150 cyclists started the race, this was a new record. Nevertheless, although being sponsored and racing in a team was allowed, 112 participants were still independent riders. In the end, 55 cyclists managed to complete the course.
Another record was broken, which still stands: François Faber won 5 consecutive stages.
Faber was also the first non-French overall winner of the race. He was born and raised in Paris, but oficially he was a Luxembourgian.
This was the beginning of the long lasting dominance of the team Alcyon at the Tour de France: members of this team won 13 of 14 stages.
Because during the previous editions cyclists were usually urinating in front of spectators, obligatory bathrooms were installed at the checkpoints.