Eight national teams were sent, with 10 cyclists each from France, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, and a mixed team consisting of Luxembourgian, Austrian, West German and Australian cyclists.

France additionally sent five regional teams from 10 cyclists each, divided into Île-de-France, North-East/Centre, West, South-East and South-West.

[3] The 1955 Tour de France started on 7 July, and had two rest days, in Monaco and Ax-les-Thermes.

[5] The highest point of elevation in the race was 2,556 m (8,386 ft) at the summit tunnel of the Col du Galibier mountain pass on stage 8.

[6][7] The first part of the first stage was won by Miguel Poblet, who became the first Spanish cyclist to wear the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification.

[4] In the seventh stage, Rolland briefly lost that lead, because a group including Wim van Est escaped and gained more than seventeen minutes, which was just enough for Van Est to take over the lead.

[3] During the eleventh stage, French cyclist Jean Malléjac collapsed and remained unconscious for 15 minutes.

He reached the top alone, and from there descended to the finish, 6 minutes ahead of Rolland, who was still the race leader.

Bobet could hold on for a long time, but at the finish lost 84 seconds to Gaul.

[13] The time trial in the 21st stage was won by Jean Brankart, who jumped to second place in the general classification.

The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the race leader, identified by the yellow jersey.

[2] The Souvenir Henri Desgrange was given in honour of Tour founder Henri Desgrange to the first rider to pass a point by his final residence, the "Villa Mia" in Beauvallon, Grimaud, on the French Riviera on stage 10.