From high-speed motorsports to intense athletic competitions, we're exploring the most thrilling racing events on the planet. Whether it's the dangerous curves of Monaco, the endurance required at Le Mans, or the pure athleticism of Olympic sprinting, these competitions represent the pinnacle of human achievement and sporting excellence.
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00:00The undisputed star of the competition was Ohio State University track star Jesse Owens.
00:05The Buckeye Bullet took gold medals in three events.
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the best races.
00:22Number 10. Isle of Man TT motorcycle racing.
00:25For the week before the TT races, the riders practice every day.
00:30Perhaps the world's most iconic motorcycle racing event, the Isle of Man Taurus Trophy
00:34races begin at the end of May and run for almost two weeks. The TT races treat fans
00:40to high-intensity races on the public roads of the British Crown Dependency.
00:44Everyone that races here knows the dangers and they accept them and they do their best
00:49to ride accordingly. But I think it's sad in this world that we're all so wrapped in
00:53cotton wool these days and there's so few opportunities to do anything dangerous.
00:58The races have garnered an unfortunate reputation for the amount of fatalities
01:02that have occurred over the years. Since the 1911 death of racer Victor Surage,
01:07269 more participants have tragically met their end at some stage of the competition.
01:13This led Sports Illustrated writer Franz Lids to describe the Isle of Man TT as,
01:18quote, a test of nerves and speed that may be sport's most dangerous event.
01:23You sit on the start line, you're looking down that first hill and because it's not a
01:27mass start you're sitting there getting waved off one at a time. The pressure on you, everyone's
01:31looking at you and it's a rush I've never had out of any other race.
01:36Number nine, Dakar Rally, Rally Raid.
01:38Now Kojima rider Eddie Orioli was out in front with Carlos Massimora in second place.
01:45The two Peugeot 405s headed the timesheets once again
01:48and Vatanen's fast backup, the 205 of Philippe Womburg, was third.
01:53Ever watch a motorsports race and think, wow, I wish this was held off-road in way
01:57more dangerous conditions? Then do we have an event for you. The Dakar Rally marathon
02:02finds all kinds of vehicles, commonly excluding modified on-road vehicles,
02:06navigating harsh, unpredictable terrain without GPS or GPS-enabled devices.
02:11That's not gonna work, Miroslav!
02:13Well, it was inevitable, and Miroslav Zapotel's day is done.
02:18The rally's first iteration was held in 1979, ranging from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal.
02:23Nowadays, the Dakar Rally is Dakar in name only, with its last several iterations having been held
02:28in Saudi Arabia. Featuring motorbikes, quads, cars, trucks, and more, the rally is a breathtaking
02:34spectacle of sportsmanship, made all the more nail-biting by the leaders of the time.
02:39That is heartbreaking to see. That's Michelle Kramer's car, and it's gone.
02:45The main thing is, they are both okay.
02:47Number 8, New York City Marathon, road running.
02:50Today, we're heading on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, exiting our first borough, Staten Island,
02:55on the first two crucial miles of the race. The first mile climbs to the highest point of the
03:00course, getting to around 250 feet above sea level. The first two miles of the race are
03:05the highest point of the course, getting to around 250 feet or 75 meters of elevation,
03:11so be sure not to go out too fast. The bridge is absolutely epic.
03:15Here's a race that's considerably safer than our last two entries. At least, we hope so.
03:20This iconic event is the world's largest marathon, dwarfing its legendary counterparts in Boston,
03:26Paris, and London, with 53,627 finishers in 2019. A qualifier for the world's marathon majors,
03:34the race is so popular and well-known that a lottery system is required to call tens of
03:39thousands of hopefuls. For example, out of over 200,000 applicants in 2025, only up to 3% will
03:45be selected. It's the most applicants in the marathon's history, which has seen a surge in
03:50demand since the pandemic. But if you're bummed about not getting in, there are a few options
03:55for a second chance, so take a look. There's the Roadrunner member-only second chance drawing.
