Robert Jacquinot having a meal in a café (Tour de France 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 stars of the big-budget professional teams shouldn’t have to worry about this, because they have special crew for the task.

Robert Jacquinot having a meal at aTour de France 1922

And yet, it was a common thing during the first few decades of road cyclig, that cyclists had their meal in a place crowed with excited spectators, who came to see the competitors.

The picture of Robert Jacquinot (1893-1980) having a meal in a café was taken on the 5th stage of Tour de France 1922.

Jacquinot competed the Tour de France seven times between 1919 and 1925, but finished only once (1923).

However, he had some smaller successes: he managed to wear the yellow jersey for 3 days in 1922 (he lost his leading position on the 4th stage) and for one day in 1923.


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