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Tour de France 1952

Legenday Tour de France mountian Alpe d'Huez first hilltop finish 1952 Fausto Coppi and Jean Robic riding together

Alpe d’Huez, the instant classic

There is a simple reason, why Alpe d’Huez was introduced to the Tour de France only in 1952, while the race visited the Alps since 1911 frequently: there is only one way up to the top, hence the stage must be finished there. But the concept of a hilltop finish wasn’t born yet. Indeed, the 10th stage in 1952, finishing on Alpe d’Huez was the first time in the history of Tour de France, when the riders crossed the finish line on the top of a climb and not in a town in a valley nearby. Thanks to the new experience, both for the riders and the audience, Alpe d’Huez became a big hit instantly.… Read More »Alpe d’Huez, the instant classic

Fausto Coppi at the Tour de France 1952

Puy de Dôme first time at the Tour de France (1952)

1952 was an extraordinary year in the history of Tour de France, not only because the terrific performance of Fausto Coppi. But also, it was the first time, when a Tour de France stage ended on the top of the ascent: this was the legendary debut of Alpe d’Huez. The program of the 39th Tour de France included a total of three summit finishes. Besides Alpe d’Huez (10th stage) and Sestriere (11th stage),the peloton also visited Puy de Dome (21st stage) for the very first time.The first conquerer of the summit was Fausto Coppi, who won all three hilltop finish stages that year. He dominated the race so much, that after the 11th stage the organizers… Read More »Puy de Dôme first time at the Tour de France (1952)

Legenday Tour de France mountian Alpe d'Huez first hilltop finish 1952 Fausto Coppi and Jean Robic riding together

The first hilltop finish of Tour de France

Although smaller climbs were parts of the program since the beginning, and both the Pyrenees (1910) and the Alps (1911) were intruduced to the race during the pre-WW1 period,  there were no hilltop finishes at the Tour de France till 1952. Alpe d’Huez ( in the Western Alps)  was a ski station in the first half of the 20th century. But a local artist, Jean Barbaglia had the idea, that it would be a great place for a cycling race too. He persuaded one of the hotel owners to lobby the Tour de France organizers: it migh be worth to try something new out. Up to Alpe d’Huez there was only one road, therefore a… Read More »The first hilltop finish of Tour de France

Cycling Who’s Who: Jean Robic

Tour de France winner Jean Robic was born on the 10th of June in 1921 in Vouziers, France. His professional career started in the middle of the  2nd World War in 1943. In 1944 he finished Paris-Roubaix with a fractured skull. After this event, he started wearing a leather helmet which became later something like his trademark.  Journalists gave him several nicknames during his almost two-decade-long career, one of them was “Tête de cuir” ( a. k. a “leather-head”) Due to his shortness and skinny body type (160 cm /60 kg) he was underestimated in his early active years, especially before the Tour de France in 1947. He was selected only for a regional team,… Read More »Cycling Who’s Who: Jean Robic

Fausto Coppi & Andrea Carrera

The humble domestique gets in trouble

The Tour de France in 1952 was all about Fausto Coppi. The Campionissimo dominated the race to such an extent, that the organizers had to double the prize money for the second place to make the competition less boring. But Coppi took the yellow jersey only after his triumph on Alpe d’Huez.  On the day, when the peloton climbed the famous ascent for the very first time, another Italian wore the famous dress. Andrea Carrea (1924-2013) was a professional cyclist between 1948 and 1958. He was Fausto Coppi’s domestique,  of whom he was famously in awe.  This situation led to one of the most curious moments in the history of the Tour de France. Carrea… Read More »The humble domestique gets in trouble