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.… Read More »The first individual time trial at Tour de France
The 1949 Tour de France marked a high point in the legendary rivalry between two Italian cycling icons, Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi. Bartali had… Read More »Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali during Tour de France 1949
Defining historical events of the 20th century often left their marks on road cycling history. Just think about, for istance, the impact of World War… Read More »When Tour de France went abroad before 1914
Although Henri Desgrange was always keen to preserve Tour de France as a competition for individuals1, cyclists who were sponsored by the same bicycle manufacture… Read More »The years of La Sportive consortium (1919- 1921)
Henri Pépin was neither an eccentric aristocrat, nor a rookie cyclist when he hired two other persons to join him to ride the Tour de… Read More »The Tour de France contestant who hired two other cyclists just for having fun
Since the introduction of the yellow jersey in 1919, there were only two cyclists to win the race with taking the first place in the… Read More »Winning the Tour de France without wearing the yellow jersey
The first decades of history of Tour de France are full with extraordinary stories. One of them is the story of the cyclist with a… Read More »Faces from the peloton: the cyclist with a glass eye
There is a story about Louis Trousselier (1881-1939), the winner of Tour de France in 1905, that’s makes him one of those very characteristic protagonists… Read More »Tour de France winners: Louis Trousselier (1905)
The first Tour de France without Henri Desgrange in charge since the creation of the event in 1903 didn’t go down well in the history… Read More »The most scandalous Tour de France ever
The cyclist, who is mostly remembered by being poisoned at the Tour de France in 1911. Paul Duboc (1884-1941) competed as a professional rider between… Read More »Faces from the peloton: Paul Duboc (1884-1941)