5 facts about Tour de France 1903
The first Tour de France started at 3 pm on the 1st of July in 1903 from the Café au Reveil Matin (Paris).
Tour de France winners: Louis Trousselier (1905)
There is a story about Louis Trousselier (1881-1939), the winner of Tour de France in 1905, that’s makes him one of those very characteristic protagonists of the early days of road cycling races: he lost all his prize money earned during the Tour de France by playing dice with friends on the night of his… Read More »Tour de France winners: Louis Trousselier (1905)
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,… Read More »Tour de France winners: Henri Cornet (1904)
Tour de France winners: Maurice Garin (1903)
Maurice Garin (1871-1957), the winner of the first Tour de France became a professional cyclist only accidentally. Garin was racing as amateur already (he won his first race in 1893), when he decided to start at a race near to his hometown. He learned only at the start of the race, that this was an… Read More »Tour de France winners: Maurice Garin (1903)
Giro d’ Italia -Tour de France doubles
Fausto Coppi was the first rider to win the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same year (1949) In 2024, 26 years after Marco Pantani’s double victory, Tadej Pogacar managed to win both Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same year. The list of the riders Fausto Coppi (ITA) 1949… Read More »Giro d’ Italia -Tour de France doubles
The slowest and the fastest Tour de France
You might wonder which Tour de France edition was the slowest and wich one the fastest. Here you have the answer. The slowest Tour de France was the 13th edition, held between 29th June and 27 July in 1919. The 5560 km long route of the race was divided into 15 stages. (And it wasn’t… Read More »The slowest and the fastest Tour de France
Tour de France editions without previous winners in the peloton
During its 120-year long history, it happened only three times, when the peloton of Tour de France did not includ any previous winner. Obviously, in 1903 there couldn’t be any, because it was the very first edition. In 1927, it seems to have been a generational change in the peloton of Tour de France. Several… Read More »Tour de France editions without previous winners in the peloton
Lanterne rouge – list of the last cyclists of every Tour de France
They used to say history remembers only the winners. Fortunately this is not the case of Tour de France history. The last ones, the receivers of the famous lanterne rouge get enough attention too. Lanterne rouge is an actual red lamp used to be served to the last rider of the race as some of… Read More »Lanterne rouge – list of the last cyclists of every Tour de France
8 stage victories during a single Tour de France edition
There are only three riders who managed to win eight stages during a single Tour de France edition. One of them is Eddy Merckx, of course. He achieved it twice, in 1970 and 1974. The other two cyclists are Charles Pelissier (1930) and Freddy Maertens (1976). Charles Pelissier (1930) Charles Pelissier, the youngest brother in… Read More »8 stage victories during a single Tour de France edition
Most days in yellow jersey
The iconic yellow jersey of Tour de France was introduced to the race in 1919. Eugène Christophe was the first rider to wear it. Of course, on the top of the list there are those riders, who won 5 times the Tour de France. Also, there are cyclists, like Fabian Cancellara or René Vietto, who… Read More »Most days in yellow jersey
Horquette d’Ancizan at Tour de France
Horquette d’Ancizan has a short history regarding its appearances at Tour de France. 2022 Thibaut Pinot (FRA) 2019 Simon Yates (GBR) 2016 Chris Froome (GBR) 2013 Daniel Martin (IRL) 2011 Laurent Mangel (FRA) Horquette d’Ancizan will part of the program Tour de France 2024.
