Tour de France History 1/12
November 26, 2009
http://leviathan-photo.blogspot.com
Presented by Sean Kelly, narrated by David Duffield, and commentary by Phil Liggett
This official history celebrates an incredible century of cycling, from the early flickering images of the 1903 winner, Maurice Garin, to the amazing scenes which greeted Lance Armstrong’s fifth straight victory in 2003.
As well as the triumphs we also explore the tragedies and controversies associated with the Tour, amongst them the death of two-time winner Octavia Bottachia, reputedly murdered by fascists, the death of Tommy Simpson on the Ventoux in 1967 and Fabio Casartelli’s death in 1995.
The early years of the Tour are full of heroics and all the protagonists are featured from Lucien Petit Breton and Philippe Thijs, to Rene Vietto and Antonin Magne. After WW2 came the Italian revolution with the emergence of Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi, one of the greatest of them all. However, the Golden Age of the 50s saw the return of the French champions in Bobet, Walkowiak and Gaul as well as the inaugural win of Jacques Anquetil in 1957 who went on to complete the first ever five-timer. His battles with Raymond Poulidor are still talked about to this day.
And then came Eddy Merckx, unquestionably the finest of them all, who trounced the opposition in his five victories. Merckx was followed by Luis Ocana, Bernard Thevenet and Lucien Van Impe before the next five-time winner emerged in Bernard Hinault, followed swiftly by Spanish legend Miguel Indurain who dominated the early 1990s with his five consecutive victories from 1991.
Other individual highlights featured include Stephen Roche’s epic 1987 victory and the amazing 1989 success of Greg Lemond over two-time winner Laurent Fignon by a mere eight seconds. The programme finishes with an extended profile of the phenomenal Lance Armstrong, who has overcome cancer to stand on the brink of becoming the first ever six-time winner of the Tour de France.
Duration : 0:9:30
[youtube N3uP_IQeyII]
he was still a …
he was still a fantastic cyclist. I personally think that too much is made of doping, already to do the things pro cyclists do you have to be almost superhuman, doping may give a little edge but a bigger advantage is support cars, teams and the like.
Too bad he was …
Too bad he was tested positive multiply times.
I really can’t …
I really can’t thank you enough for posting this. GREAT VIDEOS. you made my day.
God love Sean Kelly
God love Sean Kelly
Nice fixed gear …
Nice fixed gear vintage bikes… Those were the days
Futile arguing …
Futile arguing about who is greatest. Enjoy this beautiful documentary, learn some things about Coppi, Hinault, Merckx, Pantani, Armstrong, Indurain etc.
Each was incredible at their peak.
france was 150 000 …
france was 150 000 years history … with neanderthal evidence in south of france … and homo ergaster !
shut up … the France is one of the countries that has the longest human history in the world
lolz you say just korea’s 10 000 years history …
it is 15 x less than the human evidence proved in france
homo ergaster, homo neanderthal, homo sapiens, homo sapiens² (x2 …) gaul, roman empire, middle age, crusade …
This is my favorite …
This is my favorite sporting event.
LOL he does not …
LOL he does not look like he wants to be there, and is obviously reading que cards. Classic. Good vid anyway though thanks
Oooh…crash in the …
Oooh…crash in the peloton 1:50
All culture come …
All culture come from Korea’s 10,000 years history.
French should Kowtao to Korea.
p.s. : dont get …
p.s. : dont get mad because you havent had a tour winner since pantini, dont worry Im sure you’ll get one THIS year. Or are you going to let a qoute “US faced cheater” who’s nearing 40 years old Woop your a** again? HA! Will any amount of anti-dope testing this season be enough for you and those who think like you? I guess we’ll see. Untill then nothing you can say or do we’ll ever erase those victories in the record books. Now, I have finished with YOU. dick.
Now who’s resorting …
Now who’s resorting to dirty worded rants to deal with their frustration? You act like someones been degrading your hero. Im just saying that you cant berate Americans as “wimps” that are not for cycling and then say that Lemond was a CLASSY, great rider! HE’S AMERICAN! All my comments are trying to do is open your eyes to other ways of thinking about the situation. But YOUR one-way brain just cant recognize any other words but DOPE. Either understand our way of speech or quit posting comments.
