Anyone can stand by the roadside and watch the Tour de France, making it the event with the largest number of spectators in the world. The organisers estimate there are more than 12 million roadside visitors to the Tour each year.Thats a lot of people who are passed by the riders and, because theyre often waiting for several hours for the race to pass, also a golden opportunity for brands to publicise their wares.So, around one to two hours ahead of the riders, the publicity caravan follows the same route as the race. Your chance to see an extra-large pack of Haribo and maybe catch a smaller sample pack. A.S.O. In the caravan are cars and floats decked out in advertisers colours, many in the shape of their product. So if youve ever wanted to see a giant bag of Haribo or an oversized chicken leg, the caravan is for you. Participants return year after year to work in the caravan. A.S.O. Official figures show that the publicity caravan for the 2025 Tour de France comprised 150 vehicles, with 37 different brands represented. There are more than 600 drivers and other participants representing the advertisers, many of whom come back year after year to take part.The caravan stretches to around 10 kilometres in length and takes around 35 minutes to pass. The caravan is 10km in length and takes over half an hour to pass. Better yet, as well as the spectacle, the caravan scatters free products as it passes, so you can expect to be fed, watered and maybe pick up a king of the mountains T-shirt or a cap as the caravan passes, although there can be stampedes for the choice items.Advertising represents around 40% of the Tours revenues, with much of this coming from the caravan and its been a feature of the Tour since 1930.Its reckoned by the Tour's organisers that almost 40% of the spectators turn out just to see the caravan pass so much for being there to watch the cycle race, which can pass in a shot. More on the 2026 Tour de France Who is Isaac del Toro? 4 things you need to know about the Mexican who could be a future Tour de France winner Why are Pogaar and Del Toro riding different bikes? Isaac del Toro's stage-winning Colnago V5Rs may sit exactly on the UCI weight limit Fans told to avoid Tour de France stage 3 due to major wildfires A Tour de France breakaway only has a 2% chance of winning, so why join one? Every team bike at the 2026 Tour de France