• Country
Road cycling

PHOTO GALLERY: Relive the Old Days of the Tour de France

By Monica Buck
PHOTO GALLERY: Relive the Old Days of the Tour de France

With the start of the Grand Boucle almost upon us, it’s time to get into the holiday spirit with this “brand new” gallery of old cycling heroes. From climbing the Col du Galibier with Gino Bartali to the ecstatic face of Ferdi Kubler, these photos are here to remind us all what proper racing is all about.

The 1910 Tour’s mountainous stage. © Profimedia, Roger Viollet
René Vietto cheered on by a fan while climbing the Col du Galibier in 1934. © Profimedia, AFP
Jean Dotto’s withdrawal during the 16th stage on July 25, 1955. © Profimedia, Roger Viollet
An intruder at the 1965 Tour de France. © Profimedia
Gino Bartali climbing the Col du Galibier in 1939. © Profimedia, AFP
The one and only Jacques Anquetil, pictured in 1955. © Profimedia, Roger Viollet
Ferdinand “Ferdi” Kubler jubilating after winning the first stage of the Tour de France on June 26, 1947 in Lille. Ferdi, 97, passed away on December 30, 2016. © Profimedia, AFP
French national and winner of the Tour de France in 1930 and 1932 André Leducq (1904-1980) having a break. (July 11, 1932). © Profimedia, Imagno
Bernard Gauthier’s flat in the Col de Minier, on July 20, 1955. © Profimedia, Roger Viollet
The Col du Galibier on July 27, 1939. © Profimedia, AFP
Peloton crossing the rails in 1952. © Profimedia, Roger Viollet
This photo taken on July 18, 1949, shows Ferdi Kubler riding uphill during a breakaway on the 16th stage of the Tour de France between Cannes and Briançon. © Profimedia, AFP
Stage 16 of the 1927 Tour de France. © Profimedia, AFP
Federico Ezquerra climbing the Col du Galibier on July 14, 1936. © Profimedia, AFP
Roger Hassenforder (R) and Ferdi Kubler (L) joking before the start of the 2nd stage of the 1955 Tour de France in Dieppe. © Profimedia, AFP

Articles you might like

  1. what-its-really-like-to-be-a-domestique-in-2026

    What It’s Really Like to Be a Domestique in 2026
    Road cycling

    Professional cycling celebrates winners. The images we remember are the finish-line celebrations, the arms raised in triumph, the podium ceremonies, and the leader’s jersey pulled over a rider’s shoulders. Yet those moments rarely belong to one rider alone. Behind almost every victory is a lesser-told…