There is a café-restaurant in the Parisian suburb Mortgeon, that witnessed cycling history 117 years ago.
On the afternoon of 1 July 1903, people gathered on the street in front of the café Au Reveil Matin‘s building: the first Tour de France was ready to start.
Originally 78 riders signed up to the race, and 60 of them appeared at the startline. Some of them used pseudonyms, like the Belgian Julien Lootens, who signed up as Samson. (Wealthy upper-middle-class or noble family usually didn’t love the idea, that some of the family members would “disgrace”, their family names by appearing in the sports news, so they rode under a different name.)
The first stage of the Tour de France started at 3:16 pm. It was 467 km long and finished in Lyon. Stage winner Maurice Garin spent 17 hours 45 mins and 13 secs in the saddle.
The Tour de France stage, that started at 9 pm
In the early days of road cycling races, when the courses were over 300 km long or even longer and the riders sat in the saddle for a half a day (or even longer), it was usual, that the race started in the middle of the night or very early at dawn. It was the … Read more
The Paris-Roubaix edition, that ended almost like a burlesque film
During the early days of road cycling races, bicycle events quite often produced extraordinary scenes. One of the most hilarious (and also a bit sad) ones, almost like a comedy sketch happened at the Paris-Roubaix in 1907. French cyclist Georges Passerieu, leader of the race arrived to the gates of the Velodrome in Roubaix alone, … Read more
Cycling Who’s Who: Hippolyte Aucouturier
Hippolyte Aucouturier, one of the most iconic riders in the early days of road cycling races, was born on the 17th October in 1876 in La Celle (France). Aucouturier won Paris-Roubaix among a rather chaotic circumstances in 1903. During the early years of the race, riders traditionally changed their bikes at the entrance of the … Read more
Faces from the peloton: Hippolyte Aucouturier (1876-1944)
Although the idea of a French cyclist in a striped shirt might seem like a little bit of a cliché, sometimes stereotypes are carrying quite much truth in themselves. Just take a look at Hippolyte Aucouturier! One of the most iconic characters from the early days of road cycling races. Nevertheless, he was not only … Read more
From Garin to Catteau – top10 cyclists of Tour de France 1903
Surely, most cycling fans know, that Maurice Garin won the first Tour de France in 1903. But have you ever wonder, who else were in the top ten of the first edition? This post might answer your question. 1. Maurice Garin (1871-1957) One of the stars of the early years of road cycling races. Read … Read more
5 facts about Tour de France 1912
Odile Defraye was the first Belgian cyclist to win the Tour. Moreover, he was the first Belgian having a serious chance to win the race, so all Belgians in the race, regardless of their team, were helping him. Which, of course, made Henri Desgrange quite furious. Originally, Gustave Garrigou, winner of the previous edition was … Read more
5 facts of about Tour de France 1909
150 cyclists started the race, this was a new record. Nevertheless, although being sponsored and racing in a team was allowed, 112 participants were still independent riders. In the end, 55 cyclists managed to complete the course. Another record was broken, which still stands: François Faber won 5 consecutive stages. Faber was also the first … Read more
Maurice Garin after winning Paris-Roubaix 1897
The second edition of Paris-Roubaix was held on the 18th April 1897. 32 professional and 28 amateur cyclists departed in the rainy Paris, but the 280 km long racerun mostly under sunny conditions. The Italian-born French Maurice Garin, who is best known for winning the first Tour de France in 1903, and the Duch Mathieu … Read more
Points system in general classification at the Tour de France (1905-1912)
Between 1905 and 1912 points decided who is the best rider of the peloton. The first cyclist to cross the finish line received 1 point. Other cyclists received one point more than the cyclist who passed the line directly before him, plus an additional point for every five minutes between them, with a maximum of … Read more
Tour de France winners: Louis Trousselier (1905)
There is a story about Louis Trousselier (1881-1939), the winner of Tour de France in 1905, that’s makes him one of those very characteristic protagonists of the early days of road cycling races: he lost all his prize money earned during the Tour de France by playing dice with friends on the night of his … Read more