The history of the Tour de France - 1920-1939 - Les Forcats De La Route

In 1920 Tour de France was a fierce competition. Belgium led the way with four victories and French morale was low.

Tour de France was to become the toughest sport in the world. As a cyclist journalist, Albert Lourdes, covered the event in 1924, found that the driver had a surprisingly low moral act, as men, which he had written , were arrested in the French penal colonies. He referred toDrivers such as Les Forcats de la Route-convicts of the road. The race seemed to be done just to sell newspapers. Morale was low and was not helped by the lack of a French winner. The first four races after the world were won by Belgians. Finally, he won in 1923, Henri Pelissier, to win the host country only between 1910 and 1930. Thus began the love of the host country / hate relationship with the race. This attitude continues today. For example, during the doping scandals of the 1990s, many French had sympathyinstead of hatred for them.

The yellow jersey

The famous yellow jersey for the first time worn by World War I, although it is now the leader in cycling's most coveted, rejected the first driver ever to offer it. He did not want to become a moving target for his rivals.

The winners:

* Firmin Lambot 1919 (Bel)

* 1920 Philippe Thys (Belgium)

* 1921 Leon Scieur (Bel)

* Firmin Lambot 1922 (Bel)

* 1923Henri Pelissier (Fra)

* 1924 "The giant (Ita)

* 1925 "The giant (Ita)

* 1926 Lucien Buysse (Bel)

* 1927 Nicolas Frantz (Lux)

* 1928 Nicolas Frantz (Lux)

* 1929 Maurice De Waele (Bel)

Until 1920 the race was this 5,500 km long, long night stages and crazy, draconian rules. For example, driver or front of external technical assistance has been limited, and could not change or even bicyclesClothing. The pilots have each stage, with all that they had started dating. The defending champion from 1924, Henri Pelissier and his brothers quit the race. Your question has been clothing. Race started very early in the day when it was still fresh, but the race continues in the heat of the day. No wonder that the drivers took off in layers. Pelissier left in disgust.

Competitions in 1920, said much about the Europe of the day. In 1924 and again a year later, "The giant of Italywon. He was one of the major figures of his country's sports. Then in 1927 he was killed during a training ride. It was obvious that not everyone appreciates his success. Some even feared. A year later, on his deathbed confession confirmed what many have long suspected. He was assassinated by the fascists.

1920 were overshadowed by the commercialization of open tender. It also does not help that had won only once in French, in 1923. Team time trials and national teams were experiencingwith. could replace the drivers coming off the bench, when a driver was injured. Everyone had to drive the same bike. The Tour popularity was beginning to give way. All these changes were of short duration, but had a big lead. They allowed to force France to a fort. France won the first five rounds in 1930.

Technological advances

In 1937, the switching mechanism was introduced. This allowed riders to change gears without removing theWheels. Previously, the driver should get off their wheel from downhill mode change in slope. The Tour de France had shown that it can adapt to survive. It 'been another national appeal and to give respect.