And finally I’ll …
And finally I’ll give you the same advice so many US wimps needed before you : get back to your american sports ‘cos cycling is not for you ……!
You’re only making a fool of urself and I won’t waste my time anymore replying to a typical,funny one-way yankee brain .
Post more
All you can do is …
All you can do is keeping on writing ridiculous comments full of funny nonsenses having nothing to do with the subject .
Of course Epons Armstrong is not great Greg Lemond , u moron : I repeat once more that Lemond was an outclass champ, while Armstrong was only a shameless liar & a dirty
doped cheater.
Don’t mix your Epons Armstrong’s shit
with the greatest ever, Fausto Coppi :
Coppi was simply divine, he never got doped
and took 2nd/3rd generation EPO like your US faced cheater .
What ???? I don’t …
What ???? I don’t have ” to pretend ” to respect Greg Lemond ? XDD
Just tell me why , thx ….!!
My comments are rational & logic just ‘cos I’m from northern Italy and I know cycling,
I’m not the average yankee absolute ignorant of this sport ( that’s what you clearly are )
who pretends to talk of a subject he has no idea about and posts nothing but bizarre comments & ridiculous nonsenses .
Dont pretend to …
Dont pretend to like/respect Lemond. Accept Americans as legitimate cyclists, or you can keep your italian a** kissing comments to yourself. BTW its Lance not LENS. You do suck at english. Chew on this, if fausto won the tour 7, heck, 8 times would you suspect doping? Somehow, my italian friend, i dont think so. finally, nobody wins a tour by themself, all the great cyclists had great teams. Maybe Lance had the best? maybe not. Either way, find something new to bug Americans about.
” hopefully that …
” hopefully that will open your eyes ” …..
correction in my below comment
but it’s the right …
but it’s the right opposition ag. one of the unfairest and biggest cheaters in the history of this sport .
Not my fault if you all are too blind & can’t get that : dopped cheaters inside cycling sport are from worldwide countries, but please don’t try to deny what everyone knowing little cycling knows so well about Armstrong’s lies .
I repeat : just check what your great Greg Lemond thinks of Lens Armstrong , hopefully that will close your eyes ( though I doubt about it ……) .
Sorry x you my …
Sorry x you my friend, but if there’s a retarded on here , for sure that one are just you : I can write your language and there’s nothing wrong with my English ( don’t be so childish and find better arguments to defeat your frustration ), in fact you’ve posted your so stupid comment
in reply to my comments , so …..
What you and majority of US people can’t get is that it’s not a matter of negative attitude towards an American champ ( Greg Lemond was a fantastic clean outclass cyclist ),
enough. You cannot …
enough. You cannot even write our language. Trust me, my friend. YOU look retarded. Nobody in the U, who knows anything about cycling, would downgrade any of the Euro/italian legends. We ask only that you recognize our own. Give Lance and Lemond their due. Get off you arrogantly high horse, and realize that the field has evened. PEACE!
to see the old EPO …
to see the old EPO in action , better and trulier said …..
Dear Trulyloyale! I …
Dear Trulyloyale! I didn’t say anything wrong about your country, or about your Coppi. (no question about his class) I’ve just written my opinion about your comments. Sorry, for I was so cruel, that I told you’re a joke. Of course, by this I proved, I’m a retarded idiot, who is ignorant of cycling (for I’m hungarian). Once during my training rides I’ll go to northern Italy, and ask you personally to forgive me. Maybe I should go out to the Giro, to see the old Armstrong in action.
you’ve got it , …
you’ve got it , 3131 …. no matter I’m from northern Italy ( along with other 3 countries sice ever HOME of cycling ) and I ride since I was born, obviously I must learn cycling from a bunch of ridiculous & pathetic US cow-boys absolute ignorant of this sport or even more from an hungarian …..XDDDDD !!!!
Just realize who’s the funny joke between us
if you’re not that retarded you look to be by your stupid and short comment !
omg why youtube is so full of so big idiots ?
hahaha
You are a …
hahaha
You are a joke!