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Tour de France in the Alps

Ottavio Bottecchia on the Col d'Izoard in 13th stage of Tour de France 1925

Ottavio Bottecchia on the Izoard (Tour de France 1925)

Col d’Izoard was introduced to Tour de France in 1922. It seems to have been the new favourite of the organizers, they put it in the program also in the next 5 years. (And it is still one of the most used ascent in the history of Tour de France) Ottavio Bottecchia might have been a surprise newcomer in 1923, when he finished second behind his teammate Henri Pelissier, but his overall victory in the subsequent year, especially the fact, that he was the first cyclist to wear the yellow jersey during the entire race from the very beginning, made him the biggest favourite of Tour de France 1925. Bottecchia started strong in that year… Read More »Ottavio Bottecchia on the Izoard (Tour de France 1925)

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)

Stephen Roche and Pedro Felgado fighting on the Vol de Joux Plane at Tour de France 1987

Col de Joux Plane at the Tour de France

Col de Joux Plane was introduced to Tour de France in 1978.  Since then the race returned to the climb several times.No stage ended at the top, the cyclists always had to ride down, right into Morzine.1978 Christian Seznec (FRA)1980 Mariano Martínez (FRA)1981 Robert Alban (FRA)1982 Peter Winnen (NLD)1983 Jacques Michaud (FRA)1984 Ángel Arroyo (ESP)1987 Eduardo Chozas (ESP)1991 Thierry Claveyrolat (FRA)1997 Marco Pantani (ITA)2000 Richard Virenque (FRA)2006 Floyd Landis (USA) 2016 Jarlinson Pantano (COL)(Leadpicture: Stephen Roche and Pedro Delgado on Col du Joux Plane in 1987) 

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

Program of the 15th stage of Tour de France 2023

Finale of the second week on Mont Blanc (Tour de France 2023 Stage 15)

15th Stage 16 July 2023 Les Gets des Portes du Soleil -Saint Gervais Mont Blanc 179 km LIVE TEXTING DURING THE STAGE CLICK HERE TO REFRESH THE PAGE 1 km to go Wout Poels is going to win the stage. But the big battle is 7 minutes behind. Pogacar still has Yates to setting the pace, Vingegaard is alone. This trio is riding together, all the other GC guys already dropped. Everybody is wating for Pogacar’s attack. 11 km to go Soon the last climb of the day starts. Soler was temporarily dropped, but now he is back. Wout Poels attacks. 30 km to go A trio at the front of the race: Soler, Poels,… Read More »Finale of the second week on Mont Blanc (Tour de France 2023 Stage 15)

Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar (yellow jersey) on the 11 stage of Tour de France 2022

Moments to remember: Jonas Vingegaard takes the yellow jersey

Tour de France returned to the Col du Granon after 36 years and made history again. In 1986, when the climb was included into the program of Tour de France for the very first time, five-time winner Bernard Hinault lost the yellow jersey. His teammate, Greg LeMond took it over and won the general classification that year. The 11th stage of Tour de France 2022 promised great moments from the very beginning of the day, when Wout van Aert (Jumbo -Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) escaped together. What a breakaway duo, everyone said. But since then so many  extraordinary things happened( f. e. Mathieu van der Poel abandoned the race), that these few… Read More »Moments to remember: Jonas Vingegaard takes the yellow jersey

The tourist Fausto Coppi filming Louison Bobrt on the Col d'Izoard at the Tour de France 1953

Fausto Coppi filming Louison Bobet (Tour de France 1953)

Defending champion Fausto Coppi didn’t attend the Tour de France in 1953. He was  rather preparing for the World Championships. However, he trained in the Alps during July. So, he visited the Tour de France as a tourist. During the 1950s, there was a unique  4-man group in the peloton, later called the “G4” by Jean Bobet (Louison’s brother):  Louison Bobet, Fausto Coppi, Hugo Koblet and Ferdi Kübler, the superstar riders with modest origin, who became rich and enjoyed fine clothes, fast cars and the high life of the wealthiests. Coppi knew Louison Bobet quite well, he also knew which stage suits the Frenchman the best. This was the 165 km long etap in the… Read More »Fausto Coppi filming Louison Bobet (Tour de France 1953)