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Belgian cyclist Hector Heusghem is refreshing himself with snow at the Tiur de France in 1923

Snow at Tour de France 1923

Snow at Tour de France is quite rare, but not impossible, as the image of Hector Heusghem at Tour de France 1923 proves. Belgian cyclist Hector Heusghem (1890-1982) was active as professional cyclist between 1912 and 1925. His best result at Tour de France was 2nd  position both in 1920 and 1921. In 1922 he took the yellow jersey  with 3 stage to go, but lost his led in the general classification after receiving a one-hour penality. MORE TOUR DE FRANCE IN THE 1920 [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”454″ order=”desc”]

Scandalous moment at Tour de France 1950, Gino Bartali is insulted by a spectator.

Four scandalous Tour de France editions

In its more than 120-year-long history Tour de France, the most famous road cycling race of the world witnessed good time and bad time either. It had plenty of glourious moments, but also some shameful ones. Here are the four (arguably) most scandalous editions in the history of Tour de France . 1904 – an almost untimely end of a great story The first Tour de France was a great success, not only financially, but participating in the race brought fame and prestige to the riders either. Unfortunately, when sport events have such a high stake, cheating becomes pivotal part of the happenings. Actually, at the second edition of the race, riders and fans went… Read More »Four scandalous Tour de France editions

Logo of the famous road cycling race Tour de France

Galibier on the 4th day! (Tour de France 2024 Stage 4 Pinerolo-Valloire 138 km)

Galibier on the 4th day of Tour de France 2024 Stage 4 2 July 2024 Pinerolo -Valloire 138 km      Whioe waiting for  next year’s Tour de France, PelotonTales blog focus a bit more on the stories, when Tour de France went abroad. Beginning with the first time the race finished in a foreign city in 1907.  

Fedrico Bahamontes solo on the Galibier on the 19th stage of Tour de France 1954

Federico Bahamontes on the Galibier (Tour de France 1954)

Federico Bahamontes rode Tour de France for the very first time in 1954. Of course, the real race for him started in the Pyrenees. On the 12th stage, which included Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde, he arrived at the finish with Jean Malléjac and Gilbert Bauvin, who won the stage with 1 sec ahead of Bahamontes, and claimed the yellow jersey. Bahamontes was already active on the previous stage (including Aubisque), he collected enough mountain points to lead the KOM competition. On the 17th stage, on the top of the Romeyere in the Alps, he had to wait for his team car, because he didn’t dare to start the descent with a battered wheel. While he… Read More »Federico Bahamontes on the Galibier (Tour de France 1954)

Iconic image about road cycling races in the hight mountains: cyclists climbing the mighty Tourmalet at Tour de France 1937.

Road cycling in high mountains (Topic of the week 11-17 September 2023))

As  Vuelta a Espana 2023 is heading to its final week, focusing on the topic road cycling in the high mountains seems to be a good idea here on PelotonTales blog.   Mountain stages of a road cycling races, especially of the grand tours (Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana) are usually the most popular moments of a cycling event.  It’s no wonder, hence these are the stages where the main contenders of the general classification usually have to fight against each other directly. IF YOU LIKE  PELOTONTALES BLOG, PLEASE SUPPORT IT WITH A SMALL DONATION VIA PAYPAL THANK YOU! 

Danish cyclist Jonas Vingegaard celebrating his second Tour de France overall victory in Paris on 23th July 2023.

Cycling grand tours in 2024

Let’s take a look at what to know about the big three-week races of season 2024. Giro d’Italia 2024 (4 -26. May 2024) The traditional presentation of the program of next year’s Giro d’Italia will ne held on 13th October 2023. Tour de France  2024 (29 June – 21 July 2024) Believe or not, Tour de France never started in Italy before. Of course, the race visited the neighbour country for several times, but never with the Grand Depart. That wil end on 29th June 2024, because Tour de France will start in Florence. And as usual, there will be two other stages in the host country. Also, this will the first time Tour de… Read More »Cycling grand tours in 2024

Fausto Coppi 1959

Fausto Coppi and the Vuelta a España

Unlike the other two grand tours with a history started before the first world war, the first Vuelta a Espana was held in 1935. It was a spring race until the 1990s, right before (or sometimes almost at the same time as) the Giro d’Italia. Also, for almost two decades, it was really unpredictable, when the race will be held or not. It’s little wonder, that many of the biggest stars of the first half or the middle of the 20th century never competed Vuelta. But Fausto Coppi did. He participated the race in 1959 with his own Tricofilina-Coppi team and abandoned it only on the 15th stage (of a total of 17 stages). The… Read More »Fausto Coppi and the Vuelta a España

Cyclists rolling out of the city of Amsterdam at Tour de France 1954

Grand Depart in Amsterdam (Tour de France 1954)

Although Tour de France visited neighbour contries already during the early years of its history frequently, the first international start (grand depart) of the race happened only in 1954. Amsterdam had the privilege to host the start of the event. The 216 km long first stage of Tour de France 1954 between Amsterdam and Brasshaat was won by Wout Wagtmans. Tour de France 2024 will start in Florence on 29 Juny 2024. This will be the very first time the grand depart will take place in Italy. For this unique occasion, PelotonTales blog will focus a vit more on the topic Tour de France abroad.