cycling history

Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Philippe Thys

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Philippe Thys the first 3-time Tour de France winner

The first 3-time winner of the Tour de France, Philippe Thys was born in Anderlecht on the 8th  of October 1889. He won the first Belgian cyclo-cross championship (1910)  and some road stage races before he turned professional. Also, he was the best independent rider at the Tour de France in 1911. Philippe Thys won … Read more

2 July 1963 Jacques Anquetil won the stage in the Pyrenees (Tour de France)

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This was Anquetil first ever mountain stage victory at the Tour de France, although he has already won the race three times.   

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29 June 1913 The 11th Tour de France started

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Tour de France 1913

The race was 5,287 km long divided into 15 stages. It was held between 29 June and 27 July 1913. The Belgian Philippe Thys triumphed at the end, he also won Stage 6 ( Bayonne to Luchon) which included Tourmalet. This was the race when the fork of the extreme unlucky Eugene Christophe’s bike broke, … Read more

Mini Cycling Who’s Who: René Pottier

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René Pottier was probably the finest climber of the early years of Tour de France. He was born in 1879 in Moret-sur-Loing, Seine-et-Marne. In 1903 he won Bordeaux-Paris and had also several other podium results (f. e. at Paris-Roubaix). Pottier attended the Tour de France only 2 times, in 1905 and 1906. The first time … Read more

4 June 1965 Cima Coppi Was Introduced

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Every year the highest peak of the Giro d’Italia is called “Cima Coppi”, in honour of the great cyclist Fausto Coppi (1919-1960). In the inauguration year, the highest peak of the route was Passo dello Stelvio. The race was a real spectacle due to the heavy snowfall. Graziano Battistini crossed the finish line first on … Read more