Unlike in the 6th stage of Tour de France 2023, when Tourmalet was a mid-stage ascent, the 13th stage of Vuelta a Espana 2023 will end on the top of the legendary climb. 13th Stage 8 September 2023 Formigal. Huesca la Magia – Col du Tourmalet 134,7 km
A Tour de France stage in the Pyrenees (especially, when it includes the big four, Peyresourde, Auspin, Aubisque and Tourmalet) always provides stories to tell. Belgian rider Felicien Vervaecke won the mountain competition of Tour de France twice, in 1935 and 1937. Before the 16th stage (Peyresourde, Tourmalet, Aspin, Aubisque) in 1936, he was 4 minutes behind his teammate Sylvère Maes in the GC. But bad luck prevented him to maintain this position. First his bicycle broke, and he had to convince a spectator to lend his. Then he suffered a flat tire, and Tour officials forced him to wait for the reserve car. Antonin Magne, the actual third in the GC passed him. When… Read More »Felicien Vervaecke’s bad luck (Tour de France 1936)
The 10th stage between Luchon and Bayonne was 326 km long and included the big four: Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin, Col d’Aubisque and Peyresourde. The stage was won by Octave Lapize
Federico Bahamontes competed at Tour de France for the first time in 1954. He was picked for the race by Julián Berredero, the director of the Spanish team already during previous summer. The 161 km long 12th stage of Tour de France 1954 between Pau and Luchon visited Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde. As usual, all the three were mid-stage ascents. And it was one of the firts big challenge for the young Spaniard. He managed to arrive in the finish with Jean Malléjac and Gilbert Bauvin (the latter won the stage and claimed the yellow jersey), and became 2nd that day. The 161 km long 12th stage of Tour de France 1954 between Pau and… Read More »Vintage cycling image of the day: Federico Bahamontes on Tourmalet (Tour de France 1954)
Tourmalet in the middle of the first week (6th stage) of Tour de France 2023. The race visits the famous ascent on 6th July 2023. As usual, the cyclists have to climb Tourmalet mid-stage, while the summit finish will be on Cauterets -Cambasque. LIVE TWEETING DURING THE STAGE CLICK HERE TO REFRESH THE PAGE Tadej Pogacar wins the stage. Jonas Vingegaard takes the yellow jersey. 2,7 km to go Pogacar attacks. Vingegaard can’t go with hi m. 4 km to go Vingegaard, Pogacar and Kwiatkowski at the front of the race. 12 km to go Leading group (including Vingegaard and Pogacar) 2’42” ahead of the group of the yellow jersey. 45 km to go Hindley… Read More »Tourmalet at Tour de France (TDF 2023 Stage 6)
This was Anquetil first ever mountain stage victory at the Tour de France, although he has already won the race three times.
Read More »2 July 1963 Jacques Anquetil won the stage in the Pyrenees (Tour de France)