frtour1-1, Exercise 3: Testing two claims

Model answer (check the details):

Claim: "The French always win their own race."
- Evidence to look for: the list of winners by nationality over the whole history, and the most recent French winner (Bernard Hinault in 1985, check).
- Where to find it: the organisers' official record, newspaper archives, and general histories of the race.
- Care: the claim was true of much of the early years and false of the last four decades, so it needs a period.

Claim: "The Tour is the hardest sporting event in the world."
- Evidence to look for: a definition of "hardest" (distance, duration, altitude, injury rate, energy use) and comparison with other events such as other cycling Grand Tours, marathons or ultra-endurance races.
- Where to find it: sports science studies, medical papers, race statistics and riders' accounts.
- Care: "hardest" depends on the measure, and the claim is also a marketing line.

Other claims work the same way: state what would count as evidence before you look.