0

Your basket is empty

Go to shop »

We are showing you the US version of our site: would you prefer a different location?

Stage 17: Pau – Col du Tourmalet

By Ian Cleverly • 22nd July 2010 11:46am • Posted in Rouleur

© Janet Pearch Photography

A beastly final mountain stage today, culminating with the legendary Col du Tourmalet. The mountain has inspired many stories from the 74 (as of stage 16) occasions it has featured on the Tour route, none better than the hapless Eugène Christophe in 1913. The Frenchman snapped his forks, walked over eight miles to find a forge to make his own repair, then continued having effectively lost the race. To pile misery upon misery, race officials handed Christophe a 10-minute time penalty – outside assistance was forbidden so the young boy operating the bellows was considered against the rules: harsh, to say the least.

This year is only the second time, however, the Tourmalet has hosted a stage finish. Jean-Pierre Danguillaume won on the mountain in 1974, but Eddy Merckx dominated the Tour, as seen in this grainy but excellent footage of the prologue in Brest. Not a pointy hat or tri-bar in sight.

Brought to you by Rouleur magazine.

Comments

Got something to say?

Please create an account or log in using the form below to post comments

Forgotten your password? »

Create a Rapha account »

Rapha Blog RSS feed