The first Tour de France was invented to boost the sale of a sports newspaper
(via Vintage News) A new newspaper L’Auto-Vélo was founded in 1900. After being forced to change the name of the newspaper to L’Auto in 1903, they needed something to keep the cycling fans. A new race was suggested held around France, similar to the popular six-day races on tracks. Financial controller of the paper gave their approval, and on the 19th of January 1903, the Tour de France was announced in L’Auto.
