1962 Tour de France ‘drinking raids’???
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Yes. Vive le Tour is a documentary, this is a clip from it. Taken during the 1962 race.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056662/
John
absolutely. They mention it in the coverage nearly every year. And apparently this was still common in the Giro until the 90’s or so.
Absolutely.
No, all of that video was staged, and filmed in 2008…
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So, they are boozing it up on 200km stages???
They weren’t exactly lollygagging either.
That is hard core, damn I love cyclists!!
But I don’t get why they would drink alcohol - why not soda or juice? A few swigs of warm wine when you still have to finish a tough tour stage? That’s not gonna make you go faster.
I have seen (and still want to buy, if I can find it again) a sepia print/poster of a couple of TdF riders from the 1920’s in Hutchison jerseys, with tires twisted across their backs. They are sitting on the front step of a brasserie, mid stage, drinking a pint of beer each! With the dirt roads they rode on back in the day, I can certainly imagine that a “cold one” would help wipe the dust from one’s mouth and throat!.
In my own experience, I commute to work on my bike every day. Friday we have a few drinks in the office after work. (gotta love New Zealand!) and then I ride home. I have found that 1 beer, no problem, 2 beers, no problem. 3 beers I ride more enthusiastically, (some of my best ride home have been after 3 beers) 4 beers hmmmmm can’t really be bothered. 5 beers, “Where’s the bus, I don’t want to ride home”. 6 beers, hey bartender, get me another. 7+ beers, followed by a 911 call to the wife for a ride home, and I often fall asleep and snore in the car!
Buy “the greatest show on earth” about the giro in one of the Merckx years for some fantastic footage of the old days.
That prior link was for a $20 poster. The following link is for a $225 framed canvas print. http://www.art.com/products/p9607392972-sa-i5491421/breaktime.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=18474&dimvals=18474&ui=cd4dfca599ca4e779b5ee23be450e835
at that point they were still probably smoking cigarettes before stages to “open the lungs.”
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That prior link was for a $20 poster. The following link is for a $225 framed canvas print. http://www.art.com/...4e779b5ee23be450e835]
I can do a Canvas print with Carbon frame and Titanium hooks for only $3500
http://www.art.com/...4e779b5ee23be450e835]
Thanks for the link.
Of note, is how LITTLE bike design has changed. (thanks to the UCI!!!) Imagine if we still rode cars that looked like cars from that era. Phhhhhtttttt.
There is another poster from the same era,of the peloton riding down a tree lined avenue, and the guy in the middle is supported by riders either side, while he lights a CIGARETTE! Apparently they thought (correctly?) that smoking made their lungs work harder! Doh.
I’d like that poster too, but couldn’t find it on art.com. Oh well
They were also riding single speed bikes up those hills. Yikes. I don’t care if they were doped up and drunk, that’s hard.
This has a scary looking descent on a dirt road, from 1938
Buy “the greatest show on earth” about the giro in one of the Merckx years for some fantastic footage of the old days.
You can watch it on youtube
Another one is “Stars & Watercarriers” also on youtube
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Chris,
That is impressive. Did he refund?
Nope. That stunt lead to the ICB aid station the following year.
I also believe before then, they were only “allowed” 2 liers of water per day
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@ 8:30 one of the reporters says “doping or not doping that is the question.” Wow somethings never change.