It’s not only the early days of road cycling, but sometimes unique moments with animals could (and can) happen in more modern times during a cycling event.
Like this one from (most likely )the Tour de France in 1975, when a horse was eager to run alongside with Eddy Merckx and co.
MORE UNIQUE VINTAGE CYCLING MOMENTS ON PELOTONTALES
Vintage cycling picture of the day: ‘The Acrobat’ cyclist
French cyclist Jules Deloffre (1885-1963) earned his nickname ‘The Acrobat’ (L’Acrobate) through his acrobatic performances after Tour de France stages. Especially during the last few years of his career, when he was over 40 years old aready and wasn’t in the shape to expect serious race results, he was motivated rather by the opportunity to … Read more
Robert Jacquinot having a meal in a café (Tour de France 1922)
The close proximity to the everyday life has always been one of the most intriguing essencial features of road cycling races. Since the beginning of the multi-staged cycling events, the riders usually had to organize to have proper food during the race. It wasn’t that difficult, because usually coffeehouses hosted the mid-stage checkpoints. Also, the … Read more
André Leducq and Antonin Magne crossing the finish line together (Tour de France 1938)
Before Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault on the top of Alpe d’Huez, there were André Leducq and Antonin Magne in Paris. Two dominant French riders from the first part of the 1930s, both Leducq (1930 and 1932) and Magne (1931 and 1934) won the Tour de France twice. In the very last stage of Tour … Read more
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
Vintage cycling image of the day: Louison Bobet on Mont Ventoux
Mont Ventoux was introduced to Tour de France in 1951 (one year earlier than Alpe d’Huez and Puy de Dôme). At the first 3 occasions (1951, 1954 and 1955) the peloton crossed the top during mid-race, the first summit finish was organized only in 1958. The 11th stage of Tour de France 1955 started in … Read more
Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor on the Puy de Dôme
According to the latest rumors, Tour de France will return to Puy de Dôme in 2023. Tour de France visited Puy de Dôme last time in 1988. Since the construction of a track railway and due to the very narrow road, it was told for many many years, that the return of the race to … Read more
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 … Read more