Mont Ventoux was introduced to Tour de France in 1951 (one year earlier than Alpe d’Huez and Puy de Dôme). At the first 3 occasions (1951, 1954 and 1955) the peloton crossed the top during mid-race, the first summit finish was organized only in 1958. The 11th stage of Tour de France 1955 started in … Read more
Amsterdam hosted the first Tour de France start abroad in 1954. List of Grand Départs outside of France 1954 Amsterdam (Netherland) 1958 Brussels (Belgium) 1965 Cologne (Germany) 1973 Scheveningen (Netherlands) 1978 Leiden (Netherlands) 1980 Frankfurt (Germany) 1982 Basel (Switzerland) 1987 West Berlin (Germany) 1992 San Sebastián (Spain) 1996 ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) 1998 Dublin (Ireland) 2002 Luxembourg … Read more
Although Louison Bobet is remembered mostly by his three consecutive Tour de France victories (1953, 1954, 1955), he also had some success in the world of one day races. Actually, Louison Bobet won four of the five monuments, he missed only the triumph at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Nevertheless, he attended La Doyenne three times, his best result … Read more
This was the very first time the Grande Depart took place outside of France. The first stage between Amsterdam and Brasschaat was 216 km and won by Wout Wagtmans.