Col de Menté at Tour de France
Unfortunately, Col de Menté, a mountain pass in the central Pyrenees is well-known because of the tragic stories happened there during the Tour de France. In 1971, a nasty crash on the descent of Col de Menté ended Luis Ocaña’s dreams of winning the Tour de France that year. (Nevertheless, Ocaña managed to win Tour… Read More »Col de Menté at Tour de France
Col d’Allos at Tour de France
Col d’Allos was part of the program of Tour de France since the race visited the Alps for the very first time in 1911. Especially during the 1920s and the 1930s was very popular. In the second half of the 20th century it was used muvh more rarely. 1911: François Faber 1912: Octave Lapize 1913: … Read More »Col d’Allos at Tour de France
Plateau de Beille at Tour de France
Plateau de Beille, located in the Pyrenees, is a realtively newcomer in the world of Tour de France climbs. It was introduced to the race in 1998, the first rider on the top was Marco Pantani. List of riders winning a stage up to Plateau de Beille 2015 Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) 2011 Jelle Vanendert (BEL)… Read More »Plateau de Beille at Tour de France
Pla d’Adet at Tour de France
Raymond Poulidor was the first conquerer of the Pla d’Adet, an ascent located in the Pyrenees, in the 16th stage of Tour de France 1974 Lucien Van Impe is the only rider to win a Tour de France stage finishing on the Pla d’Adet twice. First time he won, he also took the yellow jersey. … Read More »Pla d’Adet at Tour de France
Every time Tour de France started abroad
Tour de France 2024 will start in Florence (Italy). Although the race visited neigbour countries before the First World War already, the tradition of starting the first stage of Tour de France abroad dated back to 1954 only, when the Grand Départ took place in Amsterdam (Netherland) One of the most uniqe occasions was the… Read More »Every time Tour de France started abroad
When Tour de France visited Italy
In 2024, for the first time in its history, Tour de France will start from Italy. But the race visited already the neighbour country several times already. Of course, mostly during mountain stages in the Alps. Take a look at the list of occasions. 1948 Marseille — San Remo (Gino Sciardis) 1949 Briançon – Aoste… Read More »When Tour de France visited Italy
Most days in Tour de France’s white jersey
As Tadej Pogacar says goodbye to the white jersey, because next year he will be too old for the competition (they all grow up, don’t they? even two-time Tour de France champions), let’s take a look at the list of riders spent most days in the jersey.The withe jersey was introduced to the Tour de… Read More »Most days in Tour de France’s white jersey
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… Read More »Col de Joux Plane at the Tour de France
Miguel Angel Lopez conquers Col de la Loze (Tour de France retrospective -TDF 2020)
Col de la Loze was introduced to Tour de France in the 17th stage in 2020. The day delivered a Pog&Rog Show, a Lopez solo and a suddenly disappearing Bahrain-McLaren “suicide squad”. The 2 minutes gap between the three breakaway riders (Julian Alaphilippe, Richard Carapaz, Gorka Izagirre) and the peloton at foot of the 21… Read More »Miguel Angel Lopez conquers Col de la Loze (Tour de France retrospective -TDF 2020)
20 July 1986 Tour de France visits Col du Granon
The 190 km long stage between Gap and Serre Chevalier included Col du Vars, Col d’Izoard and it was the first time the race visited Col du Granon. Before the stage Bernard Hinault (La Vie Claire) led the general classification, but he dropped on the Col d’Izoard. He was suffering from an old knee injury.… Read More »20 July 1986 Tour de France visits Col du Granon
19 July 1977 Lucien Van Impe ‘s crash on Alpe d’Huez
Thank you for being a devoted reader of PelotonTales. You are the reason why it’s worth spending so many hours to create new content and trying to improve this website. If you would show appreciation to my work, please consider supporting the blog with a small donation. Thank you! One of the oddest images from… Read More »19 July 1977 Lucien Van Impe ‘s crash on Alpe d’Huez
9 July 1963 – Fernando Manzaneque’s stage victory in the Alps
