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.
The first edition of the Tour de France in 1903 was a big success. Not only for the L’Auto, which was able to increase its sell numbers but for all the cycling fans in France. Actually, it changed the history of bycicle forever. But the growing popularity of the event caused some unexpected issues right … Read more
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
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
At the turn of the century, when Tour de France was born, the tiny little details of a sport event could tell much more about the society than nowadays. Bicycle was quite a democratic new vehicle in sense of every social class has found its own joy in it. But mostly in the bourgeoisie, the … Read more
The first Tour de France started with 60 riders on the 1st of July in 1903. After six stages (a total of 2428 km) only 21 cyclists arrived in the Parc de Princes velodrome in Paris. Maurice Garin won the first stage already and remained in leading position untill the end of the race. More … Read more
Hippolyte Aucouturier, one of the most iconic riders in the early days of road cycling races, was born on the 17th October in 1876 in La Celle (France). Aucouturier won Paris-Roubaix among a rather chaotic circumstances in 1903. During the early years of the race, riders traditionally changed their bikes at the entrance of the … Read more