On the afternoon of the 20th April 1980, while a little girl, called Anita Pethő ( the author of PelotonTales blog) was born in a small town in North-West Hungary, on the other part of Europe, in Belgium, Bernard Hinault delivered one of the most iconic victories in the history of the Monuments. Snow can … Read more
Although this picture suggests it differently, but Bernard Hinault and Wladimiro Panizza were the two big rivals at the Giro d’Italia in 1980. Hinault finished first (this was his first of a total of three Giro-victories), and behind him with 5 min 43 sec, Panizza second. Actually the Italian rider wore the pink jersey for … Read more
The 65th edition of Tour de France was held between 29 June and 23 July in 1978. With his performance on the mountain stages (especially on the Puy de Dôme), Joop Zoetemelk seemed to be the slightly bigger favourite of the race. He led the general classification before the 20 stage, a 75 km long … Read more
The 17th stage of Tour de France in 1985 between Toulouse and Luz Ardiden was 209,5 km long and included also Aspin and Tourmalet. This was the very first time, that the race visited Luz Ardiden. Apparently, the main reason to include the climb into the program was its photogenic landscape. Bernard Hinault (La Vie … Read more
Fausto Coppi was the first rider to win the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same year (1949) The list of the riders Fausto Coppi (ITA) 1949 Fausto Coppi (ITA) 1952 Jacques Anquetil (FRA) 1964 Eddy Merckx (BEL) 1970 Eddy Merckx (BEL) 1972 Bernard Hinault (FRA) 1982 Bernard Hinault (FRA) 1985 Miguel … Read more
There are only three riders, who managed to win at least a stage in all the three specialities (sprint and mountain stages and individual time trial) during a Tour de France: Eddy Merckx 1974 Bernard Hinault 1979 Wout van Aert 2021 MORE CYCLING FUN FACT ON PELOTONTALES
Road cycling is not a winter sport. But sometimes -especially in the high mountains – winter visits road cycling events in the form of snow. Images of cyclists struggling through the snow are usually fit into the narrativa of road cycling races being heroic and epic. Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and all the … Read more
As La Vuelta ciclista a España (19 August-11 September 2022), the last three-week race of of the season is nearing, let’s talk about the cyclists who won all the three grand tours at least one time. Jacques Anquetil was the first rider to achieve this, when he finally won the Vuelta in 1963. At that … Read more
With its introduction to Tour de France in 1952, Alpe d’Huez became one the most iconic ascents of the race instantly. Although it has a shorter history than the big giants like Col du Galibier or Col d’Izoard, there are plenty moments worth to remember.
Let’s see five really iconic moments from the common history of Alpe d’Huez and Tour de France.
Alpe d’Huez witnessed plenty of legendary moments since its introduction to the Tour de France in 1952. One of them is the famous 18th stage in 1986, when Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond reached the top hand in hand.