Road cycling history is the core topic of this website that provides a great collection of stories from the world of professional road cycling competitions from the 1890s to the second half of the 20th century.
There are subcategories under this category including stories from the most important and popular competitions like:
History of Tour de France | History of Giro d’Italia | History of Vuelta a Espana | History of one-day races
Also, there are other subcategories defined by different types of blogentries:
Faces from the peloton | On this day in road cycling history | Fun facts
Articles are still road cycling history related, but looking beyond the actual history of actual events are in the Beyond road cycling history category, but if you wish to read about the history of bicycle in an even broader socio-cultural-historical context, please visit my Substack
The history of the Tour de France is filled with monumental stages and dramatic moments that have shaped the race into the iconic event it is today. Among these significant milestones is the first mountain stage in the Alps, which took place on July 10, 1911. This marked the first time the race ventured into…
Bernard Hinault’s victory at the 1980 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, held on 20 April, is one of the most iconic moments in road cycling history. The race was held under brutal conditions, with freezing temperatures, relentless snow, and fierce winds transforming the event into a grueling test of endurance and sheer willpower. It would become one of the…
Luigi Malabrocca is most remembered today for his unorthodox quest to secure the maglia nera, the last-place jersey of the Giro d’Italia. However, during his professional career from 1945 to 1958, Malabrocca also achieved noteworthy successes. Primarily known as a domestique for Fausto Coppi, Malabrocca was a skilled cyclist in his own right. He claimed…
In the pantheon of cycling legends, few names carry the ferocious weight of Bernard Hinault. Known as “Le Blaireau”—The Badger—he rode with a predator’s instinct, crushing rivals not just with his legs but with his will. But in 1980, at the very peak of his dominance, Hinault did something that stunned fans and shocked the…
The Tour de France is more than just a race. It’s a living drama played out on two wheels, across mountains, cobbles, and decades. For every glorious victory, there’s a moment where fate intervened: a crash, a protest, a misjudged strategy, or a stubborn ponytail. These are the stories that leave us wondering what might…
The world of road cycling often celebrates the second-place riders as much, if not more, than the winners. Few embody this sentiment better than the legendary French cyclist, Raymond Poulidor (1936-2019), known affectionately as “The Eternal Second.” Over the course of his career, Poulidor competed in the Tour de France 14 times, completing 12 of…
Three-time Tour de France winner (1953, 1954, 1955) and French cycling legend Louison Bobet was a succesful rider also in the world of one-day races. In fact, he won four of the five monuments (Milano-Sanremo and Giro di Lombardia in 1951, Ronde van Vlaanderen in 1955 and Paris-Roubaix in 1956). The 39th Ronde van Vlaanderen…
Italian cyclist Alfredo Binda was widely regarded as one of the greatest riders of his era, particularly in the 1920s and 1930s. He dominated the Giro d’Italia like no one before him, winning the race in 1925, 1927, 1928, and 1929. His ability to climb, sprint, and time trial made him an all-around champion, and…
The creation of the Milano-Sanremo, one of the most famous and historic cycling races in the world, can be traced back to a partnership with a newspaper—specifically, La Gazzetta dello Sport. This pivotal connection between cycling and journalism was key in shaping one of the sport’s greatest events. As with many of cycling’s iconic races,…
The 1946 edition of Milano-Sanremo was the first to take place following World War II. Held on the 19th March, it became notable for Fausto Coppi’s dominant performance, culminating in a decisive solo victory. Coppi, who spent 18 months in POW camps during 1943-44 ((read more about it in the article of rouleur.cc )), while…