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Tour de France fun facts

Two cyclists riding on the dusty road at the Tour de France in 1923, one of them is holding an umbrellaLearn more about the Tour de France fun facts category of PelotonTales blog.

Because Tour de France is fun. There are lots of fascinating facts defining the history of the world’s most famous cycling race.

Scroll down, and pick one or two fun facts or fascinating stories from the history of Tour de France to learn more about the past of the race since its first edition in 1903. 

Read about the winners and loosers. The unbelievable achivements and the weird ones. Records and unique moments. Facts, dates and little stories.

Pelotontales blog focusing on the cultural  historical aspects of road cycling races. Its author, Anita Pethő’s everyday routine of working with storytelling determinates the way how she is looking at the past, present and future of road cycling races.

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

If you’re interested not only in Tour de France, but other professional road racing races too, take a look at the cycling fun facts in general category, or visit the summary page of Giro d’Italia fun facts or Monument fun facts.

Click the homepage of Pelotontales blog, scroll down to find other  exciting topics, like the Faces from peloton, the Vintage cycling image of the day or the On this day in cycling history categories.

 

Maurice Garin the winner of the first Tour de France

Green armband for the leader of the general classification

The legendary yellow jersey was introduced to Tour de France only in 1919. But already during the first edition of the race there was a sign distinguishing the  leader of the general classification from other participants: a green armband. Maurice Garin led the general classification from the very first stage and later won the race. MORE TOUR DE FRANCE FROM THE EARLY YEARS [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”380″ order=”desc”] MORE CYCLING FUN FACTS [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”425″ order=”desc”]  

Tour de France winner Ottavio Bottecchia is celebrated

Italian Tour de France winners

Ottavio Bottecchia (1924 and 1925) Gino Bartali (1938 and 1948) Fausto Coppi (1949 and 1952) Gastone Nencini (1960) Felice Gimondi (1965) Marco Pantani (1998) Vincenzo Nibali (2014) MORE CYCLING FUN FACTS ON PELOTONTALES BLOG [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”425″ order=”desc”]

Vintage black and white image of Tour de France in 1926. Two riders are riding in the road, while a cow is watching them from the roadside.

First time Tour de France started outside Paris (1926)

Since the first ever edition of Tour de France in 1903, the race always started in Paris. In 1926, Evian, the famous high-market holiday resort and spa town on the shores of Lake Geneva, hosted the start of the first stage. It was 373 km long, finished in Mulhouse. Jules Buysse was the winner of the day. MORE TOUR DE FRANCE FUN FACTS [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”456″ order=”desc”] MORE TOUR DE FRANCE IN THE 1920S ON PELOTONTALES [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”454″ order=”desc”]  

Maurice Garin the winner of the first Tour de France

The Tour de France stage, that started at 9 pm

In the early days of road cycling races, when the courses were over 300 km long or even longer and the riders sat in the saddle for a half a day (or even longer), it was usual, that the race started in the middle of the night or very early at dawn. It was the case also at the first Tour de France in 1903, but the last stage (6th stage, 471 km between Nantes and Paris) started even earlier than usual: previous day at 9 pm. The stage, as the general classification of the race was won by Maurice Garin.  MORE ABOUT THE FIRST TOUR DE FRANCE [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”51″ order=”desc”] MORE TOUR… Read More »The Tour de France stage, that started at 9 pm

Fausto Coppi at the Tour de France 1952

Puy de Dôme first time at the Tour de France (1952)

1952 was an extraordinary year in the history of Tour de France, not only because the terrific performance of Fausto Coppi. But also, it was the first time, when a Tour de France stage ended on the top of the ascent: this was the legendary debut of Alpe d’Huez. The program of the 39th Tour de France included a total of three summit finishes. Besides Alpe d’Huez (10th stage) and Sestriere (11th stage),the peloton also visited Puy de Dome (21st stage) for the very first time.The first conquerer of the summit was Fausto Coppi, who won all three hilltop finish stages that year. He dominated the race so much, that after the 11th stage the organizers… Read More »Puy de Dôme first time at the Tour de France (1952)

Roger Walkowiak, the winner of Tour de France 1956

Tour de France winners without winning a stage

List of cyclists, who won the Tour de France, but didn’t win any stage in that year. Firmin Lambot (BEL) 1922 Roger Walkowiak (FRA) 1956 Gastone Nencini (ITA) 1960 Lucien Aimar (FRA) 1966 Greg LeMond (USA) 1990 Óscar Pereiro (ESP) 2006 Chris Froome (GBR) 2017 Egan Bernal (COL) 2019 Tour de France fun facts [su_posts posts_per_page=”4″ order=”desc” orderby=”rand”]

Jonas Vingegaard Tour de France winner 2022

The fastest Tour de France

Everyone, who followed Tour de France 2022 day by day, expected it, but after the last stage it’s finally official: the 109th Tour de France was the fastest edition ever. Overall winner  Jonas Vingegaard ( Jumbo-Visma) rode 3,350,1 km in 79h 33′ 20″, thus realising an overall speed of 42.457 km/h (26.381 mph).

Tour de France fun facts: the longest breakaway in the history of Tour de France

The longest successful Tour de France breakaway

Albert Bourlon managed the longest sucessful solo breakaway in the history of Tour de France in 1947.  It happened on the 253 km long 14th stage between Carcassone and Luchon on 11th July 1947. Burlon rode alone during the entire stage. It was his only Tour de France stage win. There are other six over 200 km long breakaways in the history of Tour de France.

Dylan Teuns wins La Planche des Belles Filles Tour de France 2019

La Planche de Belles Filles – Tour de France stage winners

La Planche des Belles Filles was introduced to Tour de France in 2012 Winners of the stages included La Planche des Belles Filles 2012 Chris Froome 2014 Vincenzo Nibali 2017 Fabio Aru 2019 Dylan Teuns 2020 Tadej Pogacar More Tour de France fun facts [su_posts posts_per_page=”4″ tax_term=”456″ order=”desc” orderby=”rand”]

Tour de France national teams between 1930 and 1961

National teams at the Tour de France (1930-1961)

Between 1930 and 1961 Tour de France was contested by national teams. Originally, it was Henri Desgrange’s idea, who didn’t like the tactical racing of the professional teams. MORE TOUR DE FRANCE FUN FACTS [su_posts posts_per_page=”4″ tax_term=”456″ order=”desc” orderby=”rand”] MORE TOUR DE FRANCE IN THE 1930S [su_posts posts_per_page=”4″ tax_term=”605″ order=”desc” orderby=”rand”]