In 1910, Henri Desgrange, the Tour’s founder and director, decided to introduce mountain stages into the race to make it even more challenging. The Pyrenean stages were added, including climbs like Col du Tourmalet, and Col d’Aubisque which were among the most difficult ascents the cyclists had ever encountered.
The Col du Tourmalet, in particular, was considered an almost insurmountable obstacle. Stretching over 17 kilometers with an average gradient of 7.4% and reaching an altitude of 2,115 meters, the climb was a nightmare for the riders, many of whom had never faced such a challenge before. As they ascended the mountain, exhaustion, hunger, and the physical strain began to take their toll.
Octave Lapize, a French cyclist and one of the favorites to win the 1910 Tour, was among the leading group of riders on the Tourmalet. As the climb progressed, Lapize, like many others, found himself struggling to cope with the steep gradients and poor conditions. Riders were not only cycling but also frequently dismounting to push their bikes through the roughest sections of the climb.
At some point during his ascent of the Col du Tourmalet, Lapize, exhausted and furious, passed a group of Tour officials who were standing by the side of the road.
According to various accounts, it was then that he shouted at them, calling them “murderers!”
His outburst was directed at Henri Desgrange and the other race organizers, whom he blamed for creating such a brutally difficult race that it seemed designed to break the riders.
Despite his frustration and the brutal conditions, Lapize continued to fight through the race. His determination paid off. Octave Lapize went on to win the 1910 Tour de France, making him the first rider to conquer the Pyrenean stages and claim overall victory.
