cycling in snow

Bernard Hinault’s epic solo ride in the snow (Liège-Bastogne-Liège 1980)

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French cycling legend Bernard Hinault riding in the snow at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1980.

On the afternoon of the 20th April 1980, while a little girl, called Anita Pethő ( the author of PelotonTales blog) was born in a small town in North-West Hungary, on the other part of Europe, in Belgium, Bernard Hinault delivered one of the most iconic victories in the history of the Monuments. Snow can … Read more

Fernando Manzaneque on the Col d’Iseran (Tour de France 1963)

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Fernando Manzaneque on the Col d'Iseran at the Tour de France 1963

Snow at the Tour de France? Yes, it happens sometimes, especially, when the race visits such high places like Col d’Iseran in the Alps. In the 16th stage of Tour de France 1963, the peloton visited the Alps. It was a 202 km long stage between Grenoble and Val d’Isere, including Col de la Croix … Read more

Snow at Tour de France 1923

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Belgian cyclist Hector Heusghem is refreshing himself with snow at the Tiur de France in 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

Cycling in snow

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Italian cycling legend Fausto Coppi riding between two big snow walls on Stelvio in 1952

Road cycling is not a winter sport. But sometimes -especially in the high mountains  – winter visits road cycling events in the form of snow. Images of cyclists struggling through the snow are usually fit into the narrativa of road cycling races being heroic and epic. Fausto Coppi, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and all the … Read more

Gustaaf Deloor and Roger Riviére were your favourite cyclists on week 47 in 2022

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

Most popular posts from the history of road cycling on PelotonTales during the previous week Roger Riviére, the  talented cyclist with a tragically short professional career Rivière, who already competed the Tour de France previous year (and won a stage), was a careless kind of a talent. When he made his move on the 6th … Read more

Charly Gaul on the Monte Bondone (Giro d’Italia 1956)

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Iconic snow images at the Giro d'Italia Charly Gaul on the Monte Bondone 1956

Cycling in extreme weather: Charly Gaul on the famous stage 20 up to Monte Bondone at the Giro d’Italia 1956   Race director Vincenzo Torriani was asked to cancel the stage due to the rough weather conditions were forecasted. But he declined it, he may have thought, this could make the unexciting race exciting again. … Read more

Aldo Moser on the Stelvio (Giro d’Italia 1965)

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Passo dello Stelvio (Stelvio Pass) is a 2757 m high pass in the Alps. The ascent was introduced to the Giro d’Italia in 1953. That stage was won by Fausto Coppi

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