This month the 101st Tour de France started in Leeds, England. This is the forth time the Tour de France has stages on British soil. Various countries have issued stamps on cycling in general and the Tour de France specifically.
Of course France issued stamps on their possibly most famous sport event, for instance this stamp in 1953, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary.
In 2003, when the Tour de France celebrated its 100th anniversary many countries issued commemorative stamps. Antigua & Barbuda issued this set of three minisheets.
Belgium, as one of the top countries in cycling, issued this series of stamps in 1963
This nice strip, specifically dedicated to the Tour de France, was issued 1998 by Ireland. To date Ireland has only one Tour de France victory, with Stephen Roche in 1987.
Another big cycling country is Spain. In 2000 a set of 12 blocks was issued with famous Spaniards. One of them was Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain.
Also the Spanish territory of Ifni has issued stamps with cycling in the past.
In 1972, the Arab emirate of Manama issued this Tour de France minisheet
In 1963, Monaco issued this series about the Tour de France
One of the featured people on this Belgian sheet “The 20th century in stamps” is Eddy Merckx, five times winner of the Tour de France
In 1973 a series of stamps with famous cyclists participating in the Tour de France was issued by Equatorial Guinea.
Luxemburg might be a small country, but in the Tour de France they always have some riders representing the nation. In 1989 the Grand Départ was in Luxemburg, and a commemorative stamp was issued.
