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Tour de France the early years (1903-1914)

Iconic moments, legendary cyclists, stories from the first decade of Tour de France history. From the first Tour de France started in 1903. Peloton&Tales blogposts about the early years in the history of Tour de France.

French cyclist Henri Pépin on a magazin portrait from 1894

The Tour de France contestant who hired two other cyclists just for having fun

Henri Pépin was neither an eccentric aristocrat, nor a rookie cyclist when he hired two other persons to join him to ride the Tour de France just for fun. Pépin (1864-1915) was an active cyclist in the 19th century already. He even published a book about him and (possibly) his son riding a tandem from Paris to Agen in 57 hours and 45 minutes in 1895. (The short book was published two years later). He used to tour around Europe by bicycle and take photographs. Carrying the heavy set with him seemed to be a bit more complicated, than we can imagine from our 21st century point of view. He certanly was a man of… Read More »The Tour de France contestant who hired two other cyclists just for having fun

Cyclists at the first stage of the Tour de France 1905

Points system in general classification at the Tour de France (1905-1912)

Between 1905 and 1912 points decided who is the best rider of the peloton. The first cyclist to cross the finish line received 1 point. Other cyclists received one point more than the cyclist who passed the line directly before him, plus an additional point for every five minutes between them, with a maximum of ten points. At the next edition, time gap became irrelevant, only the position decided, ho many points the riders get. However, after the 8th stage (from a total of 13 stages), when a significant number of the riders have already left the race, points were recalculated and redistributed among the remaining competitors. This practice continued in the subsequent years. The… Read More »Points system in general classification at the Tour de France (1905-1912)

Maurice Garin the winner of the first Tour de France

Green armband for the leader of the general classification

The legendary yellow jersey was introduced to Tour de France only in 1919. But already during the first edition of the race there was a sign distinguishing the  leader of the general classification from other participants: a green armband. Maurice Garin led the general classification from the very first stage and later won the race. MORE TOUR DE FRANCE FROM THE EARLY YEARS [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”380″ order=”desc”] MORE CYCLING FUN FACTS [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ tax_term=”425″ order=”desc”]  

Two cyclists have to pass by two cows on the untarmacied road during Tour de France 1910

Vintage Tour de France: cows on the road

Nowadays, one of the basic things organizers of a cycling race have to prepare for is to make sure, that no one else uses the same roads during the event. Of course, errors can still happen at any time, but this is one of those basic things that define modern-day cycling races. Very few other sports reflects the changes in everyday life during the past century so plainly, like professional road cycling races do. Organizers have to secure the route of the races, because roads are crowded with cars, trucks, buses, etc. On the other hand, this seems relatively easy to calculate and execute, because most of the time the peloton is compact, and the… Read More »Vintage Tour de France: cows on the road

Tour de France history on PelotonTales blog: Louis Trousselier, Tour de France winner 1905

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 victory. Trousselier was a big gambler in many senses. He did’t rode the first Tour de France in 1903, because he was banned. Earlier that year, he finished Bordeaux-Paris second, but was disqualified because he had taken shelter behind a car during the race. In 1905, he was on a few days leave from the army, when he rode Tour… Read More »Tour de France winners: Louis Trousselier (1905)

French cyclist and 2nd in overall, Paul Duboc at a checkpoint at Tour de France 1911

Vintage cycling image of the day: checkpoint at Tour de France 1911

Paul Duboc was one of the favourite of the Tour de France in 1911. Here youcan see him at one of the official checkpoints of the race. Paul Duboc (1884-1941) rode Tour de France twice (1908 and 1909) before, and earned some success (a stage victory and 4h place in overall in 1909) already, when he showed a remarkable form at the Tour de Frace 1911. He won 4 stages and finished 2nd in the general classification. But behind the pure facts, lies a weird story. On the 10th stage, in the Pyranees, Duboc led the race with 8 minutes, when he just collapsed. Due to the current rules, because he was an independent rider,… Read More »Vintage cycling image of the day: checkpoint at Tour de France 1911

French winner Maurice Garin and other cyclists looking into the camera at the Tour de France 1903

From Garin to Catteau – top10 cyclists of Tour de France 1903

Surely, most cycling fans know, that Maurice Garin won the first Tour de France in 1903. But have you ever wonder, who else were in the top ten of the first edition? This post might answer your question. 1. Maurice Garin (1871-1957) One of the stars of the early years of road cycling races. Read more>> 2 .Lucien Pothier (1883-1957) Notable French cyclist from the turn of the century. His second place at Tour de France 1903 was his best result. He was among the disqualified riders next year. There is a rather funny anecdote about him and François Faber:  in 1903 they supposed to ride the one-day race Bordeaux-Paris, but on the night prior… Read More »From Garin to Catteau – top10 cyclists of Tour de France 1903

Maurice Garin the winner of the first Tour de France

The Tour de France stage, that started at 9 pm

In the early days of road cycling races, when the courses were over 300 km long or even longer and the riders sat in the saddle for a half a day (or even longer), it was usual, that the race started in the middle of the night or very early at dawn. It was the case also at the first Tour de France in 1903, but the last stage (6th stage, 471 km between Nantes and Paris) started even earlier than usual: previous day at 9 pm. The stage, as the general classification of the race was won by Maurice Garin.  MORE ABOUT THE FIRST TOUR DE FRANCE [su_posts posts_per_page=”7″ taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”51″ order=”desc”] MORE TOUR… Read More »The Tour de France stage, that started at 9 pm

Henri Cornet, the younges Tour de France winner ever

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, the winner of the first edition. But the second Tour de France was marred by cheating scandals, and the first four riders of the general classification (Maurice Garin, Lucien Pothier, César Garin, Hippolyte Aucouturier) were disqualified. PLEASE, SUPPORT PELOTONTALES!  If you like PelotonTales blog and want to help me a little to continue the work on this website, please consider… Read More »Tour de France winners: Henri Cornet (1904)

Maurice Garin the winner of the first Tour de France

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 event for professionals. He waited till the pro riders departed, rode after them and won the race. Since the organisers refused to pay him the prize money, the spectators raised the double sum of the original prize. When the first Tour de France was held, Maurice Garin was already a star working with a professional crew. It was their job… Read More »Tour de France winners: Maurice Garin (1903)