These are the best races for newbie cyclers in 2023

As the global consensus towards maintaining a greener climate gains momentum, more people are ditching their automobiles and starting to cycle. However, this isn't the case in countries such as the Netherlands, which already have many bicycles and cyclists.

In other European countries, such as the United Kingdom, focusing on a more carbon-friendly society has resulted in people ditching their cars for bicycles. There are many different types of cyclists. Many people will use a bike at their leisure, as a casual way to travel or as a fun way to exercise.

Some cyclers take the method of transport more seriously and race competitively. If you're beginning your journey into competitive cycling, we'll look at the best races for you today.

Online sportsbooks have also begun to offer races on competitive cycling events, some of which we will discuss today.

If you choose to gamble, you should make sure you gamble responsibly. If you find yourself betting on the outcome of a cycling race, be sure that you gamble only for the aspect of fun. You shouldn't view gambling as a source of income, nor should you attempt to chase any losses.

If you are in a position where you are spending more time gambling or more money than you initially planned, you need to confide in somebody who can help you curb your problem gambling.

When it comes to cycling competitions, it doesn't get much bigger than the Tour de France, which is considered the biggest competition in the entire year's racing calendar. The Tour de France is one of the three big professional stage cycling races.

Tour de France

Stretching over three weeks, there are several rest days and various challenging terrains.

The competitor who finishes the race the quickest across all stages combined takes the crown and the title of general classification champion. That distinction belongs to Jonas Vingegaard this year, who was crowned the 2022 Tour de France champion.

Despite the first Tour de France taking place over a century ago, the race is still one of the most popular races on the planet. Alongside the other two big stage races, it draws the most coverage from cycling fans and general sports fans who take a fleeting interest in the sport.

We're choosing this one first because of its size and popularity. You can also witness the scale of the race and the excitement it stirs up. As it takes place over the course of three weeks, there are plenty of stages to watch and plenty of statistics and data to monitor to maintain your enthusiasm.

Even though the race bears France in its name, many legs of the race have taken place in a range of other European nations, including countries such as:

●      Andorra

●      Belgium

●      Denmark

●      Germany

●      Ireland

●      Italy

●      Luxembourg

●      Monaco

●      Netherlands

●      Spain

●      Switzerland

●      United Kingdom

For the riders who manage to take the ultimate prize in the general classification, they don the infamous yellow jacket. It is one of the sport's most iconic and recognizable prizes, and 198 cyclists participate in the event.

One of the most recognizable names when it comes to the Tour de France is disgraced former champion Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his titles following a failed drug test. Despite maintaining his innocence, he didn't dispute the charges.

Armstrong was banned from the sport for life following the outcome of a prolonged investigation.

Vuelta a España

The second race we recommend for new cyclers is the Vuelta a Espana. Similar to the Tour de France, the race takes place over the course of three weeks. As the name would suggest, the majority of the race takes place in Spain.

Similar to the Tour de France, this is the second of the three big professional stage cycling races.

Although the race is not as old as the Tour de France, the first race occurred before World War II, illustrating just how long cyclists have been participating in this legendary race across Spain. Despite most of the race taking place on Spanish shores, it occasionally passes through neighboring nations.

The red jacket award is given to the cyclist that manages to come out on top. These two top races have different color jackets that separate the winners. These jackets are considered the premium prize for professional cyclists participating in top-level international racing.

However, other jackets represent the leaders in other sections of the race. This includes jackets such as the King of the Mountains, awarded to the best climber, which is a blue-on-white polka dot jersey.

The Giro d'Italia

The third and final race we will discuss today is the final of the three prestigious professional stage cycling races, the Giro d'Italia. The English translation is Tour of Italy, which is generally considered the second biggest race in cycling.

The first race took place in 1909, and much like the other two races we have already discussed, it maintains a strong viewership. Taking place throughout 23 to 24 days, including a handful of rest days, the 21 stages are fiercely battled across regions all over Italy by the best cyclists on the planet.

A pink jersey is given to the race leader in the general classification category. It is regarded as the most popular stage and is difficult to win.

Conclusion

We've touched on the three biggest races today. However, there are plenty of races that take place all over the world that could grab your imagination as a new cyclist.

One of the biggest positives of the internet is that you can find information regarding all the biggest races and different types of races. In addition, you can find plenty more information and statistics about these races, including past winners and some of the most successful cyclists.

If you'd like to see it live, the full course is posted online for all these races, including dozens of types of races both over long and shorter distances.