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 de France and he was eager to get the best result possible hoping, that he won’t be considered as deserter because of his too late return. Well, he won the race in 1905, alsowas the best cyclists on 5 stages. He took the life easy, when he lost the prize money:
“There’s always another Tour to win it back again.” – he said.
But the triumph at the Tour de France 1905 was Trousselier’s best result, he never repeated his success (finished 3rd in 1906 and 8th in 1909, also entered the race four other occasions without finishing them.) He won a total of 13 stages.
Louis Trousselier also won Paris-Roubaix in 1905.
READ MORE ONTHE EARLY YEARS OF TOUR DE FRANCE (1903-1914) ON PELOTONTALES
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