Faces from the peloton: Victor Fontan (1892-1982)

A cyclist running while carrying his bike on his shoulder. Surely, you’ve seen this vintage cycling image several times. Now it’s time to learn a bit more about the protagonist of the picture. Victor Fontan (1892-1982) in the Faces from the peloton series of PelotonTales blog. A local rider World War I (as did World … Read more

Georges Speicher at Paris-Roubaix 1935

Although  Paris-Roubaix in 1936 was more important in the career of  Tour de France winner (1933) cyclist Georges Speicher, one of the most popular funny vintage cycling images from the good old days of road cycling was taken one year earlier.Georges Speicher (1907-1978) was a French rider, the first cyclist who won Tour de France … Read more

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

Vuelta winners: Gustaaf Deloor

Gustaaf Deloor, the winner of the first Vuelta a Espana with his brother, Alfons Deloor

Vuelta Ciclista a España (or just La Vuelta), the third three-week race of the road cycling season is also the youngest grand tour. The first edition was held in 1935. The race started on 29th April, included 14 stages and finished on the 15th of May. Only 50 cyclists entered the event and 29 finished. … Read more

Robert Jacquinot having a meal in a café (Tour de France 1922)

Vintage cycling image of the day: Robert Jacquinot having a meal during the Tour de France in 1922

The close proximity to the everyday life has always been one of the most intriguing essencial features of road cycling races. Since the beginning of the multi-staged cycling events, the riders usually had to organize to have proper food during the race. It wasn’t that difficult, because usually coffeehouses hosted the mid-stage checkpoints. Also, the … Read more