If you’re unaware, the Tour de France is a historic sporting event that takes place once a year, parading over 198 riders through the gorgeous country of France, covering over 2000 miles by its end. Twenty-two teams of nine bikers will race up mountains, travel through picturesque villages and pedal over narrow streets for the chance to become champions. This is the most famous and prestigious race for cyclists with their eyes on the prize — claiming the yellow jersey. But what sets this bike race apart from other sport broadcasts?

1. The scenery.

This year's race began on July 2 in Normandy, kicking off the Tour de France with a beautiful castle that looks straight out of a Disney movie. Other notable locations this event takes us through include the walled city of Carcassonne, the French Alps, southern Picardy (with its gorgeous chateaux and historical sites from the Great War) and — of course — Paris.

2. The history.

The Tour is well-known to talk its viewers through some history. Every year, the commentators usually have a handful of fun facts on the small villages the cyclists pass through or even about the special memorials and the people living there. If you’re interested in hearing some details surrounding remnants of the Great War in France, then you’re in for a treat.

3. The pure extremism of the race is insane.

These riders eat on the go, grabbing their lunches and water bottles either from cars driving by, or people on the street holding out packs of food as they pass at about 20 mph. Participants also bike for four hours to five hours a day, not even taking a break on rest days because they need to keep their focus on racing and their legs need to flush out any lactic acid. Another reason the Tour de France is intense is due to the trails these stages bring riders through. Some have the athletes riding close to the edges of narrow roads up in the Alps, others bring the cyclists on wet streets where the chances of crashing are high.

4. The spectators.

These Tour de France fans are both dedicated and hilarious. Some hike out in the mountains, while others line the streets of Paris to cheer on these cyclists. The more enthusiastic devotees show their support by dressing up and returning each year, like the Devil. This character has been part of the spectacle for more than 10 years!

5. The opportunity to learn.

Before watching the Tour de France, I had no idea what any of the cycling jargon meant. I didn’t know that the "peloton" is the main group of riders during the race. I didn’t know that people participate in teams and that they all support the team leader; this means if their road captain has a chance at winning, they put their all in keeping that cyclist out of the wind and work with their team’s car to bring water bottles to them. Another key aspect of this race is the meaning behind the jerseys. Yellow is the winner of the race, green is the sprinter champion and the polka dot jersey is the king of the mountains. Last up is the white jersey, marking the highest placed youngest rider under the age of 26.

All in all, no one puts on a race like the Tour de France; it offers a little something for everyone. I know I watch for those fairytale castles and possible traveling destinations for the future, but I know my father watches for both the history and love for the sport itself. So, please join over 12 million spectators as we laze on our comfy couches to watch these men suffer through 21 stages of pain and exhaustion... It's going to be a wild ride!