A Tour de France stage in the Pyrenees (especially, when it includes the big four, Peyresourde, Auspin, Aubisque and Tourmalet) always provides stories to tell.
Belgian rider Felicien Vervaecke won the mountain competition of Tour de France twice, in 1935 and 1937.
Before the 16th stage (Peyresourde, Tourmalet, Aspin, Aubisque) in 1936, he was 4 minutes behind his teammate Sylvère Maes in the GC. But bad luck prevented him to maintain this position.
First his bicycle broke, and he had to convince a spectator to lend his. Then he suffered a flat tire, and Tour officials forced him to wait for the reserve car. Antonin Magne, the actual third in the GC passed him. When Vervaecke got his tire, he was able to re-join Magne. He finished the stage 18 sec behind his rival.
But both riders were penalized by the jury for receiving illegal food. Vervaecke got 10 minutes, Magne only 5 minutes. Vervaecke dropped to the 3rd position of the general classification.
Tourmalet at the Vuelta 2023 ( Stage 13 – Formigal. Huesca la Magia – Col du Tourmalet)
Unlike in the 6th stage of Tour de France 2023, when Tourmalet was a mid-stage ascent, the 13th stage of Vuelta a Espana 2023 will end on the top of the legendary climb. 13th Stage 8 September 2023 Formigal. Huesca la Magia – Col du Tourmalet 134,7 km
Felicien Vervaecke’s bad luck (Tour de France 1936)
A Tour de France stage in the Pyrenees (especially, when it includes the big four, Peyresourde, Auspin, Aubisque and Tourmalet) always provides stories to tell. Belgian rider Felicien Vervaecke won the mountain competition of Tour de France twice, in 1935 and 1937. Before the 16th stage (Peyresourde, Tourmalet, Aspin, Aubisque) in 1936, he was 4… Read More »Felicien Vervaecke’s bad luck (Tour de France 1936)
21 July 1910 Tour de France visits Tourmalet for the very first time
The 10th stage between Luchon and Bayonne was 326 km long and included the big four: Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin, Col d’Aubisque and Peyresourde. The stage was won by Octave Lapize
Vintage cycling image of the day: Federico Bahamontes on Tourmalet (Tour de France 1954)
Federico Bahamontes competed at Tour de France for the first time in 1954. He was picked for the race by Julián Berredero, the director of the Spanish team already during previous summer. The 161 km long 12th stage of Tour de France 1954 between Pau and Luchon visited Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde. As usual, all… Read More »Vintage cycling image of the day: Federico Bahamontes on Tourmalet (Tour de France 1954)
Tourmalet at Tour de France (TDF 2023 Stage 6)
Tourmalet in the middle of the first week (6th stage) of Tour de France 2023. The race visits the famous ascent on 6th July 2023. As usual, the cyclists have to climb Tourmalet mid-stage, while the summit finish will be on Cauterets -Cambasque. LIVE TWEETING DURING THE STAGE CLICK HERE TO REFRESH THE PAGE Tadej… Read More »Tourmalet at Tour de France (TDF 2023 Stage 6)
Louison Bobet leading the group of favourites on the Aubisque (Tour de France 1954)
In 1954, Louison Bobet entered the Tour de France as the reigning champion, carrying with him not only the weight of his title but also the hopes of an entire nation. The French public was eager to witness the rise of a new era in cycling, one marked by the dominance of a great French… Read More »Louison Bobet leading the group of favourites on the Aubisque (Tour de France 1954)
Antonin Magne on the Aubisque (Tour de France 1931)
The Col d’Aubisque is a true veteran among the iconic ascents of the Pyrenees, steeped in cycling history and tradition. This legendary climb has been a fixture in the Tour de France since 1910, when the race ventured into the high mountains for the very first time.
