pack of riders around him to crash along with him. Dozens of bikes and cyclists quickly piled up in a tangled mess.

The spectator was captured on TV footage wearing a yellow jacket, leaning into the road and smiling while holding up a sign that read "Allez Opi-Omi" (“Come on granddad-granny,” in a mix of French and German). She left the chaotic scene before the police arrived. 

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One of the best parts -

The Alps provide a stunning backdrop to the race during the 17th stage of the 2008 edition.

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Marveling at the horsepower -

Cyclists pass a woman on a horse during the 13th stage of the 2012 Tour de France race.

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Wheel to wheel -

With every race, it's a marvel to see a gridlock of riders managing to cycle without toppling over each other.

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Helpings hands -

This is one of the many heartwarming moments that happen along the race, where riders support each other while still pedaling along.

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Look at that focus! -

German rider Marcel Sieberg gives an accurate depiction of how much participants put into this race.

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Sunflowers salute -

The race takes a turn for the serene among sunflowers during the 10th stage of the 2017 edition.

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The pack in action -

It's quite an intimidating sight!

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Does it get more French? -

Riders pedal through the vineyards during the race stage from Saint-Paul Trois Chateaux to Gap.

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Dangerous tumbles -

Falling is more common than you might think in this unexpectedly dangerous sport!

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Through all sort of terrain -

Cyclists ride along the Passage du Gois La Barre-de-Monts, a periodically flooded causeway between the mainland and the Isle of Noirmoutier in the Vendee region, during the first stage of the 2011 race.

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Cyclist's view -

The finish lines of every stage are lined with dedicated fans cheering cyclists on.

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Nothing like a mid-stride toast -

Cyclist Carlos Sastre toasts with his team manager Bjarn Riis during the final 21st stage of the Tour de France in 2008.

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Through the mountains -

Riders are treated to a stunning view of the Alps in the 16th stage of the 2006 Tour de France between Bourg-D'Oisans and La Toussuire.

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Through flames -

The peloton, the main group of cyclists in a race, passed through flaming hay bales during stage 6 in 2018.

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Through rain -

Even worse than fire is cycling under a heavy thunderstorm, which riders did during the 15th stage of the 2014 race.

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Unique paths -

Cyclists ride through what seems to be a path carved out from the rocky cliffs, and even in those huge groups they get the chance to feel incredibly small in nature.

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That winning feeling -

German rider Marcel Kittel wins stage 2 from Düesseldorf, Germany to Liege, Belgium, and demonstrates exactly how he feels about it.

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Best seats in the house -

An old man watches the pack of riders fly by his house in Landujan village in Brittany during the 2002 Tour de France. 

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Beautiful scenes -

The only sad part is that the cyclists have to race past these gorgeous landscapes and sceneries, without getting to take them in!

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Horsepower -

A woman tests out her horsepower in comparison to the cyclists' legs.

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En route entertainment -

Fans of the race sit along the route and play instruments as riders pass by.

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Tight corners -

The pack parades through downtown Utrecht in the Netherlands before the start of the second stage of the 2015 Tour de France.

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Tight towns -

The peloton makes its way from York to Sheffield, England, through tight small-town lanes.

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Hugging the coast -

This aerial shot shows the riders racing along the coast on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica during the third stage of the 2013 Tour de France.

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A rare smile -

Usually the riders are completely focused, but they occasionally have a laugh along the way.

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The final seconds -

In this final squeeze out of stage 2, from Saint-Lo to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, in 2016, Slovakian rider Peter Sagan (left) just passes the finish line before his competitor.

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On second look -

Riders' bicycles are hidden among the wheat fields, making what's surely a confusing image for onlookers.

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2020's distinctive look -

Masks are on during the non-socially distanced parts of the race.

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7-time winner -

Lance Armstrong became an icon of cycling for his seven consecutive Tour de France wins from 1999 to 2005, the most in the event's history.

To remember how he tarnished his legacy, check out the biggest doping scandals in the history of the Tour de France.

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