04:00You can also apply to run through a charity or even the Roadrunner team for climate.
04:06Starting in 1976, the marathon's course covers New York City's five boroughs,
04:11starting in Staten Island and finishing in Manhattan's beloved Central Park. We love New
04:16York indeed. Close year before, but this time and for all of 2024, he will be known as the TCS
04:25New York City Marathon champion, Abdeinagai. Number seven, Daytona 500, stock car racing.
04:33Well, they're building speed, Mike, but the one thing I can tell you about the start of this race
04:36that all the drivers are going through is going to be experiencing the speed of the pack that
04:40they haven't experienced all week. Time to kick back into high gear in a major way. Described as
04:45the United States' most prestigious stock car racing series, the NASCAR Cup Series peaks with
04:50the Daytona 500. It's quite literally the best of the best. Chastain, lone wolf up here leading
04:56this pack with those two Fords behind him. Its unique timing places it at a distance from
05:01championship series in other sports. Despite its prominence and significance relative to other
05:06NASCAR races, the Daytona 500, held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida, takes place at the
05:11beginning of the year. Sometimes referred to as the Super Bowl of stock car racing,
05:16the Daytona 500 has long been a venue for some of the sport's highest level competitors,
05:21like Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip. Checkered flag, Dale Earnhardt finally is a
05:28champion of the Daytona 500. Look out on pit road. Every man on every crew has come out to the edge
05:39of pit lane to congratulate the man who has dominated everything there is to win in this sport.
05:47Number six, Indianapolis 500, American open wheel car racing. Mario Andretti being chased by Danny
05:53Sullivan. Sullivan darts out, pulls alongside Mario Andretti. It's a drag race down the main
05:58stretch. Can Sullivan pull Andretti into the first turn run? Carroll. Danny Sullivan gets
06:05him down. No, he's squirreling. No, he's spinning. Danny Sullivan spins. A sporting event so iconic
06:10that the type of race it showcases was renamed after it. There are at least a few reasons why
06:15the Indy 500 is commonly marketed as the greatest spectacle in racing. In fact, the Indy 500 is so
06:22renowned that it's considered one of the core pillars of the triple crown of motorsport,
06:26alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix.
06:47A race steeped in a rich history of traditions and rituals, 33 starters face off by racing 200
06:53laps at a total distance of 500 miles or 800 kilometers. Why not partake in the Indy 500's
06:59historical tradition of swigging a bottle of milk like the winner does each year? Before the race,
07:04they come up to all the drivers and ask you, what type of milk do you want? You know, do you want
07:082%? You want skim? You want buttermilk, which is what Lurie Meyer had buttermilk, which does not
07:13sound very good on 100 degree day. Number five, Kentucky Derby thoroughbred racing.
07:23Who said the world's most compelling races were all run by people? Billed as the most exciting
07:42two minutes in sports, this competition features three-year-old thoroughbred horses running a
07:46thrilling mile and a quarter. Although it shares the title of triple crown with the Preakness
07:50Stakes and Belmont Stakes, the Kentucky Derby is unquestionably the star of the show.
08:13First held in 1875, the Derby is among the oldest annual American sporting events,
08:18as well as the most watched and most attended. It's also colloquially known as the Run for the
08:22Roses, a reference to the 554 red roses awarded to the winner of that year's event. Come for the
08:28excitement, stay for the unique horse names, which include winners like Mystic Dan, Country House,
08:34and I'll Have Another. Number four, Tour de France bicycle racing.
