Re: [CR]Book "Le Tour" and Touriste-Routier meaning?

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From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Book "Le Tour" and Touriste-Routier meaning?
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 23:54:32 -0700
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


Jan Heine wrote:
> There was an article in the 1960s "Sporting Cyclist" (xeroxes
> available from Velo-Retro, I believe) on the touriste-routiers.
> Basically, they were unattached amateurs. Often racers looking for
> a contract - some, like Benoit Faure, who won the climbers prize in
> the 1930s, quite good - or bike shop owners who wanted the fame of
> having ridden in the Tour. (For more on Benoit Faure, check out the
> article "How I won the 1930 Tour de France" by Andre Leducq in
> Vintage Bicycle Quarterly Vol. 4, No. 3.)
>
> Several sources say that Touriste-Routiers were allowed derailleurs
> when racers were not. However, I have not yet seen any photos of
> touriste-routiers with derailleurs. Aldo?
>
> Touriste-Routiers no longer were part of the Tour after WW II. I
> believe they last raced in the late 1930s.
>
> It would be fun, though, wouldn't it, to race the Tour like that?

Thanks for the shout out Jan! "In the Days of the Touriste-Routier," one of my favorite Rene de Latour articles of all time!

Sporting Cyclist Magazine -- 474 page selection of the best articles from 1959-1968 issues, including special issues devoted to the Tour de France, Fausto Coppi, Tom Simpson, and articles by Rene de Latour and J.B.Wadley on the greatest riders of the day. The classic years of Anquetil, Poulidor, Gaul, Geminiani, Bahamontes, the "two Rics", etc. A truely 'epic' read! Highly recommended! Color cover. $50

http://www.velo-retro.com

Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California

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