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Home » A lunch before the race (Jean Robic, Tour de France 1951)

A lunch before the race (Jean Robic, Tour de France 1951)

A waitress is smilong in the camera, while Tour de France winner Jean Robic eat some lobster before the 4th stage at Tour de France 1951

Jean Robic, winner of Tour de France 1947, was one of the most important cyclists of the post 2nd world war era. Of course, he was racing in the shadow of the giants, Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, but after all, he managed to win a Tour de France and also several stages. In many cases, like during climbig Alpe d’Huez for the first time in 1952, he was the only one who could go with Coppi for a while.

French Toirmde France winnerJean Robic sitting at the desk of a restaurant, eating lobster, while a young lady is smiling in the camera
Jean Robic before the 4th stage at Tour de France 1951

Because he gained the leading position of the overal classification in the last stage of Tour de France 1947, he is one of the two riders in the history of the race since the introdution of the famous kit, who did not wear the yellow yersey during the edition won by him.Nevertheless, he managed to wear the yellow during the edition in 1953 for one day.

In 1951, when this picture with the smiling young waitress and some lobsters was made, he finished 27th in the general classification. (This was the edition of Hugo Coblet’s epic solo ride and overal victory.) Obviously, it’s a staged photo, but still able to capture the atmosphere of the races in an esrlier period of road cycling races.


Do you like pictures from the good old days of Tour de France depicting the circumstances of a road race? Kind of “behind the scene” images have always existed showing riders in outside the race situations. If you like those kinds of pictures, or in general, you like images from the history of road cycling races, please, just scroll further and you can find plenty of fascinating stories and incredible moments. (Also, it’s always worth to take a look at the homepage of PelotonTales blog. )

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