5 facts about Tour de France 1903
The first Tour de France started at 3 pm on the 1st of July in 1903 from the Café au Reveil Matin (Paris).
Home »
Tour de France 1903
1 July 1903 The first Tour de France started
The first Tour de France was held between 1 and 18 July 1903, included only 6 stages. (However, the complete route was 2428 km long.)60 riders started and 21 finished the race.The fist Tour de France was won by Maurice Garin.
Green armband for the leader of the general classification
The legendary yellow jersey was introduced to Tour de France only in 1919. But already during the first edition of the race there was a sign distinguishing the leader of the general classification from other participants: a green armband. Maurice Garin led the general classification from the very first stage and later won the race. MORE TOUR DE FRANCE FROM THE EARLY YEARS [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”380″ order=”desc”] MORE CYCLING FUN FACTS [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”425″ order=”desc”]
From Garin to Catteau – top10 cyclists of Tour de France 1903
Surely, most cycling fans know, that Maurice Garin won the first Tour de France in 1903. But have you ever wonder, who else were in the top ten of the first edition? This post might answer your question. 1. Maurice Garin (1871-1957) One of the stars of the early years of road cycling races. Read more>> 2 .Lucien Pothier (1883-1957) Notable French cyclist from the turn of the century. His second place at Tour de France 1903 was his best result. He was among the disqualified riders next year. There is a rather funny anecdote about him and François Faber: in 1903 they supposed to ride the one-day race Bordeaux-Paris, but on the night prior… Read More »From Garin to Catteau – top10 cyclists of Tour de France 1903
The Tour de France stage, that started at 9 pm
In the early days of road cycling races, when the courses were over 300 km long or even longer and the riders sat in the saddle for a half a day (or even longer), it was usual, that the race started in the middle of the night or very early at dawn. It was the case also at the first Tour de France in 1903, but the last stage (6th stage, 471 km between Nantes and Paris) started even earlier than usual: previous day at 9 pm. The stage, as the general classification of the race was won by Maurice Garin. MORE ABOUT THE FIRST TOUR DE FRANCE [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”51″ order=”desc”] MORE TOUR… Read More »The Tour de France stage, that started at 9 pm
Tour de France winners: Maurice Garin (1903)
Maurice Garin (1871-1957), the winner of the first Tour de France became a professional cyclist only accidentally. Garin was racing as amateur already (he won his first race in 1893), when he decided to start at a race near to his hometown. He learned only at the start of the race, that this was an event for professionals. He waited till the pro riders departed, rode after them and won the race. Since the organisers refused to pay him the prize money, the spectators raised the double sum of the original prize. When the first Tour de France was held, Maurice Garin was already a star working with a professional crew. It was their job… Read More »Tour de France winners: Maurice Garin (1903)
Iconic vintage image of the day: the start of the first Tour de France
There is a café in the Parisian suburb Mortgeon, that witnessed cycling history in 1903. Cafés played an important role in the early years of Tour de France helping to organise the races. On the afternoon of 1 July 1903, people gathered on the street in front of the café Au Reveil Matin‘s building: the first Tour de France was ready to start. Originally 78 riders signed up to the race, and 60 of them appeared at the startline. Some of them used pseudonyms, like the Belgian Julien Lootens, who signed up as “Samson”. The first stage of the Tour de France started at 3:16 pm. It was 467 km long and finished in Lyon. Stage winner… Read More »Iconic vintage image of the day: the start of the first Tour de France
Faces from the peloton: the cyclist called Samson
At the turn of the century, when Tour de France was born, the tiny little details of a sport event could tell much more about the society than nowadays. Bicycle was quite a democratic new vehicle in sense of every social class has found its own joy in it. But mostly in the bourgeoisie, the urban middle and upper middle class, the bicycle craze faced some rigid rules. Even Henri Desgrange, the strict founding father of Tour de France, was told in his younger years, that arriving to the workplace on a bicycle is considered as inappropiate for a clerk. He rather quit his job and focused entirely on cycling. Also, at the start of… Read More »Faces from the peloton: the cyclist called Samson
19 July 1903 Maurice Garin wins the first Tour de France
The first Tour de France started with 60 riders on the 1st of July in 1903. After six stages (a total of 2428 km) only 21 cyclists arrived in the Parc de Princes velodrome in Paris. Maurice Garin won the first stage already and remained in leading position untill the end of the race.
Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Maurice Garin
Maurice Garin, the winner of the first Tour de France was born on the 3rd of marc 1871 in Arvier, Aosta Valley, Italy. Garin became a professional rider by chance. He was already racing as an amateur (he won his first race in 1893) when he decided to ride a race nearby his home. He learned only at the start, that this event was only for professionals. He waited until the official participants departed and rode after them. Although he fell twice, he passed all the professional riders and won the race. But organisers refused to pay him the prize for the victory, so the spectators raised money (twice as much as the original prize… Read More »Mini Cycling Who’s Who: Maurice Garin