Continental celebrates 140 years making bicycle tyres

France is celebrating the 100th edition of the Tour de France, the race that dominates French life every July, as tyremaker Continental, celebrates 140 years making bicycle tyres.

For 21 days, the Tour circus of over 5,000 people moves from one stage town to the next, a jumble of professional cyclists, team staff, the publicity caravan, police, journalists, and Tour staff to assemble and dismantle the Tour village, to put road blocks and diversions in place. And not just in France.

The Tour’s colourful procession often snakes its way through neighbouring countries, its perfect organisation amazing us all year after year. There for a day, then gone again, as fast as it came. Glimpses of towns and villages as the Tour whizzes past. Right across France, towns and villages spruce themselves up. Thousands of “villes et villages fleuris” design colourful flowerbeds or creative floral displays, each community keen to show their creativity and their passion. A national celebration of “le vélo”. In France, the Tour de France is more than just a sporting event. It is a matter of the heart, part of something bigger. “Le Tour” is a little part of France.

All the more so this year, when the giant sporting army hits the road for the 100th time. The show starts with the “caravane publicitaire”, the loud, colourful publicity caravan that passes along the route an hour or so ahead of the race. Then comes the peloton, 200 professional racing cyclists (at the start of the race!). And the organisers’ cars, the team cars, the officials, more than 700 journalists from all around the world, and 50 motorcycle Gendarmes on their blue BMW motorbikes.

Over the years, many famous riders have made their name in the Tour, which usually covers around 3,300 km (or 2,100 miles). Some, such as Jacques Anquetil, Raymond “Poupou” Poulidor and Bernard Hinault, have become French national heroes. They are all sons of “Le Tour”. Their determination, their suffering and their successes on the sun-baked climbs of the Alps and the Pyrenees, on the cruelly exposed Mont Ventoux, have become the stuff of legend. They are and will remain a part of France for decades to come.

As a key partner of many top riders and professional cycling teams, Continental has also played its part in the rich, eventful history of the Tour de France.

Time and again, professional cyclists from around the world have ridden on hand-made tyres  manufactured by Continental in Korbach, Germany as they ride all the way to the finish line on the Champs Elysées to celebrate victory in the Grande Boucle. Victories that are based on close cooperation with the professional teams and on the quality of Continental’s products.

And the Tour de France is not the only one celebrating its 100th edition. Continental is also sharing its expertise and experience gained from over 140 years of developing and producing bike tyres. That makes the Hanover-based tyres  manufacturer a unique company within the industry. As the only German bicycle tire manufacturer to produce its tires in Germany, Continental stands out for its continuity and innovation in developing new products.

At its Technology and Development Centre in Korbach, Continental is constantly working on revolutionary new technologies such as the BlackChili Compound that delivers extreme grip and Vectran breaker anti-puncture technology. The “Handmade in Germany” label guarantees that the Tour riders who are using Continental tyres  have the most sensitive “shoes” on their high-tech bikes. Over the years, over decades, the demands placed on top-end tire materials have continued to increase. Special tires are needed for each type of stage today. The tyres  may be changed to suit the road surface (smooth asphalt or rough tracks) or the weather conditions (rain, or intense heat). And the stage profile plays an important role, too (rolling hills, mountain stages or flat stages with a sprint finish).

In order to ensure that the perfect race tyre  for any situation can be offered, Continental understands the value of engaging in dialogue with experienced professional riders, and also with sporting cyclists and commuters. The Tour riders in 2013 know that they can rely on these tried and tested products: For stage races, the teams generally ride Continental’s Competition 22 mm tires, or 22 mm Grand Prix Attack Comp on the front and 24 mm Force Comp on the rear.

This helps Continental develop high-end products for top-level sport, such as the Podium TT and special downhill tyres. But the constant research and development work also benefits our everyday tires, such as those for the new trends of electric bikes and Pedelecs. As a global player, Continental also has production facilities outside Germany like in Hefei, China. But one thing all Continental cycle tyres  have in common is that they are all checked against the most stringent test and manufacturing criteria at our German Technology Centre in Korbach.