The line between insanity and genius is said to be a fine one, and in early 20th century France, anyone envisaging a near-2,500-km-long cycle race across the country would have been widely viewed as unhinged. But that didn’t stop Géo Lefèvre, a journalist with L’Auto magazine at the time, from proceeding with his inspired plan. His editor, Henri Desgrange, was bold enough to believe in the idea and to throw his backing behind the Tour de France.
Tour de France Legend
Great moments in the history of the tour
1903
Premier tour de France
And so it was that, on 1 July 1903, sixty pioneers set out on their bicycles from Montgeron. After six mammoth stages (Nantes - Paris, 471 km!), only 21 “routiers”, led by Maurice Garin, arrived at the end of this first epic. After having completed the event circuit at an average speed of 25 km/h, Maurice Garin was rewarded with prize money of 6,075 francs, a handsome purse for the era. But most importantly, he was the first in a long line of champions.
1910
Le Tour discovers the High Mountains
Having already tackled the Ballon d’Alsace (1905), the peloton now got to grips with the summits of the Pyrenees. The following year, the race journeyed up into the Alps to take the Col du Galibier mountain pass.
1919
Creation of the Yellow Jersey
The first Yellow Jersey, indicating the leader in the general classification, was issued to Eugène Christophe in Grenoble. The choice of colour evoked the paper on which L’Auto magazine was printed.
1930
The national teams
In an era when the Davis Cup was dominated by the famous Mousquetaires of French tennis, the peloton was also stirring up plenty of patriotic sentiment. André Leducq was the overall winner of Le Tour and Charles Pélissier triumphed over eight stages. This was also the year that the publicity caravan was created.
1952
First finish at altitude
For this experiment, three finishes at altitude were planned: Alpe d'Huez, Sestrières, and Puy-de-Dôme. Italy's Fausto Coppi crossed all three finish lines in front to claim his second Tour de France crown.
1964
Anquetil becomes the first rider to win Le Tour five times
He will later be joined in this exclusive club of five-time winners of Le Tour by: - Eddy Merckx, known as “The Cannibal” (fifth victory in 1974). He is also the only rider to have won all the separate classifications of le Tour - Bernard Hinault (fifth victory in 1985). He is still the last Frenchman to triumph in the event. - Miguel Indurain (fifth victory in 1995). He became the first rider to win Le Tour five times in a row.
1985
Last victory from a French Rider: Bernard Hinault
After suffering a spectacular fall at the finish of the 14th stage in Saint-Etienne, Bernard Hinault still managed to seal his fifth Tour victory. He remains the last French rider to take the title
1989
Greg LeMond wins the Tour for 8 seconds !
Just 8 seconds separated Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon! It was all to play in the final time trial between Versailles and the Champs-Elysées. It remains the closest winning margin in the history of the Tour.
2003
The Tour celebrates its centenary
The Tour celebrated its centenary. After a prologue in Paris, the start of the first stage took place exactly where it did in 1903, in front of ‘’Le Reveil Matin’’ café in Montgeron
2013
The Tour de France celebrates its 100th edition
The Tour de France celebrates its 100th edition. With the Grand Départ taking place in Corsica, all departments in Metropolitan France have now played host to the Tour.
2020
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Tadej Pogačar become the youngest winner since 1904
For his first participation, the 21 years old Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar won the 2020 Tour de France. He is the youngest winner since Henri Cornet in 1904.
And More
To Come
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