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 usual, than meeting people living in the area, doing their everyday doings. Like it's happening on this picture during a mountain stage of Tour de France 1925.
One of the cyclists (on the left) is Roger Lacolle (1898-1973) , who rode Tour de France twice. In 1923 he had to abandon the race, but in 1925 he finished 42nd. Also, he was a two-time French national cyclo-cross champion, thus he surely knew how to manage himself through a mountain stage.
Tour de France 1925 was won by Italian cyclist Ottavio Bottecchia. It was his second overall victory after 1924, when he became the first Italian cyclist to win Tour de France.
The 19th edition (was held between 21 June and 19 July 1925) included among others the big four, Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde in the Pyrenees, also Allos, Vars, Izoard, Galibier in the Alps.
This picture, it seems so, was taken more likely in the Pyrenees.
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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 … Read more
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Climbing Col d’Allos at Tour de France 1914 -Vintage cycling image of the day
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