Cycling of the best kind
A cycle is often a child’s first gift from their parents, marking their initial encounter with the world of moving machines. It begins with a tricycle, and as the child learns the delicate art of balance, one wheel is shed. The joy of feeling the wind in their hair while cycling down the neighborhood street is a memory that stays forever.
At first glance, cycling may seem like a simple, innocuous activity. However, the human tendency to turn everything into a competition soon caught up with it, and the innocence of leisurely cycling gave way to sport. Races testing human capabilities emerged—some focused on speed, while others pushed the boundaries of endurance. Humanity’s relentless quest for adventure and thrill ensured these races grew increasingly challenging over time.
Over the last century, cycling has evolved into a professional sport, with countless races designed to test human limits. Among these, the undisputed crown jewels are the “Grand Tours”—three prestigious, grueling, and iconic events that have become the ultimate test of endurance and skill in professional cycling.
In this series of three parts , we look at the Holy Trinity of professional cycling. In the first part we move to France and it’s pride the Tour De France.
The Tour De France
What began in 1903 as a race to boost the circulation of the newspaper L’Auto has evolved into what is widely regarded as the toughest and most prestigious event in professional cycling: the Tour de France. This iconic race takes riders on a grueling three-week journey across France, filled with incredible challenges. Spanning an astonishing 3,500 kilometers, the event is divided into multiple stages (or legs), each testing the limits of endurance and skill.
This is not a race for the faint-hearted. It is a test of human endurance unlike any other. The stages vary each year, and in recent times, the race has started from different locations and countries. While it originally finished in a stadium in Paris, since 1975, it has always concluded on the world’s most famous shopping street, the Champs-Élysées, in the heart of Paris.
The stages take riders through the stunning French countryside, the treacherous Alps, and the mighty Pyrenees. Many stages require climbing and descending three to four mountains of varying difficulty. The world’s best riders compete as they traverse villages, communes, and winding countryside roads. Vineyards lining the roads offer a soothing sight, while the mountains present grueling climbs and perilous descents.
Champions are born here : Tour De France, the celebration of human endurance.
Legends have been created on the stages here, and some of the best in the world have risen here.
Four riders share the record for the most Tour de France titles: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain, each with five victories. Miguel Indurain stands out as the only cyclist to win the Tour de France for five consecutive seasons, achieving this remarkable feat from 1991 to 1995.
Anquetil claimed his first title in 1957 and secured his fifth by 1964. Merckx won four consecutive titles from 1969 to 1972, adding his fifth in 1974. Hinault, the most recent French winner, earned his fifth yellow jersey in 1985. Since then, no French cyclist has won the Tour de France.
The Tour has always been an inspiring event. Over a century and more, it has gifted the world some great moments; here is a look at some of them.
Gino Bartali wins for his country
In 1948, Italy was rocked by political uncertainty and violence following the shooting of Communist leader Palmiro Togliatti. President Alcide De Gasperi was desperate to calm the nation and came up with a bold idea. He reached out to Gino Bartali, one of the legends of world cycling ( read more here). At the time, Bartali was competing in the Tour de France.
The President had one simple request: the Tour had to be won. A troubled nation needed a distraction, and a victory in the Tour de France would be the perfect one.
On that day, Bartali was trailing by a massive 21 minutes. The next stage was in the scenic but tough mountains of Col d’Allos. The mountain stage in the southwest of France saw a stunning attacking ride by Bartali. In freezing rain he had left his opponents behind. The sheer effort had left the yellow jersey holder Louison Bobet way behind, and Bartali had reduced his deficit to just 51 seconds. Bartali had gained almost 20 minutes in one single stage, and the ruthless streak continued.
He gained a stunning seven minutes in the next stage It was an effort that bordered the impossible , Bartali had won the Tour from being down by 21 minutes.
The nation, united in joy over the victory, found a sense of relief, and De Gasperi gained much-needed breathing room. Bartali wasn’t just racing for himself; he was racing for an entire nation, weighed down by the turbulence of the times.
LeMond and the slimmest margin after returning from near death
In 1986 American Greg LeMond became the first non-European to win the Tour de France. The next year he hurt himself seriously in an accident while hunting. After a few surgeries and a miraculous escape, he returned to the tour in 1989. LeMond battled with Frenchman Laurent Fignon, who had won in 1983 and 84 all through the event. As they headed for the final stage, a time trial in Paris, Fignon held a 50-second lead.
In what was to be a historic moment, LeMond won the Tour De France on that day with an 8-second overall margin., which is still the slimmest in Tour history.
LeMond then went on to defend his title in 1990 to end up with three Tour titles in a sparkling career.
A Winner from the shadows
It was 1956 at the Tour, and Louison Bobet, the legendary French star who had won the three previous titles, was absent. There was a general lack of big names, as it was a transitional period. The established stars were retiring, and the next generation was just emerging. Among the riders was a Frenchman of Polish descent, Roger Walkowiak. He was unknown and rarely mentioned in any discussions.
In a smart tactical move, Walkowiak kept himself in the group just behind the leader in most stages, ensuring that he wasn’t trailing by much. He remained under the radar while staying in touch with the times the leaders were clocking.
In the final stages, he managed to cut down the gap, and to everyone’s surprise, he was wearing the yellow jersey as the riders entered Paris to finish.
The cycling world was stunned. An absolute unknown had claimed the title. In fact his tactic meant Walkowiak became one of the rare cyclists to win the Tour de France without winning a single stage.
In a mean act, someone coined the phrase ‘gagner à la Walko,’ to win in Walkowiak’s style. It pointed to a less talented rider winning. This saddened Walkowiak, and he was refused to talk about the win for long, considering himself as an unworthy champion.
Over a period of time, the others started to appreciate his acumen and tactics, and Walkowiak felt redeemed.
The great five-time champion Bernard Hinault stated,
‘No one has the right to say that the Tour was handed to him. He didn’t steal it. The Tour doesn’t come wrapped up like a present.’
As Tough as it can get
There isn’t anything innocuous about Le Tour, as it is also referred to. The average speed across the three weeks is about 40 km/hour, yes, the “average.” On the descent from the mountains, the speeds touch 100 to 110 km/h. It is not sport; it almost sounds like a death wish or a sadistic streak for self-punishment.
Bernard Hinault perhaps summed it perfectly when he said…
“An amateur should think long and hard before attempting one of these Tour de France stages. Two would probably necessitate visiting a doctor, and three would require a psychiatrist—any more and you should be checking if that person has written a will!”
The Tour de France is undoubtedly the ultimate prize of professional racing. For more than 120 years, the idyllic fields and the towering mountains across the Alps and the other mountain ranges of France have been witness to one of the most striking examples of human endeavor.
The Tour de France is not just a sporting event; it is a spectacular journey of humans fighting the elements of nature and the demons within themselves.
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Stay tuned : The unpredictable Giro D’Italia is next…meanwhile
Very nice information, especially initial information, child hood connect, first gift to every child during is really touchy
Excellent effort of articulating true challenge of the Eveent. True’ testament of the human endurance.. can’t wait for next article
A great read Sudhir!