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Which races are considered the three major three-week cycling tours?
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Individual Neutral Athlete Gleb Syritsa, a Russian passport holder, cycling past Les Invalides during the men's road cycling individual time trial at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The three major three-week cycling tours, often referred to as the Grand Tours, are the most prestigious stage races in professional road cycling. They are:
- Tour de France: Held annually in July, this is considered the worldâs most difficult and premier bicycle race.12
- Giro dâItalia: Typically staged in May and June, this race serves as the premier tour of Italy.12
- Vuelta a España: Usually held in September, this is the grand tour of Spain.12
These events are renowned as supreme tests of athletic endurance, requiring cyclists to compete across diverse terrain, including flat stages, time trials, and mountainous inclines.1