The Tour de France 2016 in numbers

The 103rd Tour de France takes place from Saturday, July 2 through Sunday, July 24. © AFP PHOTO/ERIC FEFERBERG AFP The 103rd Tour d...

The 103rd Tour de France takes place from Saturday, July 2 through Sunday, July 24.
© AFP PHOTO/ERIC FEFERBERG

AFP

The 103rd Tour de France takes place this month, starting in Mont Saint-Michel in the north of France on Saturday, July 2 and ending on Paris's famous Champs-Elysees on Sunday, July 24.

Before the riders set off in the hopes of getting their hands on the prestigious yellow jersey, here is a brief overview of the competition in numbers.

198 cyclists will be split into 22 teams with nine athletes each.

3,535 km is the total distance of the route for this year's competition, split into 21 stages.

237.5km will be the longest stage of this 103rd edition, and will take the cyclists from Saumur to Limoges.

9 flat stages will make for a slightly easier ride for the cyclists.

9 mountain stages will also be included, with 4 mountain top finishes.

4 countries will be crossed by the cyclists, France, Spain, Andorra and Switzerland.

660 cities and towns will be taken in along the way. 

210 hotels will be visited throughout the tour.

40,000 beds in total have been reserved for the teams and the organization during the event.

10 doctors of all specialties will be on hand during the race to ensure cyclists' health and safety.

190 countries will broadcast the event, giving fans all around the world a chance to follow the cyclists on the tour.

10 to 12 million spectators will choose to watch the tour from the roadside.

6 hours 15 minutes is the average time spectators will spend along the side of the route to see the cyclists riding by.

170 vehicles will make up the famous publicity cavalcade.

14 million items will be distributed by the publicity cavalcade.