<P> Cycling has been part of the Summer Olympic Games since the modern sequence started in Athens in 1896 . </P> <P> Historically, the most competitive and devoted countries since the beginning of 20th century were Belgium, France and Italy, then road cycling spread in Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland after World War II . However nowadays as the sport grows in popularity through globalization, countries such as Kazakhstan, Australia, Venezuela, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland and the United States continue to produce world - class cyclists . </P> <P> Single - day race distances may be as long as 150 miles (240 km). Courses may run from place to place or comprise one or more laps of a circuit; some courses combine both, i.e., taking the riders from a starting place and then finishing with several laps of a circuit (usually to ensure a good spectacle for spectators at the finish). Races over short circuits, often in town or city centres, are known as criteriums . Some races, known as handicaps, are designed to match riders of different abilities and / or ages; groups of slower riders start first, with the fastest riders starting last and so having to race harder and faster to catch other competitors . </P> <P> Individual time trial (ITT) is an event in which cyclists race alone against the clock on flat or rolling terrain, or up a mountain road . A team time trial (TTT), including two - man team time trial, is a road - based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock . In both team and individual time trials, the cyclists start the race at different times so that each start is fair and equal . Unlike individual time trials where competitors are not permitted to' draft' (ride in the slipstream) behind each other, in team time trials, riders in each team employ this as their main tactic, each member taking a turn at the front while teammates' sit in' behind . Race distances vary from a few km (typically a prologue, an individual time trial of usually less than 5 miles (8.0 km) before a stage race, used to determine which rider wears the leader's jersey on the first stage) to between approximately 20 miles (32 km) and 60 miles (97 km). </P>

How does the tour de france compare to other major sporting​ events such as the world​ cup