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Fedrico Bahamontes solo on the Galibier on the 19th stage of Tour de France 1954

Federico Bahamontes on the Galibier (Tour de France 1954)

Federico Bahamontes rode Tour de France for the very first time in 1954. Of course, the real race for him started in the Pyrenees. On the 12th stage, which included Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde, he arrived at the finish with Jean Malléjac and Gilbert Bauvin, who won the stage with 1 sec ahead of Bahamontes, and claimed the yellow jersey. Bahamontes was already active on the previous stage (including Aubisque), he collected enough mountain points to lead the KOM competition. On the 17th stage, on the top of the Romeyere in the Alps, he had to wait for his team car, because he didn’t dare to start the descent with a battered wheel. While he… Read More »Federico Bahamontes on the Galibier (Tour de France 1954)

For the first time in Tour de France history Col du Galibier is climbed in the 5th stage at Tour de France 1911

10 July 1911 The first mountain stage in the Alps at Tour de France

After the introduction of the Pyrenees to the race in 1910, the next big challenge of Tour de France was how to include the “giants of the Alps” into the program.  The story behind using Galibier, Thelegraphe, Aravis, and Lautarer was far less dramatic than the organizers’ first encounter with Col du Tourmalet. Nevertheless, the 5th stage of Tour de France 1911 between Chamonix and Grenoble was 366 km long and it took 13 hours and 35 minutes for stage winner Émile Georget to finish it. Paul Duboc was 15 minutes, Gustave Garrigou, the leader of the general classification 26 minutes behind him. (Please note, this was the time, between 1905 and 1912, when the… Read More »10 July 1911 The first mountain stage in the Alps at Tour de France

Italian two-time Tour de France winner and one of the greatest legends Gino Bartali climbing the Alps at Tour de France 1937

7 July 1937 Gino Bartali takes the yellow jersey for the very first time

Gino Bartali was already a two-time Giro d’Italia winner (1936 and 1937) when he first entered Tour de France in the summer of 1937.The years before World War II witnessed the growing political-military tension in Europe. In 1936, the year when Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles (1919) by sending troops into the demilitarized Rhineland, Germany and Italy boycotted Tour de France. But in 1937 they were back again. Fascist leaders are usually obsessed with sport successes, and the prototype of all  modern fascists leaders, Benito Mussolini was not different. He wanted an Italian Tour de France victory. ((At this time, Italy had already a Tour de France winner cyclist, two-time champion (1924 and 1925)… Read More »7 July 1937 Gino Bartali takes the yellow jersey for the very first time

Fedrico Bahamontes solo on the Galibier on the 19th stage of Tour de France 1954

Federico Bahamontes on the Galibier (Tour de France 1954)

Federico Bahamontes rode Tour de France for the very first time in 1954. He was picked for the Tour 1954 by Julián Berredero, the director of the Spanish team (and King of the Mountains 1936) in previous summer already. The real race for Bahamontes started in the Pyrenees.  On the 12th stage, which included Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde, he arrived at the finish with Jean Malléjac and Gilbert Bauvin, who won the stage with 1 sec ahead of Bahamontes, and claimed the yellow jersey. Bahamontes was already active on the previous stage (including Aubisque), he collected enough mountain points to lead the KOM competition. IF YOU LIKE PELOTONTALES BLOG, PLEASE SUPPORT IT WITH A SMALL… Read More »Federico Bahamontes on the Galibier (Tour de France 1954)