In sports, rivalries have always played a pivotal role in defining the nature of competition, drawing interest from fans, the media, and historians alike. In the realm of road cycling, the intense competition between the best riders has not only influenced the sport’s trajectory but also captured the hearts of audiences across generations. These legendary rivalries have forced cyclists to push their physical and mental limits, injecting drama and suspense into every race. From gripping showdowns at the Tour de France to thrilling clashes in the classics, cycling rivalries have produced some of the sport’s most unforgettable moments.
From time to time it’s worth celebrating these big cycling duels, therefore this will be the topic of the week on
Vintage Road Cycling Stories
Read about the legendary Tour de France 1949 and the rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, about the Puy de Dôme stage in 1964 (the battle between Raymond Poulidor and Jacques Anquetil), or the famous Alpe d ‘Huez finish in 1986 with Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond.
From other special project of PelotonTales blogfamily: there are still a few weeks unti the Tour de France 2025 route presentation also the Giro d’Italia 2025 route representation.
But as we get closer and closer to the days, there are more hints, specuatiouns, rumours about the possible program of next years’s grand tours. So, it is really worth taking a look at the latest Tour de France 2025 route rumours, as the latest Giro d’Italia 2025 rumours as well.
If you’re new to the world of Tour de France, here are some frequently asked questions (but not the most common ones) about the event:
Does the Tour de France change every year?
Is the Tour de France always in France?
Do riders ride every day in the Tour de France?
For all those,who are interested to read longer textes about putting road cycling history in a wider socio-cultursl-historical context, pease check out my Patreon page for new content!
As alway, you can find me on social media usually sharing some history funfacts or delivering brief analysis on period dramas I’ve just seen. (I’ve just binge-watched The Last Kingdom, so I probably will say something about it.)
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