| Europe gained some much needed distraction | | | | to claim a third title. Bartali, and French rider, Jean |
| after World War II with the peaceful duels of the | | | | Robic, are battling for the lead in the mountains. |
| Tour de France, rapidly cementing its place as one | | | | Aggressive fans cause them to fall. Bartali is |
| of Euope's preeminent sports contests. Post | | | | constantly harassed and in disgust, he quits the |
| World War Rivalries | | | | race. To show their support for their team mate, |
| Henri Desgrange, the Tour de France founder, | | | | the entire Italian team also quits. |
| died in 1940. His successor was Jacque Goddet. | | | | In 1951, Hugo Koblet was clearly the strongest |
| The Germans tried to persuade Goddet to hold | | | | rider. He claimed the yellow jersey after Wim Van |
| the race during the war years, but he refused. He | | | | Est had a spectacular crash over the cliffs of the |
| considered the first race following the war, in | | | | Aubisque pass. Van Est survived the crash but |
| 1947, to be an act of faith given the post-war | | | | was in shock and couldn’t continue. With |
| shortages. Jean Robic of France won and this did | | | | Bobet, Kubler, and Koblet all out with injuries, the |
| much to improve the country’s morale. | | | | 1952 race was wide open. Coppi won again in |
| The government even allowed the Tour to break | | | | 1952 but not until after being challenged by Robic |
| the food rationing rules. | | | | most of the way. Robic was the victim of a flat |
| Italian Rivals Go at it Full Swing | | | | tire. |
| The French win didn’t last long. Two Italian | | | | Television was introduced to the Tour in 1952. |
| rivals, Gino Bartali, tour winner in 1938, and Fausto | | | | France succeeds again with the Tour’s first |
| Coppi, had lost most of their cycling careers to | | | | hat trick. Louison Bobet won in 1953, 1954, and |
| the war. But their bitter rivalry made the | | | | 1955. In 1955, Bobet destroyed his competition on |
| post-war Tours as exciting as ever. | | | | Mount Ventoux, and this was the key to his third |
| Bartali’s 10-year gap between wins is still a | | | | consecutive win. |
| Tour record. Louison Bobet had grabbed the | | | | France won again in 1956 with rider, Roger |
| yellow jersey early in the race but Bartali showed | | | | Walkowiak. He took the yellow jersey early on, |
| who deserved to win when he flew through the | | | | and held onto it. France reveled in its golden age |
| Alps. Bartali won by 26 minutes in 1948. | | | | with another record-breaking ride and a new |
| Rene Vietto— France’s King of the | | | | great rivalry. |
| Hill | | | | Jacques Anquetil won five Tours between 1957 |
| After the war, Vietto was one of the few | | | | 1nd 1964. But it was the story of Raymond |
| surviving members of the old guard. For awhile, it | | | | Poulidor, the "eternal second," who placed second |
| looked like Vietto might win the 1947 race. | | | | five times and third three times and he never |
| Although he didn’t win, he became the | | | | once wore the jellow jersey. It was during this |
| Tour’s king of the mountains. It’s | | | | time that the Tour switched back to sponsored |
| been said that wherever there were steep roads | | | | teams. This movement embraced commercial |
| and thin air, Vietto was right there. | | | | reality but still left plenty of room for theatrics. |
| The winner that year, Robic, had promised his | | | | Enter Jacques Anquetil, winner in 1957 and winner |
| young bride that he would win the Tour de | | | | again in 1961, 1962, 1963, and again in 1964. |
| France because he didn’t have a dowry. | | | | Despite these victories Anquetil was not well |
| In 1948, Bobet’s popularity would increase. | | | | loved in France. Poulidor would win a popularity |
| The Italian coach, Alfredo Binda, said, "If I had | | | | contest in a heartbeat. |
| coached Bobet, he would have won." By this time, | | | | In 1959, France looked like it had a winning team |
| Bobet was known as "Louison." | | | | with Anquetil, Riviére, Bobet, and Geminiani all |
| The Italians arrived at the 1949 Tour prepared to | | | | on the national team. But instead of working |
| win. They have with them, up and coming star, | | | | together, the work against each other. The |
| Fausto Coppi. Coppi and Bartali battle it out. Bartali | | | | Spaniard, Ferderico Bahamontes , won. |
| loses by more than 10 minutes. Coppi won for | | | | In 1960, it looked like young Riviére was all set |
| the second time in 1952 by a stunning 28 minutes. | | | | to win. He broke the world hour record and at |
| Switzerland Wins and France has a Golden Age | | | | Stage 15 he looked like he’d win. Then, at |
| Switzerland has had only two victories on the | | | | the Perjuret Pass he crashed into a ravine and |
| Tour— in 1950 and 1951. | | | | never rode a bicycle again. Gastone Nencini, from |
| In 1950, the Italians look like they’re ready | | | | Italy, won. |