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 was a member of a breakaway group on the 9th stage. They finished the stage with more than nine minutes winning margin and Walter Diggelmann was the winner of the day. Carrea didn’t care much about the aftermath of the race and went back to the hotel. He was totally terrified when he learned that policemen were searching after him. He panicked even more when he was told, that he became the new leader of the general classification. He had to go back for the podium ceremony.
He was weeping during the ceremony and was constantly looking at the audience, searching Coppi’s face. When the Campionissimo congratulated him, Carrea was convinced, that it was only for the show, and he will be punished later in private by his boss.
Of course, no such thing happened, Coppi wasn’t angry at all. He won the next stage arriving on the top of Alpe d’Huez, became race leader and later won his second Tour de France title with the largest winning margin in the history of the race ever.
Andrea Carrea, who remained Coppi’s domestique till the end of their career, outlived his boss with more than a half century.
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