Col d'Izoard was introduced to Tour de France in 1922. It seems to have been the new favourite of the organizers, they put it in the program also in the next 5 years. (And it is still one of the most used ascent in the history of Tour de France)
Ottavio Bottecchia might have been a surprise newcomer in 1923, when he finished second behind his teammate Henri Pelissier, but his overall victory in the subsequent year, especially the fact, that he was the first cyclist to wear the yellow jersey during the entire race from the very beginning, made him the biggest favourite of Tour de France 1925.
Bottecchia started strong in that year either, but for a few days Adelin Benoït took over the lead in feneral classification. He even won a hard stage including. Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde. But in the 9th stage, another hard day in the Pyrenees, he dropped, and
Bottecchia jumped in the first position again.
And he never gave it away. He won his second Tour de France.
The 13th stage, including Allos, Vars, and Izoard, was held on the 9th July 1925, went from Nice to Briançon. (Don't forget, before 1952, when Alpe d'Huez was introduced to the race, there was no hilltop finish, not even in the Alps or Pyrenees). Bartolomeo Aymo won the stage, Ottavio Bottecchia finished second. In the general classification he was more than 20 minutes ahead of Nicolas Franz. When Frantz dropped in the next stage (Galibier, Aravis including) the gap between Bottecchia and the new second in GC, Aymo was almos one hour.
Ottavio Bottecchia came back to Tour de France again in 1926, but he had to abandon the race in the hardest stage of Tour de France ever.
Tragically, he never had the opportunity to compete Tour de France again. He was attacked and seriously beaten during training on 3rd June 1927. He died in the hospital two weeks later.
Although there are several theories what happened to him exactly (f. e. who killed him), the whole truth about his dead was never clarified.
Miguel Angel Lopez conquers Col de la Loze (Tour de France retrospective -TDF 2020)
Col de la Loze was introduced to Tour de France in the 17th stage in 2020. The day delivered a Pog&Rog Show, a Lopez solo and a suddenly disappearing Bahrain-McLaren “suicide squad”. The 2 minutes gap between the three breakaway riders (Julian Alaphilippe, Richard Carapaz, Gorka Izagirre) and the peloton at foot of the 21… Read More »Miguel Angel Lopez conquers Col de la Loze (Tour de France retrospective -TDF 2020)
20 July 1986 Tour de France visits Col du Granon
The 190 km long stage between Gap and Serre Chevalier included Col du Vars, Col d’Izoard and it was the first time the race visited Col du Granon. Before the stage Bernard Hinault (La Vie Claire) led the general classification, but he dropped on the Col d’Izoard. He was suffering from an old knee injury.… Read More »20 July 1986 Tour de France visits Col du Granon
19 July 1977 Lucien Van Impe ‘s crash on Alpe d’Huez
Thank you for being a devoted reader of PelotonTales. You are the reason why it’s worth spending so many hours to create new content and trying to improve this website. If you would show appreciation to my work, please consider supporting the blog with a small donation. Thank you! One of the oddest images from… Read More »19 July 1977 Lucien Van Impe ‘s crash on Alpe d’Huez
9 July 1963 – Fernando Manzaneque’s stage victory in the Alps
Fernando Manzaneque’s victory in the 16th stage of Tour de France 1963 isn’t intirguing because of some relation to the overall competition, but because it happened among rather extraordinary circumstances. Snow at the Tour de France is rare, but not impossible. During the 120 years of Tour de France history it happened a few times.… Read More »9 July 1963 – Fernando Manzaneque’s stage victory in the Alps
8 July 1996 Bjarne Riis wins a shortened stage in the Alps
Road cycling is an outdoor sport, obviously, and weather conditions can cause somet8mes trouble even at events with big prestige like Tour de France. This happened in the 9th stage in 1996. The day started in Le-Monétier-les-Bains, the route was originally 176 km long. But due to the over 100km/h strong wind it must have… Read More »8 July 1996 Bjarne Riis wins a shortened stage in the Alps
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 »Cyclists meet a local inhabitant during Tour de France 1925
Faces from the peloton: Jules Deloffre, “the acrobat cyclist”
Undoubtedly, there were plenty of cyclists with unique stories in the peloton in the first few decades of road cycling races. These atlethes were not necessarily successful riders or didn’t become the bigest stars of their days, but yet, their stories are worth to be told. Actually, if we are looking deeper into the well… Read More »Faces from the peloton: Jules Deloffre, “the acrobat cyclist”
Ottavio Bottecchia on the Izoard (Tour de France 1925)
Col d’Izoard was introduced to Tour de France in 1922. It seems to have been the new favourite of the organizers, they put it in the program also in the next 5 years. (And it is still one of the most used ascent in the history of Tour de France) Ottavio Bottecchia might have been… Read More »Ottavio Bottecchia on the Izoard (Tour de France 1925)
Three riders in yellow jersey in the peloton at once
I really wish there was somewhere a coloured picture of three cyclists wearing yellow jersey at the same time. A unique situation that would deserve a visual representation. But unfortunatelly, there are only few pictures about Tour de France 1929 out there. Nevertheless, this particular edition of Tour de France was notable also for another… Read More »Three riders in yellow jersey in the peloton at once
Snow at Tour de France 1923
Snow at Tour de France is quite rare, but not impossible, as the image of Hector Heusghem at Tour de France 1923 proves. Belgian cyclist Hector Heusghem (1890-1982) was active as professional cyclist between 1912 and 1925. His best result at Tour de France was 2nd position both in 1920 and 1921. In 1922 he… Read More »Snow at Tour de France 1923