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Learning English
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Sports Words Monthly

Tour de France 

July 2001 - Cycling

Tour de France
The Tour de France is perhaps the most famous of all cycling races. BBC Sport's Online's Alistair Magowan provides this guide to the race

NEWS 1  
 In order for a cyclist to complete the 2001 Tour de France, he must cycle almost continuously over a three week period covering an overall distance of 3462 km or 2151 miles. Which is roughly the distance from London to the Suez Canal in Egypt. Twenty-one stages of up to 232 km (144 miles) a day stand in his way, as do two mountain ranges which offer inclines even cars struggle to get up in first gear.
 
AudioListen to the words
WORDS 
 

to complete - to finish

continuously - without stopping

overall - total

roughly - approximately

inclines - roads which aren't level, they go up like on a hill or mountain

struggle - if you struggle to do something you find it difficult to do

NEWS 2  
  He must also avoid high-speed crashes, race through extreme weather conditions and most importantly win the battle of mind over body that begs each rider to give up. In order for a cyclist to win the Tour and claim the yellow jersey he must cover the entire distance faster than the other 188 riders with him. A select band of humans finish the Tour, a handful of super humans actually win it.
 
AudioListen to the words
WORDS   
 

extreme weather conditions - very different weather conditions, such as cold and rain or high temperatures

the battle of mind over body - because the race is very hard, the cyclists will be very tired and in pain therefore they need to be mentally strong to keep going

the yellow jersey - a yellow shirt - the name for the prize for leading and winning the race

entire - complete, total

A select band of - a small group

a handful of - a very small group

 Read the full story in BBC Sport Online

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