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The winner of the first Tour de France Maurice Garin and other riders at Tour de France 1903

Damaged by its own popularity (Tour de France 1904)

The first edition of the Tour de France in 1903 was a big success. Not only for the L’Auto, which was able to increase its sell numbers but for all the cycling fans in France. But the growing popularity of the event caused some unexpected issues right at the second edition of the race in 1904. The prestige of winning the race was too hight, riders and spectators went totally mad. Some riders were attacked and beaten by the fanatical supporters of other participants. Nails were thrown on the road and even the riders cheated very intensively. Numerous riders were disqualified during the race already, mostly accused of getting lifts in cars and taking illegal… Read More »Damaged by its own popularity (Tour de France 1904)

Crash on Tourmalet Tour de France 1937

Crash on the Tourmalet (Tour de France 1937)

Col du Tourmalet was included in the program of the 15th stage alongside with its good old companies: Col de Peyresourde, Col d’ Aubisque and Col d’Aspen. The 194 km long stage between Luchon and Pau  was won by Julian Berrendero. Sylvére Maes extended his lead in the GC against Roger Lapebie. A few days later the entire Belgian team left the race due to controversies. Lapebie won the Tour de France. FOLLOW PELOTON&TALES ON INSTAGRAM [instagram-feed] RELATED POSTS    Tour de France 1937 Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Sylvère Maes Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Roger Lapébie  

Tour de France iconic moments

Amédée Fournier -Tour de France 1939

Amédée Fournier ‘s only participation in Tour de France was in 1939. He won two stages (1 and 5) and wore the yellow jersey for on day.

moments iconic France de Tour

Josephine Baker visits Tour de France (1936)

The famous French dancer visited the peloton in 1936. This wasn’t the only occasion, she already made an appearance in 1933 on the first stage of the race. Sylvère Maes and especially his namesake Romain Maes surely enjoyed a fanboy moment.    

Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Roger Lapébie

Roger Lapebie was born on the 16th of January 1911 in Bayonne (France). He made his Tour de France debut with a stage win (Stage 12) in 1932. He was part of the French national team again in the two subsequent years. In 1934 he won five stages and finished third in the general classification. Roger Lapebie was infamous for his conflict with Henri Desgrange, the founding father of the Tour de France.  Due to this feud, the cyclist, despite his promising performance, wasn’t selected into the national team, and he rode as an independent rider.  He skipped the race next year. No wonder, that his biggest success, the winning of the Tour de France… Read More »Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Roger Lapébie

Peloton&Tales Iconic Cycling Moments Tour de France 1932

Antonin Magne cheering for André Leducq (Tour de France 1932)

Antonin Magne (Tour de France winner 1931 and 1934) did not attend the Tour de France in 1932, but he visited the race. This was the year when André Leducq won his second Tour de France title. (He was the winner also in 1930) RELATED POSTS  [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”465,386,454″ order=”desc” orderby=”rand”]          

Cycling Who’s Who: Learco Guerra

Learco Guerra was born on the 14 of October 1902 in Bagnolo San Vito, Italy. After a short attempt to be a football player, Guerra turned to road cycling and became professional in 1928.  He was among the top riders of the era both in the peloton of the Grand Tours and the one-day classics. He earned the nickname “Locomotiva Umana” [ Human Locomotive]. Guerra attended the Tour de France twice (1930 and 1933), he finished second in both occasions.  He also won a total of 7 Tour de France stages. He earned much more success at the Giro d’Italia. In 1931 he became the first wearer of the maglia rosa after winning the first… Read More »Cycling Who’s Who: Learco Guerra

Cycling Who’s Who: Jacques Marinelli

Jacques Marinelli was born on the 15th December of 1925 in Blanc-Mesnil, France.  He was a professional rider between 1948 and 1955. He rode the Tour de France six times between 1948 and 1954, his most successful year was 1949 when he was wearing the yellow jersey for six days. That Tour de France was one of the peaks of the rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Marinelli was already leading the general classification when he and Coppi escaped on the 5th staged and crashed. Marinelli could continue the race immediately, but Coppi needed a bike change. The Campionissimo refused to ride any of the spare bikes of the Italian team, he wanted to… Read More »Cycling Who’s Who: Jacques Marinelli

Cycling Who’s Who: Giuseppe Enrici

Giuseppe Enrici was born on the 16 Juni 1894 in Pittsburgh, USA. Although he was born in America, he was an Italian citizen at the time when he won the Giro d’Italia (1924).  He also won two stages that year.  His other results at the Giro: 3rd (1921), 6th (1923) 5th  1926) 13th (1928). He attended several other Italian races mostly with top10  results, but without any other notable victory. Giuseppe Enrici’s professional teams: 1922–1924 Legnano 1925 Armor-Dunlop 1926 Automoto-Hutchinson Giuseppe Enrici died on the 1st September 1968, in Nice, France

Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Gaetano Belloni

Every generation has its “eternal second” rider. During the post WW1 period in Italy, this was Gaetano Belloni. Belloni was born on the 26th of August in 1892 in Pizzighettone, Italy. Before turning professional, he won several races as amateur, including the Italian Championship. There were significantly more races held during the first World War than during the second one, and Belloni participated in many of them. He was avoided to be called to the front after he lost his thumb and forefinger of his right hand when he was working in textile manufacture before becoming a cyclists.  He won the two Italian monuments multiple times (Milano-Sanremo 1917 and 1920, Giro di Lombardia 1915, 1918… Read More »Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Gaetano Belloni