The world's largest annual sporting event attracts record audiences... and inspires some viewers to take up the sport themselves.
For the past decade a group of cyclists in Melbourne known at the King's Men, have hit the road twice a week.
The finish line is a local coffee shop.
And the reward is bragging rights only.
"We're filled with very serious cyclists who don't take cycling too seriously. But having said that some of our guys are racing at the top level, some have won a few yet we've got guys in their mid 50's doing it for fun."
Founder, Stuart "The King" Verrier, says the group was formed almost ten years ago with just six cyclists.
As the popularity of cycling in Melbourne has grown.
He says, so has the group, with membership numbers now capped at 60.
Verrier says the group competes in good humour... except during the Tour De France
"When the tour does come on undoubtedly the little boys come out inside of us, I know when I'm riding along I hear Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen on my shoulder commentating, telling me to go that little bit harder."
The post-ride coffee becoming even more important over the next three weeks.
Group member Woody says being a Tour De France fan is a commitment, but it's also a community.
"Staying up until 2:30 every night becomes a bit of a shared passion I guess, everyone's up till that time and when we come out riding at 5:30 everyone's tired but everyone's talking about the tour."
Australia's only winner of the Tour, Cadel Evans, a major factor in the event's popularity in Australia.
Evans has retired, but SBS Sports Presenter Mike Tomalaris says his success continues to fuel new generations of racing fans.
"I guess Australian spectators are looking for a new hero to latch on to. Simon Gerrans although not likely to win a three week race like the Tour De France, but he is in, could be wearing the yellow jersey in the first week."
And that could be good for cycling businesses in Australia.
Gerrans' success in stage three of the Tour last year marked an increase of traffic in Australian bike shops.
Manager of the Melbourne Bicycle Centre in Clifton Hill, Rob Crawford, says when Australians are doing well in cycling overseas it can increase traffic in store.
"You do get middle aged men wanting to get into the lycra and onto a road bike and that's good. That's a good thing to do some exercise and sometimes their interest has been spiked by the something like the Tour."
The Tour De France has a special connection to Australia this year.
Following the 100th anniversary of ANZAC day, Vérène Issautier from the French Chamber of Commerce says riders will pass through Villers-Bretonneux.
"Which is a place where the Australian army force came over to help the French army during the First World War so it's a way to commemorate ANZAC also in France."
3,500 kilometres, 198 riders, one yellow jersey.
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