It’s been 27 years since Jonathan Boyer of Carmel, California, became the first American to compete in the Tour de France. And every year since, the number of U.S. riders, like the race itself, changes. This year, only four Americans will compete in the 2008 Tour de France.

George Hincapie of Greenville, S.C., has competed in the event 12 times and has 11 finishes, including a career-best 15th in 2005. He has the most Tour de France appearances of any American.

Christian Vande Velde of Lemont, Ill., will be participating for the sxith time and has a career-best 24th place finish in 2006.

Danny Pate of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Will Frischkorn of Charleston, W.V., will each be competing in the Tour for the first time, and their participation will increase to 34 the number of American riders who have ridden in cycling’s biggest race.

Led by Lance Armstrong’s 22 stage wins, Americans have won 36 stage wins and 11 Tour de France titles, with one asterisk. Floyd Landis’ 2006 title was take away via the rider’s doping suspension.

Here’s a list of U.S. riders who have participated in the Tour de France as well as their years of competing, best overall finish and stage wins.

Rider/Years Participated/Best Finish/Stage Wins
Norman Ailvis, 1990, 142nd (1990)    
Frankie Andreu, 1992-2000, 58th (1998)    
Lance Armstrong, 1993-96, 1999-05, 1st (7 times-1999-2005), 22
Andy Bishop, 1988, 1990-1992, 116th (1990)    
Jonathan Boyer, 1981-1984, 1987, 12th (1983)    
Jeff Bradley, 1987, never fi
nished    
Chris Carmichael, 1986, never finished    
Mike Carter, 1991, never finished    
Alexis Grewal, 1986, never finished    
Tyler Hamilton, 1997-2004, 4th (2003), 1
Andy Hampsten, 1986-1993, 4th (twice-1986, 1992), 1
Eric Heiden, 1986, never finished    
George Hincapie, 1996-2007, 14th (2005), 1
Chris Horner, 2005-07, 15th (2007)    
Marty Jemison, 1997-1998, 48th (1998)    
Bobby Julich, 1997-2002, 2004-2006, 3rd (1998)    
Ron Kiefel, 1986-1992    69th (1988)    
Roy Knickman, 1988-1989, never finished    
Floyd Landis, 2002-2006, 1st* (2006), 1*
Levi Leipheimer, 2002-2007, 3rd (2007), 1
Greg LeMond, 1984-86, 1989-92, 1994, 1st (3 times-1986, 1989-90), 5
Kevin Livingston, 1997-2002, 17th (1998)    
Chann McRae, 2000, never finished    
Davis Phinney, 1986-1988, 1990, 105th (1988), 2
Jeff Pierce, 1986-1989, 80th, (1986), 1
Fred Rodriguez, 2000-03, 2005-07, 86th (2000)    
Bob Roll, 1986-1987, 1990, 63rd (1986)    
Doug Shapiro, 1985-1986, 74th (1985)    
Guido Trenti, 2005, 139th (2005)    
Christian Vandevelde, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006-07, 24th (2006)    
Jonathan Vaughters, 1999-2002, never finished    
David Zabriskie, 2005-07, 74th (2006), 1

U.S. TOUR DE FRANCE FACTS AND FIGURES
* Most U.S. Riders in one Tour, 10 (1986).
* Rider with most Tour apearances — George Hincapie, 13 years (1996-2008).
* Most stage wins in one Tour — Lance Armstrong, 5 (2004).
* Most American teams to compete in the Tour de France in one year — 2, 2008, Garmin-Chipotle, Columbia.
* Floyd Landis lost his 2006 Tour de France after failing a doping test.