Denise Ono MSNBC.com producer • Profile • E-mail

Following the most famous bicycle race in the world can be difficult if you're not familiar with the sport. Here's some basic information to help you understand the action.

The 93rd edition of Le Tour begins on July 1 and runs through the 23rd. Each day, the riders compete in stage races throughout France and neighboring countries.

Types of stages

• Prologue – Opening of the Tour. A short time trial designed to showcase the riders and teams before the real competition begins.
• Time Trial – Dramatically referred to as the “race of truth” among cyclists, this is simply a race against the clock. Each rider takes off individually, usually spaced a minute or two apart.
• Team Time Trial (not included in this year's Tour) – A team race against the clock. A team’s weaknesses often come out during these races.
• Flat stages – Self explanatory.
• Mountain stages – Self explanatory.

The different jerseys

• Yellow - Overall leader – overall time leader
• Green – Sprinter’s jersey – sprinting points leader*
• Polka Dot (white with red) – King of the Mountains – climbing points leader*
• White – Best young rider – overall time leader under the age of 25

*The first riders to reach a designated point in a stage (prime, pronounced “preem”) receive sprinting or climbing points. Time bonuses are also awarded.

Seven-time winner
Lance Armstrong (USA) — 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

Five-time winners

• Jacques Anquetil (France) — 1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
• Eddy Merckx (Belgium) — 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974
• Bernard Hinault (France) — 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985
• Miguel Indurain  (Spain) — 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

Short glossary

• Break, Breakaway – a group of riders that take off ahead of the main pack.
• Chaser, Chase group – single rider or group that tries to catch up to the leader or breakaway group.
• Domestique – A designated rider who sacrifices personal performance to help the team.
• Drafting – Riding closely behind another rider, allowing him to break the wind, saving you energy
• Echelon – the line of riders, each drafting off the one in front. Usually a diagonal line across the road
• Feed Zone – area in a stage where bags of food and water (Musettes) are passed to riders
• GC - General Classification - The category of the race that tracks the overall times of the riders
• Musette – a bag of food. In 2003, Lance Armstrong crashed after hooking his handlebar on a musette held by a spectator.
• Paceline – group of riders working together, each rider takes a turn at the front of the group, with the rest drafting.
• Peleton - The main group of riders.
• Prime – (pronounced “preem”) Designated location in a stage where points (climbing, sprinting, time bonuses) are awarded.
• Pull – taking your turn at the front of a paceline
• Soigneur – team assistants
• UCI - Union Cycliste Internationale - The professional cycling union that oversees international events.

MORE FROM TOUR DE FRANCE

Tour de France Section Front

This Tour ‘probably not’ his last, Lance says Armstrong stays 3rd as Tour leaves Pyrenees Lance is angry — that's bad news for Contador Team is hush-hush about Lance-Contador feud Analysis: Lance's rival proves he's got power to burn   ‘Rock star’ Armstrong raises Tour’s profile Vote: Do you want Armstrong to win 8th Tour? UCI sticks to earpieces ban despite team protests 2006 Tour winner Pereiro race quits race Opinion: Tour isn't spotless, but a lot cleaner Tour de France Section Front   Add Tour de France headlines to your news reader: