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1955 Tour de France

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1955 Tour de France
Route of the 1955 Tour de France followed clockwise, starting in Le Havre and finishing in Paris
Route of the 1955 Tour de France followed clockwise, starting in Le Havre and finishing in Paris
Race details
Dates7–30 July 1955
Stages22
Distance4,495 km (2,793 mi)
Winning time130h 29' 26"
Results
Winner  Louison Bobet (FRA) (France)
  Second  Jean Brankart (BEL) (Belgium)
  Third  Charly Gaul (LUX) (Luxembourg/Mixed)
Points  Stan Ockers (BEL) (Belgium)
  Mountains  Charly Gaul (LUX) (Luxembourg/Mixed)
  Combativity  Charly Gaul (LUX) (Luxembourg/Mixed)
  Team France
← 1954
1956 →

The 1955 Tour de France was the 42nd edition of the Tour de France, taking place from 7 to 30 July. It consisted of 22 stages over 4,495 km (2,793 mi). The race was won by Louison Bobet, the last of his three consecutive wins.

Teams

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For a more comprehensive list, see List of teams and cyclists in the 1955 Tour de France.

As was the custom since the 1930 Tour de France, the 1955 Tour de France was contested by national and regional teams. Eight national teams were sent, with 10 cyclists each from France, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, and a mixed team consisting of Luxembourgian, Austrian, West German and Australian cyclists. France additionally sent five regional teams from 10 cyclists each, divided into Île-de-France, North-East/Centre, West, South-East and South-West. In total, 120 cyclists started the race.[1] The mixed team included cyclists from West-Germany, which was the first time since the Second World War that German cyclists rode the Tour.[2] The Great Britain team was the first British team in Tour history.[3]

The teams entering the race were:[1]

  • France
  • Belgium
  • Spain
  • Great Britain
  • Netherlands
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg/Mixed
  • Switzerland
  • Île-de-France
  • North-East/Centre
  • West
  • South-East
  • South-West

Pre-race favourites

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Louison Bobet, the winner of the 1953 Tour de France and the 1954 Tour de France, had done an aggressive preparation in the early season before the Tour de France, aiming for his third victory.[4] Bobet was the main favourite, also because he was the world champion.[3]

Route and stages

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The 1955 Tour de France started on 7 July, and had two rest days, in Monaco and Ax-les-Thermes.[2] The 1955 Tour saw the introduction of the photo finish.[5] The highest point of elevation in the race was 2,556 m (8,386 ft) at the summit tunnel of the Col du Galibier mountain pass on stage 8.[6][7]

Stage characteristics and winners[5][2][8][9]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1a 7 July Le Havre to Dieppe 102 km (63 mi) Plain stage  Miguel Poblet (ESP)
1b Dieppe 12.5 km (8 mi) Team time trial  Netherlands
2 8 July Dieppe to Roubaix 204 km (127 mi) Plain stage  Antonin Rolland (FRA)
3 9 July Roubaix to Namur (Belgium) 210 km (130 mi) Plain stage  Louison Bobet (FRA)
4 10 July Namur (Belgium) to Metz 225 km (140 mi) Plain stage  Willy Kemp (LUX)
5 11 July Metz to Colmar 229 km (142 mi) Plain stage  Roger Hassenforder (FRA)
6 12 July Colmar to Zürich (Switzerland) 195 km (121 mi) Plain stage  André Darrigade (FRA)
7 13 July Zürich (Switzerland) to Thonon-les-Bains 267 km (166 mi) Plain stage  Jos Hinsen (NED)
8 14 July Thonon-les-Bains to Briançon 253 km (157 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Charly Gaul (LUX)
9 15 July Briançon to Monaco 275 km (171 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Raphaël Géminiani (FRA)
16 July Monaco Rest day
10 17 July Monaco to Marseille 240 km (149 mi) Plain stage  Lucien Lazaridès (FRA)
11 18 July Marseille to Avignon 198 km (123 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Louison Bobet (FRA)
12 19 July Avignon to Millau 240 km (149 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Alessandro Fantini (ITA)
13 20 July Millau to Albi 205 km (127 mi) Plain stage  Daan de Groot (NED)
14 21 July Albi to Narbonne 156 km (97 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Louis Caput (FRA)
15 22 July Narbonne to Ax-les-Thermes 151 km (94 mi) Plain stage  Luciano Pezzi (ITA)
23 July Ax-les-Thermes Rest day
16 24 July Ax-les-Thermes to Toulouse 123 km (76 mi) Plain stage  Rik Van Steenbergen (BEL)
17 25 July Toulouse to Saint-Gaudens 250 km (155 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Charly Gaul (LUX)
18 26 July Saint-Gaudens to Pau 205 km (127 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Jean Brankart (BEL)
19 27 July Pau to Bordeaux 195 km (121 mi) Plain stage  Wout Wagtmans (NED)
20 28 July Bordeaux to Poitiers 243 km (151 mi) Plain stage  Jean Forestier (FRA)
21 29 July Châtellerault to Tours 68.6 km (43 mi) Individual time trial  Jean Brankart (BEL)
22 30 July Tours to Paris 229 km (142 mi) Plain stage  Miguel Poblet (ESP)
Total 4,495 km (2,793 mi)[10]

