List of Illustrations

1. On his trike: Henri Desgrange racing on three wheels.

2. First of the Tour champions: Maurice Garin.

3. Running repairs: Hippolyte Aucouturier fixes his front wheel.

4. Lauded with sweet flowers: Aucouturier is welcomed.

5. Let brotherly love continue: Henri and Francis Pélissier.

6. Cooling-off period: Ottavio Bottecchia sluices himself.

7. Advice from the Patron: (left to right) Raymond Louviot, Georges Speicher and Henri Desgrange.

8. Passing through the Pyrenees, 1938.

9. Massaging the master’s muscles: Louison Bobet with his soigneur.

10. Good news from a far country: Fausto Coppi reads about himself and Bartali.

11. ‘À votre santé!’ A chef greets the tour in 1951.

12. Public men and cheering crowds: spectators at the 1951 Tour photographed by Bert Hardy of Picture Post.

13. The pedaller of charm: Hugo Koblet at the Parc des Princes after winning the 1951 Tour.

14. The way of an Eagle in the air: Federico Bahamontes crests the Tourmalet in 1954.

15. Maître Jacques: the enigmatic Anquetil, 1957.

16. Leaders of the pack: Bahamontes (left) and Raymond Poulidor, 1963.

17. Happy days: Tom Simpson (left) joins in the song, 1966.

18. And the unhappiest: Simpson is tended on Mont Ventoux, 13 July 1967.

19. Bloodied but unbowed: Poulidor in 1968.

20. Looking down hungrily: Eddy Merckx, 1972.

21. A tragic hero in his prime: Luis Ocaña, 1973.

22. ‘Glory without the yellow jersey’: Poulidor, 1974.

23. Invoking a higher power: Merckx, 1975.

24. Badgering the field: Bernard Hinault, 1978.

25. For this relief, much thanks: Hinault eases the strain in 1985.

26. ‘By the grace of God’: Miguel Induráin rides in triumph, 1990.

27. A Lance none could break: Armstrong on his way to ‘winning’ his first Tour in 1999.

28. Bradley Wiggins, the UK’s first winner of the Tour de France, leads the way ahead of team-mate Mark Cavendish in the final stage of the 2012 Tour.