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French cyclist Raymond Delisle

Faces from the peloton: Raymond Delisle (1943-2013)

Thank you for being a devoted reader of PelotonTales. You are the reason why it’s worth spending so many hours to create new content and trying to improve this website. If you would show appreciation to my work, please consider supporting the blog with a small donation. Thank you! Raymond Delisle was one of those cyclists who was always lurking around the favourites in the most important and/or most iconic Tour de France stages without having significant success. Delisle started his professional career in 1965 in team Peugeot, where he was racing  till 1976. (His last year as professional cyclist he spent with the team Miko Mercier.) He reached his biggest success by winning the… Read More »Faces from the peloton: Raymond Delisle (1943-2013)

Bernard Thévénet after his crash at the aTour de France 1972

Iconic Cycling Images: Bernard Thévenet after a crash (Tour de France 1972)

The race in 1972 was Bernard Thévenet’s second Tour de France. In his devutant year, in 1971 he finished fifth in the general classification and also won stage. It was a bit of a surprise performance, but in the subsequent year he was considered as one of the favourites. The 7th stage of Tour de France 1972 was a day in the Pyrenees with only one big challenge, the Aubisque. Thévenet crashed with Luis Ocaña and went down. He was temporarily amnesic. As he began to regain his memory, he looked down at his own Peugeot jersey and wondered whether he might be a cyclist. On recognizing the team car, he exclaimed:”I’m riding the Tour de France!”He… Read More »Iconic Cycling Images: Bernard Thévenet after a crash (Tour de France 1972)

A moment from Tour de France 1984 with Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon, who wears the yellow jersey.

Topic of the week: PelotonTales in colour

Since the birth of PelotonTales blog  I tend to write about stories from the past of road cycling races related to famous and popular black&white vintage cycling images. For the visitors of the blog it might seem naturally, since  most posts are about  stories from the first half of the 20th century, especially a few years before and after World War I. By creating content around old black&white images I appeal on the feeling of indirect nostalgia, the desire of being connected to the past we never experienced in the flesh, only have indirect knowledge about. IF YOU LIKE  PELOTONTALES BLOG, PLEASE SUPPORT IT WITH A SMALL DONATION VIA PAYPAL THANK YOU!  Working with the… Read More »Topic of the week: PelotonTales in colour

Five cyclists on untwrmacked mountain road during Tour de France 1925

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 to bring him throught the pass in January. Of course, back then the roads weren’t paved yet. Also the peloton was never really compact. Riders were riding on their own, or in small groups. A usual stage lasted more than a half day. Roads weren’t secured in that form like nowadays during a professional cycling race. Thus nothing was more… Read More »Cyclists meet a local inhabitant during Tour de France 1925

Eddy Merckx first stage victory 1967 Blockhaus7

Eddy Merckx on Blockhaus (Giro d’Italia 1967)

Every road cycling legend, every great champion has that first epic moment that defines their career. The moment that takes everyone by surprise, yet deep down, everyone knows this cyclist was always capable to do it. In 1967 Eddy Merckx was already a two-time  Milano-Sanremo champion, after he repeated his success in previous year. He had also some other success during the sping classic season. Hence he was regarded rather a sprinter and not that kind of cyclist who would have been considered one of the favourite of a Giro d’Italia stage up to the Blockhaus.       PLEASE, SUPPORT PELOTONTALES!  If you like PelotonTales blog and want to help me a little to… Read More »Eddy Merckx on Blockhaus (Giro d’Italia 1967)

Vintage cycling image from the 1920s, two cyclists with the socalled laterne rouge, the prize for the last placed rider of the race

Lanterne rouge – list of the last cyclists of every Tour de France

They used to say history remembers only the winners. Fortunately this is not the case of Tour de France history. The last ones, the receivers of the famous lanterne rouge get enough attention too. Lanterne rouge is an actual red lamp used to be served to the last rider of the race as some of the old pictures shows. The origin of this cult object is the red lantern hung on the rear vehicle of a passenger railway train or the brake van of a freight train. So let’s take a look at the last riders of every Tour de France edition.       1903 Arsène Millocheau (FRA) 1904 Antoine Deflotrière (FRA) 1905 Clovis… Read More »Lanterne rouge – list of the last cyclists of every Tour de France

Puy de Dôme Tour de France

Iconic Tour de France places: Puy de Dôme

Tour de France 2023 presented a great gift for every road cycling history fans: after 35 years Puy de Dôme was reintroduced to the race. Although the 9th stage of Tour de France 2023 was only the 14th appearance of the ascent, it became one of the most iconic places in the history road cycling thanks mainly to the epic battle between Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor in 1964. Nestled in the heart of the Massif Central in central France, Puy de Dôme is a lava dome and one of the youngest volcanoes in the Chaîne des Puys region. The ascent was introduced to Tour de France in 1952 and had frequent appearance until 1988.… Read More »Iconic Tour de France places: Puy de Dôme

Tadej Pogacar will ride Giro d’Italia in 2024

The wait is over, according a short video clip posted on the social media by the official accout if the Giro d’Italia, Tadej Pogacar will have his debut at Giro d’Italia next year.It might have been an indication that his plans for next March look very Italian, including Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Mialmo-Sanremo. (But he did the same program before, without participating at the Giro, thus is wasn’t that a vbig clue.) Anyway, if everything goes to plan, we will see Tadej Pogacar at the Giro d’Italia between 4 and 26 May 2024. 

Vuelta 2024 starts in Lisbon (La Vuelta 2024 Stage 1)

La Vuelta 2024 will start on the 17th August 2024. The race visits Portugal during the first three stages. The first stage will start in Lisbon and end in Oeiras. While waiting for the route presentation, pleaae take a look at the Tour de France 2024 and Giro d’Italia 2024 stages! (Also, you can find some new information about Tour de France 2025.)

Mark Cavendish at the Tour de France in 2021

Mark Cavendish starts his season in Columbia

After a  four-year hiatus, Tour Columbia will be held again between 6 and 11 February 2024. Mark Cavendish (Astana Qasaqstan), who used to spend his February rather in the Middle-East, participating in events like Dubai Tour, Tour of Qatar, Abu Dhabi Tour, intend to ride the South American race for the very first (and possible only) time. Originally, Cavendish would have retired at the end of this season, but the unfortunate way he had to leave Tour de France after a crash in July made him think about to rude one more season. Mark Cavendish is currently sharing the record of the most Tour de France stage victories (34) with Eddy Merckx. The British rider… Read More »Mark Cavendish starts his season in Columbia