Race overview

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Louison Bobet (pictured in 1951), winner of the general classification

The first part of the first stage was won by Miguel Poblet, who became the first Spanish cyclist to wear the yellow jersey as leader of the general classification.[3] The second and third stage saw small groups escaping from the peloton. In both stages, Wout Wagtmans and Antonin Rolland, one of Bobet's teammates, were present. Wagtmans became leader of the general classification, with Rolland in second place.[3]

The first attack that was important for the general classification was in the fourth stage. Rolland was part of a group of nine cyclists that finished seven minutes before the rest. Rolland was the best-placed cyclist of those nine, and took the lead.[4]

In the seventh stage, Rolland briefly lost that lead, because a group including Wim van Est escaped and gained more than seventeen minutes, which was just enough for Van Est to take over the lead. Van Est was sure to lose it in the next stage, which included high mountains.[3]

In that eighth stage, Charly Gaul attacked early in the stage. Gaul was more than 23 minutes behind in the general classification, but got over the mountains quickly and won with 13 minutes, which put him in third place.[4][11]

In the ninth stage, Gaul tried to do the same again, and got over the first three mountains alone. But because of a crash on the second mountain he lost time, and did not win the stage; instead he even lost a few minutes.[3] During the eleventh stage, French cyclist Jean Malléjac collapsed and remained unconscious for 15 minutes. The Tour doctor who helped recognised that Malléjac's symptoms were identical to an amphetamine overdose, and told the team doctors to be more careful with doping.[12] In that stage, Bobet got away on Mont Ventoux and nobody was able to follow him. He reached the top alone, and from there descended to the finish, 6 minutes ahead of Rolland, who was still the race leader. Bobet jumped to second place in the general classification.[4]

The next challenge for the general classification were the Pyrénees mountains. In stage 17, Gaul made the pace, and most cyclists could not follow. Bobet could hold on for a long time, but at the finish lost 84 seconds to Gaul. Because Rolland lost more than seven minutes, Bobet took the lead.[4]

In the eighteenth stage, it was again Gaul who attacked. This time, a small group including Bobet could follow him all the way. Rolland finished two minutes later, but was still in second place in the general classification.[13] The time trial in the 21st stage was won by Jean Brankart, who jumped to second place in the general classification. Rolland lost more than nine minutes, and dropped to the fifth place in the general classification.[14]

Bobet remained the leader, and his lead was not challenged in the last stage. Bobet became the first person in the Tour de France to win three Tours in a row.[4]

Classification leadership and minor prizes

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The time that each cyclist required to finish each stage was recorded, and these times were added together for the general classification. If a cyclist had received a time bonus, it was subtracted from this total; all time penalties were added to this total. The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the race leader, identified by the yellow jersey.[15]

The points classification was calculated in the same way as in 1954, following the calculation method from the Tours de France from 1905 to 1912. Points were given according to the ranking of the stage: the winner received one points, the next cyclist two points, and so on. These points were added, and the cyclist with the fewest points was the leader of the points classification. In 1955, this was won by Stan Ockers.[5]

Points for the mountains classification were earned by reaching the mountain tops first.[16] The system was almost the same as in 1954: there were two types of mountain tops: the hardest ones, in category 1, gave 10 points to the first cyclist, the easier ones, in category 2, gave 6 points to the first cyclist, and the easiest ones, in category 3, gave 3 points. Charly Gaul won this classification.[5]

The team classification was calculated as the sum of the daily team classifications, and the daily team classification was calculated by adding the times in the stage result of the best three cyclists per team.[17] It was won by the French team. The British team and the regional South West team finished with only two cyclists, so they were not eligible for the team classification.

In addition, there was a combativity award given after each stage to the cyclist considered most combative. The split stages each had a combined winner. The decision was made by a jury composed of journalists who gave points. The cyclist with the most points from votes in all stages led the combativity classification.[18] Gaul won this classification, and was given overall the super-combativity award.[2] The Souvenir Henri Desgrange was given in honour of Tour founder Henri Desgrange to the first rider to pass a point by his final residence, the "Villa Mia" in Beauvallon, Grimaud, on the French Riviera on stage 10. This prize was won by André Darrigade.[19][20]

Classification leadership by stage[21][22]
Stage Winner General classification
 Points classification
 Mountains classification[a] Team classification Combativity
Award Classification
1a Miguel Poblet Miguel Poblet Miguel Poblet no award Île-de-France Claude Le Ber Claude Le Ber
1b Netherlands Italy
2 Antonin Rolland Wout Wagtmans Wout Wagtmans Île-de-France Roger Hassenforder
3 Louison Bobet France Louison Bobet Roger Hassenforder
4 Willy Kemp Antonin Rolland Francisco Alomar
5 Roger Hassenforder Vincent Vitetta Vincent Vitetta
6 André Darrigade Ferdinand Kübler
7 Jos Hinsen Wim van Est Jean Stablinski
8 Charly Gaul Antonin Rolland Charly Gaul Charly Gaul
9 Raphaël Géminiani Miguel Poblet Charly Gaul Charly Gaul
10 Lucien Lazaridès Wout Wagtmans Francisco Alomar
11 Louison Bobet Louison Bobet
12 Alessandro Fantini Nello Lauredi
13 Daan de Groot Wim van Est Daan de Groot
14 Louis Caput Max Cohen
15 Luciano Pezzi Stan Ockers Jan Nolten
16 Rik Van Steenbergen Lucien Teisseire
17 Charly Gaul Louison Bobet Charly Gaul
18 Jean Brankart Louison Bobet
19 Wout Wagtmans Henri Sitek
20 Jean Forestier Rino Benedetti
21 Jean Brankart Jean Brankart
22 Miguel Poblet Miguel Poblet
Final Louison Bobet Stan Ockers Charly Gaul France Charly Gaul

Final standings

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General classification

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Final general classification (1–10)[23]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Louison Bobet (FRA) France 130h 29' 26"
2  Jean Brankart (BEL) Belgium + 4' 53"
3  Charly Gaul (LUX) Luxembourg/Mixed + 11' 30"
4  Pasquale Fornara (ITA) Italy + 12' 44"
5  Antonin Rolland (FRA) France + 13' 18"
6  Raphaël Géminiani (FRA) France + 15' 01"
7  Giancarlo Astrua (ITA) Italy + 18' 13"
8  Stan Ockers (BEL) Belgium + 27' 13"
9  Alex Close (BEL) Belgium + 31' 10"
10  François Mahé (FRA) France + 36' 27"

Points classification

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Final points classification (1–10)[24]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Stan Ockers (BEL) Belgium 322
2  Wout Wagtmans (NED) Netherlands 399
3  Miguel Poblet (ESP) Spain 409
4  Wim van Est (NED) Netherlands 415
5  Gilbert Bauvin (FRA) North-East/Centre 483
6  Antonin Rolland (FRA) France 503
7  Alfred De Bruyne (BEL) Belgium 563
8  Alessandro Fantini (ITA) Italy 573.5
9  Bruno Monti (ITA) Italy 638.5
10  Raymond Impanis (BEL) Belgium 652.5