08:48First held in 1903, this multi-stage race has blossomed into one of the world's most beloved
09:02sporting events. The Tour de France consists of 21 stages, like the Mass Start and Time Trial,
09:07and always includes a ride through the Pyrenees and Alps. Don't get confused by the name. On
09:12several occasions, the Tour de France has begun in nearby countries like the Netherlands, Belgium,
09:16and Italy. Often garnering crowds of up to 300,000 total spectators, fans watch eagerly to
09:22anticipate which cyclist will win the general classification, for which the coveted yellow
09:27jersey is awarded. Taking place over the course of just about three weeks, its riders will usually
09:32cover 2,200 miles in that time. Are you sweating yet? Number three, Monaco Grand Prix, Formula One.
09:47One of the great motor races begins in five lights time, and the Monaco Grand Prix is underway!
09:54Operating at some of the highest levels of motor racing in the world, the venerated Monaco Grand
09:59Prix brings more than a touch of classy European flair to the sport. The Grand Prix is renowned for
10:04its tight athleticism, owing to its narrow, monogasque course, challenging even veteran
10:09drivers to sacrifice speed for safety. The drivers have to make 100 circuits around the course,
10:15which is the most dangerous two miles in the racing world. It's also known for grooming some
10:21of the sport's biggest stars, like multiple winners Graham Hill and Ayrton Senna. The Grand
10:25Prix is literally like watching history in motion, given that its course has remained more or less
10:30the same since 1929. Historically held the same weekend as the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600, the
10:37last weekend of May is a good time to be a racing fan. And for the first time in 93 years, this
10:44fabled race is won by one of their own! Charles Leclerc wins the Monaco Grand Prix to achieve his
10:52dream! We won it! Finally! Number two, 24 Hours of Le Mans, sports car racing. It's an all-American
11:02front row with Penske's Porsche and the number three Cadillac, fastest in qualifying, but two
11:08Ferraris behind soon imposed themselves at the front of the race. The number 50 car would lead
11:14the very first lap, and the 51 car putting the Penske Porsche that started from pole under pressure
11:20to make it a red one-two in the early going. Yeah, chances are you've heard of this one. The
11:26world's oldest active endurance racing event, those unfamiliar with the sport may be surprised
11:31to learn that this French competition is run a little differently than some of its peers.
11:35Now they've made Dunlop Bridge much faster this year.
11:42By doing so, they've also made it safer. Not so acute as it was. You can go around
11:52very nearly flat out. The main point to take note of is that rather than whichever driver
11:56reaches the finish line in the shortest amount of time, the 24 Hours of Le Mans instead awards
12:01first place to the car that goes the farthest in that 24-hour span. Held annually near Le Mans,
12:07where else, this showcase is arguably the car race to end all car races. In the end though,
12:13they managed to make it home, measuring their pace against their economy. A stunning second
12:19consecutive win at Le Mans for Ferrari and a first for the crew of car number 50.
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12:41Number 1. 100 Meter Dash at the Olympics, Sprint Racing.
12:45An extraordinary atmosphere for an extraordinary lineup of men. It's pretty even at the moment.
12:50Hussain trying to find a way through. Can the Jamaican do it? Oh, it's so, so close!
12:56If you're looking for an awe-inspiring display of what humans are physically capable of,
13:00you've come to the right place. Generating such legendary Olympians and sportspeople, period,
13:05as Usain Bolt, Florence Griffith-Joiner, or Flojo, and Shikari Richardson, the Olympic 100 Meter Dash
13:11is a guaranteed stunner. Bolt and Griffith-Joiner set the men's and women's records for speed,
13:16at 9.5 and 10.5 seconds respectively.
13:20So
13:39runners have to take everything into account, be it when to start, how to finish, and even the wind
13:44speed. As such, it stands as one of the most daunting and revered athletic sporting events
13:49on the planet, and one of the Olympics' most remarkable, exhilarating categories.
13:54They've been given exactly the same time! 9.79 for both of them! Lyles by thousands of a second!
14:04Thousands of a second! Everybody thought Thompson had just hung on! Lyles came through on the near
14:11side! It was so, so close! Which competition do you find to be the most thrilling? Let us know in
14:17the comments! Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips from WatchMojo,
14:34and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.