The Tour de France, first held in 1903, has become a revered sporting event worldwide. While modern fans admire cyclists’ incredible stamina and strength, the early years were unbelievably wild. Get ready to explore ten jaw-dropping stories from the Tour de France’s crazy beginnings.
10. The Little Cheater!
Maurice Garin, winner of the 1903 and 1904 Tour de France races, was known as “The Little Chimney Sweep.” He often rode with a cigarette and credited his 1893 victory to red wine, tapioca, hot chocolate, and oysters.
Garin was notorious for cheating. He pushed riders off their bikes, damaged their wheels, and even hopped on a train to get ahead! Despite being stripped of his 1904 win, his 1903 victory stands, and he remains a legend.
9. Hot off the Presses
Believe it or not, the Tour de France started as a way to sell more newspapers! In 1903, journalist Géo Lefèvre of “L’Auto,” a struggling sports newspaper, proposed a massive race to boost circulation.
Editor-in-chief Henri Desgrange loved the idea. However, a week before the start date, only 15 riders signed up. To generate interest, they postponed the race, shortened it to 18 days, and offered a bonus to the next 50 riders who signed up: 5 francs a day. This worked, attracting over 60 cyclists and turning the Tour de France into a media phenomenon.
8. No Referees
Unlike today’s Tour de France with race officials everywhere, the early years had virtually no oversight. The winner’s prize of 3,000 francs (two years’ wages for a laborer) motivated riders to cheat.
Cheating tactics included hopping on trains, tossing tacks on the road, cutting corners, and hitching rides. With few officials and no tracking, riders got away with almost anything, especially at night.
7. Shaming the Loser
In the first race, the last rider had to wear a “red lantern” as they rode. In 1903, the last racer finished two days after Maurice Garin! The red lantern, borrowed from railway safety, indicated the last car was still on track.
Today, the “lanterne rouge” still exists, designating the last-place rider. While not a source of shame anymore, it has become a badge of honor for some cyclists.
6. Poisoning Problems
While modern cyclists face doping accusations, early Tour de France riders resorted to poisoning. In 1903, favorite Hippolyte Aucouturier had to quit after drinking poisoned lemonade from a spectator, causing severe stomach cramps.
In 1911, Paul Duboc, a race favorite, was poisoned by François Lafourcade, who spiked his drink. Duboc fell ill, and Lafourcade framed another cyclist for the crime!
5. Fight! Fight! Fight!
The 1904 Tour de France was incredibly dirty. Four men attacked Maurice Garin, the previous year’s winner. Later, supporters of Antoine Fauré threw glass shards on the road, causing flat tires.
During the stage into Saint-Étienne, a full-on brawl erupted. Townspeople favoring Fauré blockaded Garin and another cyclist and then beat them when they protested. Tour creator Géo Lefèvre stopped the fight by firing a pistol into the air!
4. Dirty Tricks
Early riders had to repair their bikes themselves, carrying spare tires because flats were common. Competitors and spectators threw glass, nails, and tacks on the road.
In 1903, Maurice Garin had his friends knock Fernand Augereau off his bike twice and then stomped on Augereau’s bike to ruin it. Cyclists also strung wires across the road to cause crashes and dumped itching powder in rivals’ shorts!
3. Culling the Herd
The first stage of the inaugural Tour de France was a 300-mile trek. Only 37 of 60 cyclists reached Lyon, with Garin winning after 17 hours of riding. Cyclists rode over 1,500 miles in just six stages with minimal rest.
Unsurprisingly, 23 riders dropped out on the first day, and only 21 finished the race. Compare that to the 2017 Tour de France stages which were just over 100 miles—one-fifteenth of the original course!
2. Got Beer?
In the early 20th century, cyclist nutrition was rudimentary. Riders devised their own food strategies, and many turned to beer. Maurice Garin routinely stopped at bars, while Henri Cornet chose champagne, hot chocolate, and pounds of rice pudding.
Cyclists stopped wherever they wanted to eat and drink. One wealthy cyclist even had his butler set up a roadside picnic. Beyond beer, cyclists used cocaine for energy and chloroform to numb pain!
1. Illegal Aid from Engines
Riders routinely received assistance from cars and motorcycles. Hippolyte Aucouturier would put a cork in his mouth, tie a wire around it, and then subtly tie the other end to a car. This allowed him to be towed without being noticed.
In one stage of the 1904 Tour de France, Aucouturier crossed the finish line being towed by a car just seconds behind race officials!
The early years of the Tour de France were filled with unbelievable antics, from cheating and poisoning to brawls and illegal assistance. These stories highlight the wild exuberance and extreme measures taken during the event’s formative years, shaping the legendary race we know today.
Which fact shocked you the most? Leave your comment below!
