From our 21st-century perspective, it’s almost impossible to imagine the atmosphere of the 1921 Tour de France, when taking a break mid-race and grabbing a… Read More »Cyclists taking a break on the steps of a tavern (Tour de France 1921)
Cyrille Van Hauwaert (1883-1974) was one of the most successful Belgian cyclists of the pre-WWI era. Van Hauwaert’s story reads like a folk legend. A… Read More »Faces from the peloton: Cyrille Van Hauwaert
The inaugural Tour de France in 1903 was nothing short of groundbreaking. Organized by the French newspaper L’Auto, the race was intended as a publicity… Read More »The cheating scandal of Tour de France 1904
The image of a French cyclist in a striped shirt may feel like a cliché, but sometimes stereotypes hold a surprising amount of truth. Consider… Read More »Faces from the peloton: Hippolyte Aucouturier
Louis Trousselier (1881-1939), the charismatic winner of the 3rd Tour de France in 1905, had a life story as colorful as his cycling career. Known… Read More »The cyclist who won Tour de France but gambled away the entire prize money
Spanish climber Vicente Trueba was the first King of the Mountains of Tour de France. The special competition was introduced to the race in 1933.… Read More »Vicente Trueba climbing Galibier (Tour de France 1933)
Luigi Malabrocca is most remembered today for his unorthodox quest to secure the maglia nera—the last-place jersey of the Giro d’Italia. However, during his professional… Read More »Faces from the peloton: Luigi Malabrocca
José Manuel Fuente, a Spanish cyclist renowned as one of the top climbers of his generation, solidified his reputation by dominating the Giro d’Italia’s mountain… Read More »Faces from the peloton: José Manuel Fuente
The first Tour de France started on the 1st July 1903. 60 riders gathered at the Café au Reveil Matin in Paris to participate in… Read More »Cyclists of the first ever Tour de France stage (1903)
Without falling into the trap of false nostalgia, I’m very drawn to the notion that the most captivating aspect of the early editions of the… Read More »The rustic charm of the early days of Tour de France