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
Tour de France has always been more than just a test of physical endurance. From its inception, the race has been a battleground not only for athletic prowess but also for human drama, strategy, and, at times, scandals. Among the many strange and unsettling stories from the early years, one stands out as particularly mysterious:…
The 20th stage of Giro d’Italia 1956 is widely regarded for one of the most grueling ones in the annals of professional cycling. Monte Bondone in the Dolomites revealed its most merciless side amidst apocalyptic conditions. The mountain, already known for its challenging terrain, became the setting for one of the most brutal and unforgiving…
In the history of the Giro d’Italia one stage stands above the rest as the purest test of endurance and willpower. It occurred on June 5, 1988, during Stage 14 of that year’s Giro. The route was grueling enough on paper, a 120-kilometer ride from Chiesa in Valmalenco to Bormio, featuring the towering Gavia Pass…
In the world of professional cycling, few names are as synonymous with misfortune as Eugène Christophe. His legacy is defined not by victories but by sheer bad luck, yet his perseverance and determination have made him an enduring legend in the sport.Two Tour de France editions (1913 and 1919), particularly, marked his legacy as the…
During the early days of road cycling races, bicycle events quite often produced extraordinary scenes. One of the most hilarious (and also a bit sad) ones, almost like a comedy sketch happened at the Paris-Roubaix in 1907.French cyclist Georges Passerieu, leader of the race arrived to the gates of the Velodrome in Roubaix alone, after…
Heavy snowfall often determinates the outcome of a road cycling race during early springtime. But even among the stories about the heroic efforts of struggling through the otherwise beautiful white obstacle the 4th edition of Milano-Sanremo (held on 4th April 1910) has its own legendary place. This was the race that only four riders finished….
In 1910, Henri Desgrange, the Tour’s founder and director, decided to introduce mountain stages into the race to make it even more challenging. The Pyrenean stages were added, including climbs like Col du Tourmalet, and Col d’Aubisque which were among the most difficult ascents the cyclists had ever encountered. The Col du Tourmalet, in particular,…
Franco Balmamion stands as one of the most remarkable yet understated figures in the history of Italian cycling. Known for his quiet demeanor and steely determination, Balmamion carved out a legendary career in the 1960s, highlighted by his back-to-back victories in the Giro d’Italia in 1962 and 1963.What sets Balmamion apart is not just the…
Only three riders in the history of the Tour de France have managed the incredible feat of winning eight stages in a single edition. Among them is the legendary Eddy Merckx, who achieved this milestone twice, in 1970 and 1974. The other two are Charles Pélissier (1930) and Freddy Maertens (1976). Charles Pélissier (1930) Charles…
A cyclist running while carrying his bike on his shoulder. Surely, you’ve seen this vintage cycling image several times. Now it’s time to learn a bit more about the protagonist of the picture. Victor Fontan (1892-1982) in the Faces from the peloton series of Vintage Road Cycling Stories blog. A local rider World War I,…