Fernando Manzaneque’s victory in the 16th stage of Tour de France 1963 isn’t intirguing because of some relation to the overall competition, but because it happened among rather extraordinary circumstances. Snow at the Tour de France is rare, but not impossible. During the 120 years of Tour de France history it happened a few times.… Read More »9 July 1963 – Fernando Manzaneque’s stage victory in the Alps
8 July 1996 Bjarne Riis wins a shortened stage in the Alps
Road cycling is an outdoor sport, obviously, and weather conditions can cause somet8mes trouble even at events with big prestige like Tour de France. This happened in the 9th stage in 1996. The day started in Le-Monétier-les-Bains, the route was originally 176 km long. But due to the over 100km/h strong wind it must have… Read More »8 July 1996 Bjarne Riis wins a shortened stage in the Alps
Climbing Col d’Allos at Tour de France 1914 -Vintage cycling image of the day
Tour de France 1914 started on the same day, 28th June, as the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg were assassinated in Sarajevo. When the riders lined up in the middle of the nigh for the start of the first stage in Paris, they knew nothing about that this day… Read More »Climbing Col d’Allos at Tour de France 1914 -Vintage cycling image of the day
Fernando Manzaneque on the Col d’Iseran (Tour de France 1963)
Snow at the Tour de France? Yes, it happens sometimes, especially, when the race visits such high places like Col d’Iseran in the Alps. In the 16th stage of Tour de France 1963, the peloton visited the Alps. It was a 202 km long stage between Grenoble and Val d’Isere, including Col de la Croix… Read More »Fernando Manzaneque on the Col d’Iseran (Tour de France 1963)
Antonin Magne on the Aubisque (Tour de France 1931)
The Col d’Aubisque is a true veteran among the iconic ascents of the Pyrenees, steeped in cycling history and tradition. This legendary climb has been a fixture in the Tour de France since 1910, when the race ventured into the high mountains for the very first time.
17 July 1951 Wim van Est’s crash on the Aubisque
On the 12th stage of Tour de France 1951 Wim van Est escaped with a small group, won the stage and took the lead in the general classification. He was the first Dutchman to wear the yellow jersey. Next day the peloton arrived in the Pyrenees. The 201 km 13th long stage between Dax and… Read More »17 July 1951 Wim van Est’s crash on the Aubisque
16 July 1985 Pedro Delgado wins on Luz Ardiden
The 17th stage of Tour de France in 1985 between Toulouse and Luz Ardiden was 209,5 km long and included also Aspin and Tourmalet. This was the very first time, that the race visited Luz Ardiden. Apparently, the main reason to include the climb into the program was its photogenic landscape. Bernard Hinault (La Vie… Read More »16 July 1985 Pedro Delgado wins on Luz Ardiden
12-13 July 1971 José Manuel Fuente’s back to back stage victories in the Pyrenees
Although José Manuel Fuente considered one of the greatest climbers of all time, it might be a vit surprising, that he won only two stages at Tour de France. Both of them in 1971. This was Fuentes’s very first Tour de France, and he showed a cery good form, also an attack-friendly behaviour. In the… Read More »12-13 July 1971 José Manuel Fuente’s back to back stage victories in the Pyrenees
12 July 1971 – Luis Ocana’s crash on Col de Menté
Luis Ocaña was considered one of the favourites of Tour de France 1971. after his stellar performance on Orciere-Merlette in the 11. stage he became THE favorite of the race. Ocaña led the general classification with more than 8 minutes ahead of Joop Zoetemelk, while defending champion Eddy Merckx rode more than 9 minutes behind.… Read More »12 July 1971 – Luis Ocana’s crash on Col de Menté
10 July 1976 Lucien Van Impe takes the yellow jersey at Tour de France
Lucien Van Impe was second in the general classification with 2 ‘ 41″ behind Raymond Delisle before the 14th stage of Tour de France 1976. The program of the day on the 10th of July 1976 was a 139 km long route in the Pyrenees between Saint-Gaudens and Saint-Larry-Soulan, including Col de Menté, Col du… Read More »10 July 1976 Lucien Van Impe takes the yellow jersey at Tour de France
Horquette d’Ancizan at Tour de France
Horquette d’Ancizan has a short history regarding its appearances at Tour de France. 2022 Thibaut Pinot (FRA) 2019 Simon Yates (GBR) 2016 Chris Froome (GBR) 2013 Daniel Martin (IRL) 2011 Laurent Mangel (FRA) Horquette d’Ancizan will part of the program Tour de France 2024.