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 for his carefree attitude, Trousselier shouldn’t have even been in the race—his leave from the French army expired days before. But he decided to extend his stay and ended up winning the Tour’s general classification.
Celebrating his victory, Trousselier gambled away his entire prize on the very night he won, losing it all in a game of dice with friends. Undeterred, he boldly promised to return and reclaim the title (and the prize money). The following year, he did manage to win a stage and placed 3rd overall, yet he was never able to recapture the glory of his Tour de France triumph.
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Tour de France’s first visit in the Alps (1911)
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