The 12 Best British Tour De France Moments

The Tour is the biggest race going so it’s no surprise it produces many memorable moments. These are the best the Brits have enjoyed... and some that are best forgotten.

12 July 7&8 2007

LONDON HOSTS THE GRAND DEPARTWEEKEND, LONDON>CANTEBURY

It was the year before the so-called cycling boom hit the UK, but it would be wrong to disregard the events of July 2007.

In many ways, the London Grand Départ — the Tour’s first start on UK soil and its first visit since 1994 — was the catalyst for the ensuing success enjoyed by British cyclists.

Watched by 2.5 million fans over two days, Bradley Wiggins was fourth in the prologue in central London, 23 seconds back on winner Fabian Cancellara, of Switzerland.

The next day, Robbie McEwen won a sprint in Canterbury as an earlier crash dashed Mark Cavendish’s hopes of a win in his debut Tour bunch sprint.

11 July 24 2009

CAVENDISH MAKES BRITISH HISTORY STAGE 19, BOURGOIN-JALLIEU > AUBENAS

Sprinter Mark Cavendish was far from the favourite for the stage when it rolled out of Bourgoin- Jallieu in 2009. A 14km-long second category climb crested just 16km from the finish made it a big ask for the fastmen. But the Manxman made it over in the company of the leaders. Even as the slope up to the line approached, however, Cavendish, without lead-out man Mark Renshaw, might not have been the pick as Thor Hushovd was in his element. But win he did and in the process became the most successful British stage winner in history with nine wins. He has since gone on to put that title on the shelf, amassing 30 Tour stage wins.

10 July 13 2007

WIGGINS HINTS AT THE BRITISH REVOLUTION STAGE 6, SEMUR-EN-AUXOIS >BOURG-EN-BRESSE