On this day in history, July 1, 1903, the first Tour de France bicycle race began. It has been run every year since, except during the two World Wars. 

The Tour de France is a grueling tour de force. The race covers over 2,200 miles (3,500 km) and lasts twenty-one days long under the hot July sun. Several stages occur in the steep French Alps and Pyrenees mountains while riders constantly risk physical injury or collisions with other riders. Time trials also prevent some elite racers from completing the Tour. Rules require that stage times need to be within a designated time of the winner’s performance. Those who are not fast enough are elimiated from the competition. 

So why do so many compete in the Tour de France and endure the physical, mental, and emotional challenges just to get to the starting line? 

A host of reasons including: the hope of winning, the thrill of competition, money, fame, prestige, corporate sponsorships, the exhilaration of pushing one’s body to its limit,, a chance to ride into Paris and be presented with the winner’s glass of champagne as you approach the Champs de Elysee. 

Behind all these motives reveals the God-given need we have to race, compete and reach a finish line; even though racing is joined with pain, risk and disappointment. 

The need to race is why the apostle Paul exhorted Christ followers to run the race marked out for them (Heb. 12:1) by applying a similar discipline and effort towards our Christian walk as we would for competing in a race (1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:12-16) in order to obtain an imperishable wreath that will not fade (1 Cor. 9:25). 

Towards the end of his life, Paul commented to his disciple Timothy that he had “Finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). While writing the letter on the eve of his execution in Rome, Paul was assured that his race on Earth would not be in vain and that his victory would extend into heaven. Paul’s race pointed to Christ’s race on earth. 

Jesus ended His race on earth with a crown of thorns. Yet His death assured that we who follow Him are granted a “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8) for eternity. Our race will likely be steep, treacherous, long and arduous. We will likely get hurt. We will likely face disappointments. Yet by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:2), we can be filled by joy to celebrate Him who endured the crown of thorns so we may receive, by grace, the crown of righteousness that He won.