Longer than last year, the teams will be cycling 3,519km over 21 stages in the 103rd Tour and it starts this Saturday, culminating in a pleasurable cycle up and down the Champs Elysee on July 24.

So, what do you need to enjoy this spectacle that is watched by over 3 billion people around the world?

Make yourself look good when discussing these choice Tour de France words:

1. Peloton

Ah, the Peloton. Evoking memories of lots of decent chaps in very tight t-shirts, happily chatting and passing cans of coke among themselves while enjoying the sights of the countryside as they peddle around France.  Back in the day they used to pass cigarettes between the peloton believing it opened the lungs, ready for the mountain stages. Peleton translates to “little ball” referring to how tight the cyclists are packed together as they shelter from the wind, using a third less energy as they find a bloke to ride behind. They are a bit secretive (well they would be) and they have a code of 'Omerta'. Loads of skinny blokes thinking they are in The Godfather. How do they go to the loo? Well, you will never see them as they agree to stop as a 'whole' up the road a bit, where the helicopters and motorbikes with cameras politely show you shots of fantastic French Châteaus.

2. Domestique

Yep, in no time whatsoever you will be referring to your partner as one of these as that empty French wine bottle hits the floor at 11.30pm and another is required. It's the domestique's job to fetch food, drink and clothing for the General Classification rider ( the team's best rider). The aim is to make sure the GC rider has as much energy as possible for the pivotal moments of the race.

3. Hors categorie

Nope, not French for fancy little morsels of food – that's hors d'oeuvre -  Hors categories are what can win and lose a Tour and refer to the steep parts of a mountain climb that are not ranked, due to how ridiculously steep they are. If you check out the TV at such moments, you will note that two people standing next to each other have a difference in height of 15 feet.

4. Flamme Rouge

Wrong again. Not the microscopic concoction costing $25 the bartender pours you at 3 am and sets light to, it refers to the red flag that tells the knackered rider there is only 1km left in that stage. After 200km in the saddle that's got to be as welcoming to the riders as it has to be to you as the clock ticks over to 1 am on a school night.

5. Lanterne Rouge

This honour goes to the cyclist that finishes last in Le Tour. In 2015 Sébastien Chavanel was the holder of the Lanterne Rouge after getting knocked off his bike by a support car at De Ronde and basically failing to recover from then on in. If you recall, Froome and Contador didn't even finish the race in 2014. No. It's not a wooden spoon equivalent, go on, you go ride 3519km up and down mountains and see how you go. Fair play we say!

6. Autobus

If you are one of the favourites and find yourself here, chances are you are no longer a favourite. This is also known as the 'gruppetto' where the cyclists that cannot keep up with the climbing superstars gather together to try to beat the elimination time. Forget rivalry in this lot, they all help each other, drinks, food, clothing and camaraderie. Le Tour at its best. Get dropped from this group and you can say “au revoir” to the race.

7. Musette

A fancy way of naming a lunchbox. It's basically a big fabric bag that loops across the shoulder of a cyclist that contains high energy bars and other food to get them through the race. Bit different to the chunk of chicken that was shoved in there back in the 1950s.

8. Soigneur

No, it does not mean 'man', that's Spanish for a start and pronounced completely differently. The team of soigneurs sort out the musettes, massage the riders, escort the riders and generally take care of the riders.

9. Directeur sportif

You can spot this chap a mile away. He's the big fat bloke that used to be a cyclist hanging out of a window, waving his arms and shouting at his team. We think it's called 'encouragement'. His office is the Tour Car and whatever you do don't get in the way of his office as this will happen . . .

Also, keep an eye out for the two-minute exchange of water, where the rider takes a bottle from his boss, very, very slowly and gets dragged two miles up the road without peddling.

10. Chapeau

Chapeau TopBetta” you will say when you win money on your first Le Tour tip! A French term for respect, meaning 'hat' as in you doff your hat to us for tipping you a winner. “Chapeau Darl” as your misses uncorks that second bottle of wine.

This article first appeared on TopBetta HERE.