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