It started with a new business opportunity. After the years of La Sportive consortium, the usual structure of sponsored teams returned to Tour de France in 1923. Automoto, the team of Pelissier brothers has some commercial interest in Italy, they were searching for more Italian cyclists in the team. They hired several riders, but only one of them arrived right in time for the start of Tour de France.
He was Ottavio Bottecchia, a " bricklayer of Friuli", as he would be dubbed later, a rider just turned pro one year earlier.
He knew only a few words in French: "No bananas, lots of coffee, thank you."1
But it wasn't the reason why he was almost sent back to Italy. Having only Italian cyclist in the team wouldn't have served the commercial purpose of the team sponsors. They would have either several Italian riders on no one. But at the end, Bottecchia was allowed to ride Tour de France.
And this was the start of a very short but spectacular career.
In the first stage of Tour de France 1923, Bottecchia finished second. He won the sprint in the second stage. This was not only his first stage victory, but
made him the first ever Italian wearer of the yellow jersey.
Later during this edition he lost his leading position, then he gained back. His team captain, Henri Pelissier took the lead only after winning the 10th stage in the Pyrenees. Bottecchia finished second in the general classification.
Next year Bottecchia was leading the race from the first to the last stage. In 1925, he won the race again. His last appearance at the Tour de France happened in 1926, but he had to abandon the race in the toughest Tour de France stage ever).
He was preparing for particiapation in June 1927, when he was so seriously beaten up, that he died few days later.
MORE ABOUT OTTAVIO BOTTECCHIA
Ottavio Bottecchia on the Izoard (Tour de France 1925)
Col d’Izoard was introduced to Tour de France in 1922. It seems to have been the new favourite of the organizers, they put it in the program also in the next 5 years. (And it is still one of the most used ascent in the history of Tour de France) Ottavio Bottecchia might have been… Read More »Ottavio Bottecchia on the Izoard (Tour de France 1925)
26 June 1923 Ottavio Bottecchia’s first stage victory at Tour de France
It started with a new business opportunity. After the years of La Sportive consortium, the usual structure of sponsored teams returned to Tour de France in 1923. Automoto, the team of Pelissier brothers has some commercial interest in Italy, they were searching for more Italian cyclists in the team. They hired several riders, but only… Read More »26 June 1923 Ottavio Bottecchia’s first stage victory at Tour de France
MORE ABOUT TOUR DE FRANCE IN THE 1920S
Cyclists meet a local inhabitant during Tour de France 1925
During the first few decades in the history of Tour de France, mountain routes were kind of “terrae incognitae”, uncharted territories. We all know the story when Alphonse Steniès persuaded Henri Desgrange to include Tourmalet in the program of Tour de France 1910. He was struggling even to find a car driver, a local guide… Read More »Cyclists meet a local inhabitant during Tour de France 1925
Faces from the peloton: Jean Alavoine (1888-1943)
French cyclist Jean Alavoine holds a unique record in the history of Tour de France: there are 14 years between his first (1909) and his last (1923) stage victory.2 Indeed, he was one of… Read More »Faces from the peloton: Jean Alavoine (1888-1943)
Jean Alavoine on the Col d’Aspin (Tour de France 1922)
Jean Alavoine (1888-1943) had a very good Tour de France in 1922. He won three stages, two of them in the Pyrenees and thanks to his great performance, he was wearing the yellow jersey for five days. Col d’Aspin was part of the program of the 6th stage alongside with Aubisque and Peyresourde, as usual.… Read More »Jean Alavoine on the Col d’Aspin (Tour de France 1922)