Mountains classification

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Final mountains classification (1–10)[25][26]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Charly Gaul (LUX) Luxembourg/Mixed 84
2  Louison Bobet (FRA) France 70
3  Jean Brankart (BEL) Belgium 44
4  Antonio Gelabert (ESP) Spain 31
5  Giancarlo Astrua (ITA) Italy 30
6  Jesús Loroño (ESP) Spain 28
7  Jan Nolten (NED) Netherlands 24
 Pasquale Fornara (ITA) Italy
9  Raphaël Géminiani (FRA) France 23
10  Gilbert Scodeller (FRA) North-East/Centre 18

Team classification

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Final team classification[27]
Rank Team Time
1 France 389h 10' 14"
2 Italy + 47' 33"
3 Belgium + 1h 54' 07"
4 Netherlands + 3h 11' 42"
5 North-East/Centre + 3h 46' 48"
6 Spain + 4h 35' 38"
7 South-East + 5h 57' 07"
8 West + 6h 06' 55"
9 Switzerland + 6h 45' 13"
10 Luxembourg/Mixed + 6h 49' 08"
11 Île-de-France + 7h 09' 08"

Combativity classification

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Final combativity classification (1–10)[28]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Charly Gaul (LUX) Luxembourg/Mixed 256
2  Louison Bobet (FRA) France 220
3  Roger Hassenforder (FRA) North-East/Centre 114
4  Jean Brankart (BEL) Belgium 112
5  Jean Stablinski (FRA) North-East/Centre 107
6  Francisco Alomar (ESP) Spain 106
7  Jan Nolten (NED) Netherlands 96
8  Miguel Poblet (ESP) Spain 75
9  Ferdinand Kübler  (SUI) Switzerland 74
 Claude Le Ber  (FRA) West

Notes

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  1. ^ No jersey was awarded to the leader of the mountains classification until a white jersey with red polka dots was introduced in 1975.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "The history of the Tour de France – Year 1955 – The starters". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Augendre 2016, p. 46.
  3. ^ a b c d e f McGann & McGann 2006, pp. 207–212.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Boyce, Barry (2004). "Bobet Times Three". Cyclingrevealed. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d "42ème Tour de France 1955" (in French). Mémoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  6. ^ Augendre 2016, pp. 177–178.
  7. ^ "Franse monster-race vangt morgen aan Drie en twintig dagen razen renners langs de wegen" [French monster race starts tomorrow Twenty-three days riders race along the roads]. Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 6 July 1955. p. 6 – via Delpher.
  8. ^ Zwegers, Arian. "Tour de France GC top ten". CVCCBike.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  9. ^ "The history of the Tour de France – Year 1955 – The stage winners". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  10. ^ Augendre 2016, p. 109.
  11. ^ "42ème Tour de France 1955 - 8ème étape" (in French). Mémoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  12. ^ Dimeo 2007, p. 59.
  13. ^ "42ème Tour de France 1955 - 17ème étape" (in French). Mémoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  14. ^ "42ème Tour de France 1955 - 21ème étape" (in French). Mémoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  15. ^ Nauright & Parrish 2012, pp. 452–453.
  16. ^ a b Nauright & Parrish 2012, p. 454.
  17. ^ Nauright & Parrish 2012, p. 455.
  18. ^ van den Akker 2018, pp. 211–216.
  19. ^ "Temperatuur hoger dan in broeikast" [Temperature higher than in greenhouse]. De Stem (in Dutch). 18 July 1969. p. 5 – via Krantenbank Zeeland.
  20. ^ Seray & Lablaine 2006, p. 84.
  21. ^ "Ronde panorama 1955" [Tour panorama 1955]. Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 1 August 1955. p. 8. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019.
  22. ^ van den Akker, Pieter. "Informatie over de Tour de France van 1955" [Information about the Tour de France from 1955]. TourDeFranceStatistieken.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  23. ^ a b "The history of the Tour de France – Year 1955 – Stage 22 Tours > Paris". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Puntenrangschikking" [Points ranking]. Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 1 August 1955. p. 8. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019.
  25. ^ "Charly Gaul: bergkoning 1955" [Charly Gaul: mountain king 1955]. Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 27 July 1955. p. 8. Archived from the original on 3 October 2019.
  26. ^ "Clasificacions" [Classifications] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 27 July 1955. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Pobet en un golpe de genio" [Pobet in a stroke of genius] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 31 July 1955. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Gaul Nr 1 op de lijst der strijdlustigsten" [Gaul No. 1 on the list of combatants]. Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). 1 August 1955. p. 8. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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