Continental sponsors the Tour de France - the biggest cycling race in the world - taking place in France annually since 1903. The international platform showcases Continental tyres in a high-performance environment at the yearly pinnacle of cycling racing. Several participating World Tour teams in the race trust in the hand-made Continental bicycle tires from Korbach, Germany. Continental also equips the official vehicles (more than 70) with special branded EcoContact 6, PremiumContact 7 car tires and for the first time the UltraContact NXT which includes 60% of recycled materials. These car tires are designed at the company's headquarters in Hanover, Germany and produced both in Sarreguemines, France and Lousado, Portugal. At the beginning of the cycling season the car tires are fitted at the official garage of the Tour de France in Evry near Paris. During the race the car tyres face challenging conditions such as sudden weather changes, various road surfaces as well as steep mountain ascents and descents. The car tyres provide the official drivers the confidence to focus on delivering a safe tour while being cheered on by millions of passionate cycling fans along the route creating an incredible atmosphere.

The Tour de France route is different every year. But often iconic mountains such as Alp d’Huez, Tourmalet, Mont Ventoux or Galibier feature in the race. Most certainly the cyclists pass through parts of the Alps and Pyrenees at some point and finish with a grand final on the famous Champs-Elysees in Paris. The Tour de France does not start in France every year: the so called “Grand Depart” took place in Brussels in 2019 and will take place in the Basque Country at the north of Spain starting on the first of July in 2023.

For three days, the world´s most famous bike race will pass through the towns and villages of the three beautiful provinces of Alava, Guipuscoa and Biscaye before heading to France.

At the Tour de France Continental also supports the Young Cadets initiative with bicycle tires and cycling gear where on each stage eight local riders get to feel like a pro for a day by cycling the first and last 30 kilometres of the stage just hours before the peloton.

“We are delighted to play a major part in the biggest cycling race in the world. Being the stage winning partner of the Tour de France fits perfectly to our core value of ‘passion to win’. We are very much looking forward to contributing to the race with our wide range of high-performance tires.”

Christian Kötz, Board member and Head of Tire Division