17 July 1951 Wim van Est’s crash on the Aubisque
On the 12th stage of Tour de France 1951 Wim van Est escaped with a small group, won the stage and took the lead in the general classification. He was the first Dutchman to wear the yellow jersey. Next day the peloton arrived in the Pyrenees. The 201 km 13th long stage between Dax and… Read More »17 July 1951 Wim van Est’s crash on the Aubisque
16 July 1985 Pedro Delgado wins on Luz Ardiden
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 »16 July 1985 Pedro Delgado wins on Luz Ardiden
12-13 July 1971 José Manuel Fuente’s back to back stage victories in the Pyrenees
Although José Manuel Fuente considered one of the greatest climbers of all time, it might be a vit surprising, that he won only two stages at Tour de France. Both of them in 1971. This was Fuentes’s very first Tour de France, and he showed a cery good form, also an attack-friendly behaviour. In the… Read More »12-13 July 1971 José Manuel Fuente’s back to back stage victories in the Pyrenees
Antonin Magne on the Aubisque (Tour de France 1931)
The Col d’Aubisque is a true veteran among the iconic ascents of the Pyrenees, steeped in cycling history and tradition. This legendary climb has been a fixture in the Tour de France since 1910, when the race ventured into the high mountains for the very first time.
The first individual time trial at Tour de France
It’s well known that many major road cycling races were originally created for marketing purposes, as sports newspapers saw increased sales by covering these events. However, a lesser-known story is that even the format of the individual time trial in the Tour de France was influenced by a rivalry between two newspapers. L’Auto, the daily… Read More »The first individual time trial at Tour de France
Fédérico Ezquerra on the Galibier (Tour de France 1936)
Col du Galibier is one of the oldest participats among the ascents the peloton of Tour de France used to climb in the Alps. It was already part the program of the 1911 edition when the race visited the Alps for the very first time. In 1936, Col du Galibier, alongside with Thélégraphe… Read More »Fédérico Ezquerra on the Galibier (Tour de France 1936)
André Leducq and Antonin Magne crossing the finish line together (Tour de France 1938)
Before Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault on the top of Alpe d’Huez, there were André Leducq and Antonin Magne in Paris. Two dominant French riders from the first part of the 1930s, both Leducq (1930 and 1932) and Magne (1931 and 1934) won the Tour de France twice. In the very last stage of Tour… Read More »André Leducq and Antonin Magne crossing the finish line together (Tour de France 1938)
Faces from the Peloton: Theo Middelkamp (1914-2005)
You would never guess in what kind of stage the first Dutch Tour de France stage winner, Theo (Theofiel) Middelkamp (1914-2005) gained his victory. In a mountain stage in the Alps, including Télégraphe, Galibier and Lautaret. Considering that even in the early 1950s, when Wim van Est, the first Dutch cyclist to wear the yellow… Read More »Faces from the Peloton: Theo Middelkamp (1914-2005)
Louison Bobet leading the group of favourites on the Aubisque (Tour de France 1954)
In 1954, Louison Bobet entered the Tour de France as the reigning champion, carrying with him not only the weight of his title but also the hopes of an entire nation. The French public was eager to witness the rise of a new era in cycling, one marked by the dominance of a great French… Read More »Louison Bobet leading the group of favourites on the Aubisque (Tour de France 1954)
Antonin Magne on the Aubisque (Tour de France 1931)
The Col d’Aubisque is a true veteran among the iconic ascents of the Pyrenees, steeped in cycling history and tradition. This legendary climb has been a fixture in the Tour de France since 1910, when the race ventured into the high mountains for the very first time.
The start of Tour de France 1932
Although Tour de France started outside Paris for the first time in 1926, race organizers used the good old concept to start the event in Paris even during the subsequent years. Only after World War II became a custom to start Tour de France elsewhere in France. And in 1954 the race witnessed its first… Read More »The start of Tour de France 1932
Fédérico Ezquerra on the Galibier (Tour de France 1936)
Col du Galibier is one of the oldest participats among the ascents the peloton of Tour de France used to climb in the Alps. It was already part the program of the 1911 edition when the race visited the Alps for the very first time. In 1936, Col du Galibier, alongside with Thélégraphe… Read More »Fédérico Ezquerra on the Galibier (Tour de France 1936)
Louison Bobet on Mont Ventoux (Tour de France 1955)
Mont Ventoux was introduced to Tour de France in 1951 (one year earlier than Alpe d’Huez and Puy de Dôme). At the first three occasions (1951, 1954 and 1955) the peloton crossed the top during mid-race, the first summit finish was organized only in 1958. The 11th stage of the 1955 Tour de France began… Read More »Louison Bobet on Mont Ventoux (Tour de France 1955)