How many people train to try and get into the Tour De France?

First while an intriguing idea it takes years of training and then you still might not make it on a Pro team for a chance. LUCKY for us though you don't have to be on a Pro team to do the ride, several companies offer the tour ride for the typical enthusiast to do. Just not during the race and more tailored to your abilities.

Having ridden the col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez, you really need to be in shape as the thin air at the high altitudes will cause you to feel weak.

You have to be able to afford a top-shelf road bike which can run up in the range of $7000+ not including modifications and other parts. My dad who rides at least 100 miles a week, sometimes 50-80 miles a day, would not be able to compete in the Tour de France (and he says the same thing). You have to ride like crazy (pretty much all day every day for a while just to condition yourself), eat properly, stretch a ton to clear out metabolic waste and lactic acid build up, and ride in high altitudes with a hill grade of at least 20%.

Keep in mind that the people who race in the Tour are professional athletes who have been riding for several years and training for a very long time for that one race. Their endurance levels and body stats are off the charts compared to other athletes in the world. It's possible for you to ride in the Tour, but if you're not used to riding or are kind of out of shape then you can forget about it for a few years until you get your body used to that kind of physical exertion.

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