Unlike previous years, time bonuses were no longer awarded for intermediate sprints and for high placement on each stage.

This meant that the champion (Alberto Contador) and third-place finisher (Levi Leipheimer) from 2007, both of whom had since signed with Astana, could not compete in the 2008 Tour.

Thomas Dekker and Michael Rogers were also given odds in this range, but were not included in the Tour de France.

The highest point of elevation in the race was 2,802 m (9,193 ft) at the Cime de la Bonette loop road on stage 16.

As traditionally in the Tour de France, this resulted in small breakaways of cyclists, and the sprinters' teams trying to get them back.

Stage eleven had easier climbs, and a group of four riders, not important for the overall classification, were allowed to break away and win by 14 minutes.

[22] The French government's anti-doping agency AFLD carried out approximately 60 random and targeted tests in the weeks leading up to the Tour.

[23] The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) also performed unannounced doping tests of riders at the finish of stage 15, which ended at the ski resort of Prato Nevoso, Italy.

[25] On 11 July news broke that Spanish rider Manuel Beltrán tested positive for erythropoietin after the first stage of the tour.

French law enforcement authorities questioned Beltrán over possible offences and searched his hotel room, but he claimed his innocence.

[26] On 13 July, prior to the ninth stage, it was revealed that AFLD had informed team doctors that five riders had unusually high hematocrit levels.

The Italian press reported that Riccardo Riccò, who won the stage later that day, had been selected for testing several times during the first week, which led to a suspicion that he was among those whose teams had been notified.

Riccò has for some time been known to have a naturally high hematocrit level of 51%, above the 50%-level which usually is taken to be an indicator of possible blood manipulation.

Riccò stated that he has a licence confirming that this is a natural, long-term condition, which he gave to the doping agencies before the start of the race,[27] but he later admitted to the offence at a hearing of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

[37] After the race ended, French cyclist Jimmy Casper was suspended from Agritubel because he tested positive after the stage to Super Besse for glucocorticoids, an asthma drug that is banned unless the user has a medical exemption for its use.

[39] In late September it was announced that several Tour de France riders were to have their blood samples retested for traces of EPO.

Pierre Bordry, the head of AFLD, claimed the testing involved riders who were already under scrutiny for suspicious urine samples.

[35] On 13 October 2008, the AFLD announced that Bernhard Kohl, who finished in third place overall and winner of the climbers' competition, had also tested positive for MIRCERA on 3 and 15 July, before and during the Tour de France.

Most stages of the race included one or more categorised climbs, in which points were awarded to the riders that reached the summit first.

[45] The riders in the team that lead this classification were identified with yellow number bibs on the back of their jerseys.

[47] In addition, there was a combativity award given after each mass start stage to the rider considered, by a jury, to have "made the greatest effort and who has demonstrated the best qualities of sportsmanship".

[49] There were also two special awards each with a prize of €5000, the Souvenir Henri Desgrange, given in honour of Tour founder and first race director Henri Desgrange to the first rider to pass the summit of the Col du Galibier on stage 17, and the Souvenir Jacques Goddet, given in honour of the second director Jacques Goddet to the first rider to pass the summit of the Col du Tourmalet on stage 10.