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Tour de France 1904

Henri Cornet, the younges Tour de France winner ever

Tour de France winners: Henri Cornet (1904)

Henri Cornet (1884-1941), the youngest Tour de France winner ever, had a quite short list of  triumphs. Indeed, besides winning the most famous cycling race, his other big success was his victory at Paris-Roubaix in 1906. Actually Cornet wasn’t the best rider on the roads at the Tour France in 1904. It was Maurice Garin, the winner of the first edition. But the second Tour de France was marred by cheating scandals, and the first four riders of the general classification (Maurice Garin, Lucien Pothier, César Garin, Hippolyte Aucouturier) were disqualified. PLEASE, SUPPORT PELOTONTALES!  If you like PelotonTales blog and want to help me a little to continue the work on this website, please consider… Read More »Tour de France winners: Henri Cornet (1904)

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)

Maurice Garin the winner of the first Tour de France

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