The world’s largest cycle race is a combination of endurance and strength and is probably the most challenging of athletic events, like running a marathon several days a week for three weeks.
It was perhaps an insane idea to envisage a 2500 kms cycle race around France. However, it was Géo Lefevre, a journalist with L’Auto magazine (the ancestor to the present newspaper L’Equipe) who had this inspired idea. His editor, Henri Desgrange went along with it and backed the first Tour de France.
On 1st July 1903, 60 pioneers set out on their bikes. After 6 mammoth stages only 21 crossed the line led by Maurice Garin. An incredible feat because we are not talking super lightweight bikes here or well made roads.
The race provoked a mixture of admiration and astonishment. The Tour won over the sporting public who supported the race which put their country, their mountains and their towns in the spotlight.
The Tour has lived through wars, poverty and prosperity and opened up to foreign countries. Now, after 100 years the Tour continues...
This year the Tour has 21 stages over 3500 kms and starts on 5th July in Brittany and finishes on the famous cobbles down the Champs Elysées in Paris on Sunday 25th July.
Amazingly enough the riders will be whizzing through the Creuse with a new stop over town (ville étape) at Aigurande on the 9th/10th July. On the morning of the 10th the riders will start the 6th stage of 195.5kms from Aigurande to Super Besse, passing through Moutier Malcard, Genouillac, Chatelûs Malvaleix, Ladapeyre, Jarnages, Cressat, Chénérailles, Champagnat, Bellegarde en Marche, St Sylvain Bellegarde, La Villetelle, Crocq climbing through the Puy de Dôme and finishing in Super Besse.
A real spectacle for the Creuse with a great atmosphere, the advertisers passing before in the cavalcade (‘ la caravane’) tossing out hats, souvenirs, sweets and free samples to the crowds lining the roads or of course now you can follow it all on the television.
There are many, many famous names associated with the Tour – Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Indurain – all 4 and 5 times winners, but the rider who surpasses them all is Lance Armstrong with 7 consecutive wins between 1999 and 2005. He is an out of the ordinary champion, a real symbol of hope and an inspiration to others. He survived a rampant form of cancer at the age of 26 to come back and win this most gruelling of events seven times. He has now created his foundation ‘Livestrong’ to help other cancer sufferers.
However, the darling of the French public has always been Raymond Poulidor (Poupou), ‘the eternal second’. He was born in the Creuse in Masbaraud-Mérignat, just outside of Bourganeuf, in 1936, and he now lives in St Leonard de Noblat. He was a great rival of Anquetil and Merckx and during his long career he was on the Tour podium a record eight times and finally in 1976 gaining third place at the age of forty. A real tour personality who is admired by all.
A little information on who wears what jersey (maillot) in the Tour’ – maillot jaune – the overall leader; maillot vert – given for sprint points; polka dot – for the king of the mountains; maillot blanc – best placed under-25 rider.
Even if you’re not a big cycling fan, you have to admire these athletes, climbing up the sides of mountains which are so steep they’re ‘hors de catégorie’ – can’t be classed – in all kinds of weather, during three weeks.
It’s also quite nice to see France (on the TV) and listen to the interesting commentaries about the different areas and even better if you can be there and savour this unique sporting event.
