Maurice Garin made history as he rode to victory in the inaugural Tour de France, a race that has since become one of the most prestigious cycling events globally. The event spanned from July 1 to July 19, 1903, covering a distance of 2,428 kilometers across six stages. Starting in Paris, cyclists faced a combination of rugged mountainous terrain and bustling roads, all while battling not just the elements but also the logistical challenges like limited support and the potential for mechanical failures. Garin's discipline and strategic racing led him to not only dominate the competition but also maintain an impressive lead. His final time was approximately 94 hours, a significant achievement considering the pace of the race and the condition of the roads in that era. He finished more than two hours ahead of his closest competitor, Hippolyte Aucouturier.

The Tour de France was conceived as a way to boost the sales of L'Auto, a newspaper that promoted the race as a way to generate public interest and enhance its readership. The success of the competition spurred a wave of enthusiasm for cycling and prompted similar events in other countries. Riders from various regions of France and beyond took part, making it a colorful spectacle of endurance and competition, transforming cycling from a recreational activity into a national event that captured the imagination of the public.