Following the disqualifications after the 1904 Tour de France, there were changes in the rules, the most important one being the general classification not made by time but by points.

[1] Due in part to some of the rule changes, the 1905 Tour de France had less cheating and sabotage than in previous years, though they were not eliminated.

Maurice Garin was originally banned for two years and Pothier for life, so they were ineligible to start the 1905 Tour de France.

Because these disqualifications had almost put an end to the Tour de France, the 1905 event had been changed in important ways, to make the race easier to supervise:[3] The first cyclist to cross the finish line received 1 point.

In 1905, Desgrange chose to overlook this, and focused instead on the introduction of the Ballon d'Alsace, because he saw that he had missed the opportunity for publicity previously.

Leading up to the start of the Tour, Wattelier, Trousselier, Pottier and Augereau were all considered the most likely contenders to win the event.

[11] Despite the rule changes, there were still protesters among the spectators; in the first stage all riders except Jean-Baptiste Dortignacq punctured due to 125 kg of nails spread along the road.

Trousselier was serving in the army, and had requested from his commander leave for the Tour de France; this was allowed for 24 hours.

[4] Cornet, who reached the top second, had to wait 20 minutes for his bicycle with higher gear, because his support car had broken down.

Trousselier was accused of bad sportsmanship: he reportedly smashed the inkstands of a control post to prevent his opponents from signing.

[17] Unlike the 1904 Tour de France, no stage winners, nor anyone from the top ten of the general classification, were disqualified.

After the introduction of the Vosges in the 1905 Tour de France, in 1906 the Massif Central were climbed, followed by the Pyrenees in 1910 and the Alps in 1911.

[26] The unofficial mountain champion of the 1905 Tour de France, Pottier, would be more successful in the next year, when he won the overall classification and five stages.