The slowest and the fastest Tour de France
You might wonder which Tour de France edition was the slowest and wich one the fastest. Here you have the answer. The slowest Tour de… Read More »The slowest and the fastest Tour de France
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Road cycling and the two world wars
Road cycling races has been always in an unique position due to the simple fact, that they weren’t held in a separated place, like a stadium, wich must have been approached by the audience, but the events themselves visited the places of the everyday life. Which means there are significantly more stories from the history of the road cycling races related to the two devastating wars in Europe during the 20th century, than in case of other sports.
Just think about the origin of the nickname “Hell of the a North” (Paris-Roubaix).
Indeed, plenty of the one-day races in Western Europe are held nowadays where the infamous strenches stood once. Gent-Wevelgem visits the area every year since 2017 where the famous “Christmas Truce” happened in 1914.
Because active professional cyclists were young and fit men, the wars had a very strong impact on their personal life too. Many of them were killed during the fights.
Others used their tadvanced situation to save innocent lifes.
Cycling and war is an important chapter in the history of road cycling races.
Please scroll down for the posts this category includes.
Tour de France winners died in the First World War
As in almost every part of European life, also in the world of cycling races World War I was a significant watershed. Not only the… Read More »Tour de France winners died in the First World War
28 June 1914 – Last Tour de France before World War I started
On the 28th of June 1914, Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated. A month later the First World War broke out. When… Read More »28 June 1914 – Last Tour de France before World War I started
The years of La Sportive consortium (1919- 1921)
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)
Tour de France winners died in the Great War
During World War I, also known as “the Great War”, many cyclists were involved in the fights. Some of them losts their lives. Among the death casualities of the international cyclists community there were three former Tour de France winners. Read More »Tour de France winners died in the Great War
Sentenced to death and almost executed – twice!
Paul Deman was the first winner of the Ronde van Vlaanderen (1913). During the WW1 he was working as a courier for underground resistance movements… Read More »Sentenced to death and almost executed – twice!