The Tour de France cyclists?

Question

Been watching the tour on tv. Was thinking though, what age have these cyclists been cycling from? Obviously they are some of the best in the world, but to reach that level what sort of age do you need to have been cycling from?

Answer 1

Most have been riding a bicycle fairly seriously from an early age, maybe 11 or 12 or even earlier, as a junior member of their local cycling club, but there will also be the odd one or two who entered the sport at a later age, by the time they get to be employed by a pro team and are good enough to be selected for the Tour the youngest rider will probably have at least 7-10 years of racing experience.

Edit: I once lived in Australia, and the local club I belonged to, during the summer months, the track season, they had really short races, of just a few metres, for the 'littlies' as young as three or four, by the time they were 7or 8 they were racing seriously, on both track and road.

Answer 2

It doesnt really matter what age you start at but the younger you are the more your body will adapt to cycling

if you work at it hard enough you could get in tour quality shape but you would probably have to quit your job

Answer 3

Every one has a bike when they are a kid.  However watching Cadel Evans on Tuesday and his response to a similar question was that  he was a young teenager when he got the bug.  There are cycling clubs in the UK and i have no doubt that they have 'scouts' on the look out for young talented cyclists.